Page 18 of I Am Lioness

He hesitated for a moment, as though he were second-guessing his question before he finally asked, “Were you and pretty boy ever together?”

Pretty boy?

“Who exactly is pretty boy?”

“Dude with the suit.”

I screwed up my face in disgust because the thought of anything other than a platonic relationship with Jason made me want to puke. “Ew, no. Never. Jason is like the brother I never had. Any particular reason why that piqued your interest?”

The steel ball of his piercing peeked out between his lips, slowly running along the seam. That damned thing hypnotized me every time. Tempting and seductive, the fluid motion had me instantly shifting in my seat, the sensitive space between my thighs warming to a dangerous degree. Really, I was warm all over and I was certain that if he laid a hand on me for more than several seconds, I was going to combust.

One moment he was two feet away and the next he was all up in my face, grinning almost devilishly. “Competition speculation, that's all.”

The husky baritone of his voice and his sheer proximity were almost my complete undoing. I couldn’t hold back anymore.

Four amaretto sours and one hundred percent pure unadulterated lust sprung me into action, slipping me off the bar stool and in between his legs. Knox quirked a brow as my fingers clenched around the front of his shirt, tugging him toward me.

“Wanna know a secret?”

He nodded, prompting me to lean in closer and murmur beside his ear, “There is no competition.”

As if the DJ was somehow in-tune with the vibe surging between us, Beyoncé’s sultry voice began to filter through the room. Knox’s hands flew to my hips and his breath tickled my neck.

“Dance with me?” He asked.

A salacious smile spread across my lips. “I thought you'd never ask.”

Without another word, I grabbed my clutch off the bar top and took Knox’s hand, leading him to an open spot on the dance floor. He spun me around and yanked me close, crashing my back into his front. Falling perfect in sync with the music, our bodies molded to one another, fitting together seamlessly like two pieces of a puzzle. I dropped my head back against his chest and closed my eyes, allowing him to lead us through the beat.

“Just fair warning, sweets,” he said suddenly. “I’m not sure I can keep my hands from wandering with you dancing on me like that.”

“I'm not objecting.” I admitted, gasping when I felt his teeth sink into my neck and his hands begin to roam over the planes of my body, exploring every dip and curve as if I were a piece of newfound land and he was the mighty explorer determined to uncover every inch. Warm lips peppered my neck with soft, wet kisses that sent a shiver rushing down my spine.

“Do you have any idea how badly I want to spin you around and kiss you right now, Hazel?”

I hummed appreciatively, reaching around behind his head to run my fingers through the longer strands of his hair. “So do it.”

“Not here.”

“Why the hell not?” I almost whined.

“Because once I start, I’m not sure I'll be able to stop.”

That was all the ammunition I needed. I tore myself away from his grasp and grabbed his hand, pulling him off the dance floor with a quick tug. As I maneuvered us through the crowd, it occurred to me that I wasn't sure where exactly I was going.

My suite was definitely off-limits, mostly because I didn’t trust myself to be locked in a room with Knox, a bed, and a dozen other surfaces at our disposal. All he had to do was flash me that damned smile and I’d drop my panties faster than a crack of lighting. That exact scenario was dangerous territory I couldn't venture off to. I just needed somewhere secluded, away from prying eyes where I could haveoneteensy, tiny taste...

Scanning the room with an unhurried eye, I noticed a dark alcove off to the side of the bathrooms. Where it lead to I didn't know, and quite honestly, I didn't care either. It was perfect for what I had in mind.

Picking up the pace of my stride, I wove us in and out through the throng of people. Knox followed silently and idly I wondered what was running through his mind. We rounded the corner and trailed further into the darkness, leaving the chaos of the club behind.

“Hazel…” I heard him say, but I kept on, stopping only when we reached the very end of the hallway.

My heart rate was suddenly out of control as I pivoted to face him, unsure of what to say or do now that I had him alone. The EXIT sign above us cast a crimson glow over his face, dramatically accentuating the blue in his eyes. He stood there motionless, regarding me with a fiery stare that called to me like a siren. That’s when I lunged without warning and wrapped my arms around his neck. He caught me at the waist and pressed me into the wall, growling in my ear, “You. Are.Trouble.”

And then our lips collided, like two magnets unable to keep away from its pair any longer. I'd been craving this moment for weeks, wondered tirelessly how his lips would feel against mine, how he would taste… My musings were both far off and utterly subdued in comparison to the real thing though. It was positively the best first kiss I'd ever experienced in my life.

Our mouths worked togethereffortlessly, ravenously, each nip and tug fueling the blaze that consumed us both from the inside out. Large hands slid down to my hips, his fingers bunching the soft material of my dress to capture the hem in his fists, exposing quite a bit of my legs.

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