Play Maker(25)

So when he sauntered into the bar an hour before I was scheduled to leave, every inch of my body was craving his touch. I was ready to beg for another sexy romp if I had to. But I didn’t think any of that would be necessary. The way he was looking at me made it clear that he was still interested. And that the only begging either one of us would be doing would be for release, our bodies naked and heaving as we collapsed on his bed. Or against the wall. Or the chair. I wasn’t picky. I’d let him take me anywhere.

It took a moment for me to realize that his friend, Ethan, was with him, though he seemed completely focused on his cell phone, and from the gleam in James’ eyes, I could tell that nothing was going to stop him from coming over. Sure enough, he sauntered over, though he took his sweet time getting there. Not that I minded the view, because damn, he was nice to look at. More than nice. Hot. Fucking hot.

And he was looking especially gorgeous right now. I had only seen him in jeans and t-shirts, and buck naked, which was my favorite, of course, but him in a well-fitting gray suit, his crisp white shirt unbuttoned just enough that I could see the top of one of his tattoos. Me-ow. How had I been able to resist him? I must have been out of my mind to say no to that. Well, I wasn’t going to make that mistake again.

It wasn’t until he got to the bar that I noticed he was carrying a bag emblazoned with the logo for a very well known and expensive liquor store. What was he up to?

I raised an eyebrow as he placed it on the smooth wood.

“I don’t think I’ve known many people who bring their own booze to a bar,” I commented, trying to sound calm and collected, even though I really wanted to rip off my shirt and shout “take me now!”

“I doubt you’ve met many people like him, period,” Ethan remarked dryly before James could say anything.

I laughed. “Good to see you again, Ethan.” But he had returned his attention to the phone in his hands. I might have been offended, if my own attention wasn’t so focused on the gorgeous guy in gray that stood in front of me.

James had yet to say anything, but was looking at me like I was the best whiskey in the world and he was dying of thirst. And oh boy, I was ready for him to lap me up. I remembered what that man could do with his tongue and I was ready to settle back in that armchair he had upstairs and let him go to town. A favor I would return with enthusiasm.

“Should I even ask what’s in the bag? More gum?” I leaned forward on the bar, glad that I had left one extra button undone tonight. I was gratified by the way his gaze darted down and then held. My skin burned, his stare so intense that I could feel it sliding down my cleavage. Was it hot in here or was it just us?

Finally he lifted his eyes. “It’s better than gum,” he told me.

My eyebrows went up. “Better than gum? Impossible.”

He grinned at me. “Well, let’s hope this is comparable to gum,” he said and pushed the bag across the bar towards me. “For a woman who knows how to appreciate the better things in life.” Oh, I could appreciate the better things in life. I could appreciate them. All. Night. Long.

I reached for it, but his hand stopped me before I could see what was hidden in the brown wrapping. His touch made my pulse jump in my throat. Or maybe that was my stomach. Or my heart. No, I pushed that possibility aside immediately. Definitely not my heart. That was the one part of my body that was completely off limits. The rest of me, however, oh boy. He could do whatever he wanted with it. I wouldn’t put up a fight. Unless he wanted me to.

His hand was still on mine as he guided it back to the bar, next to the gift. “Wait until later,” James told me. “Let it be a surprise.” His eyes never left mine. “Do you like surprises?” he asked, the question full of possibility.

“Oh yes,” I breathed. Would anyone care if I leapt over the bar, grabbed him by the collar and dragged him upstairs? I glanced around the room, finding it full of mostly women, all of whom were not even bothering to hide their interest in James. Not that I could blame them. They might care if I mauled him in public, but I had a feeling they would totally understand.

I cast a quick glance at Maya, who was shooting me mental thumbs up from the other side of the bar.

“Think of it as an apology,” James said, drawing my attention back to him.

“An apology?”

“For my presumptiveness the other night,” his accent was intoxicating, the meaning of his words slowly puncturing the sexual haze that seemed to surround us. I didn’t understand. What was he trying to say? “I just wanted you to know that I completely understand wanting to keep our…encounter simple and uncomplicated. Limiting it to a single night is probably the most effective way to uphold that.”

WHAT? No. Wait? He couldn’t be saying what I thought he was saying. Was he rescinding his offer from the other night? Had he brought me a gift to soften the blow when he blew me off?

Then I saw a smile curling the corner of his mouth. He was f*cking with me! I tried to be angry, but I couldn’t even muster annoyance. I supposed I deserved to be messed with a little, especially considering how I had turned him down before.

“Unless…” His hand had found its way across the bar again, his fingers now brushing against the inside of my wrist, the touch so simple and so seductive that my knees buckled. Still, I tried to keep my expression neutral. If he wanted to play games, I could play games. Hell, I was made for playing games.