Tragically Flawed

by A. M. Hargrove

  The whole group got up to dance, but one song turned into several. They were having a great time until an intoxicated guy tried to grab Riviera. At first, he made a move by trying to put his arm around her. She slipped away, but he didn’t give up and stalked her. She freaked out and Amie saw what was happening. Amie blocked the drunken fool from getting close to Riviera, but he became even more belligerent. Riviera ran back to their table, but the idiot followed. Amie tried to stop him, but finally, one of the bouncers had to drag him out of the club, kicking and fighting the whole way.

  The incident upset Riviera so much that she wanted to leave. Amie pleaded with her to stay, at least for a bit more to make sure the inebriated man was long gone. That seemed to work, so she agreed to stay a little while longer. After a bit of coaxing, the girls eventually persuaded her to dance again, but this time, while she was out there, she heard someone else behind her.

  “May I have this dance?” the sexy voice asked.

  Turning, she saw Shan next to her.

  “I think that can be arranged,” she grinned.

  The timing was exquisite, as the band had just begun to play a slow song. Shan wrapped Riviera in his arms and they swayed with the music. Neither spoke as they clung to each other.

  Riviera never felt so safe. Instead of fearing him, her body was protected by the arms of this man. She felt his soft hair brush her hand where she cupped his neck. She couldn’t stop herself from burying her fingers in its thickness.

  Lifting her head and seeking his eyes, she found them staring back. “I’ve never danced like this before. I like the way you feel.” She hoped she didn’t sound weird saying that, but it was the truth.

  He smiled at her, and his response warmed her. “Then I’m glad you chose me to dance with, because I'm honored, Riviera. And you fit perfectly in my arms.”

  Shan wanted nothing more than to lean into her and kiss her mouth and taste every part of it until she couldn’t breathe, but he didn’t. Instead, he stared at her lovely lips and entertained wicked thoughts about what he wanted to do with them.

  Riviera wanted Shan to kiss her but wasn’t sure if this was the place or time. So she did nothing but pull him as close to her as she could. As she did, she felt his chest rumble with laughter. She wondered if he was making fun of her.

  Glancing up, she was relieved when she saw only merriment in his eyes. “If you pull me any closer, you’re gonna have to stand on my feet to dance, sweetheart.”

  She hadn’t thought of that and soon she was laughing right along with him.

  “You’re so easy,” she laughed.

  “Excuse me?” he asked, a bit shocked.

  “Easy, as in easy to be with. I’ve gotten comfortable around you.”

  “Oh. For a moment there, I thought you were calling me a male escort or something.”

  Riviera laughed. It occurred to her then that she laughed a lot when she was with Shan.

  “I love it when I make you laugh.”

  “So do I. It feels good,” she admitted.

  The song ended way too soon for both of them. Riviera was surprised when he laced her fingers with his and pulled her to a secluded corner in the room.

  “I suppose I should go hang out with my friends.”

  “Hmm. Will they miss you if you’re gone?” he asked as he brushed her hair off her shoulder.

  “No,” she laughed.

  “Good, because I’m not willing to give you up to them quite yet.”

  “What are you going to do with me?”

  “Whatever you want me to do with you.”

  “Oh, Shan.” Riviera brought her hand to her mouth.

  “Tell me what you want, Riviera.”

  “I’m not sure. I ...”

  “Remember what I told you the other night? I won’t ever lay an unwanted hand on you. I promise. You never have to fear me.”

  “I believe you.”

  He pulled her hand up to his mouth and kissed her palm and then turned it over and kissed her knuckles. “Can I tell you something?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I want to kiss you. I’ve wanted to kiss you since that day we ate lunch at the diner.”

  “Then why don’t you?”

  “I won’t kiss you, or do anything to you, until you open up to me. I want to know you. I want us to know each other.”

