Shit.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Rubbing my forehead, where I’m sure I have an impressive goose egg, I nudge my way through the line that’s formed outside the actual bathroom. Even though I still need to pee, I can hold it, because right now I need a strong drink.
Squeezing in at the bar, I flag down the bartender and order two shots of tequila, downing them almost instantly, and in a matter of minutes I’m back out on the dance floor with my friends, determined to forget what just happened—determined to forget the woman on her knees between Rex’s legs and the wave of embarrassment that washed over me when I realized what I’d interrupted.
How freaking embarrassing.
Just as I’d hoped, the alcohol seeps into my veins, lessening the sting of humiliation. Rhianna’s sultry voice floats through the room. JJ and Chelsie are grinding against each other a few feet away as Emma and Erin dance around me. Closing my eyes, I tip my head back and get lost in the music.
My body feels loose—free—and that’s a feeling I haven’t experienced in quite some time.
A feeling I’m not ready to let go of.
The minutes tick by. Rihanna turns into Sam Hunt who turns into Kanye and when the soulful voice of John Legend emerges from the speakers, a set of large hands settles on my hips.
Warm breath fans the back of my neck. “Dance with me.”
My eyes fly open and I whirl around, coming face to face with the chocolate eyes I’ve spent the last hour trying to forget.
For the first time, I get a chance to look at him, and I mean really look at him. Rex is positively gorgeous. Jet black hair that’s short on the sides and longer on top gives him a contemporary sort of hipster look. His crisp white shirt stretches tight from shoulder to shoulder. The sleeves are bunched around his elbows, revealing swirls of black ink that extend down his arms, stopping just above the wrists. Beyond that are thick, long fingers, which have curved possessively around my hips.
It’s nearly impossible, but I manage to drag my eyes back to his. His jaw clenches, and those brown eyes of his drop to my mouth. Something stirs deep inside of me, something I’ve never felt, and the air around us shifts, crackling with tension.
Ever so slowly, he slides the tips of his fingers up my arms and then down, creating a trail of goosebumps. My body shudders under his touch. Gripping my hand, Rex lifts my arm, guiding it around his neck, and then he hauls me in close.
And that’s right about the time my common sense kicks back in.
“I’m not sure your girlfriend is going to want you dancing with me.”
“I don’t have a girlfriend.”
“Really? Could’ve fooled me.”
“I know it looked bad, but she’s just a friend. Nothing was going to happen with Liza. If you’d walked in a minute later, you would’ve found me escorting her out of my office.”
His words shouldn’t make me happy, but they do. There are a million other questions I want to ask, but I decide against it. Who am I to judge him? If he wants to have a quickie in his office, he should.
I just wish it would’ve been me.
Wait. What?
“Is he your boyfriend?”
My body stills. “Boyfriend?”
“Yes.” Rex keeps moving, and I have no choice but to start dancing again. He glances over my shoulder, and I follow his gaze to JJ. “I watched you sit down next to that guy. He kissed you.”
“On the cheek.” Butterflies flit around my stomach. “You were watching me?”
“Of course I was. I’ve spent the last three weeks thinking about you, and then you show up in my club. No way was I letting you out of my sight.”
So he does remember. “I wasn’t sure if you recognized me.”
“How could I forget?” Rex tilts his head, peering down at me. “Is that why you turned down my dinner offer, because of him?”
“No.”
“So why turn me down?”
Shit. There’s no right answer. Rex is attractive and charismatic, and I could easily see myself dating him, but I’m not ready for something like that. Hell, at the rate I’m going, I’ll never be ready.
But that doesn’t stop the loneliness from creeping in.
Sure, I’ve got JJ and Erin, but I yearn for the love and affection of a good, strong man. What I wouldn’t give to fall in love and have the kind of relationship I thought my parents had.
Devoted.
Strong.
Passionate.
But that’s just a dream, because there’s no room in my life for that sort of love—I won’t let there be, which is why I don’t date. Dating leads to falling, which leads to love, and in my life, love leads to deep, soul-piercing heartache. That’s a pain I don’t ever care to experience again.
Rex leans down until we’re eye to eye. His smile is hopeful, and I know I have to be honest. There’s no other option.
“I’m not looking for a relationship,” I explain.
“I wasn’t asking you to go steady; I was asking you to dinner.”
“Why?”
He looks at me funny, but it’s a legitimate question. I don’t look anything like Liza, and there’s no doubt in my mind that he could have any woman he wants.
“Do you want my honest answer?”
“That’s a silly question,” I tell him. “Of course I want an honest answer.”
