“He is.” Shane tips his beer bottle and lifts his brows with annoyance.
Hayden reaches out and cups my cheeks in his big hands, lifting my face. “We are leaving - you and I.”
“Really?” He’s taking me home with him. Omigod. “Okay, let’s go.” I blink wildly, my heart flipping a beat.
“Skins will take us both to Sawyer’s, so you get back safely.” And there it was, the brush off.
“I’m going to Sawyer’s and you’re going home?” Disappointment tugs down my heart from its prime location of watching his mouth. “And what the hell is skins?”
“Skins is the taxi guy - the only Uber in Heartville. He sells sheep’s fleece on the side.”
“Right.” My head feels heavy when he lets go. I watch him take a swig of beer and cock his hat toward his friends. “Can’t we stay, your buddy, Shane, seems like he’s got great banter.”
There’s an untouched tequila on the table. I quickly nab it and drain the liquid. Then in one swipe, I jump up and snatch the hat from his head. It swamps me, a touch too big as I position it down on my own. I drag black strands over my shoulders, framing my face and cleavage. I’ve agitated his hair, watching in slow motion as it falls over his forehead, all thick and messy. My giggle feels more nervous than giddy. I’m witness to his slow smirk and love every second of it.
With a sway and a shimmy, I back away and keep my eyes locked on his. He steps forward in one stride, predatory and confident. I keep backing up, grinning playfully with tequila on the tip of my tongue and Hayden my avid spectator. His next step exhilarates my already wild heart, maybe because his eyes are fixated, hunting me amidst the throng. He follows me. Stalking closer, until I bump a woman dancing.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” My head whips around to see her.
The hat lifts, hands smooth down my thighs, and suddenly I’m hauled upwards. My upper half bends in two, folding my torso over his shoulder, hair loose and flowing to the floor, and my lower half dangles over his chest - my ass right by his handsome face. “Hayden!” I squeal, gripping his moving thighs. The bar door swings open, and cold air hits. “Put me down, Hayden!”
“Will you behave?” His voice strains.
“Yes…” Slowly, with strength, he drags me down his body until I’m balancing on thin heels again, pressed into him for support. “And what was that for?”
Neither of us speak. A bright moon hides behind cloudy wisps, the shimmer framing his tall stature. The smell of liquor laces the air, and a sweet scent of fresh popcorn drifts along the street on a honey breeze. Intermittent headlights glow in the twilight. “You were being disobedient.”
“Like a dog?” I pretend to roll my eyes, laughing playfully. “I think we established that you’re the one similar to a dog with all your slobbering.”
He yanks me closer. Those muscly strapping arms pin me against him. The quick movement both surprises and delights me. “We already established that I don’t slobber.” He looks serious with the slightest uplift to the corner of his mouth.
We stare at each other for what seems like a lifetime, swathed in moonlight, full of fascination. My body melts into his shirt with its own agenda to absorb his heat.
“Prove it.” I dare him.
His eyes dazzle, directed at my mouth, but his lips are too far away. I hold my breath, tempted by him, speechless. I can’t tell if he’s going to kiss me, but I sure as hell hope so. On the balls of my feet, my heels lift up a smidgen more, giving silent permission to do it, to take what we both want.
In a heart skipping beat, his mouth swoops down and covers my own, gifting me with the mind scrambling kiss I’ve craved since we met. It has me searching for myself, adrift in his taste, safe in his powerful embrace, and his silky tongue feels like it’s playing a game. Coarse hair rubs my chin, tipping my composure. A whimper escapes me, a sound like none other I’ve ever made before - hunger and greed, infused with uncontrollable need.
It started out lustful and daring, yet now he slows the pace with confidence and skill. His large palms settle over my cheeks, granting him full control, allowing his leisurely lips to cling and bruise however they want. My fingers glide and tug over his shirt, never wanting this intoxicating kiss to end - because I’ll fall over, having already fallen for his lips.
A car horn toots loudly, and we’re lit up like characters on stage. This man has proven to be unpredictable, making me crave him even more. With one last gentle pull of my lower lip, he leans back, breaking our contact. His eyes close briefly. “There’s our Uber.” He doesn’t look at me, instead his nails scratch over the prickles coating his jaw. “I don’t think you realize what you’re doing to me.”
“Tell me,” I whisper breathlessly.
Without vocalizing his thoughts, he clears his throat. “I shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry. You have the weekend off. Try to stay out of trouble.”
“I think you’re trouble, Hayden.” My teeth dent the corner of my mouth, holding my best sexy smile. “I want more - whatever you’re hiding in here.” I cup his zipper to find a thick, rock solid bulge that my hand has no mission of fully covering.
“Summer…” he warns.
“It’s just fun, Hayden. We can fool around until I leave. Isn’t that what every guy wants?”
His mouth straightens to a grimace. “Think you’ve got me all figured out, do ya?” He waves over at the car, the full beam highlighting my mistake. “This…” His hands move back and forth between us. “This ain’t happening. Now, walk to the car before I carry you there myself.”
“You kissed me?” My fingers press to my lips.
“It’s that dress of yours. You’re a star shooting across the night sky. A rare sight that doesn’t hang around for long. I shouldn't have kissed you, honey. It won’t happen again.”
