And I love it.
Mark pauses, looking between us with his bloodshot eyes. “What was I saying?”
“Goodbye,” I chime in.
He lifts his glass to cheer us and goes on his merry way. I shake my head as he gets lost in the crowd. He is a character. Brilliant, but still a character.
“When do you start school?” I ask Ellie as the bartender serves us our drinks.
“September. I finally made my decision.”
“And where are you going?”
“Hawaii. I mailed the deposit check on my way here.” She’s practically glowing.
“Definitely the school I would have picked,” I say, excited for her, yet at the same time I suddenly feel sad. I shake off the odd sentiment. Maybe the bourbon is going to my head. I raise my glass. “To rainbows, surfing, and getting lei’d.”
Ellie laughs freely, clinking my glass. “To getting lei’d.” Our eyes linger long after we take a sip of our drinks. I feel the heated stare radiate through the whole room.
“Do you want to sit?” I finally ask her.
“Sure.” She bites on her little red straw enticingly.Don’t look at me like that Ellie.I want to tell her. I want to warn her. It will only get you into trouble. Who am I kidding? Just by me being here, she’s in trouble.
It’s putting us both in trouble.
“I like your dress.” I lean into her, glancing down at her barely covered ass. She smells sweet. Like cotton candy. “Did you wear it to get someone’s attention?”
“Yes.”
“Whose?”
“Yours.” She looks straight into my eyes.
“You’ve got it,” I murmur in her ear. “Undividedly.”
Aww, shit. If I’m going to hell, I might as well have some fun getting there. Presently in the form of a playful little kitten named Ellie. I take her hand and lead her to the darkest, most hidden corner of the room. We sit on one of the white leather couches, and she snuggles into me as the catchy tune ofSingby Ed Sheeran resonates around us. It’s the perfect match for the trendy atmosphere and flirtatious vibe.
Trouble. So much trouble.
Ellie and I talk about this and that. Nothing of utter importance. I can’t remember the last time I had a mundane conversation. She tells me how much she hates spiders because one crawled into her shirt when she was child and scared her half to death. I tell her how I hate cinnamon but can chew an entire pack of Big Red gum.
By our second drink, my hand is on her knee. By the third, it’s on her thigh and we’re both having trouble denying the uninhibited attraction kindling between us.
“Kayne?” Ellie sighs as I stroke my thumb right under the hem of her scarcely there dress.
I lean into her, my face an inch away from hers. “Ellie. Do you really want this with me?” I give her one chance for an out. If she consents, I’m taking her back to my penthouse and fucking her till morning.
“Yes.” Her voice doesn’t waver. Then she spreads her legs a little wider and allows my hand to move farther up her thigh, a whisper away from the sweet spot I have been fantasizing about for over a year.
“There’s something you should know about me.” I brush my lips against hers.
“What’s that?” She returns the affection by sliding her tongue into my mouth. Little lioness.
I like to dominate. I want submission. I’ll tie you up and have my way with you until you beg me to stop.
“Kayne?” She breathes my name, and I nearly combust.
“Ellie, I—”
