Page 1 of Say I'm Yours, Firecracker

“Shots?” I asked as we made our way past Benny with a head nod, into Dusk ‘Til Dawn.

“Hell yes!” Xavier hollered over the noise. Bright lights pulsed over the gyrating bodies on the dance floor. Music thrummed through my heels and up my legs. Xavier, one of my best friends, and I decided on having a night out, while Bell, my other best friend, stayed locked up in her house. Sometimes she got in her head a little too far and we both knew it was best to leave her to her own devices.

This was my element, nameless people, strong drinks, and there standing at the railing above the pool of people–stood my mystery man.

He was handsome, and one of the most intriguing men I’d found since moving here a few years ago with Bell. Almost every time I’d come here there he’d be, standing sentry over the black banister. Like some kind of gorgeous gargoyle.

At first, I thought he owned the club. When he was at Dusk ‘Til Dawn girls fawned and men clapped his hand, like he was someone everyone knew, and if they didn’t, they wanted to.

The bartender, with half her head shaved, swiftly corrected us the last time our little group went dancing. He’s the boss’s brother, a trust fund kid who had money to blow.

Although, kid isn’t the way I’d describe him. No, he exuded an air about him that was definitely not childlike. He oozed sex appeal, and arrogance. The kind of man who knew exactly the kind of reaction he caused.

I imagined under that perfectly styled beard he had a jaw cut from granite. His lips never curved up, instead always staying in a neutral position as if nothing pleased him.

To be frank, he seemed like a pompous dick. Holding court with all the business men, while women clamored over themselves for his attention.

I couldn’t help my curiosity, he was beautiful, and I loved beautiful things.

Our eyes locked across the span of the room, I winked and spun around to see the smirk in Xavier’s eyes.

“That one doesn’t know what he’s about to get himself into.” He whisper-shouted, mouth turned up, teeth on full display.

“I don’t think it’s fair of you to assume he’s getting anywhere near me at all.” I sing-songed back at him.

“Please.” He said, eyes cocked to side-eye me. He passed me a shot, we turned them up and drank them down.

When I grabbed Xavier by the hand and pranced onto the dance floor I could feel someone’s eyes on me. The heat from his stare had nothing on the press of bodies all around us as we moved.

Xavier made sure to touch me, running his hands along my sides, mussing my wavy hair. He kept his face close to mine as we swayed and dipped.

This week something felt different. I told Xavier in the car on the way over that tonight would be the night I lured him in. Seven solid weekends of flirting with his eyes, if he didn’t act tonight I’d assume he was uninterested in taking our playful battle up a notch, and find another willing body to satisfy my cravings.

Xavier found a partner who looked as interested in him as he was in them. As the crowd moved they were swallowed up. I danced, not caring who was touching me as long as they kept it platonic.

I had a goal to accomplish before any below-the-belt play could begin.

Songs changed and the crowd continued to shift until it parted. Like the red fucking sea.

Most of the bodies continued to dance at a slower pace, watching the man from the top floor leisurely walk in my direction. I pretended not to notice him.

Let him believe he’s the predator. Instead of my prey.

When I could see the shades of brown in his eyes he stopped, and I had to tilt my head back to really look at him.

I was wrong before.

He wasn’t just a pretty boy, fuck, he was stunning. Dark lashes framed dark eyes, his hair was moused and tied back into a half knot behind his head.

Loose waves curled around his shoulders, where tattoos peeked out of his dress shirt.

Good Lord have mercy. He was huge. His shoulders took up enough air space to land a small plane. And his arms, I had to bite my lip to keep from ogling the veins that ran maps down his exposed forearms.

He nodded his head, just slightly, an invitation.

I smiled, looking him up and down as if making a decision. His dark brows rose, as if surprised I didn’t jump at his command.

He leaned down, close enough that if I moved his lips would connect with mine. “I could take you right here, but I like to give my lady a bit more privacy.” His breath ghosted over my ear and my body erupted in goosebumps.

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