Page 4 of Fall Apart

I can’t help but notice his hands. They look worn and rough, like he works with them everyday. They look like the kind of hands that would feel good wandering over my body and gripping me. On the back of his hand holding the beer, I can see a horseshoe tattooed and some letters that I can’t make out on the knuckles.

“Thanks,” he says gruffly, getting my attention back from thinking about what his hands would feel like on me. But he doesn’t move, still turned to face me, his eyes shamelessly lingering.

I feel my cheeks heat and my skin itch with anticipation. I look down away from his gaze trying to collect myself for just a second, but that only heightens the feeling. He’s sitting with his knees open, inches from mine. His jeans hug his tree trunk thighs and my mind goes straight to thinking about how it would feel to be pressed against him.

He would definitely be a fun distraction for a night.

Even if he’s young, everything about him screamsmasculine. The kind of man that would be rough and fuck me through the headboard.

OK, yeah. Maybe I overdid it on the flight and went a little too hard with the extra spicy books.

I look back up at him with a new sense of resolve taking over me. Yes, I deserve to have some no strings attached fun while I have the condo to myself tonight.

When I look at him, his eyes narrow and he lets out a low laugh.

I cock my head and raise an eyebrow at him. “What’s so funny?”

He shakes his head and lets out another low huff of laughter, extending a finger towards me. “You. You’re funny.”

“How so?” I smirk at him, taking a sip of my bourbon before letting my tongue dart over my lips, licking a stray drop. I don’t miss the way his eyes drift to my lips before he looks back at me. I know my lips look extra pouty with the stain I put on before heading out.

“You’ve got this whole little polite, pretty princess thing going on but you’re sitting here at a dive bar drinking bourbon neat and eyefucking me. You’re something else.”

A breathless laugh escapes me and I reach to cover my mouth. I feel the blood rush to my cheeks as they go redder than my lips.

I pause before letting out an amused, thoughtful hum. “Well, I am just a pretty little tourist. I figured I’d take inallthe sights.” I let my eyes roam over him again and the approving grin he gives me is downright feral.

His deep laugh rumbles through me. I clench my thighs together, trying to dull the ache growing there.

He looks down at his phone for a second before looking at me and rasping his knuckles against the bar. “I need to check on something, but I’ll be right back.” He stands and as he takes a step past me, he looks back. “Enjoythe sights.” He winks before turning away and walking towards the back hallway.

He fucking winks?

You’ve got to be kidding me. This guy is so damn cocky. And looking down, watching the way his Wranglers mold to his ass, fine. Yeah. I get it.

As he turns the corner, I get up, following him before I lose my nerve or let the sane part of me talk myself out of this. I stride across the bar, towards the hallway.

I turn the corner in a hurry and walk into what feels like a brick wall, startling myself and knocking me off balance.

Except it’s not a brick wall. It’s the cocky local.

He’s there.

He’s there and he’s smirking at me.

“Something you need,princess?” he says, playfully and clearly pleased with himself.

Screw it. He’s cocky, but the confident, bad boy act is doing it for me tonight. I step towards him, straining my neck to look up at him.

“Yeah. You.” I push my finger into his chest. “You are exactly what I need tonight.” I flatten my hand and run it over his muscular chest. His eyes are breathtakingly intense. A deep shade of green that feels like it goes on forever, like an alpine lake reflecting the forest around it.

“And why do you need me?” His voice is deep and gravelly. He leans forward, erasing the little remaining space between us. I realize just how much he towers over me.

“I need a man that can play rough and you seem like the type. Maybe fuck me until I can’t think straight.” A muscle flicks in his jaw as he cracks a wide, sinful grin that’s only sexier with his dimples. I run my hand up his chest over the rose tattoo on his neck to cup his jaw. The feeling of his stubble under my thumb sends shivers through me as I imagine how it would feel between my legs. He seems like a guy that would be so eager to please.

“If I fuck you, you won’t be able to walk straight, much less think straight.” He reaches up towards my hand on his face, pressing it against his jaw as he steps further into me.

“Is that a promise or a threat?” I tease him, running a finger tip down his tattooed neck over his collarbone. His throat bobs as my nail traces the outline of the roses.

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