Stone

There is something extremely familiar about this woman, however, I’m not sure where I know her from. Surely if I’d met her before, I would’ve remembered. The long, dark hair, the brilliant bright green eyes, the slightly squared chin and those lips.

Damn, those lips. It’s wrong of me to be picturing them wrapped securely around my cock, but that’s where my mind instantly drifts. I haven’t had this sort of reaction to a woman in a long damn time.

She’s memorable to say the least.

Which, I can only assume means I don’t know her. I would’ve remembered her. Especially the way she seems to regard me with moderate disinterest and more than a little irritation.

“So, no plans to determine how sturdy that wall is, huh?” I tease, my eyes darting down to see Leon finally finishing off that poor chick.

She regards me from beneath thick, dark lashes, then cocks her head behind her. “No, I prefer that wall.”

I can’t help it, I fucking look. I know she’s messing with me, but damn. Now, I’m picturing her pressed up against the wall at the back of the VIP section, my cock buried to the hilt in her body, her puffy bottom lip trapped between her teeth as I make her come over and over again.

Then I laugh.

Not because it’s funny, but because this chick is a breath of fresh air. As of now, ten minutes after I joined her at the table, not once has she hit on me or tried to feel me up in any way. In fact, I’d go so far as to say she considers me an interruption to her otherwise pleasant evening.

Then again, I probably would’ve left by now if I hadn’t caught her sizing me up at least once in the past five minutes. She might deny it, but I definitely saw a hint of interest in those iridescent green eyes.

When her wineglass is empty, I signal the waitress for another, waving off more for me. I’m down to club soda anyway, so it’s no hardship.

“If you’re lookin’ to get lucky tonight, you should probably head back to where you came from,” she says, her tone sugary sweet and completely annoyed.

“Why would you think I’m lookin’ to get lucky?” I ask, both amused and curious as to what brought that on.

She cocks one perfect eyebrow.

I widen my eyes in mock surprise. “Oh, wait.” I motion back and forth between us. “Did you think I was…interested?” I shake my head dramatically. “Oh, no, you’re definitely not my type.”

She grins and I like that she knows I’m teasing. If I’d said that to some of the women in this place, they would’ve turned their noses up at me or poured their drink on my head.

“Well, that’s good.” She mimics the motion of my hand. “Because you’re definitely not my type.”

“No?”

“Uh-uh. Certainly not.”

“You don’t go for good-looking guys?”

The corner of her mouth curls in an almost-smile. “It’s the cockiness I’m not attracted to.”

“Oh, so you’re not into cock. Got it.”

She laughs, nearly spitting her wine out, which only makes my smile grow.

When she settles down, I meet her eyes. “You won’t get any judgment from me. To each his own and all that.”

“Her.”

“What?” I lock eyes with her.

“Her own,” she clarifies.

“Got it. To each her own. My apologies to feminists everywhere.” I can’t stop grinning.

“Well, that’s very considerate of you.” She glances out at the dance floor below. “So, why’d you dump Sugar Tits?”

I peer down at the dance floor and notice the redhead I danced with earlier. Looks as though this woman beside me was more interested than she claims. I mean, she was obviously watching me.

Then her comment registers.

“Uh…wait. Did you just call that girl Sugar Tits?”

“I did.”

“They were kinda sweet tits, right?”

She rolls her eyes.

I like her.

“So, you got a name?” I ask.

“I do,” she replies. “Most people do.”

Yep, I like her more and more with every passing minute. “Good one. But I take it you’re not gonna tell me?”

“Nope.”

“Any reason why not?”

“I prefer the anonymity.”

“Ahh. In that case, my name’s not important either. Nice to meet you.” I hold out my hand and wait for her to return the gesture.

I notice that she transfers something from one hand to the other. When her small fingers touch mine, I hold on for an extra second or two, ensuring we make eye contact while doing so.

“What’s in your hand?” I ask, leaning in closer to her.

“Nothing,” she blurts, then reaches for the small clutch lying on the table.

Unable to resist, I grab her hand before she can hide it.

Laughing, I meet her eyes, noticing her cheeks are now bright red. “A condom? Wow. I look like a sure thing, huh?”

She laughs, but it comes out strangled. “No! God, no. My friend…Never mind.”

Damn she’s cute.

Unfortunately, she doesn’t enlighten me as to why she’s palming condoms in the club. Instead, she tosses it into her purse and grabs her wineglass. I feel her eyes darting over to me a few times.

She might say she doesn’t have any interest in me, but I’m not sure I’m buying that.

