He chuckles and moves his hand to my chin to bring my face closer. He smiles slightly and stares deep into my eyes. God, his eyes are hypnotizing. Focus, Liz!
“No, baby girl. I meant to invite you in. To be honest, I didn’t even notice your friend, but she’s more than welcome to join us up here. I thought you would come up here when you walked in, but when I saw you head straight for the dance floor, I realized if I wanted you with me, I’d have to come get you myself and I’m damn glad I did.”
He situates me closer on his lap and pulls my legs up and over his thighs while keeping his arms around my waist, and then looks back at his friend.
“What’s up, Kaden? Didn’t see you here a little bit ago. Did you just get in?”
His friend nods, and they start talking about some fight they went to a few days ago. I attempt to listen to their conversation, but it’s hard to concentrate, because while Cooper is talking, his fingers are rubbing across my stomach in a way that’s giving me butterflies. He moves his other hand up to my face and pushes my hair from out of my eyes like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
They stop talking and he looks back to me like he has something to say. His mouth opens then closes, and then he makes a face that has me falling into a fit of laughter.
“You’re looking kind of confused. Are you trying to think hard about something?” I can’t stop laughing. How is it possible that a man so sexy can also be absolutely adorable at the same time?
“I just realized I know your friend’s name, but I don’t know yours.” His brows are furrowed and he’s giving me the cutest pout with his bottom lip jutting out just a little bit. With this look alone, I bet he could get a woman to do anything he wants.
“My name is Lizbeth, but everybody calls me Liz,” I say, still grinning at his facial expression.
“Are you from around here, Liz?”
“Um, kind of. I live a little farther north, about two hours from here.” I decide not to tell him exactly where, in case he’s an axe murderer after all, and I also don’t mention the fact that after this week I’ll be living in Las Vegas. It doesn’t really matter at this point since I won’t see him again after tonight.
“How long are you in Miami for?”
“My friend Kayla and I are here for a week. We’re staying right up the road at the Miami Beach Resort. It’s a graduation present from my parents.” I don’t mention it’s my high school graduation since I’m supposed to be twenty-one to be in this club, and if he knew I was only eighteen he might be completely turned off. I’m already in shock that he would want me when he could easily have his pick of women in this club.
While we continue to make conversation, the entire time he’s touching me in some way—his hands caressing my arms, massaging circles into my thighs. They aren’t meant to be sexual touches, but they still cause the same reaction from my body. He looks past me at somebody walking over and tells me that I have company. I look behind me and see Kayla is walking over and sporting a huge knowing grin across her face.
“Well, hello there handsome. I take it you’re the nice gentleman that invited us up here.”
“That would be me,” he confirms. He moves his hand off my stomach to shake her hand, and I immediately miss his warmth.
“My name is Cooper and my friends here are Kaden…” He points over at a guy sitting nearby who he gives her a chin nod.
“Bentley.” He points over to the guy who no longer has the two women giving him a lap dance, but is sitting by himself and staring right at my best friend like he wants to devour her.
“And the guy over there is Caleb.” He points to the other guy who had gotten up to give Cooper his seat earlier.
He glances over at Kayla and back to me with a smile. “Guys, this is Liz and her friend Kayla. They’re down here for the next week celebrating their graduation.”
“Nice,” Kaden shouts over the music since the song that is now playing has serious bass going on.
Bentley walks over to Kayla and asks her to dance and of course she says yes. As she is walking away with him, she turns around and gives me a huge, over exaggerated wink. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re having sex by the end of the night. Hopefully they make it out of the club first.
“Would you like something to drink?” Cooper asks, pointing to all the bottles on the table. I probably shouldn’t drink since I’m technically not twenty-one, but how ridiculous will I look not drinking at a club? After saying yes, he grabs the bottle to pour us each a shot then shoots his back. I follow his lead and shoot mine down quickly. It burns like a bitch the whole way down, and it takes everything in me not to cough.