One Funeral (No Weddings #2)(36)

His gaze intensified. “A screaming orgasm.”

I swallowed hard, tension flaring between us. “Sounds amazing. I’ll take two, please.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t let you stop at two. I’d push you to three or four.”

I gasped, a sudden ache flashing between my thighs.

He took a deep breath, pulling back. “But for now, you’ll have to settle for swallowing what I can shoot into this tiny shot glass.”

I burst out laughing.

“Quiet, woman. This’ll take concentration.” He tore his gaze away with a smirk and made our drinks.

After a few minutes of cubes clinking and alcohol pouring, he slid over our two-drink allotment: Kiki’s margaritas and my white frothy shots.

I grinned at Cade, holding one up. “Looks like you did just fine.” I swallowed down the creamy drink, then licked my lips.

Cade bit his, exhaling in what I imagined was a growl but couldn’t hear in the loud room. He leaned over. “I’m sorry, but I gotta hustle tonight. Things are crazy.”

I shooed him away with a wave. “Don’t be sorry. Do your thing. I’ll stick with Kiki, and we’ll go have a good time.”

Cade extended a hand, gripping my forearm. “Be careful, okay. Never let your drink out of sight, and never accept one from anyone other than a waitress.”

I frowned. “Have you had problems?”

He gave me a serious look. “Every bar has predators no matter how many layers of security. Only you can protect yourself everywhere you go.”

I curved both hands around my remaining shot glass, tucking it close to my chest. “Count on it. I’ll be safe.”

He nodded, looking relieved. “Maybe we can meet up later.”

“Sounds great.” I grinned as Cade disappeared toward a chaotic section of the bar.

A rush of waitresses flooded over to their counter section with trays. Two other bartenders worked beside Cade, and still, they barely kept up with the demand. I felt a twinge of guilt for showing up and monopolizing even those short five minutes of his time.

Kiki and I left him to his work, making the rounds through the bar. Up in the VIP section, Kiki knew several groups of people. The first, an even mix of guys and girls, were old friends of hers from her childhood country-club scene. Some of the girls seemed standoffish at first, but the more Kiki’s energy infused the space around us, the more they warmed to me.

A pretty blonde named Claire pulled me closer and began dancing erotically with me. “I love the way you move your body. You’re like a shy stripper.”

I held my shot glass up as she moved behind me and matched her hips to my swaying movements. When I glanced helplessly at Kiki, she doubled over in laughter. Hesitant, I glanced back at Claire with raised brows. “Thanks?”

Claire slid her hands over my hips, settling them onto my waist as her lips brushed over my ear. “It’s a compliment. I’m drawn to you, and I’m as straight as they come. Look out there at everyone watching us. They’re watching you.”

I dared a glance at the thirty or so people in our VIP section. She was right. If the men weren’t outright staring at me, they were talking and casting occasional glances. Same with the girls. Even people on the main dance floor below stared up into our exclusive section, watching me and Claire.

I laughed, shaking my head. I hadn’t worn anything risqué—tight jeans with a few small shredded places on the thighs, spaghetti strap tank top that was figure flattering but not too revealing. Capturing the attention of so many people at once made me a little uncomfortable, and I suddenly felt shy, my cheeks heating.

I looked back toward the bar where Cade had been busting his ass all night. But as I danced with Claire, her body pressed close behind mine, brushes of her silky hair teasing my bare shoulders, Cade had gone motionless—his fierce gaze held mine.

When a sexy smile curved my lips, his head moved slowly to the left then right while he stared at me, not in negation, but as if he couldn’t believe his eyes. He leaned forward, bracing his body with his arms on the bar, as he continued to stare. He bit his lower lip, and I did the same, like only the two of us existed in the expansive room, and we spoke each other’s erotic language.

All too soon, and yet not nearly fast enough, bright lights flashed on and the music stopped. It was 2:01 a.m.—time for everyone to go home.

In slow rotation, the crowd flowed toward the door. I remained in the VIP section, waiting as Cade cleaned up for the night. Ten minutes later, he climbed the steps and opened the red velvet rope before closing it behind him.

“Where’s Kiki?” His gaze locked on me, shoulders rolling with each measured step. He resembled a sleek, dark panther stalking his prey—stalking me.

I swallowed hard, frozen in place like the rabbit. Except, I wanted to get caught. “She grabbed a ride home from Darren.”

He nodded once before making contact with me. With firm pressure, he wrapped his arms around my waist, then slid them lower, across my ass. Locks of his hair fell over his forehead as he bent down. When his hot lips brushed across my neck, I shivered, goose bumps racing down the side of my body.

His voice growled low. “I like that you came to see me tonight.”

Warm breath drifted up from the crook of my shoulder to below my ear. His hips began to move, and with those hands pressed firmly into my backside, he swayed my body with his. As the lights dimmed and the club emptied out, we danced alone in the semiprivate space.