Not that I’m going to try to change her mind. I’m pretty content with what we’ve got going right now. When I came here tonight I had no agenda. I’m not looking to get laid, not needing to find some woman to hook up with.

However…

“Would you like to dance?” I offer.

She shakes her head. “Can’t.”

“Can’t?”

“Nope. Bum leg.”

“Really?”

“No. But I don’t want to dance with you.”

I like her jabs because they aren’t cold and calculated. I can tell she’s teasing, but at the same time she’s not.

“Got it. Well, good. Because I wasn’t offering to dance with you. But, I would’ve been willing to find some ugly schmuck down there who’d be willing to take you off my hands.”

She laughs and the sound goes right to my dick.

“Really?” Her light green eyes swing over to the dance floor. “Who would you have picked for me?”

I consider this a moment, scanning the crowd, trying to find the most unsuitable match for her.

“That guy,” I say, pointing to a short blond guy who’s obviously trying a little too hard with his dance moves. Thanks to his swinging arms, he’s managed to push a majority of the dancers to one side of the floor.

“That guy?” She purses her lips, obviously pretending to consider my choice for her. “He’s not too bad. I can see why you’d think he’s a step up from you.”

I laugh, the sound echoing through the space. It’s probably the first time I’ve really laughed in a long time. Although I don’t have many complaints, I’ll admit that I spend a lot of time with people who are hell-bent on impressing me to the point that I can’t find any amusement in it.

Sure, I’m content. I’ve got money and fame, family and a few good friends, plus a nice car and a huge house. But, I still go home alone every night, choosing to forego empty relationships in exchange for my sanity

I nod toward the dance floor.

“So, who would you match me up with?”

She spends an unusual amount of time considering the options before finally, she inconspicuously points to a girl sitting at a table in the corner by herself.

“That girl,” she explains. “She looks a little desperate. You probably wouldn’t be her first choice, but you’d be a decent consolation prize.”

I push back my chair, and her eyes swing to me.

“Come on,” I insist, reaching for her hand.

She reaches out and I don’t even think she realizes what she’s doing. She proves that when she pulls her hand back.

“Wait. What’re you doin’?”

“We’re gonna go dance,” I tell her. “With our new partners.”

“Are you serious?”

“I am. And if I can get that girl to dance with me before you can get that guy to dance with you, you’ll give me your name and your phone number.”

“And if I get him to dance with me first?”

“Then I’ll give you my name and number.”

“Well, that’s a shitty prize,” she says, smirking.

Chuckling, I engulf her hand in mine and lead her from the VIP section down to the dance floor. I turn to her, moving in extra close for the simple fact that I want to get closer to her. She smells ridiculously good. Something light, yet sexy.

Her head tilts back and she’s staring up at me, her eyes wide. Suddenly, I don’t have any desire to ask some other chick to dance, but I’m going to hold up my end of the bargain.

“Good luck,” I say, my voice a little rougher than I expected.

“And good luck to you.”

With that, she releases my hand and marches right over to the guy still shaking his groove thang on the dance floor. Before I get three feet from the spot I was in, the woman is dancing with that fool.

I can’t help but watch the way she moves. She looks natural, not at all like she’s not enjoying herself. I find I like that, too. I have no idea who this woman is, but she’s one of the first people I’ve met recently who seems genuine, not putting on a front to impress me.

The question is, can I leave this bar with the possible chance of ever seeing her again? If she has a say in the matter, I’d have to assume the answer is no.

However, there’s a little time left, and just like in football, I don’t intend to go down without a fight.

Savannah

I can’t deny that I haven’t been completely turned off by Jason Stone.

In fact, I might’ve even imagined using that damn condom with the guy.

Only briefly.

Thought about it briefly, that is. Not the actually deed in which we would use it. There would be nothing brief about that.

Damn it.

That is not where I intended to go with my train of thought.

I surreptitiously let my gaze slide over to him. I can see him watching me. I like that he is, although I shouldn’t.

He’s not at all what I expected. Sure, he’s cocky and all, but I like the lighter side, the teasing side. The fact that he doesn’t seem to take himself seriously makes me like him.

More than I probably should, considering.

Plus, he’s made me laugh, made me forget that I didn’t want to be here in the first place.

Thankfully, I managed to get my…what do I even call this guy? A target? Whatever. Thankfully, I got him to dance with me to a fast song, so he doesn’t get a chance to get all handsy. When the song ends, I smile sweetly and then nod toward Stone.

