Unwrapped

Too close.

“Look at you. I never took you for a party boy,” Lacey teases. She licks salt off her hand and then gulps from the tiny glass.

I catch my breath, still reeling from the glimpse of her pink, wet tongue. “Who are you calling a boy?” I retort, knocking back my own drink. I don’t bother with the salt or lime wedge, I just feel the burn as the alcohol snake down my throat, trying to remind myself of what she said before: I’m like a brother to her. She’s not interested.

Lacey fixes me with an unreadable look. “You know, all the time we spent together with Juliet, I don’t think we ever hung out alone.”

I pause. “You’re right.”

“I guess we never had much in common,” she adds, and there’s something in her voice I can’t figure out.

“You always thought I was a boring preppy nerd,” I tell her, emboldened by the booze.

Lacey chokes on her water. “I did not!”

“Sure you did,” I grin, “You went out of your way not to be around when I came by.” I never thought twice about it before, but now I’m surprised to find it burn at me.

“That’s because I was giving you guys some privacy,” Lacey argues. “And what about you? You thought I was some slutty party girl.”

“Hey,” I frown, “That’s not true.”

She waves my objection away. “It’s OK, I was. I mean, not slutty, but I wanted to have a good time. College was always going to be about fun for me, my last chance to be crazy and irresponsible.” Lacey lets out a sigh.

“What about now?” I ask, “Sounds like you’re having plenty of fun: living it up in LA, all your glamorous events.”

Lacey snorts. “Glamorous. Sure.” She pauses, knocking back another shot. “The truth is, things aren’t working out so well.”

“What do you mean?” I ask.

Lacey lets out a sigh. “LA isn’t what I thought it would be. I’m running around doing errands for my awful boss all day, working hosting jobs on the side.” Her eyes meet mine, and I see something worn out there, her spark dimmed. “You want to know what my last gig was? Dressing up like a Disney princess for some spoiled six year-old’s birthday party.”

“That sounds fun,” I offer, trying to sound upbeat.

“Sure, until she ate too much cake and vomited all over me.”

“Ouch,” I try not to laugh.

“They docked my pay to cover the dry-cleaning,” Lacey adds. “Real glamorous.”

“You’re just starting out,” I try to encourage her. “Everyone starts at the bottom. That’s why I was out in LA doing those depositions when everyone else has already taken off for the holidays.”

“I know,” Lacey manages a smile. “I guess I just miss having Juliet around. LA is so big, I just feel … adrift sometimes, out on my own.”

“You can always try someplace else,” I suggest, “Maybe New York, or DC, closer to her.”

And me.

The thought stops me dead, but Lacey doesn’t notice the change. She shakes her head, as if shaking off the whole subject. “Enough about that. Want another round?”

“No way,” I laugh. “I’m past my limit already.”

“Aww, c’mon …” Lacey teases, tilting her head at me. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

Only me throwing her down on the bar and ravaging her until she’s screaming my name in ecstasy …

I blink, lost for a moment in the fantasy of her lips, sweet under my mouth, and that soft flesh, yielding to my hands..

No. Bad. Stop.

“I think I’m going to call it a night.” I get up, ready to escape with my dignity still intact, but Lacey reaches across and stops me, her hand soft on my bare arm.

“Stay,” she breathes, and her eyes glint, cornflower blue, mesmerizing me. “I have a game for us.”

“A game?” My body has leapt to her touch, and I know, I’m heading right for the edge. Another drink, another hour, and who knows what I might do?

Lacey smiles at me, dangerous and tempting. “Let’s play truth or dare.”

***

He wants me.

After everything that’s happened today, I pray it’s not just wishful thinking making me see things that aren’t there, but I don’t think so. Even if the weird way he chased off that guy from the plane was just him acting all big brother on me, the look on his face right now is unmistakable: the dark flash in his eyes, the way his gaze seems to trail over my body, making me shiver like I’m already naked, feeling his touch on my skin …

My pulse kicks, and I feel a surge of power. He wants me, and tonight, I don’t even want to ask myself why — if this is the tequila talking, or loneliness, or just the mixture of an empty bar and this dress and momentary insanity. I don’t care about reasons or logic right now, not with the dim lights shining, dark gold threads in his hair, and every nerve in my body screaming out to touch him again.

He wants me.

Now I just need him to do something about it.

I meet his gaze in a coy smile, even though my heart is racing like crazy with wild anticipation. “What do you say? Ready to get to know each other a little better?” I reach over and take a sip of his drink, slowly licking the moisture off my lips.

Daniel blinks once, then lowers himself slowly back on the barstool beside me. “Why not?” he gives me a grin that turns my insides to molten honey. “This should be good.”