Hooked: A Dark, Contemporary Romance (Never After #1)(17)

“Oh, believe me, the pleasure is all mine,” Maria pipes in.

I resist the urge to cringe at her tacky line but wait for him to shift his focus. To realize there’s a woman here who’s ripe and ready for the picking. I’ve always assumed men like easy targets, and while I won’t lie to myself and say I haven’t enjoyed his attention, I am most definitely not a sure thing.

Still, his eyes stay locked on mine.

And I don’t drop his stare either, feeling somehow like if I do, then I’ll have lost something I didn’t even know to keep.

The air grows thick, and my tongue swipes out to lick my dry lips. His eyes darken as they drop to my mouth.

Angie clears her throat. “So,” she says. “You own this place?”

His gaze lingers before he finally, finally, breaks away and turns to Angie. My chest expands as I take my first full breath in what feels like a century and I glance over at Maria, but she’s avoiding my stare, her lips pursed and back rigid.

Great.

“Something like that,” he responds. “I hope you’re finding everything satisfactory?”

Angie’s cheeks grow rosy, and she grins. “Drinks could use some work.”

“Oh?” He steps in closer, the heat of his body racing up my side and blanketing me in its warmth, his arm resting on the back of my chair. A simple nod from him, and the bartender rushes over, the white towel on his shoulder contrasting against his dark brown skin.

“Sir?”

“It would seem as if the ladies aren’t satisfied with their drinks, Curly.”

I watch as Curly’s broad shoulders stiffen, and for some reason a prickling sense of urgency comes over me. Like it’s important he knows the drinks are fine, that Angie was just making a joke, most likely to ease the tension that’s still radiating off of an eerily silent Maria.

“The drinks are incredible,” I reassure. “They’re perfect, James. Angie was just teasing.”

His gaze moves from the bartender to me. “You’re sure?”

I nod, and he turns back to Curly. “These ladies are the most important people here, understand? Their money’s no good, and you give them anything they ask for.”

Curly nods. “You got it, boss.”

“In that case, I’ll take another.” Angie giggles. “You guys want?”

James is already locked back on me, his stare so intense it splits me in half and burrows in my chest.

“You don’t have to do that,” I say.

He smiles. “I don’t have to do anything.” His hand moves up and brushes a strand of hair from my cheek. The gesture is soft, gentle, and butterflies erupt in my stomach. “I want to make sure you’re taken care of, darling.”

Heat flares deep in my abdomen, and I resist the urge to rub my thighs together, not wanting to show how much he affects me. How this virtual stranger can say something like that, and instead of being repulsed, or disgusted, I’m turned on.

His palm slips into mine, my stomach somersaulting at his touch, and he raises it to his mouth, lips grazing the back of my hand. “Go on a date with me.”

Goose bumps sprout along my arm. Vaguely, I hear a gasp to my left, but I can’t focus on that, because everything about this man sucks me in like a vortex. An alternate dimension where everything is muted apart from him.

Excitement swirls in the pit of my stomach. “Okay.”

He grins, and my breath stutters at how disarming he is when he smiles. Before he can say anything else, a young man—the same one who let us in the bar the other week—rushes up behind him, whispering in his ear. And just like that, James’s entire demeanor shifts, the sparkle dropping from his face. He nods before turning back. “Unfortunately, I have to handle some business.” He brings our tangled palms up, pressing them into his chest. “You won’t leave without saying goodbye?”

I shake my head no, unable to form the words on my tongue, and he brings his other hand forward, his thumb swiping across my cheek. “Good.” He glances toward Angie and Maria, tipping his head. “Ladies.”

And then he walks away, leaving me to gaze after him, my heart in my throat—weighted stares burning holes through me from both sides.





10





Wendy





Dipping my mouth to my glass, I force the bitter liquid down my throat. I don’t even like red wine, but I wanted to fit in—be sophisticated—instead of admitting I didn’t really want a drink at all. My chest pulls tight, not sure why I bothered when everything has gone to shit anyway since he walked over.

James.

Apparently, the same guy who Maria’s been obsessed with, which means he’s also…

Hook.

Reality smashes into me like a sledgehammer, throwing everything I thought I knew to bits. He’s the one they spent hours waxing poetic about. The man they’d let “split them apart with his monster cock.”

I snort into my drink, a giggle bubbling from the center of my chest, unsure if it’s the wine that’s gone to my head or the remnants of how dazed James makes me feel.

He’s elusive. Dangerous.

A thrill sparks in the base of my stomach.

I shouldn’t be excited by the possibility. Should be on edge with how he has no qualms letting underage girls into his bar. How he always has men surrounding him, seeming to be at his beck and call. I should be wary at how quickly he spins me off balance until I become so wrapped in his presence I can barely breathe.