Given all the gorgeous women in the club, I was shocked that he'd remembered us. “Yeah, it took some convincing, but my friend finally got the balls to come out,” Lila said, giving me a playful nudge. “She's a bit shy.”
I glared at her. “I can see that,” he said.
But instead of being put off by it, Gavin made it sound like it wasn't a bad thing. In fact, as he looked me up and down, licking his lips, he made it almost sound like my shyness turned him on.
“Come, sit,” he said. “Join me for a drink.”
“Are we supposed to be back here?” Lila asked, pointing to the velvet ropes.
“Of course, you're welcome back here,” Gavin said, waving at a passing cocktail waitress. He smiled at me, which made my heart flutter. “You're with me.”
Lila motioned for me to sit down, which would put me between Gavin and her. I hesitated, but then he looked over at me with an expectant look in his eyes. I knew that shaking my head would look weird, so I just went with it. I sat as close to Lila as I could, trying to keep some distance between Gavin and I, but the booth was pretty tight for three of us, and Gavin wasn't nearly as shy as I was.
“What are you ladies drinking?” he asked.
“Surprise us,” Lila said, leaning back in the booth.
Gavin grinned, then winked at me, as he leaned over and whispered his order to the waitress. The woman, who was wearing a very short leather mini skirt that had her ass cheeks practically hanging out, turned and walked away. Most men would have stared at that tight little ass, but Gavin turned his attention to me, ignoring the woman completely.
“So, Josie,” Gavin started, “what brings you on a cruise like this?”
“Uh, well, Lila sort of didn't tell me what sort of cruise it would be,” I said.
My hands were clasped in my lap and I could hardly meet his gaze. My heart was thundering in my chest and my stomach was a ball of knots. Every time I looked into his eyes, I'd feel my cheeks flare with heat and I'd be forced to look away.
It was so stupid—he was just a man, after all—but I couldn't help it. I was just having a very strong reaction to him. Very rarely had I seen a man as handsome as him with his perfectly chiseled features and long, chocolate brown hair. He had just enough stubble on his face to make it sexy without looking sloppy. The heat in my face only grew as I imagined what that might feel pressed against my thighs.
“Are you having fun?” he asked me, though he cocked an eyebrow at Lila.
“Yeah, it's all been a bit… eye-opening… to say the least,” I laughed.
The waitress brought us our drinks and I took a sip. I was surprised to find a fruity cocktail that wasn't too sweet, nor too heavy on the alcohol. It had a light coconut flavor with a creamy texture, and it was really good.
Gavin seemed to be having something heavier—a scotch or something equally as strong. He took a long sip, never taking his eyes off me.
“How has the cruise been eye-opening for you, Josie?” he asked. “Have you learned something about yourself?”
“Maybe,” I said, shrugging.
“Not enough,” Lila added, a mischievous grin on her face. “She needs to experience more, but she's scared.”
Gavin cocked an eyebrow, and leaned forward, his expression intensely curious. “Is that true, Josie? Do you want to experience more?”
I bit my lip, and although my mind screamed out for me to stop, to pull back, my body betrayed me, and I felt myself nodding slowly. When no one said anything, I lifted my head and met his gaze. Our eyes were locked on each other and I felt a bolt of something—courage? Assertiveness? Something I couldn't identify—shoot through me.
As he looked at me, I nodded again. “Yes, I would, actually.” I was surprised to hear myself say.
Without missing a beat, Gavin asked, “Would you like to go upstairs to a private room with me then?”
My breath caught in my throat, and I looked over at Lila who silently mouthed the words, “Yes, do it!”
My body ached with a need I'd felt but had denied myself for so long. I so badly wanted to experience whatever this man had to offer me. I wanted to say yes so badly, but my head was spinning. What if I chickened out? What if I wasn't any good? What if—
“There will be a safe word, and we can stop at any time,” he said. His voice was low and gritty, and it sent a chill down my spine. “But I can say, without a doubt, you're not going to want to stop.”
As if my body were acting of its own accord, I nodded my head, surprising even myself. Gavin took my tiny hand in his large one, helping me out of the booth. He looked down at Lila and smiled.
“I'll take good care of her,” he said.