  Riviera took a deep breath and blew it out between tightened lips. Closing her eyes, she began, “Jasper was his name. He beat the shit out of me. Pretty much every day. He did really bad things to me, Shan … things I may never be able to talk about.” She opened her eyes to find his focused on her. “I’m in therapy now. I see a psychologist and I go to group at Shelby’s Shack. He messed me up pretty badly. I guess you need to ask yourself if you really want to know me, because it’s an ugly story.”

  Shan’s eyes never left hers. His hand never stopped holding hers. He never flinched at her words nor did he do anything to indicate he was remotely shocked.

  He kissed her hand again and said, “I’m so sorry, Riviera. I knew it was bad and if I could find the bastard, I’d probably wring his neck. You didn’t deserve that. You deserved to be loved and cherished by someone who cares deeply for you. Not beaten and abused.” He picked up a lock of her hair and rubbed it between his thumb and index finger. “The answer is yes. I still want to know you because you’re not defined by him or what he did to you. He was just the son of a bitch who hurt you. You’re defined by you and only you and what’s inside your heart and soul.”

  As soon as he finished speaking, he framed her face with his hands and his lips found hers. It wasn’t anything like the last kiss they’d shared. He slowly dragged his tongue across the outline of her lips. When she parted them, his tongue slipped between them and he made slow, erotic love to her mouth. He sucked, licked, and nibbled until she was groaning and writhing as she pressed herself against him. Shan kissed exactly as he worked—like a true perfectionist. Not a single part of her was left untouched, undiscovered by him.

  Heat fanned out across every inch of her body, her senses whirling with lust. She’d never known anything like it. Ever. She would’ve gladly given up breathing and eating in exchange for one of his kisses.

  When at last he let her catch her breath, he whispered in her ear, “Riviera, give me your hand.”

  Hand? What hand? I thought I was one giant living breathing mouth.

  Her arm was like jelly. How she ever lifted it, she’d never know. But she did and placed it in his. He lifted it to his mouth and began a slow torture with her fingers. One by one he sucked them, and then he’d nip the top of each one, lightly sinking his teeth into the soft pads. Riviera knew that if she could touch herself but one time, she’d come. She clenched her thighs together and squeezed, trying to ease the ache within her.

  Thank God the music was so loud because she was moaning and whimpering like some wild creature.

  Shan put his cheek next to hers and purred, “Do you like this?”

  “Yes,” she groaned.

  “Do you want me to stop?”

  “No!” she panted.

  “One day, Riviera, I’m going to make you climax and you’re going to scream my name when you do.”

  Holy fucking orgasms. I’m almost coming now!

  Shan traced her mouth with his thumb and then rubbed her lower lip. He slipped his thumb in her mouth and said, “Suck me, Riviera.”

  She puckered her lips around his thumb and mimicked what he’d done to her. Only harder. She picked up a rhythm that was sexy as hell and Shan wondered if he’d bitten off more than he could chew.

  “God, you’re so hot. You don’t know how sexy you are.”

  She looked up at him. “Why don’t you tell me?”

  “Your mouth is like heaven to me. What I want to do with it. I …” His mouth crashed into hers again and they devoured each other.

  “Come home with me.”

  Riviera stiffened and was jolted back to reality.

 
“I … I can’t, Shan. I’m not ready for that. I … I ...”

  Shan put his fingers against her lips. “Please don’t say anything. I shouldn’t have asked you that. Forgive me. That was actually pretty shitty of me. Forget I ever said it.”

  Riviera was torn between wanting to throw herself at him and being scared as hell of him. Her body was a turbulent storm and she wasn’t quite sure what to do about it. Everything about him permeated her senses. He invaded her space but she wanted him there. She craved his presence but she didn’t know what to do about it.

  “Shan, it wasn't shitty. And I wish I could say yes.”

  “Riviera, would you please go out to dinner with me?” His voice held an urgency that hadn’t been there a minute ago.

  Shifting her eyes from his sensual mouth to his eyes, the corners of her mouth lifted just a bit. “Yeah. I’d love that. When?”

  “Tuesday. At seven. I’ll pick you up if you tell me where you live.”

