CH 5 - KATHERINE

I stumble my way back onto the dance floor where I left Audrey, Dan, and Mark to get a drink and cool off. I can't wrap my mind around what just happened.

Who was that man? He looked like he was chiseled out of marble! Like a goddamn statue!

I hope he couldn't tell how aroused I was just by standing so close to him. He smelled like musk and pine, like he'd been walking through the forest, and his cool breath smelled like bourbon. He had to have been at least six feet tall with a dark olive skin tone covered in tattoos just visible at the base of his neck.

I can't help but wonder what it's of.

His cropped brown hair was the color of melted dark chocolate, and looked just the perfect length to weave my fingers through while tasting the bourbon on his tongue.

And those eyes. His eyes were a smoky grey, and his gaze cut straight through me with every glance. I shake my head trying to get rid of this mysterious man's face and pay attention to the crowd. Finally, I see Audrey's impossible to miss red hair.

"There you are," she says, her back up against Mark's chest. "I was about to send a search party after you."

"Sorry," I chuckle. I was only talking to the hottest guy I have ever seen.

"Oh!" she wiggles her eyebrows, and grins at me, "do tell." Oops. I guess I said that out loud. I bite my lip, thinking through my next words.

"Actually, I met two guys."

"WHAT?!" Audrey screeches, throwing her hands in the air and nearly punching Mark in the face. At his grunt, she composes herself, and grins at me, "tell me all about them! I want details, Kat!"

"Well—" I start until Dan cuts me off.

"Audrey, leave her alone," he admonishes, rolling his eyes with a chuckle. I laugh too.

"I'll tell you tomorrow." I tell her with a wink, "let's dance for a few more songs then head out." Just then, a man comes up to us with five overflowing shot glasses full of a clear liquid.

"Who was that?" I ask as she takes the glasses.

"A bartender she flashed to serve her," Dan chuckles, taking two glasses and handing me one. The smell hits me, and I grimace.

"Audrey," I say in a warning tone, "that better not be—"

"TEQUILA!" She yells and I groan. Tequila is the sure-fire way to get me both hammered and horny, and she damn well knows this. "Come on, Kat," she says in her sweetest voice, pouting at me then grinning at Dan. She passes Mark a glass.

"Why are there five?" I ask her.

"It's still your birthday for another two minutes, Katherine Douglas. You take two." She holds out the fifth glass to me, ignoring the glare I throw at her, but knowing I won't get out of this one, concede to taking them both. I'm already drunk, so really, what can it hurt?

"Bottoms up," Dan purrs in my ear, his body suddenly flushed against mine. Immediately, I feel heat sear between my thighs.

Shit. Shit. This tequila is going to fuck me.

"That's hopefully not all that will," he whispers, nipping my ear. Dammit. Why can I not keep my thoughts to myself? At least he can't see the pink in my cheeks or tell how wet his words actually made me.

Together, we take the first one then Audrey hands me the second one. I glance at the ceiling, begging for the help I know I am about to need, then I throw it back just as fast. A chorus of chimes signals midnight, and that is all the time it takes for the buzz of tequila to kick in.

Mark grins, pulling Audrey into the crowd further on the dance floor. A comforting pressure presses into the small of my back. I sigh, swaying forward slightly before leaning back into the body of my best friend. Dan takes this as an invitation, and puts his arms around my waist. With cautious steps, he starts leading us back further onto the dance floor, following the other pair. With weak knees, I allow him to steer me past the mass of grinding couples.

The song changes as we settle amidst the bodies; the new song one with a quick tempo, but a slow rhythm. I sway my hips, easily matching the rhythm. My hips press instinctively against Dan; bodies flush together, and swaying as one. I lose myself in the sensations, throwing my arms above my head, and taking his with me.

I shiver as his fingertips trail down my arms, grazing the sides of my boobs, past my hips, all the way down to my thighs before finally resting again back at my hips; fingertips digging into the soft joint. His trail is burned into my skin; my body moving faster with the added pressure, fusing myself deeper into his body. He holds me tight, nuzzling his nose in the crook of my neck. The groan that falls from his lips vibrates against my neck; the sound full of want and desire.

"Take me home," I demand breathily.

"Don't have to tell me twice." He grins devilishly and takes my hand, leading me through the crowd. I stop when I see a flash a red hair.

"Wait!"

"What's wrong, Kat?" He stops so suddenly I run into the hard plane of his back. Why does he have so much damn muscle?

"All that working out to get your attention, babe," he chuckles. Of course, I said that oud loud. I blame the tequila.

"We have to get Drey and Mark, we said you could drop them on the way," I tell him, ignoring the blush in my cheeks. He nods, pressing my forward gently with a hand to my lower back.

"I'll go get the car started. Are you able to grab them?" He asks, eyes scrutinizing me as if he can see inside to check my sobriety.

"I am fine, Daniel," I narrow my eyes at him.

"Mhm" He grins.

"What is that look?" He just chuckles, eyes looking pointedly at where my fingers have a death grip on his bicep. Dammit. Groaning, I lean in, and kiss him full on the mouth before slipping away to find our friends, and leaving a stunned look on his face. But the heat in his eyes makes me want to just get the hell back home.