She had all but insulted him, run from a meaningful friendship they could have had. But the truth was she’d been protecting herself. If she’d gotten too deep with Toby and things didn’t work out, either friendship or romantic, she knew she wouldn’t have been able to handle it.
But he didn’t even turn around to stare at the blondes, and instead moved a step closer to her. He inhaled deeply, and there was this part of her that saw this wild animal in him, one that was pacing inside, wanting out.
It was a weird sensation, but she didn’t want it to end. She felt high on Toby, and it was like no amount of alcohol could match the intoxicating feeling moving through her. She wanted him, wanted to have every part of him covering her, and she didn’t care that he had this sordid past, or that he was this bad boy that did whatever the hell he wanted when he wanted.
Could he see how much she wanted him? Because she swore she could see how much he wanted her.
“Can we start over?” he asked, his voice slightly slurred from his drinking.
Shoshanna felt this haze wash over her, felt the alcohol pump through her veins as she stared into his blue eyes. “Yes,” she found herself answering. Was she accepting this all because she was drunk?
Yes and no. The honest to God truth was she had never forgotten about Toby. She’d wanted him all those years ago, and those feelings had never faded.
A moment of silence passed between them, Toby’s warm breath moving along her face, his heat seeping into her body. Did he feel the electricity moving between them, consuming them, making everything else fade away?
“Come home with me, Shoshanna,” he said and moved a step closer to her.
God, he was even bolder than he had been in high school. Did he really think she’d just submit after all these years? She held her breath, not knowing what in the hell was going on, but definitely liking the feel of the air around them.
Okay, she was far too gone in what was happening between them right now to think too far ahead.
“You’re bold saying that to me, Toby Mason.” It was hot in here, electrically charged, and she wanted it to go as far as it could.
“I wanted to be this bold with you back in the day, Shoshanna.” He lifted his hand and ran a finger along her collarbone.
What in the hell is happening?
No, she knew what was going on, and that was Toby wanting her to go home with him for some hot sex. Had he seriously just asked her to go home with him?
She felt her pulse race, her blood move faster and harder through her body, and nodded. “Okay.” She’d said the word, and there was no taking it back. Her lips were parted as she tried to get more air into her lungs.
And then before she could speak he grabbed the back of her head, tangled his hands in her hair, and walked them backward until the bar stopped her from retreating.
He slanted his mouth on her lips, kissed her until she felt like she was melting right into his body, and groaned deeply.
“I want you to come home with me, Shoshanna.” He moved his mouth by her ear. “I want to fuck you until you come for me.” He pulled back enough that she could see his face. “I’ve wanted that since we sat in that bedroom years ago.”
She was in shock over his caresses and blatantly sexual words, but she wasn’t disgusted. Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe she was just so far gone for this man that she didn’t care what he said.
Either way she wanted to be his for the night, because surely he wouldn’t want her for more than that. That wasn’t a jab at her specifically, but Toby’s reputation over the last few years didn’t really call for many long-term relationships.
He was known for wooing women, sleeping with them, and sending them on their way with a goofy, pleasured grin on their faces. She looked over his shoulder at Tabitha. The other woman was staring at her with wide eyes, her mouth opened, and clear jealousy on her face.
Looks like Shoshanna would be the next in line to have a one-night moment with Toby, and she was anticipating the experience.
At least right now she was, tomorrow morning might bring a whole new level of emotions as she did the Toby Mason Walk of Shame.
8
They crashed through his apartment door, their mouths pressed together, and their breathing harsh. The sound of the cab they had taken driving off filled her ears, but she didn’t pay any more attention to it, especially when he slammed the front door closed with his foot and pressed her back to the wall.