Chapter Eight
Morgan sucked down her second Sunrise and waited for the tequila to sink in and cloud her head. A steady strum of beats hammered in her chest as the throngs of people around her swayed to the music. The whole thing was a bit much, but she hoped the drink would help with that soon enough.
“Let’s dance!” Sierra said, and grinned at her.
Morgan could see her other friends on the floor dancing with their partners, who were trying their best to keep up with them but failing miserably.
This really wasn’t her thing. Dancing. Sure, she enjoyed turning on some tunes at home and grooving around, but this was different. Having people watch her while she danced wasn’t really on the top of her list, especially with the thick crowd and bone-shaking music.
Luckily, the Sunrise was doing its job. Her head was already slightly fuzzy from the alcohol, and her inhibitions started to disappear.
Dancing. Yeah, it shouldn’t be too bad. Or so her tequila-addled mind thought.
She moved out on to the floor with Sienna and laughed as her friend did a sexy shimmy on her way.
Morgan moved freely now. The beat pulsed through her as she swung her hips from side to side. The idea of this being embarrassing now seemed downright silly.
“Don’t look now, but I think you’re being watched,” Sierra said near her ear over the loud music.
A desperate hope popped into her head: Davin could be there and watching.
Morgan performed a small twirl and spotted a large muscled man staring at her from a table nearby. He licked his lips like she was a morsel to be devoured, and she shivered in revulsion.
Definitely not Davin. She turned back around to Sierra when the man stood from his seat.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
This was not at all what she’d call a good time. All the tequila in the world couldn’t smother her discomfort.
Morgan jumped when a hard chest pressed against her back. Hot breath covered her ear.
“Just what are you doing out in something like that?”
Panic shot through her for a second before her back stiffened for an entirely different reason as she recognized the voice.
“I’ll wear whatever the fuck I want,” she said as she moved away from Davin.
He placed a hand around her middle and pulled her flush against him. The evidence of his arousal pressed hard against her ass.
She gasped and hoped the loud noise of the club hid the sound.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were out to kill me,” he growled in her ear, his lips brushing against the sensitive lobe.
Morgan sucked in a breath as she moved to the beat, now not caring who saw them there together or just what it looked like. For just once, she wanted to be free and with the man she’d desired for years.
Her hips moved against his, and she noticed that for every move she made, he followed her with ease. His other hand ghosted along the side of her body, brushing against the side of her breast as he did so.
“Fuck, you really are trying to kill me,” Davin said.
Morgan gasped as he spun her in his arms and pressed his knee firmly between her legs as they moved. He pressed hard against her sensitive center.
She wanted to speak. To ask him where the hell he’d been the last six years, let alone the last four days. But instead she focused on the feel of him there in her arms, his bright green eyes staring down at her.
Davin leaned down and placed a soft kiss against her lips. “If I’m not careful, I’m going to really fall for you.”
Her body stiffened instantly. He’d meant it playfully. She knew this. And yet those words struck something deep inside her. Something that felt true but also terrifying.
Morgan pulled herself away. It was her turn to run.
“I…” she said, not really sure what to say as he stared at her. “I need to use the restroom.”
She didn’t wait for him to respond and bolted from the dance floor, and from Davin’s firm embrace where anything and nothing were possible all at once.
He didn’t try and stop her. He must have realized the mistake. Hell, given how he’d behaved four days earlier, it was almost certain.
It didn’t take her all that long for her to find the bathroom, and fortunately, for once, there wasn’t a line.
Morgan breathed in deeply as she stared at herself in the bathroom mirror. Her body still hummed from having Davin pressed so firmly against her.
The more she thought about it, the more confused she became. She’d thought he realized everything was a mistake, but his behavior on the dance floor now made her question that, along with what he’d been saying.
Just what the hell was he getting at? It had been a week since she’d last seen him, not even counting the many years he’d been gone. Then he suddenly showed up on the dance floor and left her feeling like they just screwed in front of everyone.
The heat of a blush spread across her face as several women entered. Their outfits displayed much more skin than her own, and their makeup was far fancier.
