Amber needed the buzz to block everything else. It was Saturday tomorrow, and she wasn’t working. She got few weekends off. This one she intended to slob on the sofa with ice-cream, takeout, and a good book.
Amber knew it wouldn’t end up like that. She’d probably clean her apartment and go for a walk. Still being a slob for once sounded like fun.
Placing her glass on the counter she waited to be served. Wade and the other bartenders were busy. Reaching into her shirt she pulled out some money.
“You’re drinking too much,” Elijah said, coming up behind her.
“Not the boss of me. I can drink and do whatever the hell I like.”
His hand settled on her hip, steadying her. “Don’t do something you’ll regret, Amber.”
Getting angry, she turned in his arms, staring at him. “Like what? Maybe I want to get drunk and take a man I don’t know home? Have you ever thought about that? I only have you to compare notes with.”
She hated the words. None of the men inside the club had interested her. She’d looked and hated herself for looking. Why couldn’t she get over this man? He drove her insane all the f**king time.
His grip tightened on her hip. He tugged her close, rubbing his hard c**k against her jean-clad pu**y.
A moan escaped her lips before she could contain it.
“You want me, Amber. The only man you’re going home with is me.”
“No, it’s not. You lost your chance.” She pushed him away. Wade chose that moment to serve her another drink.
“This is your last one, Amber. You’ll thank me later,” Wade said.
She grumbled but didn’t argue before going to her booth, leaving Elijah behind.
“What did Elijah have to say?” Connie asked, once she was seated.
“Nothing. He was complaining about how much I was drinking. Wade’s also cutting me off.”
“You are drinking a fair bit. Are you all right?” Connie asked.
Amber stared at her friend. Connie out of all of them was the most quiet and sweet. She never argued, and she always avoided conflict.
“I’m fine, honey. I just need to take the edge off. Work and everything.” She stared down at her glass and downed it in one gulp.
Alcohol would never help her get over the man who was camped out at the bar.
“Are you going to come and dance with me?” Amber asked.
She needed to get away from looking at him. He distracted her too easily.
“No, you go on ahead. I’m going to sit here and wallow in the fact I can’t get up on that stage.”
Connie was a fantastic singer, but she suffered with stage fright. When they were all on the stage, Connie was fine. The moment she tried it alone, she was stuck.
Amber, Ashley, and Heather were never going to make it as backing singers or dancers.
Looking on the dance floor Amber saw Heather was in Julian’s arms while Ashley was being sandwiched between two guys.
The tequila had given her a buzz, and she had lost some of her earlier discomfort. Moving into the center of the dance floor, she started to let the music take over. Closing her eyes, she moved to the beat. Her body went with the beat.
She let herself go, loving the slight feel of freedom dancing gave her. No one had any expectations of her. On the dance floor she was free to move without fear of being caught or someone finding out the truth about her time with Elijah.
Arms wrapped around her stomach, and she knew it was Elijah instantly. His scent surrounded her, filling her with warmth. She wanted to push him away. Her defenses were lowered, and all she wanted to do was drown in everything that was him.
“No one can see us,” he said.
“I don’t care.”
Amber would care in the morning.
His fingers stroked the curve of her stomach. Moaning, she wrapped her arms behind his neck, dancing. Her eyes were still closed. The moment she opened them, she’d lose her little bubble of happiness.
“You can’t fight me forever,” he said.
“I’m not trying to fight you at all, Elijah.”
He turned her in his arms. “Look at me.”
Opening her eyes she stared into his deep brown ones. The bubble didn’t burst. He inserted a leg between her thighs, rubbing her against him. She gasped, gripping his thick arms as he made her legs turn to jelly.
Elijah took one of her hands and pressed it against the front of his jeans.
“Feel what you do to me, woman. I want you so f**king bad. You’re sexy, and I want you.”
He lowered his head, catching her lips between his.
She tilted her head back, giving him much better access to her mouth. They were entwined together. His leg was between her thighs with one hand holding her against him and the other caressing her nipple with his thumb.
The music faded; the past faded away. She held onto him, and Amber had never felt more stable than she did in those few moments they were sharing.
When he leaned back to look at her she was lost in his intense gaze. Her body pulsed for him.
“I’ll call a cab. Say goodbye to your friends and meet me outside.”
He left her then.
She stared at his retreating back. Part of her wanted to stay on the floor, pick up a man, and have meaningless sex. She listened to the part of her she’d come to know in the last seven years.
Amber left the dance floor. She found Connie giving her a message that she had to leave early. In no time at all she was stood beside Elijah. A cab pulled up, and they were inside it.
No words were necessary. They couldn’t speak with the driver present. She rubbed her hands between her thighs trying to cause some friction.
Her pu**y was red hot and begging to be f**ked. Six months wasn’t a really long time, but right now it felt like a lifetime since he’d been with her.
When they were outside of her apartment, Elijah took the keys from her shaking fingers and opened the door.
She entered first, turning to watch him as he closed the door then proceeded to lock the door. His actions were slow, not hurried, and his gaze was on her at all times. The rest of the world was locked away. They were the only two people who existed.
“Take your shirt off,” he said.
Tugging the leftover change from her night out, she threw it onto the counter. Next she tugged her shirt over her head and dropped it on the floor.
“Take your jeans off.”
Toeing her shoes off, she removed her jeans. He was leaning against the door staring at her. When she was with Elijah, she never felt self-conscious of her body.
****
With his eyes on her, Elijah tore off his boots. All the time he was watching her, waiting for her to respond to him. Her gaze never once left him. Amber was all his for the taking, and he was more than happy to take her, to claim her. His name would be the one she was screaming out in pleasure come the end of the night.