I stare at him, speechless. Everything else has disappeared – the club, the music, the people. All gone. It’s just him and me. Long seconds tick by as we stand motionless at the bar, stares locked hard, but neither of us uttering a single word. His pupils are completely blown out now, nearly obscuring his beautiful but so unusual irises and I begin to tremble, the empty wine glasses clattering against each other in my hands.
Wine. Remember?
Shit. I still haven’t apologised. I dip my head, turning to the bar and place the glasses on it, glad to empty my sweating hands, so that I can wring them desperately together.
‘Jesus, I am so sorry…’ I honestly don’t know what else to say to him. I can’t undo it, the best I can offer is to strip his shirt off him and take it into the ladies to dry it on the Airblade. As much as I long to suggest it, I would never have the balls, despite my desperation to see the beautiful body he’s got hidden under the sodden material.
Still he says nothing but his eyes are hot, he’s looking at me as though I’m standing naked in front of him. Obliterating desire slams through me, makes my nerve endings tingle and dark, velvet throbs begin softly at the apex of my thighs.
Holy shit! What’s happening to you?
I have no clue but I’m loving it and I never want it to stop.
Why isn’t he saying anything? Is he so angry he doesn’t trust himself to speak?
I flush with shame, my cheeks heating and I rake an awkward hand through my hair opening my mouth again. He finally breaks his silence.
‘Please. Don’t worry about it.’ His voice is deep, the faintest thread of an accent, but I can’t place it. Not Scouse, definitely, but hearing his voice, realising that unsurprisingly it’s as incredibly sexy as the rest of him makes hot sparks start to fire in the pit of my stomach. He dips his head and smiles suddenly, the breath catching in my throat and my eyes widening.
My gut folds in on itself when he flashes me a row of perfect teeth, his eyes crinkling at the corners, his full lips parting as his grin widens. I start to puddle in front of him, my mind and body dissolving with want as I drown in his beautiful smile.
‘What’s your name?’ he asks and I gulp and drop my gaze.
‘Pearl.’
He holds out his hand and I tip my face back up to his. I take it and as he grips my fingers with his, a delicious electrical current starts to circulate my system, pleasure increasing with every beat of my heart at the feel of his warm skin on mine.
‘It’s nice to meet you, Pearl. I’m Carter.’ His face tips into a smile again and he runs his free hand through his curls. He’s still holding my hand and I don’t care, I want him to hold it forever, never let it go. I try hard to not to ogle him shamelessly as I stare up at him. He’s so Goddamned beautiful. As I try to think desperately of something to say, to marshal my desire intoxicated brain to form a sentence, an elbow pokes me sharply in the side.
Gemma.
‘Oi! What you doing?’ she asks, giving me a squinty look.
‘Nothing! Why?’ I try for innocent but Christ only knows what I must look like. I’m turned on like a lightbulb. I finally let go of Carter’s hand as she nods to the empty wine glasses.
‘I’ll get two more of these - we’ll be over there when you’re ready?’ She tips her head at a bank of sofas to the far right of the club.
I nod at her. ‘I’ll be over in a few minutes,’ I say shakily. She hoists a brow and a grin at me and I turn back to Carter, who’s still standing next to me, showing no inclination to move closer to the bar to get served. I tip my face to his again. I still can’t think of anything to flaming say!
‘I, um…’ I really can’t get anything coherent out at all, it’s pathetic. A small smile flits across his face as he sees the state of me. Could it be any more obvious that I’m hopelessly attracted to him? I might as well be holding a board out in front of me with the fact written all over it, but given how attractive he is, I’m sure he gets this all the time.
‘Can I buy you a drink?’ he asks and I bray a shrill laugh.
‘Carter, thank you, but I think I need to buy you one, don’t you?’
We both grin at each other now, my hormones singing in my bloodstream as I finally realise what’s happening here. I’ve never felt anything like it in my life. I am an inexperienced virgin, almost unheard of at eighteen in this day and age, but it’s sadly true. I’ve only ever kissed Aaron and it did nothing. All this incredible man in front of me has done is touch me and my body’s on fire, my mind out of control.
