Notorious (Playing With Fire)

Chapter One

Eric strutted into the bar, and heard his name called not once, but twice. The place was packed and dark, and he couldn’t make out any faces, not that he cared. Pasting a smile on his face, he waved, though God knows who at.

It didn’t matter. He came tonight for anonymous sex as usual, and he was going to get it.

He went up to the bartender, a man he had been acquainted with since they’d fooled around together only a few weeks ago, and ordered a beer. Glancing about the room as he leaned against the polished wood counter, he drank in the scene. Nothing unusual going on, but that wasn’t a surprise.

Loud music played, a few couples danced out on the makeshift dance floor. Gay bars logically equaled a room full of gay men, and he liked this one in particular because it was a nice mix. Not just pretty boys and twinks, not just the rough looking, leather-clad guys, not just the big cuddly bears.

This place offered a little bit of everything.

Including a very familiar-looking woman who sat at the counter, her elbows propped against the edge, a morose expression on her pretty face. Eric’s casual perusal came to a complete halt.

Drawn to her like a moth to a flame, he moseyed over to where she sat, studied her blatantly since her back was to him. Tipping his head, he checked out her profile and sweet with blondish-brown hair, big blue eyes that scanned the room with curiosity, it looked like she was there alone.

Odd. And interesting.

Turning her head, her gaze lit upon him, and her eyes went wide with recognition. Damn it, he did know this woman, he just couldn’t remember how. Had he fucked her? He’d had his share of women since he split with Brandon and Alexa, but he’d messed around more with guys. Lots of blow jobs. Lots and lots of anonymous blow jobs in the back of bars just like this one.

Eric frowned, suddenly disgusted with himself. When had he turned into such a man whore?

“You’re Eric, right?” she suddenly asked, pointing a finger at him.

Nodding slowly, he contemplated her. Wished like crazy he could remember who she was.

She smiled and shook her head. “This is so embarrassing. I figured coming here, I wouldn’t come across anyone I know, and yet here you are.”

“Uh, yeah.” He leaned against the bar, trying his damnedest to place her. “How are you?”

Her smile grew. “You don’t know who I am, do you?”

Chuckling, he glanced down at the ground, feeling like a jackass. “You caught me.”

“We’ve only met a few times,” she offered.

Lifting his head, he studied her. Her eyes were a gorgeous pale icy blue fringed with long, thick eyelashes, delicate dark brown brows. With a pert nose and lush pink lips, she was a mixture of innocence and temptation. She didn’t resemble Alexa whatsoever.

Just the way he liked his women, he thought grimly.

Alexa, he realized. Their connection was through Alexa.

“You’re a friend of Alexa’s,” he said with a quick snap of his fingers, and she nodded.

“I’m her best friend, though I haven’t seen much of her lately.” She immediately shut up, as if afraid she might upset him. Smart girl since everyone knew about his crazy semi-relationship and ultimate breakup with his boyfriend all because of Alexa.

Alexa, the first woman he’d ever been with but certainly not the last. He’d fucked plenty. Plenty of women, plenty of men, all in the hopes they could help him forget.

It didn’t work.

“I feel like an ass but I can’t remember your name…” his voice trailed off. Gaze dropped to her chest and noticed her breasts pressed invitingly against the simple white T-shirt she wore. He swore he caught sight of delicate lace beneath the thin fabric. Which of course, intrigued him.

Eric frowned. This woman—Alexa’s best friend for Christ’s sake—should be off limits.

“Stacy,” she offered, and stuck her hand out for him to shake.