I could have easily gone and found some pussy since I arrived, but something has stopped me. The stress from getting the shop off the ground and everything else in life that tries to keep me down, I guess. This isn’t about romance; I don’t sign up for that shit. This is about getting what I need—what we both need, if the way her body reacted to mine last night is anything to go by.
The place is packed when the car pulls up out the front, and I end up having to wait to even get inside.
By the time the bouncer lifts the rope and allows me in, I’m desperate for a fucking drink. I make a beeline for the bar and order a scotch. I swallow it down in one, enjoying the burn and waiting for the warmth to hit me.
“Another?” the bartender shouts when I slam the glass down.
Shaking my head, I spin around and go in search of who I really came here for.
I locate the stairs and head down. As I descend, the chaos from above begins to quiet, and when I push through the doors to this section, I find the music is completely different. Gone arethe fast-paced club tracks that were filling my ears, and instead a low, sexy R&B vibe sounds out.
It’s quieter down here, but it still takes me longer than I would like to find her. She’s dancing with her friend, who’s in another minuscule dress. I smile as I watch them letting go to the beat of the music.
I walk to the bar and order myself another while I watch them. Harlow has a wide smile on her face as she moves her hips and lifts her arms above her head.
As her friend dances, I get my first proper look at Harlow. Her floral dress might be almost as short as her friend’s, especially with her arms up, but that’s where the similarities end. She wasn’t wrong last night when she said they couldn’t be more different.
I down my drink and wait a few seconds, but I can only hold off for so long. She pulls me in in a way I’ve never experienced before. My need to run my hands over her, to sweep my tongue against hers and taste her once again is all-consuming.
I take two steps forward before her friend sees me approaching over Harlow’s shoulder. Her eyes run the length of me. Her interest is obvious, but my body doesn’t react to her attention one bit. It might have been a while, but she’s really not my type. Her friend, on the other hand … I’m only a few feet away when Harlow stills. She stares at her friend, who’s still smiling at me, before turning to look over her shoulder.
Her eyes land on me immediately as I continue my approach, but it takes a few seconds for Harlow to register that it’s me. When she does, her eyes go wide in shock, but to my delight, a smile curls at her full, red lips.
“What are you doing here?” she shouts over the music when I’m close enough.
“You invited me.” My brows pull together in confusion. “No, I—” A thought hits her and her lips purse, but sadly, it’s not inpreparation for a kiss. “Brooke,” she accuses, turning towards where her friend was just standing, only she’s gone. “What the …” We both find her at the same time, dancing with a guy only a few feet away. She notices our attention and smiles and waves, a cheeky glint sparkling in her eyes.
Blowing out a breath, Harlow turns to me. “I’m so sorry. As you can tell, it wasn’t me who invited you.”
“Well, I’m here now. Fancy a drink?” Harlow looks from me to her now very distracted friend.
“Sure, why not?” She takes a step around me, and I place my hand on the small of her back as we make our way towards the bar. Her movement stills for a beat when my warmth hits her, but she doesn’t push me away like I first feared she might.
“Rum and Coke, right?” She smiles and nods beside me as I repeat our order to the bartender.
I don’t allow her to take the glass; instead, I pick both up and turn. “Let’s go and find somewhere to sit.”
“There’s a quieter section around the corner.”
My eyes drop to her cleavage for a second, and my mouth waters. “Sounds perfect,” I mutter, my eyes finding hers once more. Her head tilts to the side, her brows rising in amusement, but she doesn’t say anything. Instead, she spins and leads the way. I could swear there’s more of a spring in her step than there was earlier.
She comes to a stop beside a sofa that a few people are vacating.
“Here?” she asks.
“I’m easy.”
“Is that right?” The music is quieter back here, so I hear her as I fall down onto the sofa beside her.
“I guess that’s something you’re going to have to find out.” Her cheeks heat, but I don’t miss the darkening of her chestnut eyes.
I slide over so we’re close enough that her bare thigh presses against mine, and I rest my arm over the back of the sofa, temptingly close to pulling her into me.
“So, what’s the occasion?” I ask, changing the topic for fear of coming on too strong and ruining my chances.
“Uh …” She stalls. “No occasion, just a night out to …”
“To?”
