Stripped Love (Guys Next Door #1) - Baylin Crow Page 0,5
glare at the twins, but could barely manage it because my heart was beating out of my chest. I didn’t need to look to know who stood behind me. They would pay, I promised myself.
With a hard swallow, I slowly turned around. Oh… Damn. My pulse spiked all over again, except this time I wasn't a hundred percent sure I wasn't going to pass out. I lifted my hand in an awkward wave. "Hi.”
The tattooed Adonis’s lips curled into a devilish smile. “Is that a yes?”
The word rolled off his tongue as a hiss that sent heat spiraling down my spine. I was breathing, right? Just in case, I took a deep inhale as I greedily scanned him from head to toe.
He was tall, right at six feet, maybe, and at least a few years older than me. Lean muscles appearing more defined because of the slick oil were carved beneath an olive complexion covered in colorless tattoos that stretched from his neck down to his exposed calves. His curly light brown hair was cut close to his scalp, and his face… A small sigh escaped my mouth as I drank in his features—straight nose, full lips, slightly cleft chin, and hazel eyes that held a spark of confidence and were surrounded by long, dark lashes. A necklace hung from his neck in two ropes and a leather bracelet wrapped around his wrist.
He was a walking work of art, and I’d never seen anything so intriguing.
The dancer waited patiently as I devoured him with my gaze. I locked onto his mouth and subconsciously licked my lips.
"Do I pass inspection?" An amused smile pulled at his lips.
My eyes jerked to his. “What?”
“You good, Arch?” CJ’s voice woven through the pounding music was a welcome, and slightly frustrating, sound. “You don’t have to do this if you really don’t want to.”
I turned my head, searching out CJ. "Do…what, exactly?"
“Arch?” The dancer’s voice drew my attention back, and I sucked in a harsh breath when his inked hands pressed firm against my chest. Wide-eyed, I held his stare when he flexed his fingers and a chill skated over my skin. “That’s your name?"
“Archer West, or Archer…I mean, Arch is fine. Or Archer. It doesn’t matter," I rambled. Embarrassed, I was honestly surprised I was able to choke out the words at all with the heat from his hands burning through the material of my shirt. My gaze dropped to where he touched me, noting each of his fingers were adorned with unique rings that caught the light.
He lifted one hand, hooked a knuckle under my chin and tilted my head back to look at him. I wheezed and he chuckled, a deep raspy sound that sent tingles racing through my body. “Archer West, are you nervous?”
I wanted to laugh, because nervous didn’t begin to cover the train wreck of emotions wreaking havoc on my nervous system. “Possibly. Maybe. A little…for what?”
“I’m Nix.” He took a step forward, drawing our bodies closer, and the scent of leather and mint reached my nose. Before I could properly revel in my new favorite smell, he dipped down, bringing his lips close to my ear. Breath tickling my sensitive skin, he whispered, "And a private room was booked for the birthday boy."
Mindlessly, I leaned into him, absorbing the tingling sensation. Fuck, that felt good. Wait—What? Oh... Oh, no.
Before I could unglue my tongue from the roof of my mouth to speak the words out loud, he stepped back and laced his fingers through mine. My wide eyes shot to my traitorous friends. I wasn’t sure if I was seeking help or letting them know I was leaving. The decision was made as Nix’s hand tightened around mine. He tugged, urging me to follow him, and my feet obeyed.
Lost for what to do, I simply shrugged, and CJ and Caleb offered a pair of matching smug smiles.
“Where are we going?” I asked and Nix glanced over his shoulder.
“Somewhere more private where I can do dirty things to you, Arch.” He winked, and I died. That, or the air had been sucked out of the room. What did he mean by dirty?
I ripped my gaze away, only to find myself staring at the lean lines of his back. The muscles flexed with each step, and I had to force myself not to look lower at the tiny black pair of shorts that hugged his body so tight it left nothing to the imagination. Okay, I looked. But only a