Coming Undone (Club Voyeur Book 1) Read online

  “Not this time,” he replied smoothly. “But they are excited about relocating to Paris.” A smug grin slowly spread across his face. He reminded me of the Grinch after he stole the last can of who-hash.

  My fingers itched to smack that look right off his face. I could have him on the ground in two moves, writhing in pain under a well-placed stiletto.

  I busied my hands fiddling with my charm bracelet and tried to keep my ass in the chair where I couldn’t play out my revenge fantasy. “I hope they didn’t already pack their bags. Because we both know the only thing you’ll be leaving the conference with is a sunburn,” I finally retorted. On some level, I almost enjoyed exchanging insults with Blake. If he didn’t cross the line and molest me, it would almost be fun. But now, the only two feelings I had for him were disgust and pity.

  “Don’t be too sure of yourself little lady. I heard that the new boss has little tolerance for inexperience.” Blake patted my thigh and left his hand there. “I can help you with that, if you’d like.” His hand slid up my thigh several inches.

  I could feel the color drain from my face. My back stiffened as I harnessed what little willpower I had left. My hand instinctively rose to chest level, palm flat, ready to jam into Blake’s nose and follow up with a swift blow to his solar plexus.

  Sucking air in through my nose and forcing it out through my mouth centered me enough to lower my palm. While kicking his ass would feel amazing, the fallout would most likely cost me my job. He was baiting me. Trying to best me anyway he could. That meant he was scared. I should be flattered, but I wasn’t.

  Blake licked his lips as he squeezed my leg. “You know, there’s an airport hotel nearby. If you want to finish what you started at Christmas, we could get a room.”

  Fuck!

  He knew how to push my buttons. My last vestige of calm slipped away, replaced by the intense need to kick some ass. Clenching my fists at my sides, I started to shake. My Father’s words rang in my ear, “Never let your enemy walk away the victor.” Although this advice was doled out in the third grade, it never seemed so timely.

  Blake was about to be one sorry asshole. I cocked back my arm and took aim. I didn’t need my jujitsu training for this. I was going to break his nose street style. Before I could strike, Dark Eyes caught my attention. He moved with the swift ferocity of a panther stalking its prey. I lowered my arm and watched with immense satisfaction as Dark Eyes gripped Blake’s shoulders, squeezing until his knuckles blanched white. The priceless look of surprise on Blake’s face made my year.

  “Is there a problem here?” Dark Eyes spoke deliberately, each word a dagger. He cast a heavy shadow over Blake that made him appear small. Insignificant.

  Sensing that he wasn’t the alpha male in the situation, Blake cowered and placed his palms up in defeat. “No problem here man. I was just leaving.”

  Relief flowed through me like a fresh spring as I watched Blake scurry out of the bar. Looking up, I zeroed in on Dark Eyes. He was ruggedly handsome and oozed masculine sex appeal. Despite his perfectly tailored suit, he reminded me of a cowboy. His posture exuded a quiet dominance that drew my eyes upward. Easily six-five, he loomed larger than life above me.

  I didn’t know if I wanted to thank him or suck his dick. Finally getting my voice back, I said, “Thank you.”

  He sat down in Marlowe’s chair and placed his feet on the railing near the bottom of the bar. I couldn’t help but size him up. His feet were unnaturally large, making me think he had to custom order his shoes and that he must be packing some major heat in his pants.

  I smiled at him, hoping that I wasn’t as transparent as I felt. “I really owe you big time. Can I buy you a drink for rescuing me?” I asked.

  “No drink for me.” His deep voice was smooth and rough at the same time, like worn leather. It drew me in and caressed my ear, triggering an itch that I had been avoiding scratching. “I’ll stick around to make sure that guy doesn’t come back and harass you again.”

  I welcomed his company. I needed a diversion to keep my mind off from the interview and Blake, who still deserved a punch in the face. I fidgeted under his gaze, straightening my top so the v of my favorite black t-shirt landed in the center of my chest instead of off to the side. When I looked back up, I caught Dark Eyes staring at my tits.