I stare up into his stunning face, my fingers itching to run themselves through his soft copper tinted curls, trace my finger over the perfect cupid’s bow that is his mouth and I close my eyes briefly. I clench my thighs together as the sweet pulse between them becomes hotter and harder and I shiver. Jesus, even my goosebumps are delicious, swarming in a hot rash over my body and stroking my heightened nerve endings.
I’ve lost control of how I feel. My body and mind aren’t prepared for this at all and I don’t have a clue how to react. I lean back against the bar as my knees finally begin to knock. I don’t trust them to keep me upright without some help.
Carter leans into me, narrowing the distance between our faces until there are only a couple of inches between us and I gulp as his warm breath bathes my face.
I struggle to suck any air at all into my lungs, the proximity of him, his body heat and smell inebriating me to such levels that my eyes want to slide shut in bliss. He hovers his face over mine, his extraordinary eyes searching, as if looking for an answer to a question he’s thinking.
If the question is, do you want me? Oh God, yes I do. So much…
This man is wiping me out and my brain just can’t process it. I’ve had so many conversations with Ellen about her and Justin, how they met and connected chemically in a matter of seconds and forever. To the exclusion of anyone else and as I stare up at Carter’s beautiful face, it hits me like a freight train that the exact same thing is happening to me.
Oh no.
This is an extremely bad idea. Although the few remaining shreds of my rationality tell me that I have no choice in this whatsoever, I pull away from him slightly, trying to put some much needed space between us. I am a breath away from kissing him, really kissing him and I know if I do, I am lining myself up for serious heartache.
A man who looks like him is probably a playboy in the extreme, two or three women on the go at any one time. I am a vulnerable and very sexually afraid virgin and he will eat me alive and spit out my bones. I’m shocked to see fleeting regret and a trace of hurt seep through his green eyes as I move away from him and I pang myself with what I’m doing. What am I doing? My subconscious is looking at me aghast.
You’re turning him down? Are you fucking crazy?
I’d be crazier to take whatever he’s offering, all that would do is line me up for a smashed heart at eighteen years old. He’s way out of my league, and as I battle with myself, my emotions and common sense colliding painfully, his head tips back as someone shouts to him.
‘Carter! Mate – we’re over here, been served, come on, man…’
His soft eyes meet with mine once more and I think I see a plea in them. Trust him? I stare at him for long moments, wanting to desperately but I’m afraid. I drop my eyes, confirming his fears but strengthening me, now that I’m looking away from him. He’s finally accepted the rejection, as he takes a step back from me, raising his hand to his mate a few yards away.
‘Cheers Rupe, I’ll be there in a minute.’ His head turns to me once more and I lock with his expressive eyes. He suddenly gives me a huge smile. ‘Have a good night, Pearl.’ He takes one last, lingering stare at me before pivoting away, swallowed up immediately by the crowd.
You fucking idiot. What was it you were saying to yourself this afternoon? About meeting a man that might make you feel how Justin makes Ellen feel? Well – you just met him and you fucked him off. Moron!
I could honestly burs
t into tears. I drop my head for a moment and slope dejectedly away from the bar, heading in the direction of the dark sofas that my friends said they were aiming for. This place is actually creepy, it’s like walking around with black gauze over your eyes. I don’t like it at all. It’s definitely not a place to come and meet people, everyone in front of me is a dull shadow.
I eventually reach the sofas and huddle up close to my friends, a low glow coming from a dim amber security light above us. It’s just enough to see by and I take a large swig of my wine. If I’m going to enjoy myself in here, I need to loosen up and that means more alcohol. I smile and try and join in the conversation, my brain trying to push all thoughts of Carter’s beautiful face away. I pick irritably at a paper beermat.
You had your chance and you totally screwed it up. A man with his looks has probably never been knocked back in his life, let alone by an eighteen year old virgin! You’ll have trashed his ego – if you stripped naked in front of him now, he’d probably tell you to fuck off.
