4

ASTRID

“You’re the most beautiful woman in here. Your hair... what color is it?”

I flush at the compliment. “Ginger blonde.”

He raises his hand and pushes his fingers into my hair, massaging my scalp. It’s soothing. I lean into his touch, loving every bit of it.

“I’ve never heard a name like that. I like it. I love your hair.”

“What else do you like?” I ask, nestling my head on the curve of his neck. It’s not a slow song, but then, whatever is brewing between us doesn’t need help manifesting itself. It’s so real and so easy.

“Your smile. When I walked in through the door earlier and caught your frown, I imagined you smiling instead and the image I created is not different from what I eventually saw. Your smile is therapeutic. It’s like a lighthouse in a darkened forest. A balmy expression that is capable of turning everything to glitter.”

“Now you’re exaggerating.” I laugh lightly, but my heart is soaring with glee.

He lowers his face and kisses my head, burying his nose in my hair. When he speaks, his words are muffled but I can hear it loud and clear.

“I’m not. If anything, I’m not saying enough.”

We stay locked for the next thirty minutes, moving to the music and singing along with the crowd. He doesn’t know part of the lyrics, but he hums along, his eyes burning with an intensity that weakens my limbs.

“Tell me your name.” I stare into his eyes, blinking when my gaze drops to his lips. What will he do if I lean in and taste them?

“No.”

I’m taken aback by his response. I frown, gazing at his face intently. “Why?”

He twirls me and winks with a playful grin sprawling across his hips. “Because I want us to meet again. I enjoy your company.”

“Do you miss your wife? Do you – do you still think about her?”

I don't know where that came from. I part my lips, attempting to take the words back and offer an apology but his expression tells me he heard it.

He pulls back slightly but still keeps his arms around my waist. A pulse works at his jaw. “Yes.”

Yes?

Does yes mean he misses her or does he still think about her?

His hands drop to my hips. He gives it a light squeeze then he places his forehead on mine.

“Why did you come here tonight?”

Nice. He’s trying to change the topic. “It wasn’t my idea. Lilly, my best friend suggested it’d be good to soak my regrets in alcohol.”

“How’s it working for you?”

The only thing I’m drunk on is the feel of his hardened muscles against me. Despite the thick material of his black tuxedo, I can still feel how rock-solid he is. Lilly had asked me to imagine him in a tight-fitted T-shirt. I chuckle as I remember how she reacted when she saw him by the door earlier.

A T-shirt will still conceal his goodness. I’m imagining him naked. All laid out for me. The thought sends an erotic charge coursing through me. I need to take a breather and then another drink maybe. Anything to calm this beast of a need threatening to haul me over a strange man’s body.

“I feel better. But for how long?”

A strange mixture of pain and understanding creeps through his eyes. It surprises me how I can read him so well.

“Did you love him?”

My belly knots at the questions. Love. I didn’t just love Tristan, I gave him everything.

“More than I was supposed to. He was my dream man until I realized it was a nightmare. I tolerated him for so long that the day I decided to break things up, I felt like I was... I felt nothing for him, rather, I was relieved.”

We’re back at the bar now. I have no idea how we even got here. The bartender slides a drink across to me. Without asking questions, I pick it up and swallow in one gulp.

“Another one.” I shift my attention to the stranger. “You’re not drinking?”

He smiles. “One of us needs to stay sane.”

Same thing I said to Lilly. And her response had been – Drink up. “It’s more fun if we’re both shit-faced.”

His lips tip in a smile. “Right!”

While the music and people buzz around us, we continue to talk about random things while downing more shots. He makes me laugh so hard that my belly hurts.

“See that guy over there? I think he’s going to win that girl over.” He says, his gaze directed at a corner in the room.

“How can you tell?” I ask, my gaze trailing his.

He laughs. I join in. A few heads turn but we don’t stop. As I slide off the stool, doubling over I laugh even louder.

“Come on, let’s go dance again.” He says, nodding at the bodies.

I enjoy sitting here and just chatting with him. “I’m curious about where that door leads to,” I say, nodding towards the door I tried reading the sign earlier before he strolled in like he owns the place.

He leans. “Why don’t we go find out?”

***

“Water?” He asks several minutes later, offering me a bottle of water.

I take it and empty the bottle into my mouth. My head is spinning again. I really shouldn’t have gone for another round at the bar.

“Are you okay?”

I raise my hand to my head and gently massage my scalp as if it will stop it from circling around and around the space. We’re sitting on a stone bench in what appears to be a garden. Our thighs brush when either of us adjust and the result is a sensation that shoots through me over and again.

I don’t want tonight to end. I’m having so much fun and yet for a second, the thought of his age crossed my mind. If he wants us to meet again, I doubt I’ll be bold enough to say no.

“I’m fine.”

His hand replaces mine. He massages my head, taking his sweet time to undo all the kinks that have knotted up. I place my head on his broad chest. Damn, when did he take off his jacket? I can feel his bare chest since he’s undone a few buttons. And my God, it’s the most delicious thing I’ve ever felt. I allow my lips to graze his exposed skin, swirling my tongue on it.

He stops stroking my head and his hand drops to my shoulders. A part of me expects him to tell me to stop, but he surprises me when he cups my face and licks my bottom lips with his sizzling hot tongue. I let out a moan as he continue to tease me, my body going up in flames as passion spread like wildfire. This feels so good. More than I’d imagine.

“I’ve been longing to do this all night, Sweetness.” He breathes against my parted lips beefier claiming them in a nerve-jolting kiss.

I kiss him back with an unfamiliar fervor. The taste of him , goodness, the heat. Holy Moly! My center throbs with delight. I want his hands on my breasts, my hips and my center. I want him to touch me everywhere.

He moves slowly, taking his sweet time to set my body ablaze. His hands skim along my jawline, and then he slides them to my ears and caresses the soft lobes. “My God, you’re incomparable.” He whispers against my skin and sinks his teeth gently into my neck bone. Instead of a shoot of pain, the sensation heightens and I squeeze my thighs, thrusting forward.

“Patience.” He rasps, his eyes dancing with mischief and passion. One that mirrors what I’m feeling at this moment.

This man, does he know the kind of hold he has on me? Right now if he asks me to jump, I’ll say how high? I don’t know if it’s the alcohol or the fact that I’ve imagined what it’d be like to let a man like him – hot, charming as hell, and quite the gentleman – what would it be like to do more than just kiss him?

As if to answer my question, he palms my aching breasts through the lacey material of my blouse, rolling my nipples with his forefinger. I raise my gaze to meet him and I nearly combust from the intensity in his blue eyes.

Arching my back, I invite him to pull the top up and feast on the –

“Not here.” He says, pulling back.

I want to yell at him for daring to stop. What the hell?!

“What – where – why did you stop?” My voice cracks.

He adjusts my blouse and pulls me up, right into his arms.

“This is an open space and anyone can walk in on us. I don’t want that. I don’t want anyone else to see you bare and moaning in ecstasy. I want to bask in it alone.”

Holy shit! This man must be a god because I’m tripping a million times over for him. I doubt it's the alcohol.