“Some would probably say I was. Others not so much.”
“Cryptic.”
Closing more of the space between us, I reach out and tuck a lock of her hair behind her ear. “Maybe you’ll just have to find out for yourself.”
Her lips part but no words come out as my fingertip brushes the shell of her ear. “I… um…” I search her eyes, trying to read her. She seems reluctant, yet there’s something in her eyes. Something wild that I know is screaming to get out.
Our connection holds before she sucks her bottom lip into her mouth and my gaze drops to watch.
“Harlow,” that familiar voice calls from somewhere. “We’re going to dance. You coming?”
My eyes jump back up to hers. I want to ask her to stay here with me, but I’ve just met her; I’ve got no right to even suggest keeping her away from her friends and colleagues.
After another second, she rips her eyes from mine and looks at Bailey, who holds her hand out.
“Yeah, just coming.”
I stand back, allowing her some space. She downs her drink before giving me a small smile and walking towards her friend.
Her arse sways as she makes her way over, and my trousers suddenly seem a little too tight as I imagine what, if any, underwear she’s got on beneath. When I look up, I find Bailey watching me. Her eyes are narrowed, and I’m not sure if it’s jealousy or a warning.
Chapter Three
Harlow
“Have you just stolen my Brit?” Bailey asks after pulling me into the middle of the packed dance floor. Along with a group of other Corporate Cares employees, we left the VIP section in favor of bumping and grinding with the rest of the club.
“We were just talking,” I say innocently, trying to forget the tingles that erupted within me every time he looked at me, or the way my temperature spiked when he touched me.
“Oh yeah, just talking,” she mocks. “You didn’t see the way he watched your ass as we walked away from him. I told you that dress was pure gold.”
“I’m not interested, B. You know I don’t need a man.”
“Who said anything about needing one? No one needs a man, we’re all perfectly capable without one. But that doesn’t mean that every so often we couldn’t do with one to help us let our hair down… before he pulls on it as we scream his name.”
“I don’t want that either,” I argue, hoping it’s dark enough down here that she doesn’t see the color staining my cheeks as the image she’s just conjured up in my head takes over my thoughts. His strong, tattooed arms, his fingers threaded in my hair as I climb toward… Nope, don’t go there.
“You’re only lying to yourself and you know it. Give yourself a night off. Let go of the tension. Trust me, you’ll thank me for it in the morning,” she sings.
“What about you?” I ask, hoping to get the heat off me.
“What about me? I wanted him, yeah. Especially now I know just how hot he is. But I don’t think he’s all that interested in me.”
“I’m sure he is. You just bulldozed your way into our conversation. He was just a little shocked is all.”
“Yeah, you keep telling yourself that.” Her eyes focus on something over my shoulder, but, assuming it’s just a guy who’s caught her attention, I block her out in favor of losing myself to the music.
Bailey is right about one thing: I do need to let my hair down. As the beat of the music flows through me, I begin to feel lighter immediately. I allow the stress of work and the pressure I put on myself to do a good job to fall away before attempting to forget about everything else, if only for a few minutes.
With the alcohol flowing through my veins, I forget that I’m surrounded by hundreds of people who are potentially watching me and lose myself in the movements of my body.
My eyes close and my head falls back as I raise my hands above my head and move my hips. It’s the freest I’ve felt in a long time.
I still the second, hands land on my ribs. I drop my arms immediately, ready to push away whoever it is who thinks they’ve got the right to touch me, when a familiar voice rumbles in my ear.
“Do you have any idea how sexy you look right now?” His familiar deep voice drags me from my own little world, and I immediately relax back, allowing the tingles his touch creates to flow around my body. “Dance with me?”
I don’t bother replying, instead I just move with him when he presses the length of his body against my back. His touch burns as he drops his hands from my ribs and down to my hips.
“I was watching you.” A groan rumbles up my throat at the thought. “The way you move. It’s intoxicating.” His fingers clench against my skin, and I welcome the slight bite of pain as my body takes on a life of its own. “I don’t dance, but I couldn’t bear to watch someone else come and take my place.”
Oh God.
My head spins, and I’m not sure if it’s the alcohol I’ve consumed in the last few hours or just the effect he has on me.
Our hips move in time with the music, and I shut off everything but the beat and the feeling of him surrounding me. With my eyes closed, I rest my head back against his chest and just feel.
I’ve no idea how much time or how many songs pass, but eventually just dancing must get too much for him. I’ve been able to feel his length against my ass almost since we first connected, and I can’t deny that it didn’t send a little thrill through me.
Releasing one of my hips, he lifts his fingers so he can sweep my hair from my neck before placing his lips
