Alicia
Emmettwasagreatdistraction.He had a mellow energy, but he seemed genuinely interested our conversation about nature conservation.It was a great talk.So much so, that I barely noticed when Remi joined some of his friends on the dance floor.I was too preoccupied by Emmett’s thoughtful observations to give Remi’s huge smile as he swayed from side-to-side any of my attention.Emmett sharing the names of influential people in the county held my complete consciousness.So preoccupying that I didn’t pay any attention to the flex of Remi’s thighs in his jeans—it was obscene.
I was ignoring his existence so effectively that when Emmett excused himself for a few moments, I was able to feign surprise as Remi leaned his elbows on the bar a few stools down from where I sat.The friendly smile he gave me was just like the one from that morning after checking that my side of the wall was safe enough for me to enter.
We were friendly, and wasn’t that good?Wasn’t that great?It actually wasn’t confusing or important at all.I didn’t need to parcel out my impulse to talk to him or my desire to touch him.
Friends touched.I was sure of it.I was well practiced in having friends.One little touch.
My two glasses of Chardonnay agreed.
“You’re everywhere these days,” I called over the noise and music.
Remi’s grin grew slowly, tying my heart strings into knots.“Not a whole lot of places to go.”
“Having fun tonight?”
It was all the invitation he needed to move closer.
The crowd parted around him, giving way to his size.People here were a bit taller on average than most places, and yet, he was inches taller than everyone else.His chest was too large to squeeze between me and the person next to me.Instead, he gripped the edge of the bar with one hand, putting him partially beside and behind me.I always loved how he consumed space.The sheer mass of him surrounding me.Heat ebbed from his body, and under his clean scent was the bite of sweat.
I squirmed, all too aware of the ache between my thighs.
“I am,” he answered.“You?”
“The wine is pretty good,” I said lifting my glass to my lips, only to realize it was empty.
His eyes flicked from the glass to my face, I could practically see him holding back a comment.
“Don’t,” I warned, but there was no denying the humor in that single word.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Yes, you would.”
God, that smile again, I groaned internally.
He had a jaw sharp enough to cut through my better judgment.
Not today, handsome man.But another much more muffled part of me whispered,Well, maybe.
Remi held up a hand to get the attention of the bartender.“Have you had their pretzels?”
“Oo!A pretzel!”I sat up straighter, instantly energized for some carbs.
“You’re gonna love this one, the beer cheese will make you see God.”
“You wanna”—I cut myself off from asking him ifhecould make me see God.It was like I’d lost all control over the horny little comments that should have stayed in my head and nottextedto him or spoken—“share it with me?”
“Nah, I wouldn’t want to crowd you and Emmett.”The skin of his knuckles whitened as his grip tightened on bar.
I smirked down at my hands.Don’t be jealous, Remi, it’s annoyingly hot.
Okay, now he should go.
“We’re just ...there’s nothing ...”I chewed my lower lip, and heat rose up my cheeks as he glared down at the press of my teeth against my flesh.“He’s just helping me.”
“Save the wetlands?”
