I see him, just his head above the crowd, I know his intentions and I'm not down for that.
Not yet.
I do the only thing a girl in front of an open bar can do, I run, the ladies room my destination because he won't follow me in there.
I don't look back, eye contact means it's all over and it's time to go home.
Even though I wore my best Christmas-red dress with an abundance of cleavage and a hem that barley skims my ass, I already get the feeling it's going to be one of those nights, my boyfriend won't be putting out.
And it's fine, really.
But if I'm going home alone tonight then I may as well be black out drunk when I do. I'm making the most of his office Christmas party even if he isn't.
Malicious thoughts are instantly wiped from the forefront of my mind as suddenly my foot collides with another, legs tangle, and before I know what's happening.... I'm falling.
Arms cage my body and on instinct he twists, he takes the brunt of our fall.
I land hard, directly over his hard body.
"Hi there" he murmurs softly, I can hear him clearly even in this loud room because my face is stuck in his neck.
"Hmm.... good catch. Better aftershave" I giggle and slowly look up.
"I'll tell my mother you like it, it was an early Christmas gift" he smiles like the devil, raised from hell to walk the earth and tempt me.
"While you're thanking her, give her my gratitude.... damn" I bite my lip and he laughs at me.
It's amazing.
That mouth, surrounded by dark skin and sparkling dark eyes.
The warmth of his hands trail up my sides as his fingers move boldly over my hips and ribs.
"Are you alright? You're not hurt are you?" He asks deep and gravelly, his voice belongs locked up in a bedroom.
"My pride aside, I'm completely fine. You are my superhero" I blush because in my head I'm seeing many, many ways to repay him.
"Anytime you need me" he beams a panty melting smile.
"Don't promise something you can't deliver" I warn.
"I can start with whatever you're running from?" He raises a brow, neither of us seem to be in a hurry to get back on our feet.
I'm not sure what his reason might be, but the fact he's how harder than when we landed has me glued to his body.
"My boyfriend....." I cringe, oh yeah, I have one of those.
"I believe you'll find it's pronounced, Ex" he seems unfazed.
"Hmm" my lips turn into a smile all on their own. "It's new, who knows how long it will last?"
"Not long if you're already running away from him, do you need real assistance?" He checks but I shake my head.
"The only danger I'm in is losing my open bar, he's not all that social"
"So he may be the reason you fell, what's keeping you down here with the likes of me?" He takes one hand from my back and his thumb strokes my cheek, unabashedly I lean into his touch, his warmth.
"Something stronger than my sensibilities" I almost whisper.
"Kismet?" He whispers close to my lips.
Holy shit, like really holy shit.
My whole body trembles, I've never experienced desire this intense or hot before.
"More like too many Long Island iced teas" I exhale and pull away from him before we make babies right here on the floor, surrounded by partygoers and empty peppermint candy wrappers.
The gentleman he clearly is, he immediately helps me to a stand. Those arms still hold me steady.
"I guess this is where we part then?" He pouts and it takes all my strength not to suck that bottom lip into my mouth.
"Thank you for throwing your body on the line, I'm most appreciative" I smile and take one long last look at said body.
Black button up, top button left open to glimpse a gold chain and cross sitting proud on a bed of sparse black chest hair. Black trousers with a gold belt buckle and long legs. Expensive brown leather boots and an extremely impressive erection he's in no way trying to hide.
His disire seems to match my own.
"No, thank you for throwing your body on mine. I'm here anytime" he tilts his head with a smile. "I'm Rome, Roman. Dr. Knight.... with a K" he introduces himself.
"Luce, Lucy...... Dr Swancott..... with a double T" I smile back.
A moment of wordless wonder steals my breath, seriously, what kind of devil is this man?
And this is a moment, our eyes are glued to the other. My pulse is hummingbird fast.
Like in the movies, the rest of the room has disappeared.
"A token of my favour, Rome" I offer and place my Santa hat on his head, it looks way better up there anyway.
"Then you should have a token of mine" he licks his lips and I stop breathing.
Yes, kiss me please......
No!
Please don't kiss me.
Boy-friend, Lucy!!!
Rome takes the delicate gold cross from his collar and places the chain around my neck.
Swoon, seriously.
"One day, I'm coming back for this" he tells me.
"I can't accept anything of value to you, please, you keep your necklace" I try and refuse him.
"I wasn't talking about the cross" he winks and steps back, swiftly swallowed up by the crowd and I'm standing alone, bewildered with one hand over the still warm jewellery and my poor shocked heart.
The smell of him fades.
"By christ, there you are. Lucy, we're leaving" Myles startles me with a hand on my shoulder.
"Oh..... yeah, okay" I nod but can't manage eye contact. I look at my feet. "Are you staying the night?"
"Not tonight Lucy. All this noise has brought on my anxiety"
"Too bad, too many Long Island iced teas..... I would've rocked your world tonight, Myles" I sigh feeling my thighs tingle at the thought of long dark curls and black as night eyes.
"Where did you get that necklace? You weren't wearing it earlier" Myles uses his eagle eye to notice.
"I tripped on my way to the bathroom, I found it on the floor" I mumble with a hand over the coss, trying to hide my betrayal.
"Ew, you should hand that in. You don't even know where it's been" Myles make a discusted face at me.
"I know I'm absolutely in love with it, its mine now" I refuse stubbornly.
