Page 42 of Playing With Danger

Goddamn was right and I hadn’t even looked at her yet.

“Be back.” His ass slid off the stool, leaving me in a precarious position.

The irrational side of me wanted to body slam him before he got to her. The parts of me that were fighting the pull of her thought it would be great if they hit it off; then maybe I could get some fucking sleep and stop obsessing over her. The petty side wanted to watch him get shot down. My ego, however, worried she’d choose him.

I was fucked.

After a week of warring with myself and staying away that hadn’t changed.

Six times in her presence and one kiss and I was hooked.

I turned on my stool and there she was.

Goddamn didn’t touch how gorgeous she was, and when her eyes scanned the crowd she looked a little nervous, maybe a little lost. But when her gaze caught mine and her lips tipped up, swear to Christ she looked found.

I had no idea what I was supposed to do with that look or how it made my chest tight.

Jase said something to Sophie I couldn’t hear. She shook her head and pointed. When he looked over his shoulder and realization hit, I almost felt sorry for the guy. He looked back and jerked his head. When he turned and gestured for Sophie to precede him I considered punching my friend in the face. My internal debate ended when his gaze stayed on me instead dropping to her ass and he mouthed fuck you.

A gentleman would’ve got his ass up and escorted her through the crush of people.

I stayed where I was for no other reason than I liked watching her walk to me. I liked knowing she was there for me. I liked that her eyes didn’t unlock from mine and the rest of the bar had melted away. I liked that when she knew I was watching she added a little more sway to her hips. And I seriously liked she was getting off on me watching.

Christ.

I needed my head examined.

Or I needed to fuck her.

The first was an actual concern. The second was going to happen.

“Hey, baby,” I greeted when she made it close.

“Hey—” If she meant to say more, I didn’t let her finish.

I hooked her around the waist, pulled her close, and dipped in for a kiss. What was supposed to be a closed-mouth warning to all the assholes who’d watched her walk in, turned into something else when her tongue touched my bottom lip. The control I mustered up was award winning. With nothing more than a single swipe of mine I broke the kiss.

When I pulled back her lips were twitching.

“Glad you made it.”

Those lips curved up.

“So am I.”

A throat cleared. I glanced at Jase standing next to the stool he’d vacated. I shifted Sophie closer so she was standing between my legs.

“Jase, you met my girl, Sophie.”

I felt Sophie jolt and not for the first time I wondered what the fuck I was doing.

“Yeah, brother, I introduced myself.” He chuckled with a good-natured shake of his head.

“What do you want to drink, Soph?”

When she craned her head to look at me she was no longer smiling.

“A long neck of WTF with a shot of confusion.”