Page 34 of Fire

They made small talk until a group of cocktail waitresses emerged from the back and congregated at the end of the bar. A couple of them threw her questioning looks. Being there before hours and dressed for a night on the town and not a job interview, she could understand their confusion.

One, a tall blonde supporting a set of D-cups, tiny waist, and flaring hips, sent her a glare that had her wondering if Blake was areallyniceboss but didn’t want to put Ricky on the spot by asking.

Blake chose that moment to make a reappearance. All eyes turned his way as he crossed the room. In a black long-sleeve dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up his forearms and the hem left untucked, black jeans, and sporting black, chunky boots on his feet, he was a sight worth watching.

He threw her a smile that did strange things to her insides—mainly her heart—as he walked straight to her, his eyes never straying from hers the whole length of the room.

He stopped within touching distance, which he did, reaching a hand up and curling it around the back of her neck. The spicy-citrus scent that usually surrounded him was stronger fresh from the shower, and his hair was still wet, looking styled by only a sweep of his fingers.

He leaned into her and spoke low so Ricky wouldn’t hear. “Miss me?”

Not wanting to sound as enthralled as she felt and surely looked, she shrugged. “You were only gone a few minutes.”

He laughed, the hand at her neck tightening into a squeeze. He kissed her temple before moving his lips to her ear. “You missed me.”

Confident, cocky bastard.

She shivered, but that was the only answer he would get.

He took it, giving her a small knowing smirk before turning his attention to Ricky. “Got any coffee brewed?”

“Sure thing, boss.” He threw Gwen a smile then headed to the other end of the bar.

Gwen felt eyes on her and pointed hers around Blake’s body to see the huddle of waitresses looking their way. “Seems you have a fan club.”

His eyes didn’t stray from hers, proving, once again, he was aware of everything that went on in his club even when he appeared not to be. “People are always fascinated by anomalies.”

“And what’s the anomaly?”

“You.”

She raised a brow.

“They’re wondering what makes you so special.”

“Or they like looking at the hot guy in the room.” She tipped her lips up. “I know I do.” She made him laugh again, and she couldn’t help but taunt, “Keep that up and you’ll get laugh lines.”

He turned his smile into a smirk. “Nowthatwould be a fucking anomaly.”

Chapter 9

Hours later, Allie at her side on the dance floor, Gwen felt hands hit her waist. It wasn’t the first time she had to tell someone no that night, but this time she wouldn’t be. Because she knew those hands and the scent that hit her nose when a warm body pressed against her back.

Blake.

She leaned into him, and his head tipped, lips brushing her ear. “You don’t know how many times I’ve wanted to beat the shit out of someone tonight. Or how many times I envisioned you sprawled on my bed while I pounded into you, finally laying claim to what’s mine.”

Shivers raced down her spine and wetness hit between her legs. Blake in caveman mode was lethal.

He moved a hand to low on her stomach, pressing her back against his very evident hard-on. “This is what you do to me. I should ban you from the dance floor.”

She pressed against him, wiggling her ass to the beat of the music, tipping her head back to speak into his ear. “If you banned me, you’d miss all my stellar moves.” Of course, she was joking. Anyone who’d seen her dance knew she wouldn’t be auditioning for a spot onSo You Think You Can Danceanytime soon.

He tilted his head to the side, and she got a kiss instead of a verbal answer. Feather-light at first, with the tip of his tongue teasing the seam of her lips, it was the softest kiss he’d ever given her. And she liked it.

A lot.

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