“While this isn’t exactly what I had in mind when you asked me to go out with you, I’m having fun,” the blonde tries to sound cheery.
In reality, she sounds like she’s been suffering waterboarding in some underground bunker which was retrofitted sometime during World War II. Her dark blue eyes are dull and there’s a wariness about her she couldn’t even begin to hide if she tried.
My eyes travel down her body and she’s wearing a modest black dress. It covers just as much skin as her friend’s dress shows off. Even though the dress doesn’t show much, it does hugevery curve of her body deliciously. Trying to hold back the need to reach out and touch her is excruciating.
Her makeup is light, almost nonexistent. It’s a stark contrast to the dark smokey eye and red lip her friend is sporting.
Knowing that I’ve been staring too long by the way her body goes rigid, I force myself to turn toward the bar and nod at the bartender. I’ve seen her before at one of the Banks family gatherings, one I was forced to attend, but I haven’t spoken to her.
I think her name is Phoenix? The only reason I remember is because the bright red of her hair made me think of the legendary bird rising from the flames and ashes even before any introduction could have been made.
“Here you go, Bridger,” Phoenix grins as she places the Hammond whiskey down in front of me after breezing my way within moments.
I’m so damn tempted to down it in one shot to try and combat the feeling of butterflies in my gut, but I hold off. Instead, I grunt, “Thanks.”
The woman standing next to the blonde leans around the woman who still hasn’t looked my way even though I’m screaming at her to do so in my head. “You’re on a first name basis with the bartender, is there a story there or are you just a regular?”
Even though the brunette is batting her eyelashes like she’s trying to take flight, it’s the wide eyes of the blonde that I can’t seem to look away from. She’s gorgeous. I could swear, for a second, my heart stops before beginning to beat again but now it’s off somehow.
Or maybe it’s on?
It doesn’t make me want to call for an ambulance that’s for damn sure.
“Neither,” I grunt. “It’s a friendship circle kind of thing.”
“Ohh,” the brunette holds the word out and wiggles her fingers, “mysterious.” I glance her way, long to catch her smirking, but my gaze moves quickly back toward the blonde. “I’m Tasha,” she introduces herself. “And this is Avery.”
“Avery,” I whisper softly.
There’s no way she heard me, it’s just not possible. Still, her dark blue eyes dilate and her soft pink lips part before her breath hitches. I wonder what other sounds I could get out of her.
Breathy moans.
Passionate screams.
Pleasure filled whimpers.
I can almost taste every sound on my tongue.
After clearing my throat, I nod my head toward Tasha because it feels like she’s just given me a gift. “Tasha. Avery, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Bridger.”
“Lovely to make your acquaintance, Bridger,” Tasha chirps.
“Nice to meet you, Bridger,” Avery’s voice is soft and lyrical. My ears strain to pick up every nuance in her words, few that they are.
“This doesn’t seem like your scene,” Tasha points out. “You should hang out with my friend, it’s not hers either. I basically coerced her into coming out with me tonight.”
Avery chuckles under her breath and flashes a soft smile at her friend while shaking her head. “It wasn’t like that, Tasha,” she grumbles. “I just needed,” she pauses as if searching for the words as emotions flit across her face, “to do something different.”
Her dark blue eyes study me, raking over the exposed skin on my arms where tattoos dance across my skin. When she licks her lips, my fucking knees go weak and I down my whiskey in one swallow because it’s the only things stopping me from grabbing her.
I’ve never wanted a woman like I want her. There’s electricity between us. I can feel it charging with every breath. It’s like static. I think we’re both waiting for the strike.
“If going out to a club isn’t your scene, what is?”
I surprise myself with the question. Not because I’m asking one at all, which would be enough, but because I genuinely am curious about the answer. Something in me wants to know more about this woman.
It’s a ridiculous feeling. One I know can’t go anywhere, not really, but it won’t be ignored either.
