Page 16 of Lorcan's Obsession

“But I’m not your—”

“With how I’m looking at you, no one would question it.”

The fucker was right. A fire could have scorched down the building, and his eyes would still be feasting on me.

I dried my hands, shaking my head. “Cocky much?”

“You bet.” He winked. “Ready to go back to our non-date?”

Lorcan gripped my hand tenderly and we started walking back to our seats.

"Did you empty some of what you drank?” I asked. “I don't want to rush you to the ER for alcohol poisoning."

"I did. I emptied from him." He pointed downward. “I’m still set to win the bet without breaking any rules.”

We giggled all the way to our seats as he prepared for his next round of drinking. Two hours later, we smelled like a distillery. Only the devil was keeping track of how many cocktails I’d drunk. My limbs were made of water, and my head lolled from one side to the other every couple of minutes.

Lorcan was slumped against his seat, chin against his chest. Sweat plastered his dark hair against his forehead, covering his half-opened eyes. The whiskey glass shook as his hand twitched around it.

We were so close. The prized bottle was empty, and the last two fingers of whiskey were poured out in his glass. But the way he looked I wondered if we could push this bet.

"Lorcan. It's okay. We–hic–We stop drinking."

I stretched out my hand, fiddling with his fingertips. Eyelids fluttering, Lorcan slowly looked over and gave me a dazzling smile that warmed me more than all the cocktails flowing through me.

"No more drink, Lorcan. I'll come—" I opened my mouth in a massive yawn “—tomorrow. Promise. But bar’s ’lmost empty…Lessgo…"

Lorcan lifted his chin enough to shake his head. His long fingers tightened around the Glencairn glass. He knocked it back, swallowing the last drops of the prized Macallan.

He was absolutely wasted, but he’d won the bet.

"You did it!" I announced, jumping to my feet and clapping.

The last few people in the bar gave me weird looks. No surprise. I probably sounded like a toothless toddler squealing, but Lorcan's adoring smile had me cheering nonstop. He stood up, raising his arms high like a champion…

And fell right back into his seat with a heavy thud.

Before leaving, I had to pay the bill, help Lorcan back to his room, and get Dom to find me a cab home. In my head, it sounded simple, but the execution was another story entirely. I clung to my chair as I stood up, swaying precariously. Thank goodness I’d worn my Jordans tonight and not any heels, or I would have toppled over. As it was, I just about managed to zigzag to where Dom and his alcoholic double waited for me. My fingertips kept slipping against the soft leather as I struggled to take out the credit card.

Frustrated, I tossed my wallet to Dom. "Spread the bill among the cards. That drink gotta been ’spensive."

Dom laughed and handed me an iced ginger ale. "Here, drink this before you crawl back to your seat. Lorcan already paid the bill and bought two rounds of drinks for everyone in the bar before the two of you got smashed."

"What?" I gasped.

"Honey, even drunk, he is three steps ahead. Maybe you met your match, someone with whom you win or lose on equal footing. Enjoy your date tomorr—"

“Shhhhh.”

Waggling a stern finger, I shook my head with all my drunken swagger. Dom swallowed his words and pretended to hide his grin. Then I blew him a kiss and traversed back to my drinking partner in crime.

Lorcan was still in the same state I left him: half awake, head slumped over the backrest, and mouth slightly agape. If I’d tried to bend or crouch to talk to him, I would have toppled over. So I plopped myself on his firm thighs and cradled his cheeks in my palms.

"Lorcan.” I took a deep breath. “Give. Room. Key."

My finger poked his chest with each word. Mumbling incoherently, he fumbled and fished out his wallet. Opening it up, my eyes widened. Several hundred dollars and dirham notes were secured with a clip, and two black cards were tucked in the slots.

Damn. This guy was loaded. Ultra wealthy. Stinking rich. I would have to keep that in mind. But right now, I was here for the white plastic sticking out of the top. After five tries, I finally managed to pull out the damn room key.

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