Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 131330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 657(@200wpm)___ 525(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 657(@200wpm)___ 525(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
After flashing my gold moth stamp, I head down the stairs, and just like last time, I notice the shift in the music. There’s something so electrifying about it that I feel it deep in my soul. Then just as Casey requested, I make my way over to the bar and take a seat, only I skip over the frozen Daiquiri and order a Cosmopolitan.
With a drink in my hand, I swivel on the barstool and gaze out at the VIP lounge. It’s busy, just as I expected, and I can’t help but glance toward the dark room I was in last week. There’s no sign of my mystery stranger, but the buzz that pulses through my veins tells me that he’s definitely here somewhere. I can feel it.
I barely get to sip my Cosmo before a familiar face moves in beside me. “You were here last week,” the man says, his suit fitting him just right. I can’t help but drag my gaze over him. If I were into older men who looked as though they could turn a board meeting into their bitch, then he’d be the man I’d sneak off with tonight, but just like last week, he’s not going to scratch that particular itch.
“Hi, yes. I was,” I say just to be polite.
“All alone?” he questions as something flashes in his eyes.
Alarm bells sound in my head as metaphorical red flags sprout up all around him. Why does he need to know if I’m alone? Quite frankly, that’s none of his business, and honestly, it sounds like the kind of question that would come from a serial killer textbook. “No actually. Just waiting on a friend.”
“Ahh, I see,” he says before offering his hand. “The name’s Ryatt.”
I give him a tight smile, not daring to take his hand. Last week I put in more effort to appear approachable, and he easily picked up that I wasn’t interested, but tonight, I’m barely even polite, some would even accuse me of being rude or cold, yet he’s still sitting here as though he might have a chance.
“Aspen,” I say, glancing past his shoulder to the opening of the dark room, seeing no sign of my perfect stranger, not that I would have even a clue what to look for. I have no idea what he looks like or even the color of his hair. Just that he’s tall and stacked with muscle. Though if there were a lineup of dicks put out before me, I’m sure I could figure out which was his. There’s no mistaking that girth and length, not to mention the piercing that drove me crazy.
Ryatt tilts his head just a fraction, putting himself right in my line of view, a cocky smile pulling at his lips. “Aspen,” he says as if trying my name out on his lips. “Beautiful name.”
“Thank you.”
I fill the weird silence by taking a sip of my cocktail, and when he reaches for my elbow, the bartender clears his throat from behind me. I whip back to catch his friendly smile. “I’m sorry to disrupt,” he says. “However, your presence has been requested in the dark room.”
A thrill shoots through me, and a heavy throb pulses deep in my core. “Wonderful,” I say, getting to my feet. I give the bartender a slight nod of thanks before turning to Ryatt. “It was a pleasure seeing you again.”
“Of course. Perhaps next time you and I could get to know each other a little better.”
Doubtful.
“That would be nice,” I say. “Now if you would excuse me . . .”
I let my words trail off. I don’t owe him any explanations about what I intend to do or where I’m going, so I simply walk away, clutching my Cosmo between my fingers. I take a few desperate sips, unsure why the nerves have decided to make another appearance. I know exactly what’s going to go down in there. I know he’s not going to hurt me and that he’s going to make me feel comfortable. I have nothing to worry about, and yet . . . the bundle of nerves in the pit of my stomach continues to grow.
In the short walk from the bar to the door of the private room, my drink almost disappears, and when I finally reach it, I find myself pausing. I take a calming breath, and as the excitement builds within me, I realize it wasn’t nerves at all. It was raw anticipation.
I’ve been waiting for this moment since the second he finished with me last week. I’ve thought about it nonstop, and I’ve pictured just how good it would be until nothing else could do the job, but what if last week was a fluke? What if he was on a roll and was doing everything right and tonight doesn’t live up to my expectations? I’ll be crushed. But what do I have to lose? There’s a man standing in this room who’s willing to do whatever it takes to make me see stars, and I’d be a fool to walk away now.