I walked right into that one.
“Fair warning though, my bluffing game’s strong. But my shirt removal game? Next level.”
I arch a brow. “You assume you’d win.” But even as I fire back, part of me isstaring. Not at his body—though, yes,hi—but athim.
Something’s off. Not in a bad way. In awhat-the-fuck-happened-to-youway.
This is not the same Nolan Rhodes who was on a rooftop with shadows in his eyes and a chip on his shoulder the size of Big Stream. That version was all storm clouds and clenched jawlines.
This one?
This one’s teasing. Lighter. Almost…playful?
And I don’t know what the hell to do with that.
“Oh, I wouldn’t need to win. Just need a reason to play.” He grins, all dimple and easy confidence, but the smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes. It lands more like charm, feels like armor. And looks cocky until you realize it’s covering something heavier.
He doesn’t want me to see something that he’s pushed down deep. So maybe this new, lighter Nolan isn’t a shift. Maybe it’s a shield.
And suddenly I don’t know if I want to peel it off…or ask why he needed to put it on in the first place.
He flags the bartender. “Two of whatever she’s having. And a tequila shot.”
Jeremy perks up immediately, practically vibrating with delight. “Oh, this is better than Bravo and wine night. I might climax.”
Rishi chokes on his drink. “Jesus. Reel it in.”
Jeremy shrugs. “Don’t kink shame my joy.”
The bartender sets everything down with a smirk of his own. Lime wedge. Salt. One shot of tequila. And suddenly, the noise in the bar fades behind the pounding in my chest.
All eyes land on Nolan.
He hesitates for half a second, enough for me to catch it. A muscle ticks in his jaw. He drags a hand through his hair, rolls his neck like it’s going to help him breathe.
Oh, my, Nolan“Confidence Is My Love Language”Rhodes is nervous.
“Where?” he asks, voice low and rough.
Okay, now I’m nervous…as fuck.
My brow arches. “Dealer’s choice.”
His gaze sweeps over me, scanning his choices, and lands just beneath my collarbone. “Here,” he says, voice husky.
Grateful he picked a conservative body area, I nod once.
Nolan steps closer.
My heart hammers inside my chest when he brushes my hair back with one trembling hand before lowering his head. Salt first.
His mouth hovers near my skin, teasing, then his tongue drags over my collarbone, achingly slow. The heat of it punches me straight in the vagina.Holy shit.
I bite back a gasp as his breath fans over the wet spot he leaves behind. He doesn’t move. Doesn’t speak. Just lets the tension hang heavy between us. And God help me, it’s not the only place I’m wet.
Not even close.
Then, the shot.
