Getting to Know All About You

“Your hands, what happened to them?”

“I busted them while working.”

“What were you working on?”

A project for a hobby of mine.”

“What kind of hobby?”

His eyes landed on me, hard and a bit annoyed. Though there were music blaring and people living loudly amongst us, there was silence between us. I could tell that he was not used to the interrogation I was performing on him. He tilted his head to the side and sat back in his seat.

“Murder.” 

My heart skipped a few beats. He said it without any hesitation. His face was as straight as a bee’s line. Gazing into his amber eyes, I narrowed my own. There was no indication that he was lying but I knew the truth. Flirting with a girl, there was no chance a man would admit to murderous hobbies, right?

I intwined my fingers together and placed my elbows on the table, resting my chin on the bridge my hands created. I smiled at him, giggling and he smirked at me once more.  My fits of giggles turned into full-blown laughter thanks to my intoxication.

Dark humor was just my type.

“You are funny,” I said. “But seriously, what happened?”

“I take upon boxing as fitness. I recently found out a friend of mine passed away. My emotions got ahead of me.”

I frowned and my body slumped. 

“I am so sorry to hear that.”

“Don’t worry,” he said. 

Feeling bad, I decided to change the topic. I waved down to the waiter and ordered another drink. It was delivered not long after. No wonder he deflected so much and was a bit annoyed when I continued to pry. He lost someone important to him.

“So... what made you decide to help me?”

“I don’t take too kindly to men disrespecting women in my club.”

“Okay,” I said nodding. I drank on my drink and cleared my throat. “But that is something you could have had security do. Yet, you stood from your thrown of the prominent level amongst the royalty to help little ole me, a mere peasant.”

Yet again his intense eyes looked over me. The heat of his surveying watch was damn near unbearable. I shivered from the molten ambers. I could not understand how this man could make my skin burn oh-so pleasantly yet make me shiver from the chills.

“I wouldn't call you a mere peasant,” he said. “You are far too intriguing.”

“Intriguing,” I questioned. He nodded. “What’s so intriguing about me?”

His arm went back to the back of the booth seat. His left leg was raised to rest his ankle on his right knee. His tongue darted out to wet his lips and I nearly choked on my drink from swallowing too hard without notice.

“I have not decided. Not yet at least. But... my fascination runs deep for you. I noticed it when I saw you dancing earlier. I only wish to explore it further.” Something dark took over his amber eyes and I could feel myself break out into a sweat. “That is... if you allow me to.”

Holy mother of God, what have I gotten myself into?

I began to chug my drink, suddenly hot. I could feel my nerves creep in, and the courage slip away. I could not allow that to happen. Not with a prospect like this in front of me. There was no chance I would be able to talk to a man, let alone a man like this without alcohol. I was beginning to think that I bit of way more than I could chew with this one.

“What is your name, beautiful one?”

I raised my brows, placing my empty glass down and clearing my throat.

“Lia,” I answered. “What’s yours?”

“They call me D.”

“Well D,” I said placing extra emphasis on his... name. “Would you like to dance?”

He shook his head, looking over the glass that I had finished. “I don’t dance,” he declared. “Besides, I’ve seen what happens to men that join you for a dance.” I rolled my eyes at him. “I’d rather much like to continue talking to you.”

“Lia!”

I jumped at hearing Mel sing out my name.

She jumped in the booth beside me and continued to scoot in closer. This forced me into the side of D. I looked up at him and gave an apologetic smile. He only proceeded to keep his arm on the back of the booth which was now behind me.

“Where’d Dante go,” Chris called out as he sat beside Mel.

“I’m not sure,” I said with a shrug. “I kind of loss track after I slapped him for calling me fat, so...”

“He what,” Mel screeched.

“Seriously,” Chris choked. “I am so sorry about that. I try to remind him to not be an ass, but it seems to go over his head most days.”

“On another note,” Mel deviated. “Who is this tall glass of water on a hot summer’s day?”

“Oh um... this is D,” I introduced. “D, meet my best friend, Mel and her dance partner Chris.”

“Just dance partner?”

“That’s all you are for now,” I said.

“Well, I was coming to check on you to see if you were ready to go,” Mel said.

“Oh,” I chirped a bit surprised. “Already?” I pulled my phone out to see that it was well past three in the morning.

“You don’t have to leave if you don’t want to, but I wanna make sure you’re safe.”

“Um...” I looked back at D who was watching me like prey and turned back to a cheesy Melissa. “I think I’ll stay.”

“Are you sure,” she asked, despite knowing the answer.

“I’ll be fine,” I said. “If you wanna get laid, I would prefer to not third wheel. I will not cock block you.”

Mel eyed D over, arching her brow. She took in her assessment, deciding whether she felt okay with leaving me alone with me.

“I’ll take good care of her,” D said. 

I bit my lip and raised my brows. I stared at the hands, which were tightly grasping themselves. Mel looked at me with giddy and question. I could practically translate the meaning of her looks. I gave a nod and she squealed.

“You are a saint,” Mel sung out. “Hopefully not too much of one. I should not be the only one getting -

“Have fun,” I yelled out, interrupting her train of thought. “Don’t forget to text me when you get home.”

“Ditto,” she said. “And don’t forget to enjoy the view.”

“I am so sorry about her,” I said as I began to scoot away. “She is way too lively sometimes.”

His arm that was resting on the booth’s back came down and gently went around my shoulders. I turned back to look at him. I had no idea how close we were until now.

“There is no need to apologize.”

“I-I am not too close to you? I mean, before we had four people in the booth, so it was a bit tight but now -

“I’d prefer that you stay close,” he said. His voice was smooth silk. It was deep and guttural. It sunk deep into my bones and caused an ache I wished to relieve with only his touch. His large hand caressed the side of my face, tucking a stray tendril of hair behind my ear. It then trailed down to my chin and tilted my head upward. Our lips were only just centimeters apart. I could feel the warmth of his breath tickling the cupids bow of my top lip. My eyelids fluttered, unable to stay open for long. I swallowed hard and forced my eyes to open back.

“What else do you prefer?”

I looked into his eyes. I could see their details far more clearly now that we were closer. The outskirts of his irises were a deep brown like the scorched edges of burning parchment, then there was a golden yellow that bled into a hot auburn. He had eyes that homed the raging flames of the sun. And I felt like Icarus, filled with glee and giddy. The only difference... I was aware of the circumstances.

I wanted him to burn me. I wanted to melt.

“I would prefer to discover whether your lips are as delectable as they look. Whether you are as delicious as you smell. To discover whether the sounds you make when I devour you will satiate the beast that wars within my chest and if he will hunger for more of you and wished that he had savored every bit of your relish.”

Well, fuck.

“So... yes to biting?”

He frowned down at me, but he did not respond. He only pressed his lips to mine. He tasted like the spice of his brown liquor. He smelled of earthy cologne. He felt so warm and strong.

I was laughing in the face of the drunken state of before because... it could not compare to now. Not in the slightest. My head was spinning, and my body began to flush. When his hands grabbed onto my ass as if it were a lifeline that God threw onto him to rescue him from the bowels of hell, I realized I was in his lap. I was not sure if he had pulled me in or if I had climbed there. All I knew was that it did not matter.

We reluctantly pulled apart for air. My fists were balling up the fabric of his silky black shirt. I watched as his jaw clenched, working as an aid to self-control. His hands massage the side of my hips.

“Um...,” I said licking my swollen lips. “I might be able to divulge your curiosities if you can get us to a place a little more private.”

“All you have to do is give the word.”

“Bird’s the word.”