Those were the sort of women Davin usually went for. They were the type she’d seen him with over and over again, breaking her heart every time.
The truth was even if he were willing to play around on the dance floor, in the end, he just wouldn’t go for someone like her.
She was overthinking things. Maybe he was just drunk.
Morgan frowned. She wasn’t really sure she’d be able to tell. After a couple Tequila Sunrises, she was pretty toasted herself. But really, the explanation was the only one that made sense.
Sort of.
It still didn’t explain the other night and the super hot kiss he’d given her, but one problem at a time. It was about all her brain could process right now. Or her body for that matter.
She took in a deep breath and headed for the door. Maybe she could just slip out without him even seeing her. Then she could go back to the way things were before Davin returned and stirred her heart.
Morgan paused with her hand still on the door.
Did she really want that? The same thing every day?
A lump formed in her throat. It wasn’t what she wanted. What she wanted she’d likely never get, and a one-night stand wasn’t likely to change anything. It’d only make things worse.
But perhaps one night with Davin was better than nothing.
Taking in a shaky breath, Morgan felt her resolve settle. She’d just have to make it the best night ever.
She opened the door and stepped out into the dark hall leading to the dance floor. The music hit her like a wave as she looked around for those green eyes she always loved.
“Looks like loser ran away,” a rough Russian-accented voice said near her ear. His thick accent made him hard to understand at first. “Maybe we get out of here.”
The strong stench of the alcohol hit her nose before she even turned. She knew it was the man who had been watching her before.
Morgan plastered a smile on her face. She’d never been very good at rejecting people. “I should really get back to my friends.” She twisted her hands in front of her nervously.
The large man pressed in. She stepped back, but her back collided with a cold wall.
“What your hurry?” he said. He mumbled something in Russian under his breath.
Morgan tried to look around, but found she was completely blocked off from anyone that might help. It was not at all the situation she expected to find herself in.
* * *
Davin watched her race to the bathroom and cursed himself. Not only had he stepped in when the hulking Russian was making his way over to her, but he’d scared her off as well.
His words came out before he’d even had a chance to think about what he was saying. She just smelled so good in his arms. Like they were made for one another.
He clenched his fists and made his way back to the table. Torin raised a brow as Davin sat hard in his seat and chugged the last of his beer.
“So what happened to keeping a low profile?” Kane grumbled. “I’m sure half the Russians in this bar have made you now.”
“They have no idea who the fuck I am.” Davin slammed his beer down. He itched to get another, but he needed to remember just what the fuck he was supposed to be doing.
This wasn’t the time to be sorting out his feelings for Morgan. He was supposed to be casing the fucking Russians.
“And it doesn’t matter. I couldn’t let that asshole near her,” he said firmly.
Sure, that was it. He was just doing his civic duty by protecting Morgan from that creep. His wandering hands and hard-on were just perks of the deal.
He stared hard in the direction of the bathroom, waiting for her to come back out so he could explain how dangerous it was there. That she and her friends needed to go someplace else to dance and drink.
Davin clenched his fists again. She needed to be someplace else. But then he’d not be there and wouldn’t be able to keep every other man away from her.
Suddenly, he wasn’t so sure his plan was going to be the best idea. He thought maybe he should just take her home with him and have his one night. Then he’d be able to move on.
The lie didn’t even sound good in his head. He knew this path.
There was never going to be just one time with Morgan. As it was, they’d only shared one kiss, and he hungered for more like a starving man. Hungered to hear her soft moans against his mouth as he brought her to the edge over and over again.
He watched as the sea of people parted, and his heart froze in his chest.
The large Russian from before leaned over Morgan. His body moved closer and closer to her until she was backed against the wall. His hand moved toward her shoulder.
Davin stood instantly.
“Don’t do this,” Torin said firmly. “You’ll fuck everything up.”
Davin glanced down to his friend and offered him a smile. The sort that told them both he was going to enjoy what happened next.
“I’m not going to fuck anything up,” Davin said. “I’m just going to say hello.”
Kane sighed. “We’ll bring your car around. Try and not kill anyone before then.”
Davin nodded. They knew where this was going. The only direction it could go when he was involved.