I sigh. Oh well. Learning curve, Harrison, file that one away for future reference. When ridiculously hot man comes onto you, don’t knock him back. I swallow the last of my wine and tip my glass at my friends.
‘I’m just going to the ladies.’ Everyone looks up and nods, but no one gets up to join me. They’ve probably been whilst I was dissolving in front of Carter. I realise that I don’t even know his last name.
I make my way back towards the bar area and some welcome light. I see an illuminated sign for the ladies and I push my way through the throng. As I emerge and turn towards the door, I’m stopped in my tracks when a hand wraps around my wrist and pulls me gently but firmly to the left. The breath leaves my body as I stare up at him, his tousled curls gleaming in the dim amber light.
I’m aroused immediately at the feel of his long fingers wrapped around my wrist, my heart crashing into my chest more than twice a second and I’m doing it again. I’m struck mute, looking at him, pleasure throbbing hard through my system just from staring into his eyes. He gives me a sexy half smile in the dim light.
‘I’m really glad I’ve bumped into you again.’ His smile widens and he tilts his head slightly. I twitch between my legs as he bites his full lower lip gently, his pupils expanding as he gazes down at me.
‘I just wanted to say that if the reason you leant away from my kiss before was because you were embarrassed about soaking me with wine… well – don’t be.’ He looks down at his white shirt. ‘See? Completely dry.’ He pulls me closer to him. ‘Check for yourself.’
Our bodies are now so close to touching, barely an inch apart and I can feel my clothes brush his. He brings his hand up with mine in it and tugs my trembling palm slowly up his white shirt. Yeah, the material is dry alright, but all my poor brain can process is the feel of his pectoral muscles underneath my hand, so sharply defined my fingers dip as they run across the contours of his body. I’m not able to take my hand away from his chest.
It’s impossible – I’m lost. This man has annihilated me and I’m certainly not going to turn him down again. I tip my chin, his face amber under the harsh neon light, but none the less beautiful. He lets go of my hand but I don’t move it, and now I start to stroke his solid upper body through the shirt, tracing my fingers down and between the buttons, feeling his hot skin and the smattering of hair on his sternum.
He groans at my touch, bringing both his hands up to gently cup my face and he closes his eyes for a beat, resting his forehead against mine. His curls tumble as his eyes slide open again and he gives me a sweet smile.
‘You’re so beautiful,’ he says, just loud enough for me to hear him over the music and then, he pulls my body into his, wrapping his arms around me and dropping his mouth gently to my own.
His lips are soft and warm, gentle but insistent and mine part at the feel of him, a breathy gasp leaving me. He takes full advantage, holding me close as he deepens the kiss, enfolding my mouth with his own. I inhale his breath as he groans again, his tongue appearing and touching mine, shyly at first, but then more boldly as I respond.
I have absolutely no experience in French kissing, Aaron never tried it on. It was like kissing my brother, most of the time – as wrong as that sounds. I let Carter take the lead and he does so, willingly, his tongue curling and tangling with mine in long, delicious strokes that have me shaking gently in his arms, my knees no longer able to hold me up as he derails me with his mouth. I break away finally, gasping, unable to deal with the bolts of pleasure that are beginning to shoot from my core, sweeping through my tissues in hot throbs.
Carter gazes at me for a long moment, before groaning again and dragging me roughly against him, his mouth back on mine and he’s kissing me feverishly. He shoves his hands deeply into my hair as we lock together, oblivious of everyone else.
He consumes me, his lips caressing me again and again, his tongue sweeping so sensuously. I copy him, stroke for stroke, panting hard now.
‘Oh fuck…’ he gasps, breaking away himself, planting small breathless kisses down my neck and I spasm against him. I’m barely hanging onto my control – any of it – I’ve never felt so powerless over my own body and mind. I hear Justin’s voice whispering, his sensible words about being careful. I need to calm this down, the man I’m virtually climbing all over is a complete stranger, I don’t even know his last name.
