Still Yearning For Him

A gorgeous hostess led them upstairs to a quieter VIP bar that overlooked the stage and dance floor below. They were shown to a small seating area by the balcony and settled at a table hugged by two half-moon velvet sofas.

The hostess propped a beverage menu in the center and said, "Your drinks are on the house. Enjoy your evening."

"Wow!" Ugo whistled. "We scored."

"I think that hawker recognized you from one of your court cases. Because how the hell are we getting such VIP treatment when we're yet to spend a dime." Daisy said out loud.

"Wouldn't that rock." Ugo grinned. "Or it could be the chef guy.... That dude is full of surprises. I've gotten so many gifts that I can't count since I met him. Yet, he's not interested in hitting this ass."

"He could be pretending." Daisy fixed in. "Or taking it slow. The good old ways. He might be hoping to win you over thoroughly before making a move. In other words, he wants you to...."

"Lose my damn guard. Mmmm, not happening, not gonna happen" Ugo repeated, shaking her head.

Daisy laughed hilariously. "Such a scared baby girl."

"Hahaha! Enough with Mr. chef. Daisy baby, were you serious about Brett, you're hanging out with him now?"

She shrugged. "I said that yes without thinking it through. A part of me just wanted to look so good and have him wish he never broke up with me. But now that I've had time to think about it. I think I'm going to chicken out. I can't go through with it."

Ugo paused for a while, taking in everything Daisy said. She remained quiet for a few seconds before speaking up finally. "Nonsense! You aren't going to chicken out, I won't let you. If making him salivate is what you want, then we'll do that to him. You're lucky you have me in your corner. I'm going to help you hatch the most hideous and seductive plans ever. I got you babe." Ugo nudged Daisy gently with a sweet smile. "God! It's a great night. A whole partner at Jade and Judy, hanging out with my best girl and crushing on a new man. My life is fucking hot. I literally want to be me right now!" Ugo yelled.

Two guys stopped by their table. "Okay if we join you?" The handsome one asked.

Daisy glanced at Ugo, and then back at the guys. Both were smiling and confident, their stances loose and easy. She was about to say, Sure, when a warm hand settled on her bare shoulder and squeezed firmly.

"This one is taken."

Across from Daisy, Ugo frowned as Brett Lexington rounded the sofa and extended his hand to her.

"Chike. Brett Lexington."

"Ugo Chike." She shook Brett's hand with a deep frown. "But of course, you seem to know that already. Nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you."

"Same here, congratulations on being made partner." He added.

Daisy imagined pulling Brett's fingers off her back and breaking them, killing him in the process maybe. Ugo nodded and focused her gaze on Daisy.

Brett settled on the seat beside Daisy, his arm draped behind her so that his fingertips could brush casually and possessively up and down her arm. "It's good to see you again." He whispered.

Twisting at the waist, Daisy faced him and whispered fiercely, "What are you doing?"

He shot her a hard glance. "Trying to have fun at the club."

"I'm going to dance." Ugo said, standing. "Are you okay?" She asked loud enough for Brett to hear. Daisy nodded and she dashed a stern glare at Brett before turning to leave. "I'll be back in a bit."

Daisy watched her go with the boys that had come to them earlier. After another minute, ignoring Brett became ridiculous, as well as impossible. Her gaze slid over him. He wore a casual fur cardigan and plain pants. The overall effect of his outfit was a perfect definition of lazy-sophistication. Daisy took in the look and low-key loved it on him. The outfit gave out a lazy, soft and cute vibe, even though she knew it was only an illusion.

Brett was a hard man in a lot of ways that the outfit failed to point out. She took a deep breath, feeling like she needed to make an effort to socialize with him. After all, didn't she agree to go to a fundraiser with him tomorrow.

"You look...." She paused, thinking of a neutral word to use. "I like the way you look." She rephrased, when she didn't find the word.

His brow arched. "Ah, something you like about me. Is that a general like of the overall package? Or just the clothes

"Only the cardigan, or maybe it's the pants." She responded. "I'm just trying to start up a conversation though."

"That's fair enough for me Daiz. The fact that you would want to make an effort alone is fair enough for me. So, If you say you like the cardigan only, that means I'll have to buy a dozen and wear them every damn day."

"That would be a shame."

"You don't like the cardigan?" He was whining, his words coming clipped and fast.

Daisy's hands flexed restlessly in her lap. "I love the cardigan, but I also like the suit from earlier." She found herself confessing.