“Thanks for the dance,” I tell him. “But my brother’s back. I should go check on him. He’s having some girl problems tonight. Well, technically, I think he’s got a rash and no one seems to want to dance with him. I’ve suggested he go to the doctor, but you know how it is.” I lower my voice. “I think he’s embarrassed.”

The guy is staring at me and I have to wonder if he understood a word I said. That or he knows who Jason Stone is and tomorrow’s sports headlines are going to announce that Jason Stone has herpes or some shit like that.

Oops.

Without waiting for him to say anything, I turn and walk away, heading right over to Stone.

“Your turn,” I tell him.

“But you clearly won,” he says, leaning casually against the bar.

“I did, but that doesn’t mean you can wimp out. A bet’s a bet. Get your ass on over there and get that girl to dance with you.”

“Will you be here when I get back?”

If he hadn’t asked me that, I probably would’ve bolted. However, I can’t see leaving him high and dry, so I simply nod, then lean against the bar. “I’ll wait. But if you’re really interested in her, just give me some sort of signal”—I give him a thumbs-up as an example—“and I’ll know you’re goin’ home with her.”

He laughs. “Not a chance.”

“You never know,” I say in a singsong voice, grabbing his biceps and tugging him away from the bar. Once he’s completely vertical, I push on his back to send him in the girl’s direction.

I’m fascinated as he walks over to the girl’s table. Not only by the fact that he’s following through, but also because the guy has a phenomenal ass.

Lord have mercy. I’m a lost cause.

Jason leans down and whispers something to—

“What the holy heck are you doin’?”

I spin around to find Allison standing beside me. She’s sweating, which is a clear indicator that she’s been dancing.

“I’ve got a bet with Stone.”

“Yeah?” She looks hopeful. “Who can open that condom faster without using their teeth?”

I flinch back. “No!” The woman’s a basket case. “He’s got to dance with that girl.”

I turn back to where he was, and quickly notice that he’s out on the dance floor. The girl is smiling up at him as they move leisurely to a slow song. I can’t help but laugh. His eyes meet mine over the girl’s head, and he pins me with a glare, followed by a cocky smirk.

“So? What’s he like?” Allison asks, taking a glass of water from the bartender.

“He’s…not that bad,” I admit.

“Then why in the world did you pawn him off on that girl?”

I shrug. Honestly, I can’t answer that because I don’t know. I would’ve been content to sit at the table and trade insults with him for the rest of the night. But, I’m never one to back down from a challenge and I had to prove that to him.

“Does he know who you are?”

I spin around and face Allison, shaking my head. “No. And I don’t plan to tell him, so keep your mouth shut.”

“Mum’s the word.” Allison grins. “Don’t look now, but he’s comin’ back,” she says in a whisper that can probably be heard throughout the club.

It registers that the song ended and another slow song started. Since Allison has decided to abandon me again, I have no choice but to turn around. I do so slowly.

“Your turn,” Stone says, his voice raspy and deep.

“My turn for—” I don’t get to finish the sentence because he’s pulling me out on the dance floor, his big arms instantly coming around me.

Instinct and good manners have me moving in close to him, placing my palms on his chest. I try my best not to shift my hands, not wanting to feel how hard his pecs are.

“So?” I ask, peering up at him. “Was it love at first sight? Are you plannin’ to have lots and lots of—”

My words die off when his mouth descends on mine. His lips are firm, warm, and although I know I should pull away, I find myself leaning in, kissing him back. When his tongue coaxes my lips apart, I don’t put up a fight, giving in despite knowing this is a huge mistake.

There’s no groping or fumbling. We simply stop moving as our lips meld together, our tongues picking up the rhythm our bodies left behind. I’m lost to it for a few seconds, but I’m not the one who pulls back first.

When I get my bearings, I open my eyes and look up at Stone. He’s staring back at me, the heated glimmer and the dimly lit area making his dark eyes even darker.

“Thanks for the dance,” he says softly.

Surprisingly, he backs up, releasing me, but keeping one hand on my back as though to ensure I don’t fall over. It’s a real possibility because I have absolutely no clue what to do or say or even think.

Never in my life have I been kissed like that.

And to make matters worse, there’s absolutely nothing I can do about seeing where this might lead because…

Well, because he’s him and I’m me and mixing things up with Jason Stone is bad business.

Very, very bad.

I inwardly groan.

For the first time in my life, I want to be bad.

But, just like I normally do, I ignore my wants and focus on what’s necessary.

And that’s getting out of this club before I do something really, really stupid.