Page 10 of Queen of Blades

“Not much to tell. I’m a lawyer.” She tucked a tuft of hair behind her ear.

“I know,” he said quickly.

Of course he did. It was his job to know. “In North Carolina.”

“I know,” he repeated.

How hot had the bar gotten? How many drinks had she had? Her panties were soaked through just from the burning in his eyes. He set her on fire, and only he could extinguish this flame of need.

Red flags were still Harper’s favorite color in men. For as long as she could remember, she had terrible taste in them. It started when she dated Dwight throughout high school and only got worse from there. The more red flags, the more her body craved their touch.

Paul was no different. If anything, her attraction to him was even stronger with their history.

It’s not every day a fuck buddy takes a bullet from an ex-boyfriend.

Paul had.

She was entirely responsible. She had no business indulging in that little temptation so soon after her breakup with Dwight. But in her defense, Dwight had slept with others while they werestilldating. At least Harper waited until they were officially no longer a couple. It may have only been a few days, but still, they weren’t together.

It wasn’t her fault he hadn’t gotten the message.

She’d only seen Paul once more after that fateful day when things got a little too intense. He’d shown up unexpectedly, just like today, to congratulate her for passing her LSATs by gifting her a necklace and bracelet. Her favorite pieces of jewelry.

She still wore them to this day.

Getting lost in the sea of pale blue, her skin tingled and her heart did backflips in her chest. He was deliciousness personified.

She had one night before she left all this behind for good. What did it matter if she indulged again? There was no doubt in her mind that she’d romanticized and embellished her recall of the evening. If anything, it would prove to her it was the right decision. No one could live up to the memory she had, so why not shoot her shot. What’s the worst that could happen?

He could be better than she remembered.

Highly unlikely, but a woman could dream. If she didn’t put it out there, she would never know and likely spend the rest of her life wondering. Who wanted that?

She should get it over with so she could move on with her life.

“I’m single,” she whispered as she scooted closer to him, their bodies touching.

The left side of his mouth turned up in a sinister, tempting half grin. “I know.”

Those words possessed such intention, she shivered. If it wasn’t for the padding in her bra, her nipples would’ve poked his eye out, they were so hard. This man was just as dangerous for her as Dwight, but far more enticing and tempting.

The fire in Paul’s eyes melted her better judgment. Swallowing hard, with her heart thundering in her ears, she focused on his full lips. That talented mouth. What new tricks had he learned?

What she wouldn’t give to find out.

“I remember that look,” he murmured.

When he cupped the side of her cheek, another shudder rippled through her. It’d been too long since she’d slept withanyone, maybe six months, and she was slightly tipsy. Really, it wasn’t her fault that she ignored all the red flags. A woman had needs, and she needed all Paul could do.

Nuzzling against his hand, she turned and closed her eyes.

Might as well have a little fun on her last night in Oklahoma. It wasn’t like she was coming back to this hellhole.

Parting her lips, she found the tip of his thumb. Swirling her tongue, she sucked it into her mouth. The subtle gasp, a nearly inaudible inhale, from Paul strummed her desire for him.

Was it a terrible decision? Absolutely.

Did she care? Not an iota.

---