Page 4 of Instant Heat
Rae blew out a breath, her lips stretching into a smile a second later."I've got it." Then she twisted in her seat and signaled the bartender. I was still staring at her like an idiot when she cheerily ordered,"Two shots of Sambuca and a beer, please?"
I didn't care for the taste of Sambuca but I probably would have swallowed down anything this woman offered me. So when the bartender returned with her drink order, I steeled myself for the sharp taste of the liquor, already preparing to knock back the rest of me beer to mask it.
Completely unnecessary.
The moment the two glasses were placed in front of her, she knocked them back and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Without taking too much of a breath, she reached for her beer and took two big swigs of it before setting it down on the counter with a loudthunk.
I was intrigued.
Either this woman was a party animal or working up the nerve to do something.
She angled her head me way, I was a little surprised to see a hint of uncertainty shine behind her eyes. Her nostrils flared with the deep drag of air she took to her lungs and I did me best not to stare at her chest rising and falling with the action.
"Here's the deal," Rae said."My friends and I have a bet."
Me brow arched."This bet wouldn't happen to have anything to do with me?"
Deep crimson stained her cheeks as she nodded and looked past me to where I presumed her friends sat. The uncertainty I'd seen in her eyes now evident on her face too. This stunning woman seemed so sure of herself a few moments ago. What changed in the space of a few minutes?
I was about to ask when she blurted out,"Both of them have money on the fact that I am unable to pick up a guy at a bar… or anywhere else for that matter."
All I could do was stare. Not because of what she said. No, I had a hard time believing that she couldn't pick up a guy. Hell, I was sure men followed her around like puppy dogs with their tongues hanging out.
She must've thought me silence meant something it didn't. A small chuckle left her lips just as she mumbled,"This is stupid." Snatching her beer from the counter, she slipped off her stool and started walking away.
Yeah, I was not having it.
Reaching out, I curled me fingers around her arm and almost swore at how soft her skin felt beneath me touch. The hairs on me neck lifted as electricity zipped up and down me spine. How in the hell could a simple touch have this effect?
Concentrating hard on the woman before me and not the sensations wreaking havoc inside of me, I pushed off the stool too. Once I'd straightened to me full height, Rae looked even more petite. This profound feeling of wrapping her up in me arms and keeping her safe slammed into me chest with so much force, it stole the breath right out of me lungs.
"Don't run away," I said. Big unguarded eyes lifted to meet mine."Tell me about this bet."
She studied me for long agonizing seconds."I just did."
"No." I shook me head."You said there was a bet." I leaned in a bit closer."But you never told me how I fit." Me voice dropped low."Do you want to pick me up, Rae?"
"I…" Her throat slowly moved with the swallow she worked down. Her eyes flicking to where I was still holding onto her. For a flicker of a second, I thought she was going to pull away and walk off.
But then I saw determination light up her features. Rae pulled her shoulders back, lifted her chin and looked me dead in the eye."Yes, I do." Even as she said the words, her cheeks turned bright red.
I wanted to kiss her. Shite, I'd never wanted to kiss anyone as desperately as I wanted to kiss Rae in that moment. Every cell in me body vibrated with the need to surge forward and claim her mouth so thoroughly she forgot anyone before me.
Me grin spread slow and wide as me free hand came up to take the beer in her hand. Without taking me eyes off her, I placed it on the bar behind me."Right, how do you want to do this?"
Deep lines formed on her forehead."What?"
"Do you want to just walk out of here?" I let go of her arm to tuck two fingers beneath her chin."Or we could give them a show… leave them a little speechless?"
Her breath caught in her throat."I like option two."
She'd barely spoken the words before I stooped and pressed me lips to hers. In that moment, there was no space for rational thinking, no time to be a gentleman. The only thing that mattered was the feel of her mouth on mine.
I had to suppress the groan that wanted to rumble free. Her lips were even softer and tastier than I'd imagined and the way she was kissing me right back all but knocked me on me arse.
Licking at the seam of her mouth, I slid me palms around her delicate neck; me thumbs pushing against her chin, keeping her face at the perfect angle. Hot and wet, me tongue eagerly dipped inside.
I hissed out a breath when Rae's hands came to me waist, fingers digging into me sides. The warmth of her touch searing me skin through the material of me shirt. I wanted more. Needed more.
