chest, the place over my heart thumping wildly. I swear to God, if that’s Devereux again, I’m gonna kick him in the balls. Blinking rapidly, my body tenses, prepared to defend myself. Where’d I put that bear spray again? It’d work on a man, right?
I take another shaky step. That’s when I notice him, or rather, my reaction to him. It controls and suffocates my words. It makes me react in ways I would have never expected, until him.
Smoke envelopes his face, his usual aura of obscurity encircling him. His eyes meet mine, his mouth spreading into a smug smile. He takes a long drag from his cigarette.
“I thought you left!” I jump, smacking his chest.
Wisps of smoke leave his lips. He slips his hand from his pockets, his smirk dominating his face. He cranes his neck forward, his quiet laughter rolling through me. It sends a chill up my spine.
He pushes himself from the post and steps closer, emerging from the shadows like a villain ready to destroy me. His signature scent of seawater, smoke, and cinnamon envelops me. I can feel a flush spread over my cheeks and down my neck.
Tossing his cigarette aside, he presses the toe of his boot over it, keeping his eyes down, his troubled face drowning within the shadows.
I swallow, trying to draw in a breath, but if you listen carefully, it’s like I’m drowning on dry land. “Why’d you leave?”
He shrugs indifferently, dark and brooding, granting me no answer.
It frustrates me, so I press on. “I get it. No questions about your brother. At least tell me you’re not married.” He doesn’t say anything. Not a damn word. “Really?” I scoff, throwing my hands up and turn to walk away. Fuck this dude. I’m not playing his stupid games.
I don’t get but two steps before his heavy steps halt my retreat, his hand wrapping around my elbow. In less than a second, he has me pressed against him, my back meeting the brick wall outside the bar with a sudden jolt.
He quirks an eyebrow and waits for me to make a move. I don’t. I wait for his words to come. Sighing, his chest meets mine. Stroking a thumb over my cheek, he angles his head to the side. I squirm under his gaze. We’re breathing heavily, and I’m suddenly aware that he certainly did not want me to leave.
I swallow, try to form words, but nothing comes. I’m trapped in the moment with him. There’s a part of him that’s off-limits. Untouchable. Because something in his past didn’t go as planned. A broken trust. But I’m not here to make bargains or bet on love again. I don’t want to be adored.
He breathes in slowly, with effort. “Your place or the boat?” he asks, his words gravelly and delicious, his eyes burning into mine. Unintentionally affected by his every word, movement, just everything about this fucking guy, I sag into him.
I open my eyes, confused. Our breathing creates a cloud around our faces. We stand in silence, him searching mine for an answer and me looking at him like he’s lost his damn mind. “Why?”
He leans in, so close our mouths are nearly touching, his stare ablaze. The ruggedness of his voice makes his words resonate deep inside me. “Don’t act like you’re not the least bit curious what a man like me wants.” His fingertips trail from cheek to my jaw, lifting my chin so that my eyes meet his. “I bet that tight little pussy is dripping at the thought.”
Jesus.
Christ.
I part my lips, my body completely attuned to him. My frame clenches with anticipation. I want to scream in his face, “What the fuck is wrong with you?” and beg him to tell me all his secret desires at the same time because I know he has them. Look at the way he’s watching my every reaction to his touch, he has fucking secrets. He has desires and fuck if I’m not dying to find out every juicy detail.
I take a moment to find my voice, wanting to tell him no, but also, knowing I don’t want to. “Your boat,” I huff, straightening my posture. “Are you going to stuff me in the closet again?”
He steps back, the corners of his mouth twitching into a smile with the intake of his breath. “Maybe.”
“Why am I strangely anticipating that?” I tease, our mood lightening, but still, there’s an unmistakable raw desire between us.