Closed Off To You (Singing Star Trilogy #1)

by Rachel S. Rose

  Lizzie, although my best friend, was the complete opposite of me. Being a visual person, she always went for looks first. We were all guilty of perving, but I was more attracted to a man who could hold a conversation.

  “…Coming over… Shit.”

  I laughed when her gaze darted back to me. She dipped her head, covering her face with her hair. She had all the talk when men were at a safe distance, but as soon as they were close, her confidence waned.

  “I thought it was you.”

  If the bra incident had been a nightmare, the consequences were even worse. The deep voice was unmistakable.

  I didn’t look up. I couldn’t.

  “You know him?” Lizzie stuttered.

  From the glare she threw my way, I deduced that she had laid claim to my embarrassing saviour when she had set eyes on him.

  Why did the universe taunt me? I mean, seriously? I had never met the man in my life before, and he just so happened to be in two places in one day. At the same time as me. Usually, I would be excited. I believed that things happened for a reason. Not today, though. No, not today.

  “Melissa, isn’t it?”

  Nathan. The very hot and hunky man who had ripped me out of my bra in the changing room. Unfortunately, not for the reasons I found myself fantasising about.

  “Hi, my name’s Lizzie. How do you know Melissa?”

  I still hadn’t removed my gaze from my best friend. Her mascaraed eyelashes fluttered as she gazed longingly up at him.

  “Let’s just say, I know her quite intimately.”

  My mouth dropped open as I finally looked at him. The twinkle in his eye didn’t lessen the heat of embarrassment that burned my veins as our gaze locked.

  “Really?” Lizzie murmured.

  If I looked at her, I would lose my composure. From the corner of my eye, I saw her fingers wrap around her wine glass. She would be squinting at me in an attempt at giving me the evil eye.

  I couldn’t tear my gaze away from Nathan. The slight smirk on his face tempted me. Not to kiss him, no, but to rise from my seat and get rid of it. I resisted. In fact, I did a lot of resisting.

  “Can we join you?” Nathan asked Lizzie.

  He was brave not to ask me. He already knew my answer.

  “Here’s your pint, Nathan,” his friend said as he joined us.

  The new man was perfect for our friend Ella. Tall and lanky, just how she liked them. To be fair, she was taller than both of us and much lankier.

  If Lizzie even dared to invite them to sit with us, I wouldn’t hang about.

  “Of course.” Lizzie scooted along the bench so they could join us around the table.

  My mouth hurt from the forced smile. Nathan looked between us as he settled to my left. Lizzie glared at me when the tall man sat next to her. A third guy hovered around the bar, waiting for his drink. He was shorter than the others but had a strong chiselled jaw.

  “How are you feeling?” Nathan asked me quietly.

  Picking up my wine, I downed it in one. I wouldn’t stay. I could see it turning into a great big laugh. At my expense. The whole table talking about my fun adventure.

  “I was just leaving, actually.” I reached for my bag.

  Lizzie grabbed my arm and squeezed. “No, you weren’t.”

  I stared at her, but she ignored me. Turning, she smiled at Nathan. “So, you haven’t told me how you know my best friend…intimately.”

  Nathan raised his goddamn sexy eyebrows. The smirk was still stuck on his face. Would he play a game or would he let me be? I couldn’t help but run my gaze down his chest. He still wore the same T-shirt from earlier in the day. Bringing my gaze back up, I coughed when our eyes met. The grin deepened in his cheeks. He didn’t blush, unlike me. How did he have so much power over me?

  “Are you going to introduce us, Nathan?” the tall man asked as the last friend joined the table.

  Lizzie offered her hand to him. “I’m Lizzie, and this is Melissa.”

  They introduced themselves, but I didn’t hear their names. I was too busy trying my hardest not to look at Nathan. My body hummed with the energy of him. The whole of my left side was hot from where he sat only inches away. At one point, he scooted back on the bench, almost pressing his thigh against mine.

  “I’m a little bit disappointed,” Nathan whispered.

