“How you score in the rest of my categories,” she countered, leaning closer. The move outlined full breasts beneath the gauzy fabric of her dress as her long, silky legs appeared and disappeared when she uncrossed them.
He looked away, beating back the sexual attraction firing through him. He hadn’t expected this tonight. Definitely not from a woman like Cassie.
“And how many more are there?” A throaty growl had entered his voice, an impatient sound, a hunger he couldn’t hide behind some teasing word game.
“Just one.”
He kept his eyes on the bouncers setting up a row of chairs on the emptying dance floor. Forced his focus off her tongue as she swiped at the salt on the rim of her glass.
“You’ve got me on the edge of my seat here,” he admitted, thinking more time with Cassie could make the hours between now and the next mission disappear.
Better yet, she might make those hours better than just bearable. He hadn’t allowed himself that kind of pleasure since...
A stab of pain behind his eyes reminded him exactly how long it had been. To the day. The hour.
She reached out a hand and covered his wrist.
“You okay?” The flirtatious look had vanished, making him realize he’d be an ass to walk away from this chance to exorcise a few demons tonight.
“I could be better,” he started, ready to detail exactly how.
But just then the damn DJ stepped forward and the crowd hushed. “Ladies, it’s time to grab a partner for our lap dance contest. The longer you keep from touching your male dancer, the longer the couple stays in. The woman with the most—er—control, takes home this magnum of champagne...and your man.”
The guy hefted a bottle larger than his head.
Cassie lifted her eyebrows in question. Almost as if to ask him if that kind of game was a possibility. Something about her expression made his lower abs contract with swift, fierce need. Was she teasing him? He had a sudden urge to discover where she drew the line with this flirtation.
While the crowd responded to the DJ’s provocation, he flipped his hand so he was holding Cassie’s.
“So what’s that last category?” he pressed.
He squinted at her until her cheeks pinked and she squirmed. He wanted to haul her out of the bar and back to his room, where he could lose himself in that incredible body and mind-numbing sex.
But even if he was the type for casual hookups, something about her didn’t speak of one-night stands...despite her flirting. Maybe it was the pain tucked in the corners of her laughing eyes, the way her smiles slid off her face too fast, as if they rarely stuck. He was having a tough time reading her.
“It’s one I’m not prepared to judge just yet.” Her words were breathless.
He could feel the thrum of her pulse where he held her hand, the pace a rapid tattoo of nerves or excitement. Or something more.
“Now I’m even more curious.” He slid a thumb along the heart of her palm and imagined himself touching other parts of her that same way. With slow, lazy circles. “You can at least tell me what you would be critiquing.”
Her blues met and held his. No innocence there now. Only heat and daring.
“Sexual prowess.” She drew out the words like a long caress.
His whole body hardened like new-forged steel and just as hot.
They stared at each other across the table, the noisy world of the bar full of lap dancers not even a blip on his radar. He breathed in when Cassie exhaled, their shared air as hot as any kiss he’d ever tasted.
“You ready to cut out of here?” he asked, his voice low and his restraint disappearing.
He wanted nothing more than to drive her wild and fill her head with enough sexy dreams to satisfy her for the rest of the night. He tossed bills on the table, never taking his eyes off her.
She squeezed his hand. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Copyright © 2016 by Karen Rock
ISBN-13: 9781488000393
A DANGEROUSLY SEXY SECRET
Copyright © 2016 by Stefanie Little
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