“When you were sitting at the table with the girls, it looked like you were discussing who would get the honor of taking you home.” He tilted his head and furrowed his brows, scowling enough for me to see the deep indentation between them.
“Just what exactly are you accusing me of? If you are somehow implying that I led that ass-bagel on, you are in for a rude awakening. I can’t imagine this is your idea of being charming.”
He scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Charming? Trust me, Summer, if I was turning on the charm, you’d be powerless to resist.”
“Powerless?” Something about his words had me leaning closer, watching the deep blue of his eyes darken in the club’s low light. I had the ridiculous notion of running my finger down the crease between his brows to smooth away his rough edges.
That thought was dumber than my burgeoning attraction to the neanderthal, so my mouth decided the first course of action should be to snap back. Luckily, my brain kicked on a second later and chimed in that it was a shit idea.
“Powerless? Are you sure about that?” I meant to sound confident and flirty, but my skills were rustier than a sunken battleship, and I cringed, hoping he wouldn’t see straight through me.
“So, you doubt me? Typical.” He shook his head and huffed.
I was close enough to feel the warm puff of air against my face. Sweet wood smoke and mint caressed my cheeks, and I breathed in the heady scent, tilting my head further into his space, closing my eyes until his words sunk in.
“Hang on a second. Don’t just assume—”
“No. Enough of this.”
His large palms returned to my waist, and he pushed me back so he could stand. I expected him to walk away muttering insults. Instead, he grabbed my hand and tugged me past the bar and along the entrance until we reached a dimly lit hallway by the front doors.
Before we entered the corridor, I looked over my shoulder to see Addison and Mina giving me a thumbs up. I waved back, unable to suppress the delight I felt as he pulled me deeper into the dark space. Even if he only desired to continue our budding argument in private, I couldn’t deny the thrill I felt when we were this close. And I knew our interactions had finally reached a boiling point.
This was it. If he could rein in his temper and have an honest conversation with me, I’d be open to exploring whatever this strange attraction was. But if he started spouting off more nonsense about me assuming things, I’d shut him down and walk away.
Addison was right about one thing. For all my useless chatter with the girls earlier about maybe being interested in him, this would give me the answer.
I kept my mouth shut, determined not to break the silence as we stared at one another. The air turned hazy as he released myhand, and I leaned against the wall, putting my hands behind my back. He huffed, shaking his head and resting his hands on his hips while I tried to draw enough oxygen into my lungs.
Without warning, Maverick closed the distance and grabbed my ass, hauling me toward him. Our bodies pressed together, and he pushed his hips into mine. I felt his hardness against my stomach and glanced down, putting eyes on the bulge I already knew was there. My lips parted as I dragged my focus up his body, taking in the vision of him hungrily hovering millimeters from my mouth.
My stomach fluttered, and I closed my eyes as a zing of excitement traveled through my core. The frustration and confusion slowly melted to shock as he leaned closer and ran his nose along the column of my neck. He didn’t do this to scare off some guy, and his dick wasn’t hard because someone else had caught his attention. This was him—raw, vulnerable, and running his lips over my neck like there was nowhere else he’d rather be.
“Fucking love the way you smell, woman.”
My breath faltered, and my eyes opened, watching as a group of women opened the front doors and walked into the bar. The bright lights from outside made me squint as the air scorched my oversensitive skin. All the while, he towered over me, letting his gaze drift to my lips.
Those deep orbs widened as I smiled, and my heart swelled as he returned the gesture, leaning closer and brushing his mouth against mine. Slowly, like we were alone, and not in the middle of a deserted hallway of a crowded bar, he began exploring, tracing his tongue along my Cupid’s bow, then drawing my lower lip into his mouth.
My brain short-circuited, allowing him unrestrained access to my body as my pulse raced and I craved more. When one hand drifted to the back of my neck and he broke away to breathe, Ichased his mouth, not ready for the moment to end. Our kisses turned voracious and hungry as our tongues fought for control. Maverick moaned into my mouth, and refusing to waste the moment, I grabbed hold of his waist, letting my hands skate across his sides and to his back, where I shoved them into the pockets of his jeans, squeezing and pulling him closer. His taste was addictive, his kisses waking my long dormant libido as our touches grew hungrier, almost desperate.
Having him own my mouth and dominate my body was heavenly. So was the way he broke away and growled, tilting his head to the still open door. I nodded and he dropped one of his hands to interlink with mine as I followed him out of the bar and into the parking lot.
His head was on a swivel while I tried to steady my breathing, furiously focusing on trying to keep up with his pace. This moment we shared had changed something. Whether it was for the better was yet to be determined. But knowing that I’d made this grumpy, burly man groan as I lightly nibbled his lips was a heady feeling. One that desperately made me want to find out what other sounds I could draw out of him.
Chapter 17
My shirt clungto the damp skin of my back as I kept her hand clasped in mine. Anger flowed through me as we left the confines of the bar and I noticed the red, raised scratches on her left arm. How dare that imbecile put his slimy hands onher, marring her beautiful skin? The guilt I felt for failing to see her turmoil earlier warred with my need to stake my claim, and I had no clue what emotion would dominate.
We wove through the parking lot, moving quickly between cars in the dimly lit space. I had to get out of there. The noise was oppressive, the company abysmal, and the smell revolting. But beyond that, nothing mattered more than finishing ourconversationaway from prying eyes.
Scanning the area, I spotted her silver four-door parked a few spaces away from my truck, and sighed. At least her car was in a fairly well-lit spot and close to a large streetlight. Not that I wouldn’t mind the cover of darkness to continue ourdiscussion, but I’d never risk her safety by not being fully aware of our surroundings.
The early November air had turned cooler. Not enough to warrant long sleeves, but enough to halt the bead of sweat that had formed on my temple. Summer glowed in the soft moonlight, giving her skin a snowy hue and highlighting the amber undertones in her hair. I sighed, wishing I had a jacket for her, but also loving the way her dewy skin looked.
When we reached her car, she let go of my hand and turned, leaning against the driver’s side door. I glanced down, shoving my hands in my front pockets and following the movement, noticing how high her sandals were.
Talk about fuck-me shoes.