  The other three were deep in conversation about everyday life. Boring things, like jobs, and where they came from. I had never been good at small talk. Until Now. I would gladly settle for small talk with Nathan. It didn’t look like my wish would come true, though.

  “And why is that?” I looked at him sideways.

  He ran a finger up the side of his pint glass, wiping away the residue. “I can plainly see that you’re more dressed now than you were when you left the shop today.”

  I bit my bottom lip before I could retort. By the time I went home from the pub, I would be a whole new shade of red. I glanced down at my top. It was purple. It pulled in at the waist and flowed over my stomach. My bra did a good job of lifting my heavy boobs to create the cleavage that Nathan stared at.

  “Well, I’m sorry for disappointing you.”

  My empty glass taunted me. I could do with another drink. There was something about the handsome stranger with the deep voice, who had seen me mostly naked, that made me want to drink more.

  “No, worries, I forgive you. I do think I deserve a special thank you, though,” he said under his breath.

  Lizzie giggled with the two men. She was so absorbed in them, I guessed that she had forgiven me for stealing her ideal man.

  Our friendship had been strong for a very long time. Ella had joined our little twosome a few years ago. All three of us were single and happy.

  “I think you got a very special payment for helping me. Not many men see me that helpless.”

  I glanced at him, swallowing when his tongue flicked out and licked his lips. It should be my tongue dancing across that mouth. I quickly pulled back the thought as his eyes dropped from my face to my chest again. He didn’t exactly show me the greatest of respect.

  “I was a very good boy. I didn’t take advantage of the situation. You asked me not to look. I tried the best I could. Given the circumstance, of course.” He leant closer so the others couldn’t hear.

  Picking up my empty glass, I hoped someone would get the hint. I was trapped on the bench between Nathan and Lizzie. It wasn’t like I could just get up.

  I wiped my palm on my thigh. The black jeans were rough against my skin. Did he make me nervous? The thundering of my heartbeat confirmed my fear. I needed to get my wits about me.

  “Okay. You want a special thank you?” I handed him my empty glass. He took it, frowning at me before he smirked and got up from his seat.

  “Double vodka and lemonade, please,” I called.

  His retreat slowed, but he didn’t stop or turn to look. He didn’t even ask the others if they wanted a drink.

  Lizzie cocked her eyebrow at me. It seemed that her envious feelings had gone. She probably noticed the intensity between me and Nathan.

  “How do you know him?” she hissed.

  I rolled my eyes, tempted to get up and leave before Nathan came back with my drink. I grinned suddenly, aware that Lizzie was dying to know. Maybe I could have a bit of fun. Maybe the day wasn’t a complete waste.

  “He’s my rescuer. He saved me from my…bra…” I whispered the last part of the sentence so the others couldn’t hear.

  Her mouth dropped open at the same time her eyes widened. Her perfect teeth gleamed when her lips pulled back into a big grin. She glanced at the other men before she huddled closer to me.

  "I know you said he was handsome, but my God," she said. "I would easily go through what you did, just to have my bra ripped off by him."

  A glass thumped down in front of me. Lizzie glanced up at Nathan as he sat back down. His thigh deliberately pressed against mine, but I ignored it.

  My friend discreetly pulled b
ack and joined in the conversation with the other men.

  “So, about my special thank you.” Nathan gestured at my drink.

  Picking up my glass, I took a huge gulp, almost choking myself at my enthusiasm. It seemed that I was trapped by a very handsome man. I would need courage.

  “What about-”

  “Nathan knows a good place, don’t you, mate?” his tall friend interrupted.

  Nathan frowned as I glanced at Lizzie. She reached forward and clung to my hand. “Let’s go dancing!”

  Was she mad? I loved to dance, but I wasn’t in my twenties anymore. Dancing in a room full of teens made me feel ancient. Just the other week, we were moaning about our age. Surely, she didn’t expect me to make more of a prat out of myself? After the day I’d had.

  “You want to go clubbing?”

  At least Nathan sounded as disgusted as I felt. The others nodded enthusiastically.

  “Why not? It’s been ages,” the shorter friend said.