  Nodding, she said, “Yeah. Okay.”

  “Dance with me again?”

  “Yeah, okay.”

  “Riviera?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Are you gonna say anything besides yeah and okay?”

  “Maybe,” she laughed. “I don’t know.”

  He escorted her onto the dance floor again, but this time it was a song with a pumped-up beat. Riviera let herself go and her body naturally found the rhythm. Shan admired the way her hips caught the tempo. He was acutely aware of how his body reacted to her. He wanted to watch her as she moved to a completely different kind of rhythm, the kind that didn’t have a damn thing to do with dancing.

  Riviera noticed his smoldering eyes and mistook his look for anger. “Have I done something wrong?” she quickly asked.

  He blew out the breath he’d been holding and said, “Not if you think moving like an angel is wrong. I was … Riviera, you don’t need to hear what I was thinking.”

  “Your expression. It looked ...”

  “What?”

  “Dark and dangerous. Like you were angry.”

  “Oh, I’m not at all angry.” His eyes were half closed as he watched her.

  “Maybe it’s time I go back to my friends.”

  “Riviera, am I frightening you? Tell me if I am.”

  “Yes,” she blurted out. Her chest rose and fell with each breath.

  “Don’t be. I want you, Riviera. That’s the look I’m giving you. It’s the look of a man who wants a very desirable, very sexy woman. That’s all. I won’t harm you. Nor will I ever take from you what you don’t give freely.”

  Shan watched the stiffness dissipate from her, though her eyes remained suspicious.

  “I can’t help the way I respond to you.” He let out a little snort. “You affect me that way, but you don’t have to fear me.”

  Riviera half smiled and they moved again.

  He leaned into her and she inhaled his fragrance. She loved the way he smelled—sort of spicy. “For someone who hasn’t danced much, you certainly know all the right moves.”

  She turned around, her back facing his chest. He pulled her against him and put his arm around her waist, flattening his hand against her stomach as they rocked with the music. It was difficult for her to ignore his hardness as she pressed herself against him. He wasn’t shy about hiding it, either. Leaning her head against his shoulder, they moved as one. Shan finally couldn’t keep his mouth off hers any longer, so he tilted her head and kissed her.

  This situation wasn’t good for either one of them—their arousal burst, consuming them. Panting and moaning into his mouth, Riviera broke off the kiss and told him, “I think we’d better stop.”

  “Damn, I hate to, but you’re right. Come on, let’s get off the floor.”

  Riviera checked her watch and was surprised to see it was close to one in the morning.

  “I need to find my friends. They’re gonna be worried about me.”

  “I’ll help you look.”

  They found them seated at the same table and Amie gave Riviera a grin and a wink when she saw Shan. Riviera introduced him to everyone and then told all the girls she was headed home. Amie shot her a look with another huge wink and Riviera was mortified. Her eyes popped out and she was happy it was so dark in there, because her face Atomic Fireballed on her.

  Shan hooked his hand with hers as they walked out of the bar. Every girl at the table had their eyes glued to Shan as he and Riviera left.

  “I wish I were walking out of here with him,” one of them remarked. Amie laughed.

  When Shan and Riviera reached her car, he casually said, “I’m going to follow you home to make sure you get there safely.”

  “Shan, you don’t have to do that. I’m capable of driving myself home. I’ve only had one drink all night.”

  “I don’t care. I’m just telling you so you don’t freak when you see my headlights in your rearview mirror.”

  He followed her home and stopped when she got there.

  “You really don’t have to do this,” she said as he stood outside her car.

  “I know, but I want to.”

  He walked her up to the front door and when she unlocked it, he kissed her (rather chastely, to her chagrin) good night.

  “Thank you for a lovely evening, Riviera. I look forward to dinner Tuesday at seven. Good night.”

  “Goodnight, Shan.”

  She watched him get back in his truck and drive off. Now all she had to do was get through Sunday, Monday, and most of Tuesday, until she got to see him again.

