To know the beat of his heart.
“Who said I did?”
I smiled, feeling braver. “You noticed and you found me. If you didn’t care you wouldn’t be standing here now.”
“Jerome spoke to you. What did he say?”
Oh. That was why he’d been watching me. Disappointment saturated my hopes, hopes I didn’t want to admit I had.
“Something about telling Marcus to tell someone called Ash that he needs to make his payment.” I shrugged. “I don’t care what Marcus is up to. He’s my mother’s partner’s son.”
“I know who he is. You’re right not to care.”
His hand moved to my waist, then round to my back, yanking me closer to him. I wasn’t sure if this was to bring me closer or to stop anyone from noticing us. Now we were just another couple, moving closer.
“If Jerome finds you again, come and tell me. He’s bad news.”
“And you’re not?”
Tommy laughed. “You’re cute, Lady Jameson.” His voice was a growl and the wordcutedidn’t suit it.
I was too aware of him now. Too knowing of how close he was, of all the places we touched. He was taller and wider and bigger than me, and I should’ve found his size intimidating. Only I didn’t.
“You’re not bad news?” He hadn’t answered me.
“Depends on how you definebad news.” His eyes hadn’t left mine.
I was backed against the wall now, shielded from anyone passing by. “I’m here to have a fun summer. Drink cocktails and party. Not to get involved in any drama.”
His nod was slow.
“Maybe have a summer romance.” I licked my lips. “Seeing as I’m single.”
“You didn’t look single.”
“Would it bother you if I wasn’t?” I wanted him to say yes, wanted to know that I was having some effect on him, that this wasn’t just one way.
“No.” His hand ran up my side to just below my breast. “Because if you were serious about him, you’d have walked away from me about a minute ago.”
“You told me to walk away from you before.”
“And you didn’t. If someone hadn’t banged on my door, what would you have let me do to you? Fuck you over my bar? Suck me off with your knees on that dirty floor?”
“That floor wasn’t dirty.” But his words were, and I felt them right between my legs, wet heat starting to grow.
Tommy laughed, his hand moving closer to my breast, his thumb flickering over my nipple that was hard, waiting for his touch. No one could see; this wasn’t some exhibition, although it wouldn’t be a first for the club, just a first from me.
“Would you let me fuck you against this wall, Jameson?” His flickering became a pinch and I nearly became a pool at his feet. “Right here?”
“No.” Only I wasn’t sure that was true. “Not here.”
“Outside?”
“No?” I wasn’t sure anymore. “Kiss me. I need you to kiss me.” Because a kiss was personal. A kiss was intimate. It meant something.
I expected him to walk away, to leave me a messy tangle of need and lust, to run back to my possible boyfriend who I knew wouldn’t even be able to scratch the itch Tommy had created.
But he didn’t.