He stared at her for almost a minute, and then nodded. "How has your celebration with your friend been so far?"

"Pretty much amazing. I doubt I'll remember everything I've said tonight. That's how amazing it is."

"You look breathtaking." He said and brushed the backs of his fingers over her cheek, "and you're blushing." he murmured.

Daisy heard the drool in his voice and swiftly changed the topic.

"Do you come here often?" She asked and regretted the question. It was a clichéd line that she had heard one too many times before now.

Brett's hand dropped to her lap and caught one of hers, his fingers curling into her palm. "When necessary." He replied.

A quick stab of jealousy made Daisy stiffen. She glared at him, even though she was mad at herself for caring either way. "What does that mean, when you're on the prowl?"

Brett's mouth curved into a genuine smile that hit Daisy hard. "When expensive decisions need to be made. I own this club, Daiz."

'Of course he did.' Daisy thought.

A pretty waitress set two pinkish-colored iced drinks in square tumblers on the table. She looked at Brett and gave him a flirtatious smile.

"Here you go, Mr. Lexington. Two Vodka oranges. Can I get you anything else?"

"That'll be all for now. Thanks."

Daisy got distracted by what the waitress served them. It was her beverage of choice when clubbing and what she'd been drinking all night. Her nerves tingled. She watched Brett take a drink, swirl it around in his mouth like a fine wine, and then swallow it.

The working of his throat made her hot, but that was nothing compared to what the intensity of his stare did to her.

"Not bad," he murmured. "Tell me if we made it right." He kissed her. He moved in fast, but even at that, Daisy saw it coming and didn't turn away.

His mouth was cold and flavored with alcohol-laced orange.

All the chaotic emotion and energy that had been writhing around inside her abruptly became too much to contain. She shoved a hand in his glorious hair and clenched it tight, holding him still as she sucked on his tongue.

His groan was the most erotic sound Daisy had ever heard, making the flesh between her legs tighten.

Viciously. Shocked by the fury of her reaction, she wrenched away, gasping. Brett followed, nuzzling the side of her face, his lips brushing over her ear. He was breathing hard, too, and the sound of the ice in his tumbler clinking against the glass skittered across her inflamed senses.

Brett heaved a sigh. He didn't plan for this to get farther than necessary. He wanted to take it a step at a time. Yet he wanted so desperately to know if she would still yearn for him, for his touch.

Daisy's gaze fell to her drink on the table, her thoughts swirling around in her head, a cluster of recollections and confusion.

"How did you know?"

His tongue traced the shell of her ear and she shivered. It felt like every cell in her body was straining toward him. Resisting him took an impossible amount of energy, draining her and making her feel tired.

"Know what?" he asked.

"What I like to drink. What Ugo's name is."

He inhaled deeply and then pulled away. Setting his drink down, he shifted on the sofa and drew a knee up onto the cushion between them so that he faced Daisy directly. His arm once again draped over the sofa back, his fingertips drawing circles on the curve of her shoulder.

"You visited another of my clubs earlier. Your credit card popped and your drinks were recorded. And Ugo Chike was registered as the occupant of the presidential suite at Royal crest. I checked the room number you told me you were visiting." He explained, saying the little fragments of truths he could. That way, no one can say he was lying.

When he looked at Daisy, he saw color draining from her face.

"Daisy. Jesus. You're white as a ghost." He shoved a glass into her hand. "Drink."

It was vodka and orange juice. She drained the contents of the tumbler. Her stomach churned for a moment, then settled. "You own the hotel my friend is lodged in." She gasped.

"Oddly enough, yes." He moved to sit on the table, facing her, his legs on either side of hers.

He took her glass and set it aside, then warmed her chilled hands with his. "Are you crazy, Brett?"

His mouth thinned. "Is that a serious question?"

"Yes. It is. you're fucking stalking me and you're expecting me to shine my lovely thirty-two at you?"

Silence followed as Brett watched her meekly like a child being scolded by the mother. "So this behavior is normal for you?" Her heart was pounding and she could faintly hear the blood rushing past her eardrums.

Brett shoved a hand through his hair, "I wanted to know stuff about you, to know the best way I could reach out to you. I merely accessed information that was voluntarily made available to me." He replied.

"Not to you. Not for what you used it for. What you did, has to violate some kind of privacy law." She stared at him, more confused than ever. "Why would you do that?"

Brett appeared frustrated, at least. "So I can figure you out, damn it."