Sultry Groove (Reckless Beat #4) (7 page)

His place wasn’t an option. Her body was already giving the term
eager beaver
a whole new definition. She had no immunity to Sean’s charm. The intensity in his eyes made her want to forget about the new Melody and see how long she could hold the charade of being perfect, which was dangerous.

“No.” She cleared the frog in her throat. “I’ll be fine.”

Sean started to grin, the highly confident curve of lips that made her senseless. She frowned in annoyance and broke eye contact, not wishing him any more power over her hormones. He was too damn tempting. That huge, muscular frame of his making her wonder what it would be like to have all that hard flesh on top of her. Then reality rushed to the forefront, giving her a full dose of it’s-never-gonna-happen.

It was fine and dandy to daydream about sweaty, nasty sex, but once she was stripped bare the only thing getting fucked over would be her ego. Like her ex, Sean would see her scars, and flee. To distract herself, she focused on the wall sconces, the delicate trim of the curtains, and the loops in the thin carpet pile. She could feel his focus on her, the heat of his gaze blazing a trail along her neck, over her chest, and lower. Much, much lower.

“Mr. Taiden, your table is available if you’d like to follow me.”

Melody released a breath, eager to place space between them and gain a valid reason for ditching the hand holding. His palm was too intimidating around her tiny fingers. Every inch of him was large. Strong.
Christ
, imagining what lay beneath those grey shorts was making her sweat. As they followed the maître d’, she cleared her throat of the discomfort and the sound came out more of a mewl.

“What’s up with the blush, Red?” Sean whispered close to her ear.

Her heart palpitated. They were only words, yet her insides thrummed from the playfulness in his tone. The few couples in the room glanced their way as she tried to slink into Sean’s shadow.

Damn it, woman, gain some self-control. You were strong, self-assured, confident, and capable. Find that woman again and ditch this hopeless case.

She was the seductress. The one who made men melt into a puddle of longing. Not the other way around. Not only had her scars ruined her career and her lifestyle, they’d ruined her upper hand, too.

“Like I said,” she muttered, “I don’t feel comfortable in a fancy restaurant in my ghetto clothes.”

He snorted, loudly, and she winced at the additional attention they drew from staff.

“I doubt you own anything ghetto. But if you’d like help getting out of those clothes and into something more appropriate for our time together, just let me know.”

He released her hand, and she fought against every hyper-sensitive nerve in her body not to dive into the chair the maître d’ pulled out for her. Instead, she raised her chin, pretending to be in control while her skin turned to flames.

The two men stood side by side, chatting quietly about food, or life, or her, she had no clue. Her attention was entirely set on pulling herself together. Not even the unobstructed view of the James River could steal her focus. She’d never been this lust drunk before. And that was saying a lot.

From the corner of her eye, she watched Sean sink into the chair opposite her and hold up a hand to stay the maître d’ from placing the napkin over his lap. Taking her to a fancy-shmancy place, then brushing off all attempts to fit into the surroundings, was comical. Adorable, too.
Damn it.
Yet again, she was helpless against his charm.

“Mr. Taiden.” The maître d’ spoke in a soft murmur. “I know it’s unconventional, but you’re already familiar with the affection our bar staff has for you. Would you mind signing something for them before you leave tonight?”

Melody rubbed her forehead, hiding the slight twinge of envy pulling her brows together. She’d loved the attention dance fanatics once gave her. There weren’t many autograph requests; however, the hype and admiration had always been there. Only now it was a distant memory. She practically had to beg to get people to join her dance studio.

“Sure.” He pushed back in his seat and stood. “You don’t mind if I quickly speak to them now, do you Red?”

“Not at all.” She shook her head and gave him what she hoped was a convincing smile. As he strode away, she dragged her attention from the stretched material across his shoulders and fiddled with the cutlery in front of her. The decision to have dinner with him was turning into a bigger mistake than anticipated. No doubt coffee would’ve had the same outcome.

To add to the lascivious thoughts coursing through her mind, she now had a firm reminder of what she’d lost and what she would never have. There would be no more screams of praise from the crowd, no more first place competitions, or men fighting to be the one partnered with her at the front of a stage. All the attention was gone, and after eleven months dealing with the tragedy, it still hurt to think about.

Stop. Breathe. Find yourself.

She needed to focus on moving forward. To concentrate on the business relationship she needed to forge with Sean and remember that this was a steppingstone to a different kind of dream. One less shiny and fulfilling, but a dream all the same.

“Sorry about that.” He slid into his seat, practically buzzing, when all she wanted to do was crawl under a rock.

