“I’ll have that drink now,” she said loudly, with a little giggle as she took his arm and tried to turn him back to face the bar.
He did not budge.
Her heart skipped. He was going to blow her cover.
She stole a glance up at his face and his eyes bored into her. She could not read his expression but she knew he was angry.
She made one last try. “A pina colada would be lovely.” Erin gave him her best flirtatious smile and her heart melted with relief as a slow if cynical smile spread across his lips.
In one fluid movement he slid off the bar stool and stood before her and for that moment she was very close to him, so close that she could smell the spicy fragrance of his cologne.
She breathed in then gasped as his big hands spanned her waist.
He lifted her effortlessly and set her down on top of the stool he had just vacated. He spun it around so that she was facing the bar then leaned in beside her.
“A pina colada for the lady.”
“Coming right up.” The bartender gave him a nod and within seconds was sliding a frothy glass in front of her.
Not knowing what to say next, she dipped her head and took the straw between her lips. She sucked the sweet, foamy liquid into her mouth, glad for the way it soothed her parched throat.
Finally, she looked at him. His face was so close she could see the faint shadow on his chin. The slight stubble gave him a rakish air and, for some reason, her breathing became ragged.
“Th…thank you,” she said then licked her lips that suddenly felt so dry. She glanced back into the crowd for the man who had made her flee but he was nowhere in sight.
She glanced back at the man from the pool and he was watching her, so intently that she dropped her eyes back to her glass. Her fingers trembled as she cooled her palms on the cold glass. Bending her head, she took another sip of her drink, glad for the excuse to break eye contact with him while her mind raced to find a way to get out of this mess.
“Let’s dance.”
Relief flooded through her as she realized she would not have to make conversation with this man who probably thought she’d been stalking him. They could dance for a minute and then she would thank him and disappear into the crowd. Then hopefully she would never have to see him again.
Now why did that thought make her heart slide down to her toes?
She slipped off the stool and took the hand he offered. A quiver went through her and she bit her lip.
His was a large hand, warm and strong, and she could imagine such a hand sliding up her body, cupping her br**sts in a bold caress.
Erin, stop it. She gave her head a quick shake and focused on her new dance partner as he led her toward the dance floor.
Once she was safely hidden in the crowd Erin gently pulled on her hand, wanting to break contact as soon as possible. To her dismay, instead of releasing her the man pulled her closer to him and began to sway to the sounds of Boyz II Men's 'I'll Make Love To You'.
Erin wanted to resist. She really did. But his hard body felt so good against hers as he held her close, and the music was so sensual that she felt her reserve melt like the ice in her pina colada. She relaxed as the music pulsated around them. She closed her eyes and let him lead, swaying her h*ps and matching his every move.
His hand slid to the small of her back and a delicious tingle ran all the way up her spine.
Now was the time to thank him for the dance and make a hasty exit but her tongue felt heavy in her mouth. She closed her eyes. She could not speak.
“What’s your name?”
Erin jumped. The man had bent his head and his lips were close to her ear, so close that his warm breath tickled the fine hairs on her skin.
“I’m Erin. And…and you?”
“I’m Dare,” he said softly into her ear, and the way he said it made her shiver.
Dare. What an unusual name. But it certainly seemed appropriate for this man holding her close on the dance floor, so bold and unapologetic.
The strains of the song died away and Erin took a deep breath. This was her chance. She cleared her throat.
“Thank you for the dance,” she began then gasped as the man, Dare whatever his name was, grasped her hand and started walking off the dance floor, pulling her along with him.
She looked around frantically. Where were the girls? She needed to be rescued. Now. Her eyes skimmed the sea of people but in that mass of bodies there was hardly any chance she would find her suite mates.
Tugging her arm, Erin blurted, “Where are you taking me?”
Dare spared her a backward glance. “This place is getting too crowded for me. Let’s get out of here.”
Get out of here? To where? He was forgetting that they hadn’t arrived at the nightclub together.
“Excuse me,” she tugged again, “but I’m not going anywhere with a stranger.”
The man ignored her.
By this time they were out a side door and onto a terrace surrounded by an abundant tropical garden. Dare let go of her wrist and leaned his shoulder against a cast iron trellis through which flowered vines twisted and coiled. As he lounged he folded his arms across his chest, watching her.
“So what was that about us being strangers?” He gave a dry chuckle. “After all we’ve shared – a hug, a dance, a dunk in the pool. I thought we were more than that?”
She bit her lip and looked away. She could understand how it all looked. As far as he was concerned she’d been the one doing the pursuing. She could only guess what he must think of her.
She took a deep breath, thinking fast. Should she tell him the truth about the stupid dare or would he think her a crazy college student who would do anything for kicks? Maybe that wouldn’t paint her in such a good light but she could at least tell him about the stalker in the nightclub. He would surely understand her actions then.
She opened her mouth to speak and the man chose that moment to reach out and pull her to him. Caught off guard, she tilted into him. He took the opportunity to turn with her then backed her up against the trellis, pressing her into the flowery metal frame.
Dare raised one arm and rested it on the metal bar above her head, effectively trapping her between himself and the wall. His eyes glinted in the moonlight as he stared down at her.