Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 75833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Yet, I couldn’t seem to stop myself. This odd pull to him had me curious to know if there was a softer side to the man.
I stepped outside for air. The night was cool and actually quiet compared to the chaos inside. My ears were still ringing from the music. I told myself I would stay out here five minutes, then find Lyric, say goodnight and go home.
But when I went back inside, it was like stepping into a warmth, a heat of attraction. It wasn’t from the air, it was from him. He was at the far edge of the crowd and the second I crossed the threshold back into his world, his eyes were on me. Our gazes locked and it felt like I had been stripped bare and set on fire from the inside without a single touch.
Deciding I couldn’t withstand the inferno blazing between us, I moved fast cutting toward the side of the room where a group of the ladies from work were dancing. If I lost myself in the crowd maybe I’d stop feeling like I was about to take a leap off a cliff. Even here immersed with bodies pressing in all around me, I could feel him.
Every instinct in my brain said stay away from him. But my body couldn’t seem to get in alignment with this idea. In fact, down to my belly there was a voice telling me go closer.
I kept moving.
That was my trick to survival. Never stay still long enough to be caught. It wasn’t easy. The whole room was noise and motion. I was moving against it. The plan was simple, say my goodbyes and leave.
I was halfway back to the bar to tell Jonesy I was going to head to the hotel and let Lyric know when I noticed him shifting. No, he wasn’t simply moving through the crowd. This was a deliberate push from the wall, rolling back of his broad shoulders, eyes pinned to me predator locking onto his prey moment.
My pulse jumped.
I tried to cut to the side, but I had nowhere to go. Two steps later, he was right in front of me.
Close.
As in my personal space close.
He smelled of cedar and sandalwood, all man and musk. My hands trembled but I clutched them together to hide the way he rattled me.
“You’re still here,” he stated.
“If you can see me, which clearly you can, I am indeed.” The words came out sharper than I wanted, but this was me. I always got in trouble for being sassy.
“Brave or stupid.” Another statement not really a question.
“Neither. Now, if you’ll excuse me. I need to tell my cousin goodnight and I’ll be on my way.”
“Cousin,” he muttered it low and slow. “The hang on with Tiny?”
I blinked. “Hang on? She’s not a thing, she’s a woman. Nevermind.” I threw up my hands wildly. Whatever Lyric had with Tiny wasn’t my business. But she wasn’t some clingy, hanging on him woman. He was as into her from what I could tell as she was him.
His eyes scanned my face, down to my mouth where he lingered a moment longer. My lips suddenly felt dry and I licked them absently before his eyes locked back to mine. “You don’t fit here.”
“Well, thank you captain obvious.” I wanted to smack myself in the head. Like what did this man think? I knew I didn’t belong, but Lyric and I were in this together.
A lazy grin built slowly on his face. “The question I have is are you smart enough to walk out of here before something bites you or dumb enough to keep dancing with the devil and see what happens?”
There was something in this moment. I couldn’t quite describe. I took the bait though. The air between us was thick. “Which do you think I am?”
His smirk was dangerous. “Not sure about you. But the more you talk back, the more I’m interested to see how hot you could be outside of here. You got a fire inside you, baby.”
That was my cue.
The one that said run like a track star straight out of here.
Every rational part of me knew it.
Yet, my feet didn’t move.
He leaned in just enough for me to catch a hint of the whiskey on his breath. “Watch yourself, baby. Some of us bite just to hear you scream.”
Heat shot down my spine, pooling in my belly. Fear and something else, something I couldn’t quite name rushed through me.
“Let Lyric know I went home.” I stepped back before I could get more entangled with this man. “Goodnight.” It came out softer than I wanted, almost in a needy whisper.
His eyes held mine for a second longer before he shifted aside like he was clearing a path and granting permission for my exit.
I walked away feeling the heat of his gaze on my every step. I didn’t bother to stop until I hit the cool night air just outside of the compound gates. Lyric told me to park at the empty lot outside of the compound and I was thankful for that. It gave me a moment to catch my breath.