I know he didn’t get that tattooed on his fingers for me, but damn, I still like seeing my name on him.
“Why didn’t you tell me it was your birthday?” I ask quietly.
He stills and drops his hand to his side. “Why didn’t you say goodbye?”
Closing my eyes, I chew the inside of my cheek. “I woke up early and figured it would be better if I left. We said no names and no ties. So I was giving you what we agreed on.”
Around us, the bar buzzes. Jordyn is still perched on a stool next to us, but she’s making out with a man I assume is her husband, Kian’s brother.
“Was your car parked at the hotel?” he asks quietly.
I shake my head, my heart pounding against my ribs. I’m playing with fire. I’m just not sure why I’m enjoying it so much.
Kian leans down again, his breath warm on my neck as he gently tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “Going forward, you do noteverleave somewhere we’re at without telling me goodbye. That is a rule. Do you understand, angel?”
After trailing his index finger down my chin, he slides his other hand down and settles it at the base of my neck.
My entire body aches as I tilt my head farther back to look up at him, meeting his stern expression. I nod.
Staying silent, he raises his eyebrows and tightens his fingers, putting the smallest amount of pressure on the sides of my neck.
“Yes. I understand.”
As soon as the words come out, he relaxes his hold and strokes my pulse point with his thumb. “You look beautiful tonight, by the way. The most beautiful woman in the room without a doubt.”
My chest constricts as a lump forms in my throat. Am I seriously getting emotional over him saying sweet things to me? He can’t possibly mean it. There are hundreds of gorgeouswomen here. Yet, he hadn’t stopped staring at me since he arrived.
“I’m still going to put you over my knee for ditching me and then lying to me just now,” he adds quietly.
Gasping, I snap my gaze to him. “I said I won’t do it again.”
Kian gives my neck another squeeze. “That’s why I’ll take it easy on you this time, Ace. What is your real name, by the way? Since you obviously know mine now.”
Every muscle in my neck tenses. “Lacey Santoro.”
The corners of his lips tip up. “Beautiful name. Just like you. Just like your sweet little pussy.”
Kian leans against the bar and watches, while I’m pretty sure I turn bright red as heat spreads all over me.
Unable to resist, possibly from my arousal and possibly from the alcohol, I reach up and touch his short beard, scraping my fingernails through it. “Happy belated birthday, Kian.”
He slides one hand to my back, his eyes never leaving my face as he strokes my cheek with the other. “Thanks, angel. It was a pretty fucking perfect birthday if you ask me.” Then he winks, and I’m pretty sure my panties are a sopping mess right now.
Neither of us says anything; instead, he pulls me against him and reaches for the drink waiting for him on the bar.
“I’m afraid to ask what that is you’re having,” he says after he takes a sip from his glass.
Smiling, I pick up the half-full martini glass and offer it to him, but he makes a face as he shakes his head, making me giggle. “It’s a lemon-drop martini. My first time ever having these. They’re so yummy.”
“So yummy, huh?” he asks dryly, though he’s smirking.
“Uh-huh,” I answer as I suck down the rest.
My pussy tingles from the way he looks at me. When I set my empty glass down, he chuckles. “I’ll take your word for it, angel.”
Shrugging, I laugh as Jordyn steals a cherry from the condiment tray on the serving side of the bar and pops it into her mouth.
“Come home with me.” The words are whispered into my ear, deep and velvety. I think I could practically orgasm from Kian’s voice alone if he keeps talking to me like that.