Using the last of my strength, I pull back from Carter, trying to control my erratic breathing. His own is harsh and deep and I can see his heart crashing in his chest underneath his white, wine stained shirt.
‘Pearl.’ He says my name against my lips as he pulls me against him once more and I can’t help myself, I melt into him, my mouth latching onto his. It’s impossible to stay away from him. I want to spend the rest of my life kissing him, I’ve never felt so incredible. I’m as high as a kite from just his mouth.
Carter turns us one eighty and he pushes me back against the wall. I’m grateful, I can use it to help me stay upright and I moan when his mouth is immediately back on mine. He plants both hands on the wall at the either side of my head, gasping my name again as he kisses me into oblivion.
‘Pearl!’
The frantic shout drags my head to the right, but Carter’s lips are still on my body. He dips his head and begins to kiss my neck, his hair brushing sweetly against my overheated skin and my heart bounces. I try to focus on who wants my attention, has just shouted my name but my eyes try to close when he blows a stream of warm breath into my ear and I feel an embarrassing flood from down there. Chris, I’m so turned on, just by kissing this man. I’m a breath away from an orgasm, I know I am, despite never having had one in my life before.
Oh no…
Gemma is staggering towards me, dragging a reluctant figure behind her and Carter lifts his head when he feels the change in my tissues, the tension that floods me immediately. He takes a step to the side of me, turning us both, his arms still around me. I burn furious eyes into the stunning young girl as Gemma drags her to a halt in front of me.
Regan.
She has the good grace to drop her eyes in shame and I stare at her in shock. She’s wearing a tight fitting silver dress and her legs are lightly tanned, going on forever. She’s scarily beautiful, but she’s sixteen years old and if Justin knew where she was right now, the man’d have an aneurism. There’s a lot of people in this club and as I look around me, I can see men’s eyes fixed on Regan like they want to eat her. There’s a row of five of them at the bar who are just staring at her, struck dumb. I’ve got to get her out of here.
I regretfully disentangle myself from Carter’s warm hold and he releases me immediately, taking hold of my hand. His fingers squeeze mine softly as I glance up at him. He has no idea what the issue is here, but he can see from the change in my body language that I am far from a happy bunny.
I scrub my free hand through my hair. ‘Regan, what the fuck are you doing here?’ I bark, to make myself heard over the pounding music. I don’t wai
t for her reply, holding my hand up in front of my face like a policeman stopping the traffic. ‘In fact – don’t say a word, I don’t want to hear it.’
Regan folds her arms like the sulking child she is, her expression mulish and Gemma looks at me with a pained expression. I throb with real fury for a moment. My night isn’t going to pan out how I’d hoped at all now. I had visions of finding a dark corner somewhere with Carter, talking and kissing, mostly kissing, but the feel of his soft lips on mine are all that’s in my head. None of it’s going to happen and I swear under my breath. I look at Gemma.
‘I’m going to have to take her home. She can’t stay here, Justin will go nuclear.’
‘We’ll all come with you, Pearl. I’ll go and get Aaron and…’
I cut her off. ‘No, don’t. Why should your night out be ruined as well?’ I shoot another glare at Regan and she drops her eyes, staring at her glittery silver stilettos. I thought she had nothing to fucking wear, she looks like she’s draped in flaming Chanel from head to toe. I wonder if she’s raided Jess’s wardrobe. I give Gemma a watery smile now. ‘Seriously – I’m going to find a cab and get her home, you enjoy the rest of your night. I’ll ring you in the morning.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yeah.’ I lean forward and give her a quick hug. ‘Do me a favour though, just wait here with Regan, whilst I…’
Whilst you what? Snog the face off the incredible man standing behind you?
No. If I start that, then Regan will end up staying in this predatory dark nightclub, I won’t be able to stop myself. If I lose her, despite her sparkly dress, and anyone touches her, well… I don’t want to think about the fallout. Gemma gives me a sad smile, cocking a look over my shoulder at Carter and her pupils dilate. She tugs Regan back a couple of steps, to give me some privacy and I turn regretfully to him.
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