Page 21 of King of Clubs

I didn’t need to look at him to know he was smiling as he headed out of my office. “Knight in fucking shining armour, you are, Seb.”

I scoffed at his ridiculous assertion. I was not hooked on a woman. Not even close.

Especially one who drank her coffee with caramel, brought noise and clutter into my otherwise orderly life, spoke about herself in the goddamn third person and who I had barely spoken to, let alone touched intimately.

I could never be hooked on someone so unscripted and free. Someone wired so differently to everything I stood for. Besides, she made me smile a lot more than I was used to and it was weird.

Yet as I moved to the cupboard and grabbed myself a clean shirt for tonight, I was still wondering what that piece of shit had done to create the unmistakable fear in those gorgeous green eyes and what I could do to make sure I never saw it again.

In comparison to yesterday, Sunday at the club was quiet. The crowd was mellow, and most people enjoyed the addition of extra tables and chairs that we allowed on the slower nights. I also hired a different DJ because people weren’t out with the same intentions as a Friday or Saturday and I liked this to reflect in the atmosphere. And it usually meant I spent more time in the office getting ready for the week ahead, but tonight I was antsy. I checked my phone for the twentieth time and it again boasted no missed notifications despite leaving my phone number on a note on the bench. She was edgy when I left, spent a bit of time on her phone and then even more pretending she wasn’t watching me as I got ready for work – when I knew she was keeping her eye on exactly what I was doing.

But how could I really know? I barely knew her.

I could easily contact her given I’d asked Andy for her number forsafety purposes, but I wondered if this was the behaviour of a stalker more than a supportive – friend? Friend of a friend?

God, what was I? An acquaintance?

Ignoring how pathetic and needy I was feeling, I decided I would message her once, just to make sure she was okay.

Sebastian

Hey, it’s Sebastian. Just checking you’re good?

The grey dots appeared instantly, and I found myself unable to concentrate on anything other than the way they jumped on my screen until her reply appeared.

Marlee

I’m good.

Thanks :)

Feeling lighter and knowing she now had my number, I shoved my phone in my pocket, smiling as I moved to the door that led me down to the floor. I wondered if she would be asleep in my bed when I got home – the idea of having her in my space oddly not unpleasant as I anticipated an earlier than normal finish.

When I did finally arrive home, it was later than I planned, and as soon as I opened the door to my apartment, I saw the light of the TV illuminating the living room with the post-game conferences from Andy’s game. They’d carved up tonight in Adelaide and knowing Marlee spent her time rugged up watching the match brought a foreign comfort to my chest.

Walking further into the room, I smirked at the scene before me. She was laying on the black leather lounge, a blanket over her sleeping body, her hands tucked underneath her chin. An empty packet of whathadbeen my chocolate coated coffee beans sat on the coffee table next to half a bottle of sparkling water. The volume was on low and her soft breathing filled the room. For a moment I didn’t move, simply staring at the beauty that had unknowingly taken up my thoughts all night. She was still wearing the tired old T-shirt I gave her earlier, her hair no longer in an up-do, instead splayed over the side of the lounge.

Fuck, if that wasn’t hot.

Quietly reaching for the remote which sat near her face, I turned off the television, the light from the moon coming through the window enough to still see her. Acting purely on an instinct I still didn’t quite understand, I scooped her up into my arms and turned towards my bedroom.

She stirred, her sleepy gaze going wide in a split second of panic before she realised it was me. My brows pinched knowing that she came with a history I knew nothing about, and it was getting harder not to ask her to tell me everything. Wayne would get back to me soon and I would have a better understanding of what caused the trouble in my club last night but I couldn’t help but want to hear it all from her.

“I’m just taking you to bed,” I spoke softly into her ear and she moved into my neck and sighed. She smelt like coconut and remnants of coffee beans and I smiled for no reason other than her easy acquiescence despite her earlier uncertainty at staying.

Fuck I liked when she let me lead.

My cheeks were getting sore from all the fucking smiling I was suddenly doing and I forced myself to cut the puppy love act, planting a scowl back on my face. I had been told many times that I wasn't welcoming of others in my space, yet with her, I was ready to open a bloody bed and breakfast.

She was pliant and groggy with sleep and as I turned to walk up the hall, she moved her arms around my neck and held tight, causing my heart rate to speed up in my chest.

I wondered if she could feel it racing.

If she knew the effect she had on me.

If she knew I was panicking because I’d never before felt inclined to let someone into my world, but most of all, I wondered why I seemed powerless to prevent her from unknowingly embedding herself under my skin.

Marlee

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