Page 21 of Mister Rival

“That’s not a real man,” he says. “Simple as that.” He reaches out and brushes my shoulder with his hand, and I don’t know if it’s for show anymore or if he actually means to do it on his own merits. But it makes me feel good. Safe even. Like someone has my back, and I never expected that someone to be him.

“I wish I’d been smarter back then.”

“We all live and learn,” he sighs. “But just think, you wouldn’t have Clementine.”

The sound of her name brings a little spark to my chest, and makes my eyes glisten. She’s my little miracle. “That’s so true.” I look behind me for a moment to see the gathering is growing in numbers, but I don’t feel like mingling with any of them now. “You know, I might head out,” I say. “I think this has already been a night to remember, and if I drink any more champagne, I might say something I’ll really regret.”

“Are you staying here at the hotel?”

“Yes.” I nod. “I just don’t think I’m in the partying mood.” But at the same point, I don’t want to leave Tristan, and that’s an odd feeling in itself.

“Understandable. I can walk you back. Make sure you don’t get accosted by any more jellyfishes in disguise.”

Always the gentleman.

A laugh bubbles from my throat and I shake my head. “I forgot how silly I get when I don’t eat anything before I drink.”

“I think I like you a little silly.”

“That’s because you haven’t seen me have fun in a while.”

He laughs and strokes his freshly shaven chin. “What say we sneak out while the going is good?”

I chug down the last of my champagne and place the glass down triumphantly. Though what I’m feeling triumphant about, I don’t know. “Why don’t we have a shot first?” I suggest.

His sexy smile sends another little shiver through me, and I’m far from cold. “A shot?”

“For old times’ sake?”

“What’s your poison?” he asks, leaning on the bar with his elbow, his head propped in his hand.

“I don’t usually do hard liquor,” I confess. “You choose?”

The side of his mouth pulls up as he stares at me for a moment, contemplating. “Tequila?”

I shrug, seemingly my inhibitions have gone sailing out the window. And I’m no expert, but it sounds kinda lethal. “Sure.”

The bartender is on point, I have to give him that, serving up two shot glasses in a matter of seconds. I’m eagerly about to tip mine back when Tristan’s warm hand encapsulates my wrist, stopping me in my tracks.

“You heard of the lip, sip and suck method,sweetheart?”

I giggle, slapping a hand over my mouth. “Should you really say those things out loud?”

He can’t hide his smile either, but nods toward two wedges of lime and some salt which have just been placed down in front of our drinks.

“Ooh, I’ve seen this in movies,” I say eagerly.

“You’ve never had a shot of tequila?”

“I’m a more Prosecco kinda girl.” I shrug, causing him to shake his head lightly like I have no idea, and at this point, I clearly don't.

He reaches for the salt and tips some onto the back of his hand. “You lick the salt first, take the shot down in one gulp, andsuck on the lime.” I can’t not notice the way his voice seems to grow even darker while explaining this.Lip, sip, suck method?

It sounds like something I’d like to do to him right now.

I follow suit and tip some salt onto my hand, gearing myself up. I feel like a naughty schoolgirl, which is kind of appropriate given where we are. My eyes don’t leave his as he swipes his tongue over the salt granules waiting on the back of his hand. I throb between my legs as I imagine what that tongue would be like swiping through my most delicate areas.Holy crap, yes.

We both simultaneously bring the little shot glass to our mouths and throw the liquid down… I nearly gag and garble the liquor everywhere, but Tristan reaches for the lime, and instead of sucking on it himself, he reaches it out to me. It takes me a split second to reach forward and wrap my mouth around the lime, sucking its flesh into my mouth as the citrus hits my tongue and explodes. In the same beat, I hold the lime up to his mouth and he does the same. Wrapping those sexy lips around the wedge and sucking.

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