Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 85274 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85274 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“I’ve only been here a handful of times,” I tell him, trying to be as honest as possible.
The bartender sets my drink in front of me, and I take a sip, relishing in the way the alcohol slides down my throat and warms my insides.
“Are you here with anyone?” Lincoln asks, his eyes trained on my face—well, my mask.
“Nope,” I reply. “I’m new to all this. It makes me...nervous,” I say, my words true. “But with the anonymity tonight’s event brings, I’m hoping to meet someone.”
“What do you think about Elite so far?”
“I think—” I lock eyes with him, trying to up my seduction game since my time is limited “—it has potential.”
A small smile quirks in the corner of his lips, and I wonder how this man has managed to avoid being tied down. Somehow, he’s managed to only get better looking with time.
“We’ll have to see about turning that potential into life changing.”
That’s what I’m hoping for, I think but don’t say. “And how would we do that?” I ask, taking a sip of my drink as I turn toward him, so my bare knee rubs against the side of his leg.
He does the same, and because we’re so close, when his knee slides past mine, he’s able to capture my leg in between his own. My insides warm at the way we’re connected, and when he reaches over and snags a lock of my hair, twirling it around his finger, that warmth morphs into a fire.
“First, you can start by telling me your name,” he says.
I thought about this ahead of time, knowing this question would be a possibility. “Liz,” I tell him, using a piece of my name.
“Liz,” he repeats. “I’m Lincoln. It’s very nice to meet you.”
I smile softly, wishing that I were here under different circumstances. Wishing I was older and had a chance with Lincoln. When I was younger, I would fantasize about what it would be like to have his attention like this. And now that I have it, instead of enjoying it, I’m freaking out, praying that I can simply get through what I came here to do. Knowing that if tonight somehow happens, it’ll be the only time I’ll ever be with Lincoln like this.
Lincoln glances over my shoulder, and my heart drops, assuming he’s found someone he’d rather speak to, until he stands and extends his hand. “Dance with me?”
Butterflies swarm my belly as I take another large sip of my drink before I stand and put my hand in his. “I’d love to.”
He guides us over to a corner of the club and, as if everyone knows exactly who he is, they part, giving us plenty of room. The music playing is a sexy remix with a good beat. Lincoln reaches out for me, his fingers landing on the curves of my hips, and pulls me close, so our bodies are almost touching.
I wrap my arms around his neck, and we sway to the music, our eyes locked on each other. The song playing transitions into another, and then another. I couldn’t tell you how many songs we dance to, or which songs are even playing. Time seems to stand still, everyone else disappearing, leaving only Lincoln and me and our bodies moving and grinding in perfect rhythm with one another.
Lincoln pulls me close, so our bodies are flush, and runs his nose along the curve of my neck, only the tip grazing my flesh. “Vanilla,” he murmurs, getting my signature scent correct. “You smell delicious.”
We dance like this for several songs, neither of us speaking, instead, allowing our bodies to do the talking. But then a gentleman taps Lincoln on his shoulder and whispers something into his ear, and I’m reminded of where we are.
Lincoln nods once and the gentleman walks away, and then his eyes are on me. He opens his mouth, and I hold my breath, hoping whatever he was told won’t affect the chemistry that’s sizzling between us, but then his eyes glitter with regret, and I know he’s about to walk away.
He gently shakes his head, and I want to beg him to tell me what he was about to say. But before I can get a word out, he bridges the tiny gap between us that he created when he was tapped on the shoulder and leans in, his masculine scent wrapping around me like a warm blanket on a cold night.
I stay still, waiting to see what he’s about to do, knowing deep down, this is the end. He’s about to tell me goodbye and walk away. I can feel it.
His warm lips press against the sensitive spot just below my ear, and my entire body reacts in the best way possible. With other guys, being touched filled me with dread, but right now, his touch is causing my belly to tighten and the area between my legs to clench. My nipples are hardening, and my heart is beating rapidly behind my ribcage.