Page 40 of Playing the Player

Conor chuckles behind me, his hot breath fanning across my neck. Oh no, my tummy did the thing. I need to move. Being this close to this man is dangerous. “Come dance with me.” He whispers against my ear. His voice sounds like sin. Dark and tempting. Why can I never say no to him? I guess I’ll just have to repent later.

When we get onto the dance floor, Conor pulls me against him. Our bodies are pressed together, his hand resting at the bottom of my back while I circle mine around his neck.

“You know,” I say, trying desperately to keep the jealousy out of my voice, “the last time I was in this bar, you were dancing with another woman like this.”

“Oh yeah?” His mouth quirks up in a smile. “If I remember correctly, you were dancing with Max the same way, just two steps beside me.”

“I didn't think you noticed me.” I admit in a small voice.

“Like I said before, I’ve always noticed you.” I rest my head against his chest. And just like at the party last week, this feels right. Too right. “Can I admit something?” He asks. I tilt my head up to look at him. “I was doing it to make you jealous.”

A smile tugs at my lips. “No you weren't."

“Yes I was.” His eyes hold mine. “I saw you watching and I wanted you to feel something.”

“But you kissed her. That was an ‘I want to fuck you kiss’.”

Conor leans down, his mouth brushing against my ear. “I was pretending I was kissing you.” He whispers.

My breath catches in my throat. Conor reaches up, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear before resting his forehead against mine as we sway to the music. Two more songs pass before he speaks again. “Can I kiss you now?”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Why?”

“Well, people have been watching us since we started dancing.” He says softly, his gaze bouncing between my eyes and my lips. “They might find it weird if I don’t kiss my girlfriend.” He studies my face, reading every ounce of hesitation, “You kissed me last week. What’s different this time?

Because last week wasn’t about you. Not at first anyway. I had kissed him to make Max jealous, but somewhere along the way, Max seemed to disappear and Conor was the only one I could see. That’s why this time is different, because I don’t want to kiss him to feed others the narrative that we’re together. I want to kiss him because it’s him.

“Okay.” I whisper, my heart pounding so violently in my chest that it physically hurts.

Conor’s face inches closer, close enough that I can feel his breath against my lips. Just before his lips touch mine, a wicked smirk spreads across his face. “Can I grab your ass too?”

A laugh escapes me before I can stop it. “Oh shut up.” I grab the front of his shirt, yank him the rest of the way towards me and crash my lips against his.

His hold on me tightens as his lips move against mine. I used to think the movies were talking shit when they said fireworks explode when you kiss someone but now, with the stars dancing behind my closed eyelids, I can't help but wonder if it’s true as Conor sweeps his tongue along mine.

This kiss is a whole lot more than our last one. More fire, more touching, more need.

His hand slowly moves up my body, leaving a hot trail of fire underneath my skin. His fingers snake through my hair, tilting my head back for better access. God, this man is a good kisser. I’m starting to hate myself for not doing this sooner. And I'm also starting to hate every other woman who has felt what this man can do.

My phone in the back pocket of my jeans vibrates. The sudden sensation shocks me out of this heavenly trance.

Conor rests his forehead against mine again, both of us breathing heavily. “You think that was convincing enough?” He asks, breaking the silence between us.

I giggle before answering, “If we were a couple of horny teenagers, then yeah I think it was.”

My phone vibrates again and again. “Seems like someone really wants to talk to you.” Conor pulls his forehead away from mine, but his eyes never leave my face. I can't help but stare at his swollen, pink lips, wanting nothing more than to kiss him again. I feel alive. More alive than I've felt in years.

I pull my phone out of my pocket, eyeing the screen.

Liam<3: Hi

Liam<3: Whatcha up to?

Liam<3: I'm bored.

Liam<3: You know how you said I could come visit soon?

Me: Hey. I'm out with Liv. Is everything okay?