  Chapter Eleven

  Scorched

  The next morning, Amie pestered Riviera to death over breakfast.

  “I want it all, girl … every last little detail. That man has it bad for you. He was practically fucking you with his eyes last night.”

  Riviera’s face fired up so she bent her head to hide it from Amie.

  “No use denying it. You aren’t that naïve, Riv. You two were going at it like two dogs in heat. My God, I couldn’t tear my eyes off you. It was complete mouth porn. I almost creamed my jeans.”

  Riviera spit her coffee out, sputtered some more, and then stared at Amie.

  “What? Don’t tell me you’re embarrassed about it now. Did you think you were behind closed doors? Hell, everyone was watching you. There wasn’t a woman in that club who wouldn’t have traded places with you in a skinny minute.”

  Stunned didn’t get close to what Riviera felt.

  “Come on, Riv, you should feel proud of yourself. You threw caution to the wind and had a damn good time. At least it looked like you did. You did, right?”

  “Yeah, I did,” she peeped.

  “Hell, you don’t have to be shy about it with me. You deserve it, girl!”

  She gaped at Amie for a moment and then laughed … a good old-fashioned belly laugh. Amie joined in. “Feels good, doesn’t it?” Amie asked.

  “Yeah, it does. It feels really good.”

  “So, spill it!”

  “Seriously?”

  “Hell, yeah. I’m dying to know!”

  Riviera told her and it felt really great to have a friend she could confide in. “He asked me to go home with him.”

  “No way! What did you say?”

  “Nothing because he knew he screwed up right away. I also told him a little bit about Jasper.”

  “Oh, Riv. You really like him … like him like him. Don’t you?”

  “I don’t know. He makes me feel so right. Like I want to be with him, and well, you know,” she said, fidgeting.

  “You mean you want to get laid?”

  “Jeez, Amie, why not be blunt about it?”

  “Yeah, why not? But I’m right, aren’t I?”

  “Yeah, but I’m scared to death. I should be running from this man.”

  “Why?”

  “Why the hell do you think?”

  “Okay, Riv, not every man is like Jasper.”

  “Tell that to my battered brain.”

 
Amie looked at her and knew there was more to her story. “What aren’t you telling me? You know you can trust me. I can help you, Riv.”

  Riviera’s gut twisted and her palms turned clammy. “It’s nothing,” she insisted.

  “I call a giant bullshit on that. You look like a ghost right now. Look, I’m not going to force this issue with you, but you know I’m here if you need me. Let me say this, though. Shan’s the good guy here. You’ve known him for six months now … ever since you got here, really. And something’s been brewing between you since you met. Don’t blow something with him because of fear. Go with your heart on this one, okay?”

  “Well, we’re going out to dinner on Tuesday night,” she said awkwardly.

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Yeah,” she grinned, “and I’m excited about seeing him again.”

  “Yay! Score, Shan 1!”

  “Hey, are you taking bets or something?”

  “Hell no. I’m pulling for both of you. I’ve known him for a while and ever since this auction fundraiser, my opinion of him has shot straight through the roof. The man has integrity and is just plain awesome, not to mention he’s smokin’ hot. And as far as you’re concerned, well, hell, I love you to the moon and back. So I want to see you happy and in a normal relationship with someone who cares about you. Now, you’ll get a point after you go to dinner!”

  “You’re such a goofball, you know?”

  “Yep.”

  *****

  Monday morning rolled around and Riviera was on her way to work when her phone lit up.

  Riviera groaned when she saw it was Marsha Sue.

  “Hi, Marsha Sue.”

  “You’re behind on all your homes. You’d better pick it up or else.”

  “Or else what, Marsha Sue? Are you gonna fire me?”

  “Ha ha. Very funny, Riviera. You know I can’t do that. I will, however, tell all my clients that they can’t move into their new homes because the painter Shan uses is a slack-ass.”

  “Marsha Sue, that’s a blatant lie and you know it.”

  “Not the way I see it. So get off your slack ass and get to work.”