Page 5 of Wild Ace

“What?”

“How about instead of talking about the lack of a man or men in my life, we go take a couple shots, get another drink, and then go out on the dance floor and see if our luck changes?”

She grins. “Sounds like the perfect plan.”

We throw back two shots of tequila each, and the liquor pools warmly in my stomach, spreading to my limbs and head, loosening me up. Tequila was the first liquor I ever tried when I was in high school, and I’ve always found it to be the one that gets me drunk the quickest, and the one that makes me feel the best when I am.

With fresh drinks in hand, we make our way out onto the dance floor and my body moves to the music without thought. I get lost in my own world for a few songs until there’s a tap on my shoulder.

I turn towards the source, annoyed at being snapped out of my trance. But when I’m met with a wall of a man who happens to be the most attractive man I’ve ever laid eyes on, my annoyance evaporates.

He’s tall, dark, and handsome, standing at at least 6’2” or 3” with dark hair and eyes, a clean-shaven face that features a chiseled jawline, and tanned skin that looks like he just got back from a vacation in Italy. He’s sure as hell not getting that color from Jersey in January.

My eyes roam over his face, neck, and chest, and my tongue darts out to lick my lips when I look too long at the small exposed patch of chest visible with the top buttons of his black shirt undone.

When my eyes finally find their way back up to his face, he’s smiling, showing off a set of white teeth I wouldn’t mind running my tongue over to feel how smooth they are.

I can tell I missed something he said by the way he’s looking at me. “What?” I ask, knowing it’s not nearly loud enough for him to hear me, but his eyes follow my lips.

Leaning in close, he doesn’t touch me, but I catch a whiff of his rich scent as his lips come closer to my ear. He smells like leather, amber, and a hint of cigar smoke that I find is intoxicating me more than the drink in my hand.

“I asked if you would like to dance.”

“Okay,” I whisper back with a small nod, and his fingers run down my arm until he reaches my hand. Holding it in his, he immediately spins me around so my back is to his front.

There’s a fraction of space between us still that’s charged with electricity, bouncing between him and I, trying to pull us together.

My hips rock to the music and he leans in close again. “I haven’t been able to take my eyes off you from the moment you walked in.”

Closing my eyes, I don’t fight the pull any longer and lean back against him, my body fitting perfectly with his. In my heels, my ass is at the perfect height to be nestled between his hips, and I can feel how much he likes what I’m doing.

I haven’t felt a man’s touch or been this close to one in so long, that I’ve clearly forgotten how to behave when a small moan escapes my lips at the feel of his hard length at my backside.

But this man…

I know it’s probably just the alcohol and his hotness throwing me for a loop, but I’m going to embrace it while I can.

His arm is banded across my stomach as he holds me against him, letting me feel every inch of his hard body from his thighs to his chest, and I’m glad he’s holding me, because my legs are starting to turn to jelly.

When the song changes, he grabs my hand again and spins me around so I’m facing him. Snaking his arms around my waist, he leans down and presses his forehead to mine. We’re in our own little bubble where all I see and feel is him with the music pounding between us, making me oblivious to everything else.

Reaching up, I wrap one arm around his neck, pressing my fingertips into him.

He runs his nose down mine, our breaths mixing with how close our mouths are. If I tilted my head up even just the slightest, I could easily kiss him. I know it would absolutely electrify me, but I can’t. I’m loving this moment too much to make it more. Once it’s more, then the illusion is broken.

His hand slides down my lower back to cup my ass, and I gasp, pressing myself closer to him. A low rumble leaves his chest and vibrates into me.

“Come upstairs with me,” he says in my ear, his voice rough – like rocks tumbling in the break of waves that then turn smooth in an enticing offer. “To the VIP lounge.”

My breathing quickens. “I don’t know,” I say back, my lips brushing his ear.

His grip on me tightens. “I promise to be good. Or bad, if you want me to be,” he teases, swirling his tongue around the spot right below my ear, then planting a kiss there. “Please,” he adds, and I pinch my eyes closed, biting back another moan.

“I came here with my friend.”

“I know. She’s dancing with my brother, Nico. I’m sure he’s already asked her, too.”

“What does going upstairs entail?” I ask, needing to know what he thinks is going to happen.

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