Page 18 of Untraced Magic
My gaze found hers. “Are you sure about this place?”
Skye grabbed my wrist, tugging me along. “It’ll be fine! Let’s go.”
She dragged me to the front of the line until we stood beside two stocky security guards that were a few good feet taller than us both. I flashed them an apologetic smile, aware we were jumping the que, but they didn’t seem to care.
“Looking good, ladies. Go on in,” one said, motioning us inside.
They made no attempt to hide their roaming eyes, causing me to hitch my dress down with my free hand. I frowned once again at how short this thing was.
“Do you know them?” I said under my breath.
Skye glanced back with a smirk. “Not at all.”
We walked through the bar’s intimate entrance, a mixture of pine, fresh leather, and men’s cologne hitting my senses. Like lust in a jar if ever there was a fragrance.
Oil lamps lined the walls, giving the entrance a moody vibe, and a large bar ran the length of the massive room off to one side. At the back were leather-covered booths, each with its own floor-to-ceiling velvet curtain surrounding it. The booths overlooked an area of dated couches positioned into groups, a pool table off to one side, and at the front was a dance floor full of people.
I eyed the original record player perched on top of what must be some sturdy suitcases from the 1920s and smiled. The dull lighting and grungy music had a seductive stupor about it, and I sank into it, absorbing its energy.
This place spoke to my soul. I loved it.
Skye mouthed over the music, “Let’s get a drink.”
I nodded, letting her zigzag me toward the bar as I scanned the crowd.
We were clearly overdressed.
Damn you, Skye.
She handed me a drink and I tipped my head back, taking a large gulp to take the edge off. I screwed my nose up at the strong tasteof liquor easily overpowering whatever was meant to dilute it. My guess was vodka, double shot.
A familiar song came on. “Let’s dance!” I yelled at her, unsure whether she could hear me.
Skye nodded, and we wound our way through the crowd to the dance floor.
Raising my glass over my head, the music consumed me, the bass vibrating through my veins as the lyrics corrupted my mind.
Damn, it felt good to be out. This was my kind of bar.
We circled each other, laughing as we moved to the music, the dance floor a continuous wave of bodies all riding the same high. At some point, the music changed, and the vibe of the bar naturally shifted, people coupling up around us.
I looked across to Skye, who was dancing with a guy I didn’t recognize, when I felt a presence behind me.
Firm hands took hold of my hips from behind, the faint hint of cedar filling my senses. It’d been a long time since I’d felt the rush of a male’s touch, and the mixture of alcohol and lack of sex in my life rifted a need deep within.
The stranger’s lips scraped my ear, his hands brushing my hair away to expose my neck.
“You look divine. I bet you taste delicious.”
His smooth voice held a sly confidence about it. I felt the smile in his tone, like he knew what his body against mine did to me. But taste? This guy was more than confident.
“And your name is?” I said over the music, my back still to him. Hell, I might as well enjoy the rest of the song.
He spun me around to face him, and a smile quirked his mouth as his intense gaze captured my own, his fair complexion taking me by surprise. With hair dark as night and pale skin, his blue eyes glowered with interest.
He had an aged beauty about him I couldn’t grasp. Like centuries had perfected him.
“Jett, and yours?” he said.
