Page 7 of Forced Vows

The bartender hands me my drink, but someone bumps me from behind and it spills all over the bar. Some of the amber liquid splashes back on me.

Feeling good about choosing an LBD for tonight's adventure, I take the stack of napkins the bartender offers me and start patting at the wet spots almost invisible against the black fabric.

"Let me buy you another. I didn't mean to bump into you like that." The deep voice cuts through the loud music and sends French love poems floating through my brain.

I turn to face the man.

Taller than me, with muscles his suit jacket can't hide, the gorgeous guy smiles. "Things can get rowdy in here on a Friday night."

"That's okay." I smile back at him through my lashes.

Flirting already. Go me.

He puts his hand out. "Helios."

"Helios? The ancient Greek god of the sun?" I ask.

"Well, I'm not ancient, but I am Greek," he says suggestively.

Is Greek a euphemism for sexy? Because I'm thinking yes.

"Should I call you Aphrodite?" There's definitely a suggestion in his voice now, but it's got nothing to do with wanting to know my name.

Anonymous sex. That's what I'm here for, right? "Yes."

Perfect white teeth slash in a smile on his swarthy face.

"Helios, tell your brother I'll see him tomorrow." The man who arrives to stand beside me is even taller than Helios, with short black hair and a magnetism that sends my nether regions into pulsing awareness. "I've got things to do."

Dark eyes in a mature face skim over me with interest. But…there's a tall, slender brunette hanging on his arm.

His things to do?

Something twinges in my chest. Disappointment? Nah. I shouldn't have had the Szechwan shrimp for dinner. Too much spice.

Helios salutes the other man. "Will do."

With a nod, but no more words, the man and his date turn to go.

Helios tries to take the napkins from my hand. "Let me help you."

"So, your name really is Helios?" I bat his hand away with a laugh.

"That's me, the sun god," Helios says with a smile.

For some reason, French love poems are making my ovaries yawn now.

"He doesn't look like the kind of guy who goes for short and fat," the brunette says loud enough to be heard over the music as she and the black-haired hottie walk away. "She doesn't even have impressive tatas to make up for it."

Heat crawls up my neck and into my face. For a second, before I remind myself that shallow and bitchy doesn't get to ruin my night, my body freezes.

A lot of women my size wear at least a D cup. I'm barely a C. I've never been naked with a man, so I don't know how a lover will react to my attributes. I'm planning to find out tonight though.

And I'm not worried about it. I'm not looking to be some man's dream girl. Just his sex partner.

Helios laughs. "Ignore her. I enjoy women of all shapes and sizes. If she's only been with men who don't, that's her loss."

"Sure." There's still a tiny part of me that feels small from the meanness.

---