  I stopped myself from shaking my head at Lizzie. She pulled a face at me. It was her way of provoking me into doing something against my better judgement. She always did it when I held back.

  “We can go if you want.” Nathan nudged my glass into my hand again.

  Were we seriously thinking about going clubbing? It was the middle of the week. I sounded like my mother in my head. She would worry about dancing on a work night. It made me mildly depressed. The younguns didn’t need my jiggly arse to show them up on the dancefloor.

  “Melissa’s an amazing dancer. She’ll show you some moves.” Lizzie grabbed her coat and started to put it on.

  “You are kidding me?” I asked.

  Nathan shrugged when I looked him. Downing the last of his pint, he gestured to his mates. They stood in unison. Each one of them was different, yet, the look they threw each other spoke the same language. Men were so typical. I frowned as Lizzie got up to join them. Did they really think that we would go clubbing? We were too old, surely?

  “How old are you?” I blurted.

  Nathan looked around before his gaze settled on me. “Twenty-five, why?”

  I snapped my mouth shut. He looked older, a lot older. I was a bit of a cougar. He was five years younger than me. And he wanted a special thank you…whatever that was.

  “Lizzie, we can’t go with these young lads. Let’s head home.”

  Nathan lowered himself next to me again. He turned to the side so his bulk blocked my view of the others. I shrunk in on myself, even though there was no need. He wasn’t threatening me.

  “Why don’t you just let loose? Come and have some fun. I’m looking forward to what you come up with…” His mouth moved close to my ear. “I’m extremely excited about my special thank you.”

  I took a deep breath but couldn’t calm the erratic beating of my heart. The butterflies in my stomach fought with each other as his tongue flicked over the bottom of my ear. He was so much younger than me, yet his confidence was through the roof.

  “Come on!” Lizzie exclaimed.

  I looked past Nathan. Lizzie had her arms linked with both men. It looked like she was up for some fun. Some very naughty fun.

  “Okay,” I breathed.

  Nathan grinned as he stood and helped me to my feet. His fingers squeezed mine before he pulled away and took the lead. As I followed them out of the pub, I wondered what the hell I was doing. It would certainly be a day that would go in my memory bank for the rest of time.

  Maybe, just maybe, I could keep up my resistance to the very handsome Nathan.

  *

  The Latino music was unexpected. When the friend had mentioned that Nathan knew a place to dance, I assumed he meant a place full of young people and an erratic fast beat. Never did I imagine that he would bring us to a salsa club.

  Lizzie grinned at me, she knew my affinity to Latin music. My hips wanted to move as soon as the doors closed behind us. Nathan glanced over his shoulder, winking when he caught sight of my smile.

  “See? You should never judge a book by its cover.” Lizzie smirked at me as she grabbed the arm of the short man, whose name was Mike, and dragged him onto the dancefloor.

  I stood frozen, unsure whether to follow. Nathan pointed at the bar and made his way over. His friend, Andy, followed him.

  The beat was fast and fluid, just how I liked it. My hips started to involuntary move. Swaying gently to the rhythm. I couldn’t help the feeling that overtook me. I wanted to let loose, even in front of all the other people.

  For many years, I had been a dancer. Not professionally or anything. Just a kitchen dancer. You know the kind, the women that make up their own dance routines in the kitchen while they cooked the dinner. I was a self-confessed brilliant dancer but no one else knew that. Except Lizzie. And Ella. Otherwise, no one else knew my secret talent.

  “Come on, then. Show me your amazing dance moves,” Nathan called into my ear when he returned. I shivered as his breath hit my sensitive lobe.

  He offered me a glass of wine. I took it, glad of the distraction.

  “You first,” I answered.

  His chest bumped into my shoulder as he moved closer. I put the rim of the glass against my lips and glanced up at him. He watched the people on the dancefloor. His eyes were blue, almost navy in the dim light. He really was the most handsome man I had ever come across. On the outside, anyway. There was no telling if he was good on the inside. I wouldn’t mind if he wanted to get to know me on the inside… That was a nice thought…

  “Okay.”

