“I’d love one.” She started to ease up.
“Good, I was starting to think that you were a lost cause.” I poured her a glass of whiskey and handed it to her. She looked up at me when she reached out to grab it, and I knew instantly that she was terrified. “It’s okay.” I sat down, a little closer this time.
“Sorry.” She took a gulp and cringed at the taste of the liquor.
“Why are you apologizing?”
“I don’t know,” she groaned, then turned to me. “I mean, I obviously don’t have any business doing this.”
“You’re doing fine.”
“You think so?” she asked.
“I’m positive.” I trained my eyes on her. I was half-expecting her to run out screaming, but she didn’t. She relaxed a little bit more, sat back, and sipped on her drink. “You’ve got the right look,” I added.
She slammed the rest of her drink. “I look ridiculous.”
“No, you don’t.” I moved closer. She got up to pour herself another drink, but her hands trembled. I went to help her. “Here.” I took the decanter and poured her a glass.
Chapter 6
Mercedes
“What’s your name?” he asked when I sat down again.
“Maria.” I took a gulp of my drink and set it down. I felt warm and tingly from the alcohol.
“Maria, I’m Jake.” He offered me his hand. I shook it. I couldn’t help it. I’d been avoiding checking him out since I got there, but he had no shame. There was no point in hiding it. The man was a golden god with toned muscles, tanned skin, an
d shoulders twice as wide as my own. It was like staring up at a marble statue made flesh.
“Nice to meet you.” I gave him a half-smile and glanced around. The room was perfect in its simplicity with rich mahogany floors, a black couch, and a matching entertainment center. It was such a contrast from the foyer. I couldn’t help but think that this was his room and that it reflected his tastes. He wasn’t an elegant man. He was flashy, but he didn’t have to try very hard to stand out.
He must’ve seen me looking out of the corner of my eye because he scooted a little closer. He was less than two feet away, and I started to lose it. I couldn’t even play it off. He scared me. His cold blue eyes moved over my body, picking apart my flaws and assets.
It excited me, too. I’d never met a man who could be casual and intense at the same time. Behind his calm, reassuring demeanor was a monster ready to break loose. I wasn’t sure if I should run out the door or let him topple me to the ground and have his way with me.
I stuck close to my drink and nursed it quietly. I didn’t know what to say to him. There was nothing to say. I knew what he wanted. It was only a matter of time before it happened. I decided that I wasn’t going to let him take control.
A man like him was probably used to having girls open their legs on command. I’d seen it before. The girls in school would always flock to the hottest guy and fight over him behind his back. Usually, the guy would end screwing everyone but the ugliest of them and end up pissing them all off. That was Jake, and I wanted no part of it.
“I should go.” I slammed the rest of my drink and felt my head whirl.
“You just drank two glasses of whiskey,” he said. “Don’t you think you should wait a bit?”
“God.” I leaned my head back. “I hate that you’re right. See.” I turned to him. “I’m terrible at this.”
He laid his hand on my thigh. I watched in wide-eyed horror as his hand moved up closer to the space between my legs. “You’re good at this,” he said. He dove in and pressed his lips to mine. I melted. He had complete control. Resistance was an illusion.
It was those eyes, his firm hands, and of course, the way he moved his lips. He opened his mouth just enough to give me a taste, pressed his tongue between my lips, then he pulled it back again, and I needed more.
I felt like I was falling, so I wrapped my arm around his neck for support.
“Is this okay?” He pulled back.
I nodded. He reacted instantly. He pounced on top of me, his eyes met mine, and he dove in to kiss my neck. His teeth grazed the skin, and I gasped. My whole body tensed up.
His deep laugh slammed me in the gut. He lifted his head. “You like that?”