One kiss equaled a thousand words.
Only some of the words I could issue were not necessarily ladylike, especially when issued by a teacher. I also hadn’t intended on kissing a stranger in the middle of an empty arena, but I’d certainly wished for some excitement.
I’d thought the moment in the middle of my yard had been deliriously spicy, but when topped off by a more personal, intimate kiss after almost meeting his mother, the moment shared had been eye opening.
And thrilling.
When I’d tasted Danny’s lips, all bets had been off. Now, with a drink in front of us, we couldn’t seem to take our eyes off each other. And we weren’t even talking. I had no clue about his hobbies or his likes and dislikes. He didn’t know mine.
We just didn’t care.
I took a sip of my wine and as soon as I shifted in my seat, the throbbing between my legs became that much more intense. I’d been on fire for over two hours, incapable of keeping some very lurid thoughts from ravaging my mind.
While we were both lost in our little world, sitting in a semi-crowded bar that he’d chosen, a little joint on the corner of one busy street and another, we were still being watched. Maybe people could see how in tune to each other we were. Or maybe just the lust that oozed from our pores.
Then again, maybe it was the liquor that had obviously been flowing for hours and the fact the only other female inside the bar was the bartender. I suddenly felt like fresh Grade-A meat.
When he leaned over the small table, a hot flash rushed through me. I’d been aroused by plenty of men before. Of course I had. But this was different. Even from across a room, I’d felt that undeniable chemistry written about in romance novels. However, finding myself covered in tiny prickles of sweat was not only surprising, but the phenomenon was also annoying as hell.
If I didn’t get a little air or maybe some cool water on my face, I was fearful I’d combust.
“Are you alright?” He stood when I did, his entire body tense. Not only did he act as if he was going to walk by my side to the bathroom, he also growled when a strange man walked by. A man who wasn’t paying us any attention.
“I’m fine, big he-man. Just going to the ladies’ room. If that’s alright with you.” I wasn’t asking his permission.
He scanned the perimeter as if searching for predators. “I’ll be right here. If you need anything, just yell.”
Where he was playful in his arrogance before, now that his dominant side had kicked in, I was uncertain I could keep my mouth shut. “And I’ll be in there where nothing will happen that you need to know a play by play about.”
His possessiveness was strangely appealing, which floored me. Every time a man had acted as if they were in control, I’d not handled it like a lady. The thought kept me smiling as I headed into the restroom. After splashing cool water in my face, I stared into the mirror, forced to blink a few times.
At least I could breathe a little easier. I’d felt entirely too suffocated before.
Were my eyes dilated? How was that even possible after half a glass of wine? It had to be the effects of the ugly fluorescent lighting buzzing and glitching overhead. When I looked again, I was startled. I looked like some wild woman who’d been on a cocaine binge for way too long. Had I not brushed my hair after ripping out the ponytail?
Ugh. And all I had was a flimsy comb in my purse, which I used hurriedly, wincing when I looked at myself again. Now I understood the concept of a freshly fucked look.
Trying to laugh off my unsophisticated appearance, I headed out of the bathroom, instantly tingling from the heavy hit of electricity that was so unexpected it ripped air from my lungs. So much so that I was suddenly pressed against the corridor wall, trying desperately to capture stolen breath.
Wow. Maybe I was coming down with something given every inch of skin was both on fire and tingling as if bitten by icy cold.
A strange vision popped into my mind of claws coming from the shadows, etching deep lines in a thick block of ice. What the hell?
“Why don’t you have a drink with me, little lady?”
A strange voice dragged me from whatever place of misery I’d shoved myself into. The hallway was dimly lit, the single light overhead creating one too many disturbing shadows. What was it about old places and the owners who refused to bring them up to code? “I’m here with someone but thank you for the offer.”
“That punk?” A large man stepped partially from the shadows, but from the angle, I was only able to see half of his face. The jagged scar drifting from just under his eye, disappearing past his jaw was the only thing I was able to concentrate on. The single eye in view was imploring, shimmering as if a light was shining behind the glowing orb.
What in the hell was it with all the lighting in this place?
His words annoyed the hell out of me. “I assure you he’s no punk.” I almost told him that Danny would beat his ass but certainly didn’t want to make that offer. And why would I think that way in the first place? That wasn’t like me. Maybe I was just sick and tired of certain people being made fun of. Like my students. How many times had I heard they were dumb? They were highly intelligent young men and woman.
“Trust me, he’s not worth your while. I’ll show you a real man.”
Maybe I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did. In truth, I surprised myself, but I was finished with assholes who thought they were better than others.
So I got in his face.
