Denham’s sexy smile finds me and I have to check that I’m not drooling over the flashing dance floor. His chest is glistening with a fine sheen of sweat after his rhythmic exertions and his shirt sticks to him a little. I have to resist the urge to peel it off him right here.
He slides his hands around my waist and nuzzles into my neck, burying his face into my hair and I feel him take a deep breath. “You smell like sunshine…or moonlight…I can’t decide which…”
“You sure gave Channing Tatum a run for his money up there,” I quip.
“Yeah, well, I taught him everything he knows.”
“Oh yeah?” I say, feeling sassy. “Wanna teach me? I’d love to see some of your moves.”
“Oh, you’re gonna. Every.”Kiss. “Single.”Kiss.“One.”Kiss.
I grin and kiss him softly on the lips, holding there, eyes closed, drinking him in. I feel his lips twitch and his mouth open, letting his tongue snake out until it finds my bottom lip. I groan as the touch of his wet tongue sends signals between my legs. He sucks my lower lip as his hips grind against mine in time to the music and I slowly open my eyes and look up at him through a lust filled haze.
The blink of the lights and getting knocked by someone dancing vigorously behind us, prompts us to move from the dance floor. I hold one of his hands with both of mine as we weave our way toward the bar, then he picks me up under my arms and places me on a high bar stool, pushing himself in between my legs.
“Are you trying to show everyone my underwear?” I ask, pulling at the sides of my dress to cover my legs somewhat.
“No one will be seeing your underwear, I’ll make sure of it. I just want to be between your legs,” he says deadpan. My eyes widen at his words. The alcohol has loosened his tongue too. “Don’t be surprised, Ari. I’ve wanted to be between your legs for days now. I’ve had more cold showers than I can count, and I’ve gotten very good at thinking of boring scenarios to get my mind off you. Nothing works.”
“Nothing?”
“Nothing,” he replies, shaking his head. “It’s a problem, I tell ya.”
“It sounds like it.”
“There’s only one solution.”
“Mmm hmm.” I humor him, pushing the conversation so he has to tell me exactly what he wants. I love how he’s waited until I’m ready, until he’s been able to prove to me that he’s a good guy. I also love this back and forth, the tease, the anticipation.
“I need to stop thinking and start doing.”
“Doing what?” My voice drops to a whisper as I play innocent.
“You, Ari, only you. All day, all night until you don’t see anything but me. Everywhere you go, everything you do, I want you to feel me and want me like I want you.”
My mouth drops open and I gasp to let more air into my lungs.
He grasps the back of my head and pulls me to him, kissing me hard. I try and deepen it, but he pulls away, replacing his lips with his forefinger.
“Save that thought, Arianna.” I don’t have time to reply before the bartender is in front of us ready to take our order. “Do I need to ask what you would like to drink?” Denham jokes.
I shake my head no. I’m still speechless. I hop off the stool while Denham is talking to the bartender. I need to pee and I need to straighten up. “I’m just going to the ladies,” I utter.
Denham gives me a gentle nod and I can feel his eyes follow me across the room. After using the bathroom and washing my hands, I look into the mirror. Miraculously, everything is still intact. Makeup is still perfect, hair a little more messed up than before but knowing the reason is because Denham’s fingers have been tangled in it…well, I can live with that. I smooth down my dress and I’m good to go.
I head back out into the thrum of the main club and notice a table of men. I hadn’t noticed them before and the only reason I notice them now is because they’re all looking in my direction. I watch as one of them makes a joke and they all start to laugh, but their gaze doesn’t leave me as I walk toward them. I look around to find an alternative route to the bar, but there isn’t one.
I pull back my shoulders and look toward the bar where I can see Denham laughing and joking with Lottie and Spike. I relax knowing they’re there. I start to pass the table and relax just a minute too soon. A cold strong hand with very long bony fingers shoots out to capture my wrist. I gasp and try to wriggle free which just makes him tighten his grip.
“Hey, sweetheart, you’re a feisty one, huh?” I watch his eyes light up when he speaks to me. The dude is wiry, and not ugly, but not handsome either. He’s dressed in jeans and a tee and I wonder how he managed to get in here looking so underdressed. He stands up from his chair, blocking my view to the bar.
“I saw you dancin’. You’ve got a fuckin’ hot body, you know that?” he drawls with his stale cigarette breath, making mystomach churn. It’s clear he’s had far too much to drink, and he’s even starting to sway a little.
“Excuse me, but my friends are waiting for me at the bar,” I say politely, giving the man one chance to move. He glances over his shoulder, but still doesn’t let me pass, and my nervous adrenaline is turning into anger by the second.
“Those your friends over there?” he says, screwing his nose up. “Hell, girl. You’re slumming it this evening,” he slurs, making his friends laugh. “Why ya wanna travel in economy when there’s a first class seat right here, baby.” He thrusts his hips forward and points at his crotch with his index finger. His scummy friends dissolve into fits of laughter at his antics, but I’m not finding this in the least bit funny.
I place my hands gently on his shoulders and he looks shocked that I seem to be responding to him.Oh, I’m responding to him all right.“I asked you nicely,” I speak directly into his ear so he doesn’t miss a word, “to move and let me pass, but you thought it would be funny to try and humiliate me in front of your friends.”