“I’m not sure you’re ready for it.”
“Flatter me.”
Rex studies me for a few seconds and then nods. “I asked you to dinner because I want to fuck you.”
My mouth drops open. I blink, and blink again. “You…what?” He can’t be serious.
Rex’s gaze is unwavering.
Oh my gosh, he’s totally serious.
“But you don’t even know me. I could be bat-shit crazy.”
He laughs. It’s loud and deep and causes all of my lady parts to sit up and take notice. Not that they weren’t already aware, because they certainly were, but now they’re running on all cylinders, ready to take off.
“I haven’t been this attracted to a woman in months. From the second I saw you, I knew I had to have you. Plus,” he adds, lowering his mouth to my ear, “maybe I like bat-shit crazy.”
“You’ve done this before.” I’m not asking, because I already know the answer. It’s clear as day.
“Done what?”
“Hooked up, one-night stand, whatever you want to call it.”
“And you haven’t?”
“No. I haven’t.”
“But you don’t want a relationship, so you’ve really left me no other choice. I want you. It’s as simple as that.”
The breath catches in my throat at his blunt words. I should be offended. I want to be offended.
But I’m not—not in the least.
Rex twirls me around and pulls me close. The beat of his heart against mine is steady and strong. His hand skims up my spine before gently cupping the back of my neck. Our eyes lock, and I know, in this moment, that I’ll give in to him. If he keeps pushing me, I’ll cave. And not because I’m weak or because of the tequila flowing through my veins, but because I want to.
For just one night, I want to let go.
I want to explore these crazy feelings rolling around inside of me without fear of repercussions.
Ever so slowly, Rex dips his head. I wait for him to say something—anything—because right now it’s all I can do to breathe. On second thought, maybe I don’t want him to speak; maybe he should just kiss me. What better way to dig myself out of a sexual slump than with a sexy, successful, and charming man?
Maybe a one-night stand is exactly what I need.
“I can’t give you more than one night,” I tell him, finding my voice.
His eyes pierce straight through me. “I’m not sure one night will be enough, but I’m willing to take my chances.”
Sliding my hand down his chest, I fist the front of his shirt, holding him to me—encouraging him to do whatever it is he’s thinking about doing.
Unfortunately, for the second time tonight, fate—or better yet, Erin—has a different plan.
“There you are.” She and Jacob slide up next to us, and she smiles cheekily at Rex when he pulls away from me. Jacob wraps an arm around her waist, reaching the other out to Rex who takes it without hesitation. They shake hands, and then Erin points a finger at Rex. She gives him a stern look, only it loses its punch when she hiccups. “You hurt Shae, and I’ll cut your balls off.”
“She won’t really cut your balls off,” Jacob says, tightening his grip on her.
She turns in his arms. “Yes, I will.” She turns back to Rex. “I absolutely will.”
Rex quickly puts her at ease. “I assure you, I won’t hurt her. I’m rather fond of my balls.”
“Good.” Erin nods. “Good. Now, back to dancing.” She waves a hand toward Rex and me. “Just not too close. She might randomly orgasm.”
My jaw drops. “Erin!”
“What?” she asks, holding her hands out. “You haven’t been with a man in—”
“Okay.” Jacob says, cutting her off. “Time to go home.”
“What did I say?” she says, looking at Jacob innocently as he turns her toward the door.
I wait for them to get out of earshot and wipe my hands down the front of my skirt. “Well, that was awkward.”
Rex seems to take everything in stride, and I’m grateful when he doesn’t comment.
“So your name is Shae?” he asks.
“It is. I guess we never got around to that, did we?”
“We haven’t gotten around to a lot of things,” he says, pulling me back into his arms. Heat spreads over my body, landing between my legs, and my mind wonders what other “things” he could be talking about.
“Wanna get out of here?”
I stop moving. My entire body is still, except for my heart—it’s beating wildly, as though it’s trying to throw itself at him.
“I—” Oh my gosh, am I really going to do this?
For a split-second, I reconsider my decision. It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him I can’t, but the words don’t come out. Instead, I glance over at JJ and Chelsie. There’s no doubt he’ll end up at her place tonight because JJ doesn’t fuck girls in the condo if Erin and I are home—it’s an unwritten rule—and he’s definitely fucking Chelsie tonight. Erin and Jacob will undoubtedly end up back at his place. That will leave me alone in our condo while my friends are off having wild, crazy, monkey sex.
I turn back to Rex as JJ’s words from earlier come to me again. “I wouldn’t expect that from you at all.”
“Let’s get out of here.”