Page 2 of Closing the Distance

A tingle starts deep in my core, nearly startling me. It’s been a long time since a man made me feel anything besides minor curiosity. No one has ever made my skin feel tight and my stomach fluttery, let alone made my lady bits waken with a fierce awareness and my nipples bead in arousal.

This man is sex personified.

A voice next to him catches my attention, and I barely manage to rip my gaze away to focus on the dark-haired man beside him whose gaze is locked on Blaire. He’s the one who spoke to us.

I glance back at brown eyes wondering what his voice sounds like and find him still staring at me. There’s an expression on his face I can’t quite name—curiosity maybe, but also a hint of trepidation, like he’s waiting for something.

“I’m Blaire and this is my bestie, Lexi.”

The dark-haired man who looks to be about our age puts his hand out, taking Blaire’s hand but holding it seductively instead of a typical handshake. “Blaire, that’s a lovely name. I’m Devon. This is my cousin?—”

“Ty,” my brown-eyed man speaks, his voice deep and sexy and making that fluttery awareness in my belly pulse harder.

Wait, no. He’s not mine. But his gaze is still locked on me like I’m the only woman in the room, and I can’t deny that I suddenly want him to be.

At least for tonight.

For the first time in my life, I consider the benefits of a one-night stand. The man standing in front of me could easily have any woman here, so I have no misconceptions that he’s likely a one-and-done kind of guy. Could I do it? Could I actually let my guard down enough to let him give me all the pleasure his eyes promise?

Maybe tonight I don’t have to be a wingwoman. Maybe tonight I can be the one who gets the attention of a man better than she ever could’ve imagined. And if that man just so happens to be this sexy Adonis in front of me, then sign me the hell up.

TWO

She has no idea who I am.

An excitement I haven’t felt in a long-ass time fires up inside me. This woman is absolutely gorgeous with her dark blue eyes, long black hair, and hourglass figure. Thank God Devon went for the blonde or I’d have to fight him.

I put my hand out. “Nice to meet you.”

“Lexi,” she says, her voice a little breathy, her eyes wide yet heated. But she’s missing the one thing I always look out for now that the Fierce Four have become so well-known. Women—jersey chasers specifically—have a particular glint in their eye when they know exactly who I am. While there’s a gorgeous sparkle in Lexi’s eyes, it’s not one of recognition.

Just pure, old-fashioned attraction.

I hold her hand and give her a genuine smile. I don’t think she realizes that her friend already gave her name, but I think it’s cute she said it again. “Lexi, you wanna dance?”

As soon as the words leave my mouth, I start to worry. If we go out on the dance floor, someone might recognize me. Why did I ask her to dance? I should’ve had her and her friend come up to the VIP booth, which is where Devon and I were on our way to when he saw the blonde.

Lexi nibbles her lip, and her upper body sags slightly, and now my worry is about something else entirely. Is she about to shut me down? I can’t remember the last time that happened.

“Um, I’m not very good.” There’s a hint of vulnerability in her admission that makes something tighten in my gut. I want to soothe her, not make her feel bad.

I also can’t deny I’m grateful for the out she gave me so I can fix my error. “What about just grabbing some drinks and heading upstairs?”

“Oh, those are reserved for high rollers and VIPs,” her friend—Blaire—says.

Devon claps me on the back with a shit-eating grin on his face, and I know exactly what he’s about to say, and there’s no way I can let him expose who I am.

I can’t remember the last time I met a woman who didn’t recognize me and see instant dollar signs. I’m dying to see how this night goes with someone who thinks I’m just an average Joe, albeit a rich one—there’s no way to hide that, but she doesn’t need to know I’m famous—out for a night on the town.

So before Devon can open his big mouth, I say, “I’m friends with the owner of the club, so he got us a booth. You ladies want to join us?” It’s not a lie.

Lexi looks to Blaire and then back to me, that plush lip still trapped between her teeth. But whatever reservations she may have are completely shut down when Blaire says, “We’d love to.”

“After you, ladies,” I say, gesturing toward the stairs. Blaire wraps her arm around Lexi’s, leaning her head close, and I’m sure they’re talking about us, but it gives me the perfect opportunity to get Devon on board so he doesn’t ruin what’s turning out to be a way more interesting night than I imagined it would be.

“Dude,” he starts, but I give him a look that shuts him up.

“They don’t know me. Let’s keep it that way.”

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