“Not a problem.” She met his gaze and immediately regretted it.
Holy smokes
, he was handsome.

“Can I get you a drink? Wine? Spirits?”

“Water, please.”

He frowned. “You aren’t concerned about me taking advantage, are you?”

She suppressed a snort at how far from the truth he was. If only he knew what type of girl she’d once been. She’d never believed in a wrong time or place when it came to pleasure. It didn’t matter if it was a disabled bathroom or a dimly lit alley. She loved sex. And it was turning out to be a hard habit to break.

“I’ve spent all day working up a sweat. I need to rehydrate.”

Humor glistened in his eyes, yet his lips remained in a flat line. “Two waters it is then.”

He took the liberty of ordering their drinks and then waited until they were alone before placing his elbows on the table and leaning forward to fix his potent gaze upon her. “Tell me about yourself, Red. What makes you tick?”

You
.
Those hypnotizing blue eyes. The deep, masculine voice. The remembered texture of your palm against mine. Sigh-worthy.

“There isn’t much to tell. Since I was a child, my life has been about dancing and music. Nothing else has really mattered. How about you? Did you always want to be a drummer?” God, she loved the way he focused on her with intent. Her skin shivered with his attention, her heart beat in a rapid mix of lust and yearning.

“I started a band with Mason in high school. It was a good outlet for all those teenage hormones.” He shrugged. “I can’t remember what life was like before music, and I don’t really want to.”

“So, the limelight is everything you dreamed it would be?” It was for her. She couldn’t deny she was once an attention junkie. Working hard for praise and adoration was what she used to live for.

He sucked in a slow breath and leaned back in his chair. “I wouldn’t say that. There’re a lot of things I wish I could change. The fame, for instance.”

“You don’t like it?”

“No.” He frowned. “I don’t get enough of it.”

There was no humor in his features, no warmth in his tone. She paused, appreciating the glimpse to a side of him that wasn’t entirely made of innuendo.

“Reckless wouldn’t exist without me. Mason didn’t give a shit about music until I pushed him. And after all these years, I’m still an exchangeable part of the group. I could walk out tomorrow, and our legion of followers wouldn’t even notice. I hate that. It’s made me want to quit a time or two.”

Uh huh. The situation now made more sense. “So that’s the reason behind the music clip?”

He released a half-hearted breath of laughter. “Yeah, a strategic ploy from Mason to try to keep me happy. The label don’t give a shit, the fans don’t give a shit. Hell, most of them don’t even know who I am.”

She raised a brow and waved a lazy hand in the direction of the bar. “They obviously do.”

“Nah. They’re just nice. I spend a lot of money here. I practically pay their bills, so they tend to put on a show of affection if I make it in for a sit-down meal.”

Melody bit her tongue, reminding herself not to fall prey to his dangerously endearing vulnerable side. His gaze held a myriad of emotions, from desire, to playfulness and now disheartenment. He was real. He was also unlike any of the self-assured dancing partners she’d spent most of her life around.

“Is that pity I see in those gorgeous eyes, Red?”

Dread washed over her as she blinked away her thoughts and straightened. “No. Of course not.” She hated pity. Couldn’t stand it.

“That’s a shame.” A devilish grin lifted his lips. “I was beginning to think I had a direct route to your heart.”

“Wow. A true shame,” she countered, her eyes wide in mock surprise as she tried to suppress her laughter. “Here I was, thinking you were trying to get into my pants, not my heart.”

She shouldn’t have encouraged him. She couldn’t help it. His interest swept away her defeated mood. She was falling deeper, becoming entranced. She couldn’t even regret playing along with the confident charade anymore because it felt so damn good.

His chuckle echoed over the low chatter in the room. “Trust me, when it comes to you, little Red, I’d be happy with either.”

Holy crap
. She was in trouble. Not only was he calling her
Red
, but
little
too…and she was loving it. Devouring it. Savoring the words she’d hated all her life just because they drifted from the lips of a sex god.

“You better watch yourself,” he drawled. “Once I figure out what’s going on in that head of yours, I’ll know exactly how to work my magic on you.”

Too late. His spell had already taken hold, and she didn’t appreciate the ease with which he’d cast it on her.

“See.” He pointed directly at her. “That scowl drives me wild. You’re so cute, and tiny, and fragile, yet that show of angst proves you’ve got fire in your belly.” He leaned forward again, glancing around conspiratorially before meeting her gaze. “I’d bet a heavy sum that you’re an angel on stage and a devil in the sack.”

She snapped her gaping mouth shut. Oh, he was good. He knew it, too. He must be a major player with a list of slain women a mile long to give him the confidence to blurt out sordid lines like that to strangers.

