“Dance with me.” Taking the glass from her hands, I set our drinks on a nearby table and hold my hand out for her.
She only hesitates a moment before placing her hand in mine and letting me lead her to the dance floor. I spot Jax on our way and nod toward the stage. A shit-eating grin eclipses his face, but he seems to understand what I’ve asked of him.
He grabs my guitar and sits on a barstool on stage. Seconds later, the opening chords of Morgan Wallen’s new version of “Spin You Around” fill the tent. I pull my mystery woman to my chest, grasping her one hand in mine and sliding my other around her waist.
The seemingly innocent contact shouldn’t have me buzzing with nervous excitement, but it does nonetheless. Clearing my throat, I ask, “Which college do you attend?”
“Abbott University.”
“Ah, I’ve got a buddy that went to Abbott U. What are you studying?”
“My undergrad was merchandising. I’m just finishing one prereq I needed for my accelerated MBA program that starts this fall.”
I hum in admiration. “Beauty and brains, I knew you were a catch.”
She tucks her chin, but not before I see the apples of her cheeks heat. “What about you? Did you go to college?”
I stiffen at her question because it hasn’t occurred to me until right this moment that she has no idea who I am. She knows my first name is Bennett, and she’s likely got to be clued in that there are professional hockey players here—what with her parents knowing Griffin andCarson’s parents. But I don’t think she’s put the puzzle pieces together about who I am.
Pushing aside the voice in my head telling me this is all wrong, I shake my head before telling a little white lie. “No, college wasn’t in the plans for me. I decided to get a job right out of high school.” It’s nottechnicallya lie. I did get drafted first overall right out of high school and signed the next season instead of playing college hockey. Though, I am attending online courses now.
She’s so beautiful looking up at me right now, I can’t stop myself from brushing a strand of hair off her face. Her cheeks heat and she glances toward the lake, breaking our eye contact.
Clearing my throat, I squeeze my hand resting on her lower back. “Fate intervened. I think that means you owe me your number and your identity.”
Her eyes narrow as her nose scrunches up in the most ridiculously charming way. With a deep breath, she tells me her name on an exhale. “Scarlett.”
A wide grin spreads across my face. “Scarlett,” I repeat, liking how it rolls off my tongue.
“What? You’re not going to make some silly joke about how our names rhyme?”
“Not much of a jokester,” I inform her. “Besides, you call me Benny anyway.”
Just then, her eye catches on something over my shoulder and as I turn to see what’s caught her attention, she pulls on my loosened tie and draws my eyes back to her. “Do you wanna get out of here,Benny?” she asks with a spark of mischief in her amber eyes.
I try to process her question, but my brain feels like it’s short-circuiting. Not wanting her to misinterpret my silence as turning her down, I swallow past my suddenly dry throat. “Where to?”
She steps away from my grasp and meets my gaze. “I was thinking wherever you were planning to stay the night.”
Still temporarily stunned by her question, I simply nod in response and she leads me away from the dance floor.
Scarlett
A short Uber ride later, Bennett rests his hand on my lower back as he guides me through the lobby of his hotel. When we’re in the elevator, he presses a button, but I’m not paying much attention to which one.
Instead, my eyes rake down his body as I take him in. His brown hair is cut short on the sides, leaving the top longer but smoothed back and giving him a polished look. He has the perfect amount of trimmed scruff that somehow enhances his sharp jawline. The suit he’s wearing is tailored to fit his muscular frame like a glove. I’m a sucker for a tall guy, and he’s well over six feet. As he unbuttons his suit jacket, I can’t help but fixate on the size of his hands. Everything about this man is broad and powerful, and I can only hope this elevator ride leads me to a night full of him using that strength to pick me up and bend me over every surface of his hotel room.
Once we’re shut inside, our eyes lock from across the elevator, and before I know what’s happening, my feet move to Bennett of their own volition. An impish grin takes over his face when he sees how turned on I am.
I lunge toward him, and he easily lifts me with one arm, my legs wrapping around his waist at the same time that he tangles his otherhand through my curls and softly tugs on my tresses. His lips crash against mine and it’s at this moment that I realize how utterly fucked I am. I know this man is about to ruin me for all others. The moment Bennett’s tongue swirls against mine, a trail of burning heat shoots to my core. Trying to ease the ache, I shamelessly grind my hips against his until my clit begins to pulsate and I think I’ll come right here, right now, just like this. From dry humping a stranger in an elevator.
I don’t even know his last name.The thought is gone as fast as it appeared when a low growl of approval rumbles through Bennett’s chest as he presses me against the wall of the elevator, allowing him to work his hips even harder against mine.
Oh Jesus, thank you for this night. For putting me in this man’s path once again. Thank you for divine-fucking-intervention.
Bennett balances me against the wall as he hikes up the silk skirt of my dress before slamming his hips against mine once more. The feel of his erection through his suit pants rubs perfectly against my exposed clit.
His fingers dig into the bare skin on my hips before he pulls away and groans, “Fuck, Scar. You’re not wearing any panties?”
