“What’s your name?” he asked over the music.
I blinked. “Tara,” I said.
“Tara.” He sat down in the chair next to me. “I’m Emory.”
“Good to meet you.”
“Just get here?”
“Yeah,” I said. “How can you tell?”
“You have that look,” he said, grinning. “Wide eyed and a little tired.”
I laughed. “You’re exactly right.”
“I know. I’m very good at reading people.”
“What about you? Are you just in?”
“No, actually,” he said. “This is my last night.”
“That’s a shame,” I said.
He raised an eyebrow. “Going to miss me already?”
“No. I mean, it’s a shame you have to leave. It’s nice here.”
“It is nice here,” he said. “Beats where I’m going.”
“Where’s that?”
He grinned at me and ignored the question. “Are you here alone?”
“With a friend.”
“Where’s she?”
“Dancing.”
He moved slightly closer. I couldn’t help but stare at him, at his muscles straining against his perfectly fitting, white button-down shirt. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing tattoos snaking up his muscular forearms.
“Pity. She left you alone.”
I nodded. “She did.”
“Do you need someone to keep you company?”
I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know this man, and he was by far the most attractive person to ever talk to me, let alone want to spend time with me.
“Okay,” I said.
He smiled. “Good.” He gestured at a waitress and she brought over two more drinks for us. “To a good night in paradise.”
We clinked glasses.
I should have gotten up and walked away, but I couldn’t. He was magnetic, enticing, and incredibly attractive. He knocked back his drink and leaned in toward me, smirking big. “You know why I came over to you?” he asked.
“No,” I said honestly, “I don’t.”
“It’s because I find you attractive.”
I blushed. “Oh. Thank you.”
“I got one look at you and wondered what it would feel like to have those thick lips wrapped around my cock.”
I gaped at him, shocked. I couldn’t believe he had just said that.
“Or maybe I’d rather taste your nice little pussy. I can’t tell yet.” He leaned back in his chair, grinning at me.
“You’re a little forward, aren’t you?” I said, laughing slightly.
“I am when I know what I want.”
“Well, I’m not sure you’re getting what you want tonight, Emory.”
“Don’t be so sure, Tara,” he said, leaning back toward me. “You might be making a big mistake.”
I laughed. This guy was unreal. “Why do you think that?”
He stood up suddenly. “Come on. I’ll show you.”
“I’m not going back to your room.”
He shook his head. “Let’s dance.”
I opened my mouth, but he took my hand and pulled me along behind him. I didn’t know what the heck I was doing following a guy like him, a guy that said those dirty things to a complete stranger, but my heart was racing in my chest.
I couldn’t say no, I realized. I couldn’t say no to him even if I really wanted to. He stopped in the middle of the dance floor and pulled me close against him. Our hips began to sway together, moving in time to the beat, and I completely forgot about anything but him.
Emory, that cocky grin, his hips moving against mine. Thrills and waves of excitement washed over my spine as his hands roamed my lower back, my hips, flirting with my ass. I should have stopped him, but I couldn’t, and I didn’t want to. It felt too damn good to be pressed against this tall, muscular, attractive man, even if he was arrogant as hell.
I was totally lost, pulled into him. We danced like that for what felt like hours, hips rocking together, his lips near my ear to tell me what to do, how to move against him. I’d never felt so incredibly good, free, and excited in my life. I forgot all about Lindy, all about the people surrounding us. There was just me and Emory, his confident smirk pulling me along behind him.
Song after song, beat after beat. I felt his fingers trail down my back and chills ran along my skin.
“Come back with me,” he said finally.
I looked up and realized the club was closing. The song had just ended, and I was in such a trance, so high from his body, that I completely forgot about time.
“Okay,” I said instantly, not sure why.
He took me by the hand and led me out of there. I followed him, smiling stupidly, marveling at his body as he moved. He was wearing light brown boat shoes and khakis that fit him like a glove. His ass was taut and his legs were strong as I followed him up a flight of stairs.