“Are you always this nauseatingly flirty?” She crossed her arms over her chest, knowing the material of her camisole and the thin lace of her bra were worthless to hide the hardening of her nipples.

“Are you always this reluctant to have a good time?”

No. Never. The scars were the only thing stopping her from jumping him and cutting off his cocky words by slamming her mouth against his. “I’m not convinced you’d know what it takes to give me a good time, rock star.”

Not good. She was in too deep and floundering. And here he was raising a cocky brow, giving her a silent
challenge accepted.

Sean couldn’t stop
tormenting Red during their meal. She was too adorable. Too responsive to his flirtation. Every time he let innuendo lace his words, her eyes flashed, or her cheeks turned a warm shade of pink, ramping his need to take things further. She was like a fucking drug, and working her out was a puzzle he wouldn’t stop trying to solve until every last piece was in place.

She seemed confident in herself most of the time. A self-assurance that didn’t turn him off in the slightest. Then in the blink of an eye, her demeanor would change. He couldn’t work out the trigger to her discomfort or nervousness.

“Are you ready to leave?” He hadn’t had his fill of her. He doubted he would tonight. But he had to get out of here. Away from the people who stole her attention, even if only for the briefest of moments.

All he could think about was grasping her delicate fingers between his and dragging her close to his side to be able to smell her sweet perfume. There were more X-rated thoughts, too. He just needed to steer clear of those, otherwise his dick would be leading the way from Stanterio’s.

“Yeah. I think I’ve eaten enough for us both.” She reached for the napkin on her lap and placed it on the table.

She was an eater. Another aspect he appreciated. Tiny in stature, with a large appetite. It made him wonder if she had the same hunger in the bedroom. In fact, he could almost sense she did, only for some reason she held herself back. Due to professionalism, or something else, he wasn’t sure. All he knew was he planned on making her crack in the most sordid way.

“We could go for a stroll along the boardwalk.” He wasn’t going to let her go easily. She was the best god-damn distraction a heartbroken guy could dream of. He hadn’t thought about Sidney at all during their time together. It wasn’t until now, when he had to picture himself home alone for the rest of the night, that the need to be around someone to keep his mind under control became cloying.

“I’d love to, but it’s getting late.”

“Late? That’s a brushoff if ever I heard one.” It was barely nine o’clock.

She pushed from her seat. “I’m not brushing you off. I just have a busy week ahead.” She was retreating again, and doing her best not to meet his gaze.

He came to his feet beside her, getting all up in her comfort zone. “Are you scared of being alone with me, Red?”

“Scared?” She scoffed, the brilliance of her grin returning for a brief moment. “Of what?”

Don’t be a douche, Sean.
“Your attraction to me.”
Fuck.

She laughed this time, shaking her head as she sauntered away from him, heading toward the entrance of the restaurant. “You’re like a dog with a bone.”

“Not so much the dog part.” He jogged a few steps to catch up to her. “But the bone…”

She groaned and swung around on him. “You don’t quit, do you?”

Her smile was wide, her eyes sparkling. How the hell could he quit when she was looking at him like that?

“You can’t blame me for wanting to spend more time with you. I’m not after anything hot ‘n’ heavy. Just a coffee at my place or a walk along the river.”

“I may not know you very well, Mr. Taiden, but my bullshit-meter is going haywire.” She turned again, forging through the entrance of Stanterio’s and out the front door before he had a chance to catch up.

“So, where are we going then?”

“Home.” She didn’t slow down, didn’t turn to face him, just kept striding forward toward the parking lot, on a mission, probably to reach the sanctuary of his truck.

“Again, I have to ask, your place or mine?”

She released a soft cackle of laughter, one that warmed his chest in a way he hadn’t felt since Sidney.
Damn it.
He winced at the reminder. She was always so close. Even though the thought of her was drifting away, it was still hovering. Killing him with every recollection.

“I’m going to ignore you, m’kay?”

He smiled at her sass, loving how she could revive the happiness in him so easily. He was already hanging on her every word, wondering what she’d throw at him next—something gruff, something flirty, or one of those shy, almost inaudible comments that made him stop and think. He probably should’ve run from a woman so hard to read, yet all he seemed to be doing was jogging after her.

“Hold up, Red.” He lunged forward and grabbed her hand. God, he enjoyed the feel of her fingers against his. Soft, delicate, gentle. All he wanted to do was stare into those dark irises and wash away the thought of his best friend’s girl.

Slowly, her body pivoted into his, her long, light lashes framing the most beautiful eyes he’d ever seen. She sighed, glancing everywhere except his face as her tongue snaked out to moisten her bottom lip.

