Page 2 of Sky Full of Stars

“Don’t ever touch me again.”

I start moving. Where the hell is the way out? I search the cavernous room, the bar to my left, dance floor behind me, I’ve never been here before, but I remember the bar was ahead of us when we came in. I finally see what I think is the exit but before I can move, Lance is reaching out to me again. Doesn’t he get the picture? I’ve half a mind to turn and punch him right in the dick. I’m about to when a hand grabs me and pulls me to the side, away from Lance’s groping hand. I stumble against a hard body. I’ve had just about enough of people thinking they can manhandle me tonight. I am about to scream at whoever it is when I look up into the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen.

“Come with me.”

Oh shit, I’m about to be kicked out of the club. This is what Sam meant. I can’t go around punching people in the face and expect nothing to come of it. The man has a firm grip on my arm but he isn’t hurting me, he pulls me beyond a roped area and I glance at him in confusion, this isn’t the way out. He swings me around and blocks my view out into the club, hell knows where Lance went or if he even saw me being dragged in here. I can barely see over his shoulder he is so tall. I shove at his chest and look around him. Lance is looking for me, one hand to his face trying to stem the blood flow, there are people around him, and I see a bouncer approaching now. He grabs his cell phone and starts tapping at it.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, he’s texting me. I have to wonder why he is still trying after I just rearranged his face for him. But then again, he “didn’t mean it” so maybe he thought I was just gonna let it go?

“That was a hell of a right hook, Slugger.”

I look up at the man again. He’s wearing a black t-shirt, slightly jagged and pulled at the neck and dark, ripped jeans that hug his legs, heavy black unlaced boots adorn his feet. I’d thought he was a bouncer about to haul me out of the club but he isn’t dressed like any bouncer I’ve seen. He isn’t even really dressed for a club. I can’t help my eyes roaming down his body, which is hard, strong and his shoulders are broad. I want to tell him to let me go but when I look up at his face my mouth stops moving. He is hot, crazy hot and he still has hold of me.

“He won’t find you in here.”

He walks me further away from the ropes. It is only then I realise I’m inside the VIP area. He leads me to a darker area of the space, there are a number of booths around us, all full of people. Bottles of champagne litter the tables, and there are waitresses moving among them with trays of what look like exotic cocktails. I’m shaking, angry and finally allowing something more to take over. Hurt, shame. Images flashing in my head. The look on her face, the intensity on his as he did to her what he should only be doing to me.

I pull out my phone to see his text. The man in front of me takes it from my hand.

“Hey,” I look up at him as he reads my text. “Give that back,” I reach up to take it but he turns slightly so I can’t.

“You gonna hit me too?” he raises a brow, a slight smirk on his face.

I stood my ground, glaring at him. He is so damn tall.

“What did he do?”

I look down, I don’t want to tell him what I just saw, it was humiliating enough with the peanut gallery. “Why did you do that?” I ask him.

He studies me for a few seconds, his hand tightens on my cell phone. “Because you look like you wanted to get away from him, plus you probably broke his nose and security were headed your way. I’m guessing he did something shitty, and I figured you shouldn’t be the one getting thrown out. Just take it easy,” he says. A woman passes with a tray and he takes a couple of glasses of champagne. He hands me one.

“I don’t take drinks from strangers,” I tell him. “And I don’t drink champagne.”

“What do you drink?”

“What the hell does that matter? Please give me my phone and let me leave.”

“On one condition.”

My mouth opens to argue but he puts a finger against my lips, shushing me. I jump at the touch of his hand and anger surges again.

“Don’t text him back.”

“Don’t tell me what to do.”

“Fair enough,” he holds up his hands. “What do you drink? I’ll give you phone back when you let me get you a drink.”

Looking around I see none of the people in here are paying any attention to us. There are more women than men and they are pawing all over the few men there are. I notice what looks like two security guards against a wall. If this guy thinks he is getting something from me, he is sadly mistaken. I need to get the hell out of here. I suddenly feel completely out of my element. I want to leave. I want to call Brooke, my best friend, to come get me but know she can’t, she is working to a deadline and would still be in the office, she would have come out with us if she had been able. She can’t drop everything to rescue me.

Two bouncers have now reached Lance, I don’t know what they’re talking about but he is being led away. I definitely do not want to be outside at the same time as him trying to grab a cab. I look around me again. This guy is right, I’m kind of safe in here. I think. I look up at him. He is watching me intently but there is amusement in his eyes. I can use this to my advantage, until the asshole is gone.

“Blue Moon,” I finally say.

He looks at me in surprise. “Blue Moon it is,” he calls over a waitress, says a few words and she nods with a sultry smile that irritates me.

“Sit.”

“I’m not a dog.”

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