Seven

LILAH

I’ve never been so turned on in my life.

On the drive over, Andrew conveniently failed to mention that the art show we were attending was one of the… sensual variety. Men and women in all shapes and sizes are covered only in vibrant paint as their bodies twist and bend into various intricate poses.

The positions are so intimate that I feel guilty watching, until I remember that’s exactly what I’m here to do.

In what seems to be typical Andrew fashion, he’s cool as a cucumber while I dissolve into a ball of tightly wound nerve endings. He hasn’t touched me all night, yet I’m burning hotter than I was in my suffocating apartment.

The man is infuriating, showing up to my apartment and demanding things like he owns the place. A strong pulse has been throbbing at my center since he arrived unannounced.

We’re walking side by side, not touching but definitely in each other’s space. I hate that it makes me crave him even more. Ever since he licked my fingers the other night, my body has been going through some agonizing withdrawals.

Where are ice chips when you need them?

Spectators are scattered throughout the large converted warehouse enjoying food and drinks. I look on, biting the inside of my cheek, as Andrew and I journey from one exhibit to the next.

“Would you like another drink, Cupcake?” Andrew asks, sliding me a glance from the corner of his eye.

It’s not even worth my time to object the pet name he seems so adamant on calling me. All my energy is being summoned not to drool at the sight of his bulging biceps in that black button down anyway.

“Another gin and tonic would be great,” I say, extending my empty glass in his direction.

“Coming right up,” he says with a wink before walking away. His strides are confident and carefully measured. He looks like he owns the place.

Alone, I take in the exhibit before me. Because the lights are pretty low throughout, the figures are only illuminated by a white light. Three figures are twisted together intricately, their lithe limbs wrapped around each other in a familiar embrace.

Sensual heat radiates from them and I find myself shifting from foot to foot to alleviate the stubborn pulse between my thighs.

Green really isn’t my color but I can’t help the jealousy that surges through me to my very core. I haven’t been touched in so long…

How the hell am I supposed to make it through another hour of this without jumping Andrew’s bones?

He appears at my side as soon as the thought is concluded.

“Here you go.”

Handing over my refreshed drink, Andrew turns to study the exhibit that’s garnered my rapt attention.

Taking a sip of my cocktail, I turn my focus on the man beside me and size him up from head to toe.

His short, coppery hair is perfectly cropped and styled. There isn’t a trace of facial hair on his face, leaving his gorgeous features ample opportunity to shine through. Thick, but groomed, eyebrows rest over his beautiful blue eyes. The line of his nose is prominent and distinct but not an eyesore. His jaw is smooth and defined. And that mouth is tempting on a whole other level.

My God.

From the buttons undone at his collar, I can see that his neck is thick and leads to wide shoulders. That brings me back to his biceps. They’re gigantic. Easily bigger than one of my thighs and I’m not a skinny girl. His perfectly tanned complexion lets me know he spends his days in the sun. Or maybe it’s the result of a tanning bed.

My lips quirk at the thought of him with those ridiculous glasses covering his eyes while he lays there, waiting for the timer to go off.

“Like what you see?” Andrew asks suddenly, turning to me.

From his taunting expression, I can’t tell if he’s talking about the exhibit or himself. But the smirk on his face leads me to the latter option.

Damn, I’ve been caught.

My mother always told me it wasn’t polite to stare, but I bet she’d never met a man as attractive as Andrew. To sum it up, he’s magnificent.

“Sorry, I guess I zoned out.” Clearing my throat, I take another sip of my drink as well as a deep inhale of air to steady my breathing.

“Why don’t we get out of here?” he asks, frowning as he pulls at his collar.

Is he as hot and bothered as I am?

It’s a gratifying thought, but I highly doubt it. Nothing seems to ruffle his feathers. Something tells me that he does all the ruffling.

But I do want to get out of here. I’m not sure how much longer I can last in such a charged environment with him only inches away.

“Where to now?” I quiz, not wanting to come right out and tell him that I don’t want our time together to end.

“Follow me.”

I’m right on his heels as we make our way back to the front of the renovated warehouse. Andrew stops to speak to a stunning woman just before we reach the door.

They fall into easy conversation and the woman reaches out to squeeze his bicep while smiling at him enchantingly.

Just because it isn’t my place to be jealous doesn’t stop the stupid knots from twisting in my gut. She looks way too familiar with him and I wonder how they know each other.

A couple minutes into their conversation, Andrew seems to remember that I’m standing there and turns to me with a sheepish smile.

“Sorry, Lilah. This is my good friend Natalia. We studied art together in Spain. She owns this place.”

Art school? In Spain?

Shit, is everyone he knows beautiful and rich?

It feels like someone just dumped a bucket of ice water over my head, leaving me drenched and shivering out in the cold. If I needed any sort of reminder that I’m way out of my league here, that was it.

Summoning my best fake smile, I exchange pleasantries and pretend to be delighted to meet her.

Natalia’s smile is full of warmth and a little intrigue. She studies me up and down before turning to Andrew with a twinkle in her hazel eyes.

“She’s stunning,” she says to him as if I’m not standing right there.

Peeved and officially done for the night, I excuse myself and head for the parking lot as they wrap up their conversation.

A nice walk will do me some good because it suddenly feels like I’m suffocating.

It doesn’t dawn on me until it’s too late that Andrew gave his car to a valet when we arrived. I keep walking anyway. Wandering aimlessly through the rows, I hear footsteps approaching and I know it’s him.

“What the fuck? Wait up, will you?”

Stopping, I stand in place but I don’t turn to him. When Andrew catches up with me, his heavy brows are dipped in the center of his forehead.

“What was that about, Lilah?”

I’m out of my league here, that’s what.

We come from two very different worlds. When he showed up on my doorstep this evening, overcome by desire, I’d easily forgotten that small fact. But now it’s crystal clear and I don’t know how I thought he could be interested in someone like me.

“Take me home, please.”

“Our date isn’t over,” he says, and I can see that muscle at the base of his jaw ticking furiously.

“Oh, but it is. I made a mistake coming out with you tonight but I promise it’s not a mistake that I will make again.”

Our proximity is weakening my resolve but I simply can’t get mixed up in his little world. I have no idea what he wants with me in the first place.

“Lilah, tell me what this is about—”

“Just take me home, please. Or I can call a cab.”