Page 2 of Clean Slade
It was packed with young women in skimpy outfits, champagne glasses in their hands, glitter on their faces, and all swooning for the attention of one guy sitting in the middle.
Despite the company, he appeared completely disinterested, his eyes focused on the table in front of him.
He was dressed to perfection from head to toe, and even though he appeared small in physique, he looked big and important.
He was young, probably my age, but seemed to be carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
His hair was short and dark, and he seemed to be drowning his grim expression in whiskey.
I wondered what his story was. What kind of troubles a gorgeous man like him could possibly have. And why would he keep the girls around if he didn’t enjoy their attention?
He tipped his head back and downed the contents of his tumbler, giving me a clear view of his clean-shaven neck and his bobbing Adam’s apple.
And then he looked at me.
Shit. I’m staring.
I hadn’t even realized I was doing it until his gaze met mine and I instantly stopped breathing.
It didn’t matter that it wasn’t bright enough to see the color of his eyes. I felt their intensity right down to the pit of my stomach, and when his lips quirked to the side into a smile, I just about lost my balance.
What the hell was wrong with me? Why was I staring at the man? Why had his gaze rendered me useless? Wasn’t I supposed to be this big bad SEAL who could handle every situation thrown at me, no matter what?
“Here you go.” My brother returned with a bottle of beer for each of us, and I used it as my excuse to turn away from the man before Rhett ribbed me about it.
I tried to forget about him, to pay attention to Rhett and what he’d shout in my ear every so often, or to check out the other men available tonight.Triedbeing the operative word for all of the above.
Because I couldn’t help myself from sneaking glances at the suited guy throughout the night. Especially so when one beer turned to four.
And every time I’d look, no matter where the dance floor and the vibe carried us, I’d find him staring back. My heart would beat a little faster, my stomach would drop a little lower as if I was on a rollercoaster, and my head would go all fuzzy as if looking at him made me lose my mind one glance at a time.
Barely an hour later, Rhett had found someone else to dance with, and a couple of guys circled me like their prey, shaking their asses, flexing their muscles, dropping to the floor as if I were their idol.
There was a code in the club. I didn’t know who’d created it or how it had gained traction. Hell, I didn’t even know how I’d found out about it, but if you were straight, you let the doorman stamp your right hand. If you were gay, you’d let them stamp your left. And if you were interested in both, you got your wrist stamped and let loose.
As much as I liked the other men’s attention, I only had eyes for one tonight. Him.
The mysterious man who had somehow hypnotized me, as if by magic.
The young man shook his empty glass, and within seconds it was refilled by one of the eager girls. Then he raised it, winked at me, and took a sip.
Fuck.
My chest filled with air, and I could just about explode.
That was hot. Ifelthot. And if it had been impossible to stop staring before, now it was mandatory for my sanity. Besides, the more I drank, the less control I had over my body.
It was clear spending day and night at the base in Virginia Beach had made me attention-starved, but for me to obsess over one man? That was crazy. Especially since he wasn’t anything special.
And yet he was all I had eyes for.
It was obvious that no matter how hard everyone else tried, they wouldn’t come close.
The raised glass and the wink just about did it for me. Lit something inside me that couldn’t be quenched. As if he’d poured gasoline straight down my throat and that slightest spark would burn me to the ground.
“I’ll be right back.” Rhett paid me no mind as he danced around my leftovers, enjoying the attention of the men I’d rejected. I made my way to the restrooms and splashed some cool water on my face before looking at my reflection.
“What’s wrong with you, man?” I mumbled.