“I promised you a coffee,” he murmured, fighting the need to drag her into his chest. “Let’s go to my place, no strings, no flirtation, just friends having a cup of joe.”

She shook her head. “You underestimate how grumpy I can be without a full night's sleep. By the time we drive to wherever you live, and have a
cup of joe
…” she drawled sarcastically, “…and ruin whatever fun thing we’ve got going on, it’ll be midnight. Then you still have to drive me home.”

“I understand your argument. However…” He tugged her close, bringing them toe to toe. Her eyes flashed to his, the briefest glimpse of complete vulnerability crossing her features before she masked it with the thin press of her lips and the rise of her chin. “Look over my shoulder, Red.”

She frowned at him, her gaze scrutinizing for a moment before doing as requested.

“To the far side of the parking lot,” he murmured. Her heat seeped under his clothing, beneath his skin. He wanted to close his eyes and savor the sensation, only encouraging his dick was a bad idea when she was rubbed up against it. “Do you see that apartment building?”

Her focus followed the trail, leading right where he wanted her attention. She nodded, swallowed, and began nibbling her bottom lip in hard bites he was sure would soon draw blood.

“Look all the way to the top.” There weren’t a lot of floors, but still her chin raised higher. “See the penthouse?”

Another nod.

He leaned closer, almost brushing his lips against the lobe of her ear. “That bad boy is mine.”

“Of course it is,” she whispered, her words barely audible.

“So now your argument about driving anywhere is invalid. It’ll take five minutes max to be inside my place, enjoying
coffee.
” He still meant coffee. He was sure he did. His only aim was to have more time with her. Alone. Going to his place would achieve that. No sex necessary. It didn’t matter that all the blood in his head had traveled south, or that his cock was beginning to tent his shorts.

She kept her focus glued on his apartment, her hand now sweating in his grip. She shook her head, shooting him down in flames, heart first. OK, maybe an organ much lower.

“I’ve got baggage, Sean.”

He fought not to let his head hang at her proclamation. So it was her,
not
him. The realization shouldn’t have given him relief. Only now he wanted to hug her, to kiss away whatever baggage was stopping her from enjoying herself.

He pulled back, gripping her chin between his finger and thumb to focus into her deep irises. “I’m sorry.” He was. He was so fucking sorry, but it was her fault, too. She had a hold of him and wouldn’t let go. “It wasn’t my intention to sexualize everything between us.”

He couldn’t pinpoint what it was—maybe her flawless smile, the contrasting tininess of her perfect body against his large frame, or the strength he could glimpse in her eyes yet not fully grasp. Whatever it was, she had him enthralled. “I’ve enjoyed our time together and don’t want to let you go yet. I promise I’ll be on my best behavior and have you home by midnight.”

Her chuckle was breathy. “That bullshit-meter of mine just hit the extreme scale.”

He stared at her, letting the guilt of his selfishness hit him hard in the chest. She was tired. Clearly, she was vulnerable, and being around him was exacerbating her issues. And all he could think about was himself. He dropped his hold on her chin and stepped back, smiling even though his mouth held the bitter aftertaste of disappointment.

“Forget it, Red. Let’s get you home.” He tugged her hand, leading her toward his truck.

“Wait.”

His heart stopped, his footsteps, too, as she planted her feet.

“Is this still about you needing a distraction?”

Fuck.
He winced. Tonight hadn’t only been about keeping his mind off Sidney. Yes, it had started that way. He stuck around because he enjoyed Red’s company. She made him smile. She made him forget. And best of all, she made him picture someone else between the sheets of his king-sized bed besides his best friend’s girl.

“I never should’ve said that,” he muttered. “You’re not a distraction.”

She cocked her free hand on her hip and grinned at him with a raised brow. “Bullshit-meter.”

How did she do that? Make him smile when he wanted to bang his head against the side of his truck.

“If you’re going through a hard time, I don’t mind being a distraction, Sean. It’s fine. Truly. As long as you’re not playing me.”

“No. It’s not like that.”
God, no.
He respected her one hundred percent. “I just like the way you make me stop thinking about the things I don’t want to remember. Forget it, OK? I’ll take you home.”

He stepped forward and she tugged his hand back, ramping up the wild beat of his heart.

“
Coffee
.”

One word. Two syllables. That’s all it took to make his cock throb. “Coffee. That’s all.”

Her lips tilted at the sides, only slightly, but the way her eyes lit up made her entire demeanor change. “No flirting. No innuendo. No makin’ the moves, big guy.”

He bit the inside of his cheek to hold in a smirk. “I promise…unless you start it first. Then all bets are off.”