“Earth to Valen,” Lila’s voice cut through my distraction. “You’re staring.”
“I’m not staring,” I lied, though I couldn’t seem to look away from the stranger. “I’m just... observing.”
“Uh-huh.” She followed my gaze and let out a low whistle. “Okay, I take back every complaint I had about dragging you here. That isdefinitelyworth staring at.”
The stranger chose that moment to look in our direction, and our eyes met across the crowded room. The connection was immediate and electric, like touching a live wire. He raised his beer bottle slightly in acknowledgment, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
“Go talk to him,” Lila hissed in my ear.
“Absolutely not.”
“Why not? He’s clearly interested. Did you see that smile?”
“Because I don’t pick up random humans in bars,” I said, though even as I said it, I was still watching him. “That’s not who I am.”
“Maybe it’s who you could be,” she suggested. “For one night.” Before I could argue further, she was already pushing me away from the bar. “Go. Now. Before some other local swoops in.”
“Lila, I swear to god?—”
“You’ll thank me later,” she called over her shoulder, already turning her attention to the bartender.
I stood there for a moment, caught between the idea of fleeing back to the academy and actually approaching the most attractive man I’d seen in decades. The smart thing would be to order a drink, keep my head down, and wait for this whole evening to be over.
But then he shifted against the wall, and I caught a glimpse of the way his jeans hugged his legs, the casual strength in his shoulders, and suddenly the smart thing seemed vastly overrated.
I made my way through the crowd, weaving between drunk tourists and college students until I was standing close enough to smell his cologne. It was something woody and luxurious that made my enhanced senses practically purr with appreciation.
“Not really your scene either, huh?” I said, nodding toward the enthusiastic crowd line-dancing to what I was pretty sure was the same song that had been playing since we walked in.
He turned to face me fully, and up close he was even more striking. Those intelligent eyes were a bright blue, and when he smiled, it transformed his entire face.
“That obvious?” he asked, his voice carrying just a hint of an east coast accent. “And here I thought I was blending in so well with the locals.”
“The fact that you’re not wearing camouflage or a trucker hat kind of gives you away,” I replied, surprised by how easy it felt to fall into banter with him. “I’m guessing you’re not from around here.”
“College student here for the weekend with my parents and my sister,” he said. “You?”
“Same.” I gestured toward the bar where Lila was now chatting up what appeared to be a very interested bartender. “My friend insisted I needed to get out more. Experience the local nightlife.”
“And what’s your verdict so far?”
I pretended to consider this seriously, glancing around at the chaos surrounding us. “Well, I haven’t been asked to line dance yet, so I’d call it a qualified success.”
He laughed, a genuine sound that made something warm unfurl in my chest. “I’m Archer,” he said, extending his hand.
“Valen.” I took his hand, and the brief contact sent an unexpected jolt through me. His skin was warm and smooth, like he actually took good care of himself, and I found myself reluctant to let go.
“So Valen, how much trouble are you looking to get into tonight?” Archer asked, settling back against the wall in a way that created a small pocket of space that felt oddly intimate despite the crowd around us. “Because those amber eyes of yours are giving me ideas.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Forward. I like that.” I took a step closer so our shoulders were touching, the heat of him seeping through my clothing. “How long until your parents wonder where you’ve run off to?”
“Oh, they don’t know I’m here,” he grinned. “So I’ve got all the time we need.”
He reached up, his fingers playing with the hem of my shirt. I swallowed hard. This guy meant business. And from the way his gaze intensified, I had no doubt of his intention. He wanted to fuck me, and soon. And I… well, I was starting to think that would be an incredible idea. There was something about him that made me want to shrug off all my personal rules for the night and just have fun. Not to mention, the sexual energy that I’d get from the encounter would probably sustain me for a month or more.
“You want to go for a walk with me?” I offered.
“Sure,” he grinned, his fingers brushing over the sensitive skin just above my waistband. “Let me just tell my sister I’m leaving.”
