“I’m pretty sure we can make some money to pay for our drinks if you two agree to make out.”
She laughs again, clearly enjoying herself. “Maybe.”
I walk a path up her spine and she presses closer, meeting my eyes. Heat sparks between us and I try not to get distracted by her mouth. Try not to be tempted to take it, because I know she’ll yield under me. She’s relaxed and happy, and pliant. If I take her, she’ll let me, but then I’d break my promise and I won’t do that. I laid out the rules, now I have to abide by them.
I have something to prove to her, and that matters more to me than sex.
“Can I tell you a secret?” My fingers brush over the blade of her shoulder.
“Yes.” Her voice is breathless and filled with longing.
“We’re not supposed to know this because they are keeping it some sort of secret, but Shelly and Ted are sleeping together, and you’re giving the poor guy a heart attack.”
“I know.” She looks around me, back to the table, before pressing closer. “Shelly told me.”
Surprise lights through me. “She did?”
“Yes. She told me not to tell. But since you know, I don’t see the harm.” Ashley winks at me. “Just don’t blame me, I don’t want on her bad side.”
Another surprise. “Shelly doesn’t talk to anyone.”
Ashley shrugs. “We hit it off. I like her, she’s fun and different from my usual girlfriends.”
“I’m glad.” Because I am. It’s premature, but I want her to belong in my group. Want her to feel like she’s one of us.
She giggles. “Your friend Ted has a little fantasy about watching her with another girl. So she’s decided it would be fun to torture him. I agreed to help.” She gives me a flirty look. “Can I consider it mission accomplished?”
“I’d say so.” My hands slide down her back and settle on her hips. I’m sure she can feel my erection pressing into her stomach.
Our eyes lock.
Ashley’s blue eyes darken and her breath catches. In a low husky voice, she says, “It’s a game they play.”
“What is?” In my lust for her, I’ve lost track of the conversation.
“Pushing each other in public, knowing they can’t do anything, or reveal how they’re driving the other one crazy, because they’re a secret. They get off on it.” Ashley’s hardened nipples brush against my chest and I bite back a curse.
I promised I wouldn’t touch her, but I said nothing about talking. My palms hover at her hips. “That sounds like a game you’re interested in.”
She blinks up at me. “I wouldn’t know. I’ve never played it.”
“No?”
She shakes her head. “No. I don’t think I’ve ever taken that kind of time with a man, or had him take that kind of time with me.”
I lower my lips so they are close, but not touching her ear. “That’s a shame. You should change that as soon as possible. I’m sure you’d like it.”
Her fingers tighten on my shirt and when she speaks, her tone is breathless. “Why do you think that?”
“Because you’re nipples are hard. And if you asked me to touch you, I would find you wet.”
Next to my mouth her throat works as she swallows. She glides against me, her hips sway to the beat of the song, something island and tribal, highlighting all my base emotions for this woman who’s invaded all my thoughts. “Is that how you talk to your friends?”
“I speak the truth to my friends, Ashley. And I’m speaking the truth now.” I lift my head and stare into her eyes, filled with heat and lust. “Are you glad you came?”
“Yes.”
I pull her closer. “My friends love you.”
“I like them too.” She sinks into me.
The words remain unspoken, but I know we’re both thinking them. We’re playing Ted and Shelly’s game right now.
She thinks I’m going to cave.
She’s wrong. She’ll surrender, and when she does, I’ll make sure it’s a victory for both of us.
Eight
Ashley
I wake, feeling delicious and languid. My legs are sore from all the dancing I’d done, my head pleasantly fuzzy from the drinks I’d consumed. My stomach’s a touch too full and rounded from the food I ate.
I’d danced like a crazy person, with abandoned freedom, and it had been fabulous. Christopher seemed to be able to do no wrong, because he danced like he did everything else, with good-natured confidence. After we’d closed the bar down we’d gone out to eat at a little dive restaurant and stuffed our faces with panades and fish tacos.
I didn’t think about calories once. Didn’t worry about Christopher seeing me eat something other than salad. Because I know he didn’t care. I could see by the pleased gleam in his eyes that watching me laugh and have fun, and moan in pleasure was more important to him than how I looked.
And that was a first. I liked it. Liked him.