You’re off limits.
Her head falls to her chest when his eyes flash to hers, warmth flooding her stomach, before looking back up. He’s still staring as he makes his way over to her. Setting the drink down, his eyes trail the length of black material covering her frame, the expanse of her collarbone, the curve of her shoulders, to the loose fabric at the top of her thighs. She brings the drink to her lips slowly, sipping the sugar from the rim, mixing it with the tartness of the liquid.
His eyes remain on hers. “How is it?”
Moving the glass, she turns her lip up.
Perfect.
“Disgusting,” she says, lowering it back down to the counter.
And then, with her fingers, she makes a zero followed by a five. The sound that follows is loud and unforeseen. She watches as he sobers, shaking his head, and the room seems warmer becauseshe made him laugh.His eyes are back on her, and his lips part, ready to say something, and surprisingly, she finds herself leaning closer to hear him when Trent slides next to her.
“Nice,” he says, collecting the shots. Jahlani straightens herself, blinking as she grips her drink tighter. Trent nods toward her hand.
“What’s that?”
“Lemon drop martini,” she says, extending the glass to him. He leans forward, sipping from the straw while she holds it and something slimy glides through her stomach because sheknowshow this looks.
But anyone with an eye for detail would notice that their eyes are the exact same hue of brown, and that they share similar shapes in the arch of their nose and the curve of their mouths.
Leaning back, Trent nods in approval before making his way back to the table. Turning back, she sees that Roman has moved to the other end of the bar, and her shoulders drop.
Pressing her fingers to her forehead, she laughs to herself becausewhy should she care what he thinks?Blowing out a breath, she walks away with her glass, not looking back.
As they work through their fifth shot, Teryn convinces them both to dance, dragging them to the center. She isn’t sure how much time has passed as Trent disappears with a woman, and Teryn leaves to use the bathroom, leaving Jahlani alone. She moves to a more secluded corner of the room, finishing the rest of her drink which has her feeling fuzzy and warm, andlight.
So light.
Shutting her eyes, she leans her head against the wall. She’s warm everywhere, and her heart starts pounding. She shrugs her jacket off, dumping it on the floor. Soon, she feels a shift in the air. A tug in the back of her mind, and she opens her eyes, staring and saying nothing. Her body is warm and tingly from the drinks.Only from the drinksshe tells herself.
Roman’s eyes sweep over her, making her feel … making her feelwhat?
“Jahlani,” he says, voice sliding out frustratingly deep and smooth. Too smooth.
“Hmm.” She closes her eyes, trying to block him out. Trying and failing. Failing a lot more than usual.
“Are you, perhaps, stalking me?” he asks, his tone airy. Playful. Like they weren’t arguing less than 48 hours ago. Like it didn’t bother him as much as it did her. Like he’s forgotten about it. She hears him shuffle closer and her stomach tenses, but she stays rooted to the spot.
“I didn’t know you worked here,” she says, monotone as she folds her arms across her chest. Her eyes fly open when his shirt brushes against her fingertips. Her cheeks flush under his gaze—no,the lights. It’s definitely that—yes, it has to be. It’s making the room hotter. “I’ll be sure to add this to my list of places to never return to,” she says. Willing the hum and warmth spreading throughout her body togo away.
He lets out a small gust of air, seemingcharmedby her threat, which infuriates her because she definitely isn’t trying to be with him.
“What? You think I’m joking?” She tries to sound fierce, but her speech is slow. Delayed. Her voice comes out more sluggish than she intends.
“No. I don’t,” he murmurs. “But I’m glad you’re here,” he says, stepping even closer. She’s now pressed against his front, and she inhales sharply.
“I want to finish our conversation from earlier,” he says, leaning over her, pressing a hand to the wall above her head, caging her in. “But you’re drunk. So, it’s going to have to wait.”
And the liquor is definitely getting to her because she doesn’t push him away. She licks her lips, tilting her head to meet his eyes.
“I’m not drunk,” she says, her voice sounding weak. “I remember everything, and I wanted to tell you that I’m sorry.”
He rubs the back of his neck, shrugging his shoulders lightly. “It’s okay, Jahlani.”
She scoffs, looking down at her feet, which are currently tucked between his shoes. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
