Wes rubbed a hand over his mouth and leaned into his elbows resting on the table. “So if I’m not her type, who is?”
“Mmm, I don’t know. She’s always hooking up with guys who are trashier, harder, colder. She’s never interested in winners like you. ”
“You just met me. Why would you think I’m any different?”
A slow grin lit Andrea’s face and turned her into a real person. And she was beautiful. But not at all what Wes wanted. “Handsome, it’s written all over you from the top of that great haircut to the hem of those upscale dress slacks. I’d love to see your dirtier side if you’ve got one. ”
Wes slid his gaze back to Rubi. She’d finally extracted herself from the biker, her gaze now roaming the crowd.
“She’s free,” Andrea said, following his gaze. “Maybe her tastes have changed. Wanna give it a shot?”
A fist of discomfort had lodged beneath his sternum, and he couldn’t answer.
“Look,” Andrea said, “if the only way I’m going to get you tonight is to share, so be it. ”
Ooooh. Kaaaay.
“Thanks,” he said, shifting on the stool to ease the unbearable ache in his cock, “but I’m gonna pass. I’ve got an early morning. ”
The blonde shrugged and wandered away in search of another fuck buddy. “Let’s Get Loud” faded into “Pump It” by the Black Eyed Peas as Rubi set a leisurely pace toward the corner bar. She paused to chat with Rachel, who was on the dance floor with some wiry kid. Rachel had surprised the shit out of Wes when she’d showed interest in coming here, but Lexi was right, the main area of the club was just a regular club—drinking, dancing, socializing—though the socializing here was far friendlier and bolder than the socializing he’d seen at any other club.
But now that Rubi had gone through the night without going home with anyone, Wes was thrown right back into the dilemma he’d come with—wanting a woman who, despite wanting him as well, wouldn’t cross that friendship boundary.
Now what?
Wes stood. Time to make his move on plan B—a plan he hadn’t expected to get a shot at tonight.
She slid into an empty space at the bar and cro
ssed her arms, smiling at the bartender—the same dude from the Crossroads earlier in the day. They chatted as he made and served drinks. A man beside Rubi said something that made her cast a glance his way and shake her head.
Wes drew close and hovered, waiting for Roméo to serve the man beside Rubi, hoping he’d grab and go. Within thirty seconds, the space opened. Wes planted his hand on the bar, then stepped in when the other man cleared the area, standing at an angle to Rubi, partially behind her, partially beside her.
Her scent immediately filled his head. He bent and drew a deep breath of the perfume—something a little different from what she usually wore. A floral base with something rich and seductive and wholly feminine layered on top. A scent that clearly screamed—smoking hot seduction right here.
“If that is anyone but Wes Lawson breathing my air,” she said without turning to look at him, “there’s going to be trouble. ”
He took a half step closer, letting the front of his body brush the back of hers, and dipped his head to kiss her temple. “Normally, I like a fair amount of trouble, but I just came from my share, so…”
“This is the last place I ever thought you’d show up. ” She turned her head but kept her gaze lowered toward the bar, a quirk to her lips. “You’re a little far from your comfort zone, Mr. Lawson. Have you ventured into the back yet?”
“You don’t really know what my comfort zone is, Ms. Russo. ” And he was beginning to realize he didn’t either. Rubi had slowly opened a new world of exciting possibilities for him. “Want to show me the way to the back?”
Her lips tilted into a full smile, and the way she kept her gaze down, her long lashes hiding the beautiful green sparkle, was incredibly alluring. “Might want to rethink that. There are bad things back there. Scary things,” she said with a teasing dark tone. “Whips, chains, restraints…naked women. ”
He leaned close. “I happen to be quite talented with all said equipment. My experience may lie in their appropriate uses, but I’m a pretty creative guy. ”
“That you are. ” She finally lifted her stunning eyes to his face. “But, if you’re interested in learning their illicit uses, you’ll have to find another woman to haul your fine ass into the back. That’s not my scene. ”
“No?” he ran his fingertips along her waist. “Not even a little bondage so a man could explore your body unhindered?”
“Oh,” she laughed the word, “you bad boy. ”
He’d like to be really, really bad, in a really, really good way—something no woman he’d ever been with had been interested in or comfortable with. He leaned his forehead against her temple. “I hear a ‘yes’ in your voice. ”
“You’re hearing what you want to hear,” she said, shooting him a serious sidelong look. “You’ll need to find another woman to be bad with tonight. ”
Movement caught his eye, and he lifted his head. The bartender extended his hand. “Roméo. We met—”