The room snaps into color and clarity. A few people cheer at the power’s return.
I’m still holding her. Her lipstick’s smudged; I have a hard-on.
She blinks up at me, eyes wide, lips parted. My hands fall away slowly, the loss of her like cold air.
Across the room, behind Freya, Lara’s frozen mid-sip, eyes as big as the pint glass in her hand.
Freya clears her throat, fingers brushing her hair back. “The lure finally worked.”
I scrub a hand through my hair and cock my eyebrow. “Yeah. It did.”
She turns away to hide her cute smile, reaching for her melted ice drink.
I let it end there. I have to.
Because if I don’t, I’ll reach for her again.
And if I do, I’m not sure I’ll stop.
3
I leanan elbow on the bar, trying to look casual, trying not to think about how six months of tension just came to a head in thirty breathless seconds.
I might be drunk, but that kiss was no mistake.
“Well,” I say, the word lazy on my tongue, “that was one way to liven up the party.”
A flicker of amusement touches his mouth. “You okay?”
“Better than okay.” I slide a little closer, the bar pressing cool against my hip. “Should we have another drink?” I ask, but I notice he hasn’t even finished his beer.
He chuckles under his breath. “You sure you haven’t had enough?”
“Maybe.” I pin him with my best bedroom eyes. “But it’s been a long time since I let myself have enough of anything.”
His gaze sharpens, and he swipes his giant hand down his mouth as if stopping himself from saying anything. But I know what he’s thinking. He wants me, too. Hemust.
We flirted so many times on those stakeouts, I’m surprised neither of us caved and fucked right there in his truck. The tension has been there since the first time I saw him.
And I’m leaving tomorrow, so why the hell shouldn’t we?
That’s it.
I’m getting Anton out of my system.
I run my hand along his thigh. It’s steel under my touch.
“I’m serious,” I murmur. “You can’t expect me to celebrate a night like this with just one blackout.” I giggle, but it doesn’t sound like my laugh.
His brow arches. “You’re calling that a celebration? You should raise your standards.”
“That’s what I’m trying to do…” I step even closer to him, wanting to whisper in his ear again, but my heel hooks on something and I stumble.
He catches me and lets out a small rumble of laughter. “You’re dangerous when you’re confident, Freya.”
“Good,” I’m all sass. “About time I was.” Then, before I can overthink, I offer an invitation. “Do you want to go back to my hotel room?”
Even drunk it sounds forward. But this the new me. The woman who takes what she wants.