  Nathan took the glass out of my hand and placed it on a nearby table. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and guided me onto the dancefloor. Lizzie grinned at me as we joined them. She was too excited to be conscious of how she looked when she danced. I wasn’t.

  Nathan started to move his feet back and forth. His hips swung to the rhythm of the music. I couldn’t help but grin. It was weird to see such a muscular man salsa with such ease.

  “The dancefloor is yours,” he shouted.

  I giggled, unable to stop myself. It didn’t look right. The young man, who had rescued me, looked slightly gay. Had I misread all the signs?

  “Why are you laughing?” he asked as he stepped forward.

  “Are you sure you want a special thank you from me? And not your friends?” I joked.

  His mouth stretched open in mock offence. He stepped forward, wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me tight against him. I stopped giggling abruptly as my breasts squashed against his chest and his fingers dug into the flesh of my side.

  The air left my lungs as he swirled his hips, forcing me to follow his motion. I automatically raised my left hand and he took it. He stepped backwards, allowing me to follow his lead. I knew the basic steps to salsa so I moved with him. My skin tingled as I looked up into his eyes and caught him staring down at me. His face was blank, no longer as cocksure as he was before.

  “Not laughing now, are you?” he breathed.

  My whole body shuddered as he pulled me closer and stopped moving us back and forth. He ran his hand down the length of my arm and wrapped it around my back. He swirled our hips from side to side. My hands travelled up his biceps before I laced my fingers together behind his strong neck.

  The rhythm took over as our bodies moved in perfect synchronicity. I couldn’t look away, even when my neck started to ache from bending back.

  The intensity of his gaze made my skin heat, so much so, my body started to sweat. He released the pressure of his fingers in my side and slid his hands to the bottom of my back. Pressing firmly, he brought our hips even closer together, so our pelvis’ were completely connected. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. I bit my lip and looked down as my crutch rubbed across the hard length of him.

  “You can dance,” he hissed.

  When I looked up, I smiled at him. The intensity broke as we laughed. He didn’t pull away, though, and neither did I. It felt too good to be pressed up against a sexy man. Even if he was a bit too yo
ung for me.

  “You still owe me.”

  My fingers traced the hairline on the back of his neck. My resistance was caving in. I would owe him everything, just because he was so lovely. I would give him everything.

  “What do you want?” I called into his ear.

  The corners of his lips disappeared into his cheeks when I pulled back and raised my eyebrows at him.

  He suddenly swept me across the dancefloor. I followed his lead, he knew what he was doing. My hair, already a mess, stuck to my forehead. My armpits, although covered by my top, released the most amount of sweat. If anyone inspected under there, I would be mortified. Being single meant that my relationship with a razor was on and off. Like friends with benefits. Sometimes you needed them and sometimes you didn’t.

  The tempo of the music changed, slowing down to allow us a breather. We didn’t stop, we kept swaying gently against each other. The ridges on his chest rubbed across my breasts. My body was on fire, but I couldn’t do anything about it.

  Leaning down, Nathan put his mouth right next to my ear. “I want you… In the bathroom… Against the wall… In the shower…”

  My breath deepened so hard it hit my stomach. My fingers dug into the skin on his shoulders. I had never been so turned on in my whole life.

  I had been single for a long time. Too long. My friends and I acted like we were happy, but in reality, we were far from it. We often spoke about future times when we were settled down and had a family. Our biological clocks were ticking and we couldn’t ignore it.

  “What do you say?” he whispered.

  “Yes.” My mouth opened before my brain engaged.

  Nathan released me, grabbed my hand, and almost dragged me as we made our way off the dancefloor. I glanced back at Lizzie who put her hand out in a questioning gesture. I gave her a thumbs up, not able to keep the stupid smile off my face. She smiled back before resuming her dance with her partner. We hadn’t been wild for a few years, maybe it was time to let our hair down.

  “Are you ready?” Nathan asked as he waved goodbye to Mike and Andy.

  I couldn’t speak. What I was about to do was madness. The gorgeous man would see my wobbly bits. Again. At least this time, I would get to see his. Not that there was anything wobbly about him.