“Come back to my place,” he whispers in my ear.

My shoulders tense when I hear his words. There’s nothing I want more than have one crazy night of passion in Lex’s arms, but I hesitate.

“We hardly know each other!” I object.

“Don’t say no just yet. The night is still young. Give me your answer when it is time to leave,” he says, turning his body to face me as his fingers play with the ends of my hair. I find myself agreeing to his request, but I need to talk to Penny. I desperately want to go back to Lex’s place and Penny is just the person to convince me to do so.

“I need to use the restroom,” I say, getting up abruptly. It is a miracle that I catch Penny’s eye with her surrounded by four sexy men. I gesture for her to follow me to the restroom, making a beeline for it, hoping she’ll join me soon.

I’m sure I did not fool Lex with my excuse, but I don’t care. I push the door and enter a restroom with classy, antique décor. Shortly after I enter, the door opens and Penny comes in.

“What’s up, babe?” she asks, pulling out a tube of lipstick from her dainty purse that has a long golden metal chain for a strap that is slung across her shoulder.

“He wants me to go back to his place,” I say, placing both my hands on my cheeks to cool them down.

“Woot woot! Mission accomplished!” Penny pumps a fist in the air and grins.

“I don’t know if I should! Penny, you know I’ve never done anything like this ever in my life!”

“There’s always a first time,” she grins wider, and I notice that she is more than slightly drunk.

“I can’t do it. This is not me. Penny, talk me out of it!”

She squints at my reflection in the mirror, pulling a face.

“Don’t be a wuss. Do it! Go back to his place! Have some fun, babe. Live a little.”

“You think I should do it?” I ask, chewing on my lips nervously.

“God yes! Go for it.”

“Alright. I can do this. I can do this. I can have a no-strings-attached one-night stand with a crazy attractive guy,” I tell my reflection in the mirror.

“That’s my girl! Whoops!” Penny enthusiastically tries to slap me on my back, but misses, almost losing her balance. She is definitely drunk.

“Now you put on some lipstick since you’ve chewed it off, powder your nose, head back out there; tell him you are going to rock his world tonight,” Penny says with a giggle. “I gotta head back. The hunks are awaiting my return. I might jump the tall, blue-eyed one myself,” she says, winking at my reflection in the mirror before heading out, teetering slightly.

A part of me wants to stop her from going back, but I instinctively know that she’ll be safe with Lex’s friends.

I look at my reflection in the mirror again, squaring my shoulders.

“I can do this,” I tell my reflection aloud. “I am a consenting, unattached, healthy adult woman. I can be a doer. I can be spontaneous like Penny is.”

Calming myself with a deep breath, I head out of the restroom, walking straight to Lex.

He is leaning back on the couch with his long legs stretched in front of him, one ankle crossed over the other. His lips are curved into a half smile as he watches his friend TJ dance with Penny. I want him so badly.

I walk behind him, bend down, and whisper ‘yes’ in his ear. His eyes widen slightly as his head jerks up. Then his lips curve into a slow, seductive smile. His smoky gray eyes have gone dark with desire. In an instant, he is on his feet, guiding me out of the bar with a hand on my elbow.

My heart is beating like a drum against my ribcage. What the hell am I doing?

“Let me call my driver,” he says, walking through the small barber shop and out of the door. I don’t follow him out.

“I forgot to tell Penny that we’re going back to your place. I don’t want her to worry. Let me just talk to her,” I say with a strained smile, lying through my teeth, when he is halfway out of the door. He gives me a strange look but shrugs and heads out.

The minute he leaves, I rush back into the bar on unsteady legs. I feel as if a tight band is constricting my chest, making it extremely difficult to breathe. I cannot do this! This isn’t me!

Chapter 3 - Lex