Page 10 of Devious Eyes
A couple I haven’t seen before saunter into the bar. She’s dressed in a skin-tight white dress that leaves nothing to the imagination. Even her nipples are visible under the thin material. Her hair is pulled around to the side, but what really has me staring is the string of diamonds around her neck and wrist.
Simple and classic, the design is beautiful. But her unmanicured toes, and the material of her dress are in direct contradiction to the value of the stones. If they’re real.
The man escorting her has a pot-belly and a ghastly signet ring on one hand. They walk around the central bar and take a seat in the more secluded areas.
As they pass, my eyes land on another new resident. A man. Alone.
A glass of amber liquid sits in front of him.
The guy hunches over his drink, his arm muscles straining against the cuff of his sleeve. He’s not been here long. He doesn’t have enough colour on his skin, but his profile is handsome. Fierce. As if he needs someone to lighten it for him.
Why shouldn’t that be me?
The thought explodes inside my mind and I don’t want to try to avoid it.
I leave a scant inch of liquid in my glass before heading over to the only unattached guy I’ve seen at the resort.
“Hey.” I pull out the free chair and perch on the edge. His eyes widen, and I keep my giggle to myself. Now I have his attention, I make a show of slowly crossing my bare legs and enjoy his inability to take note. “Are you here alone?”
He stares for a few seconds, scanning my body again.
“Yeah,” he replies, nodding.
His voice is deep and rough, but I can’t tell if it’s a natural edge or a result of the liquor he’s drinking. I’m hoping it’s not the later. There’s something sexy about that low baritone.
He finally raises his face to mine, and I see the purple tinge of a bruise marring his cheek. But his eyes…his chestnut eyes pierce through me, taking my breath away. For a moment, frozen in time, everything around us stands still, and I’m only aware of the dilation of his pupils and the hammering of my heart.
Instant attraction as strong as this has never struck me before. Sure, I’ve found guys attractive and had a handful of one-night stands, but the thudding of my heart, the hum of my nerves, and the anticipation from my body are new.
And delicious.
“I’m...Gabby.” I regret how unsure I sound, but it was a snap decision. For some reason I want him to know my real name. I slip my drink onto the table, the ruse of this little greeting almost forgotten.
“Nate. You here to keep me entertained?” He looks back at my legs as his tongue licks over his lips.
“Excuse me?” I’m lost by his comment.
“You certainly are fine.” He stands, raising himself up to over six feet. “Just what I need to unwind.” He takes my hand, sending a pulse of excitement racing through me, and then tries to lead me away from the bar.
“Um, what do you think you’re doing?”
“Villa,” he says, pointing out towards the ocean. “I’m not one for fucking in public.”
I whip my hand from his and freeze in place, causing him to stumble to a halt and sway a little.
“What? Payment up front?” He rummages in his pocket and pulls out some notes, letting them scatter around him to the floor. “Fine. Take it all.” My eyes widen as I eventually cotton on to what he’s suggesting.
“You think I’m a prostitute?” I hiss at him.
“Well, you—”
I grab my drink and toss the remaining alcohol over him, hopefully shocking his system.Idiota. How dare he? His face is a picture, all surprised and dripping with liquid. But then his furious, slitted eyes land on me. His hand reaches out again and I worry that I’ve done the wrong thing. I turn to flee, panic infusing me. My feet hurry back to the beach to escape to the safety of my bungalow.
“Wait,” he calls. I ignore him and continue to walk. “I said hold the hell up.” He grabs my hand again and his fingers pull me towards him.
“Will you stop grabbing me, imbécil,” I spit out, shaking him off.
“Well, that’s not fucking polite.”
