Page 52 of Silent Comrade
She sucked in a breath.
“Be right back, okay?” she asked Tachi.
“No problem.” Her roommate currently had twoguys triangulating on her. Tachi crooked a finger at both of themand laughed.
Britt worked through the maze of theshifting crowd until she reached a concrete pillar that supportedthe building.
Al leaned against it, one leg crossed overthe other, full drink in hand. She’d bet money he hadn’t consumedany of it. Also, she didn’t buy the casual posture one bit.
“Having a good night?” he asked, expressiongrim.
Was it the relaxation of her drink earlieror did his words really create quivers deep in her belly? “Very.You?” She tucked a finger under the cross-body strap where itconnected with the purse at her hip.
“No. I’ve had to follow you across town.This is a challenging place to secure.” He winced and touched theside of his face as the DJ made an announcement.
Come to think of it, Al did have theappearance of a caged, tormented animal. His head was on a swiveland he cringed a few times. Maybe he didn’t like crowds. Or he knewthis was a place he couldn’t do his job.
She put her hand on his forearm as sheleaned closer. “This is exactly what I needed tonight. A way torecharge and forget about this bizarre week. Let loose.”
The way he raked his gaze over her from headto toe felt like a physical stroke of his hand. She shivered. Whyhad she been angry with him the other day? Couldn’t remember.
“It’s still not safe,” he said. When apatron stumbled toward her, Al wrapped an arm around her to rotatethem so her back pressed against the pillar and his body blockedtraffic. The lava-hot glare he shot the stumbling man probably sentthat dude right to the men’s room to relieve himself.
Oh, yeah. Now she remembered. She was angryabout the part where Al wanted to dictate her every move. Likeright now. Then he locked eyes on her and licked his upper lip.
Her knees shook as she stared him down. Orup, due to her position against concrete and looking at his face,inches away from hers. “What part of all this isn’t safe?” Brittquipped, no longer caring if she baited him. “None of these peopleare here to do harm. It’s just a night out for them, too. Whyshouldn’t I have fun? Don’t you want to have fun?”
“You have no idea.” His low voice rivaledthe bass beat as it rumbled through her bones.
If she was playing with fire, maybe shewanted to get burned, just a little bit. She knew this situationmade no sense. Knew there was no future in it. But this was herchoice to make. And his.
“Al?”
In the strobing lights, his pupils dilated,turning his eyes nearly black. He set the drink on the tray of apassing waitress. Then he rested both hands on the pillar next toher head, effectively creating a wall of … Al ... around her. Heleaned in, still not touching her. The space filled with heatradiating off his body and a light scent of aftershave. God, shewanted to close the distance between them, but she needed to knowthat he wanted to … play with fire, too.
He kept tilting his head, like trying totune in to something and failing. His gaze flipped from her toaround the room and back to her. Over and over.
“Ready to leave?” he said, this time bitinghis lower lip. Unfair. She wanted to bite that lip.
He moved his hand slowly toward her, givingBritt ample time to move. Thumping music buffeted her.
She held still.
He trailed a fingertip over her jaw.
Britt shuddered.
He swept the rough pad of that fingertiplower, to her covered collarbone. Rested his palm on her heatedskin. Curled his fingers around the edge of her bare shoulder. Hisexpression remained grim. Sure, he seemed interested and had allthe right moves. But the tight set of his jaw didn’t seem to matchthe mood. What gave?
“Britt?” he growled. “How about your place?Somewhere quiet. And safe.”
Blinking, she shook her head like she neededto dislodge cobwebs. Something didn’t jive. None of his moves feltnatural. For sure, she wanted him to touch her more. She would loveto go somewhere more private where she could taste him and makesuch a big, serious guy tremble.
This attraction had to be natural. Andmutual. Whatever vibe she got from Al, not all of it was personalinterest. There was calculation in each of his actions, almost likehe was trying too hard.
Her lust-fogged brain cleared in a hurry.Pieces fell into place. “Not yet.” Maybe not ever, if she couldn’tseparate his reality from her desire.
“You sure? We could have our own danceparty.” That line felt 100% fake. Al was a lot of things like hot,strong, and determined, but he wasn’t a slick lady’s man. At least,not based on her assessment over the past few days.
