Page 16 of Choke

I’m unable to mask my shock when he hands me the same drink Rosie had ordered when we arrived.

He must have noticed my surprise because he leans in and says, “I saw you and your friend walk in; I saw what she ordered.”

The beautiful stranger is perceptive.

I smile sweetly and cheer him in thanks. We walk to a booth and slide in. He holds out his hand and introduces himself as Nate. I decide on the spot to introduce myself as Alex, wanting to be someone else tonight. We make small talk as I sip my drink. His beer sits primarily untouched. The more we talk, the closer he leans.

God, he smells good.

His intense stare travels down my body, and he murmurs, his voice deepening, “I have the strangest feeling of déjà vu… These tattoos, this dress. Alex, you are incredibly sexy.”

As if that comment was the invitation I was waiting for, I push the rest of the way forward, my lips meeting his. His arm wraps around me, pulling me closer—so close that I’m almost on his lap. My arms naturally wrap around his neck. His other arm pulls me further onto him. My back is now to the club, putting us at eye level. Getting lost in him, the sounds of the club drift away. He feels so good. His tongue caresses mine, his kisses deep, igniting a fire inside me. Rosie was right. Sex toys aren’t the same. I’ve missed men.

His hand moves to my breast, thumb circling over my nipple through the thin fabric. I groan into his mouth. Tilting my head back to give him access, his mouth moves to my neck, and I can’t stop the breathy gasp that releases from my throat. I could have been in a nightclub or my condo. I’m so lost in his heat that I can’t tell the difference. I grind myself into him, desperate to get closer, and I feel the hard length of his cock in his pants. I shift myself back and forth slightly, needing to make him feel as good as I do at this moment. A low growl works its way up his chest and into my mouth, making me whimper.

I’ve decided to ask him to leave with me when something slams on the table behind us. I jump and pull back slightly without turning around. The heat in my veins turns to a sharp jolt of embarrassment—I just dry-humped a stranger in public. His eyes lift to the person behind me, and I hear someone laugh.

“Get a room, Crawford.” A low voice teases.

There’s a hint of recognition in the voice, but the club is too loud to be sure. A low laugh escapes Nate’s throat. I slide back into the seat next to him, adjusting my dress and swiping my finger across my swollen bottom lip. I reach for my drink before looking up. I first see the woman. She is taller and curvier than me and wears much more conservative bar clothing. Her pleasant smile suggests she’s bored and probably judging me—I can’t blame her; I would judge myself, too, if the tables were turned. I smile sheepishly.

Then I feel it.

A prickle of awareness up my spine. A weight in the air, pressing in. I shift my eyes to the tall man standing next to her. The second our eyes meet, the smile drops from his face, and my stomach twists. His expression hardens into a sharp, straight line.

Adrian Liberty doesn’t just look unimpressed—he looks ready to burn this place to the ground.

Not Jealous

Adrian

Breathe. Just breathe.

Don’t make a scene.

We called Steve Jackson earlier today. He is one of those guys who knows everyone. Ronan was sure he would have information for us, but instead, we got jackshit.

“Lex Donnelly?” He had asked. “Name rings a bell. I might have met her at a conference. She’s in sales, right?”

That was it. Five years and some vague fucking ‘maybe’ from the guy who is supposed to know everyone, according to Ronan.

Now, my girlfriend is next to me. My friend and teammate has released the woman I’ve been looking for. I make eye contact with Nate. His face is flushed, his hat is off-kilter, and his eyebrows furrow, silently asking what’s wrong. I shake my head slightly, letting him know not to push me—I can see the effect she had on him written on his face, in the way he’s still breathless.

Alice leans forward, ever the perfect girlfriend, offering a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes.

“I’m Alice. It’s nice to meet you!”

Too high. Too polite. Too fucking fake.

Lex’s eyes shift from me to Alice. She cautiously takes the offered hand and says, “I’m Lex. It’s nice to meet you.” She falters on her name a little.

I narrow my eyes at her - my heart might beat out of my chest.

“Lex?” Nate sounds confused.

Lex scoots to the edge of the booth. “Excuse me.”

Oh, fuck no. She’s not getting away this quickly.

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