  I wanted to say, “Do you like what you see?” but ended up stammering, “So…where are you headed?” I wasn’t half as coy as I wanted to be.

  He gave me a wry smile. “Given that I just saved the day, I think it’s only fitting that I get to ask the first question. Who was that guy touching you?” He asked without giving me a second to agree to his plan

  I ran my fingers through my hair and considered how much information to give a complete stranger. Albeit a hot one who rescued me from a future lawsuit. Still, t-r-u-s-t was a four-letter word in my book. “He’s a work associate,” I finally answered.

  “Did he hurt you?” He looked me over. His eyes caressed my curves, searing my flesh with heat. Seemingly satisfied with his inspection, he met my eyes again, the wry grin back in place on his full lips.

  “Um, no.” His concern caught me off guard. I don’t remember the last time someone other than Marlowe had looked out for me. “He’s just an asshole who sees me as his competition. We have a history…” I stopped, not wanting to rehash the Christmas party story.

  He raised an eyebrow. “A history?”

  My eyes widened. I knew what he was thinking, or at least I think I did. He couldn’t be more wrong. “Oh no. No, no, no, no. We did not date or anything like that. We just have bad blood from the office.”

  He crossed his arms and settled back into his chair, waiting to hear more.

  I didn’t owe him my life story. I sat back and mirrored his posture.

  “Bad blood?” He finally asked.

  Compelled by the people pleaser in me, I explained further. “He drunkenly groped me at last year’s Christmas party.”

  Dark Eyes’ jaw visibly tightened. He reached out to touch my face, but stopped himself mid-air and placed his hand on the bar. Looking at the bottles lining the bar, or perhaps somewhere off in the distance, he said, “Your associate is lucky he ran out of here.”

  “Yeah he is. I was just about to kick his ass before you stepped in,” I blurted out.

  His serious demeanor faded, quickly replaced by an adorable grin that showed off his perfect teeth and dimples. “Oh really, and how were you going to do that? He’s easily twice your size.”

  “I have my secrets.” His gravitational pull had me leaning in close enough to smell his subtle cologne for the first time. It was an intoxicating scent: outdoorsy with hints of citrus and cedar. Everything about Dark Eyes wove a web as strong as any spider. I knew I could easily get trapped in it. Breaking my own spell, I said, “I’ve answered your questions, now it’s my turn.”

  He leaned in close. “Ask away.” The deep timber of his voice made my toes curl. Mere inches separated us. My eyes tried to focus on his, but they kept flitting back to his lips. His upper lip was shaped in a perfect cupid’s bow. His lower lip was full and sensual.

  The fleeting image of his lower lip between my teeth startled me. I didn’t have sexual fantasies about strangers, in airports, while we were mid conversation.

  Dark Eyes had me spacey and horny as hell. I knew nothing about him, yet I felt obliged to answer all of his questions and wanted to delve into his psyche. He could be my future husband or a handsome serial killer for all I knew. Given my terrible judgment when it came to men, I knew one thing for certain: I needed to proceed with caution.

  What to ask a gorgeous man at least ten years my senior? My mind went blank. There would be no witty or sexy banter coming out of me. I couldn’t even remember my address, let alone put together something smart and coherent. Trying to avoid an awkward silence, I finally asked, “What brings you to Flannigan’s?”

  Epic fail.

  What brings you to Flannigan’s? Really? That was t
he best I could come up with? I mentally kicked myself in the ass.

  He gave me an impish grin. Girls probably asked him stupid questions regularly. I could now proudly add myself to the no doubt large list of nincompoops he encountered.

  “I assume the same as you.” His grin was downright sphinxlike. Travel.”

  That’s it? After I just explained my complicated work history, he divulged that he was at the airport to travel! “Oh, really, you’re here in the airport to travel somewhere?” I rolled my eyes. “I get a do over. Where are you headed?”

  “No do overs. My turn —”

  I cut him off before he could finish. “That’s not fair, you didn’t actually answer any of my questions!” I squealed and slammed my fist down on the table.

  Immediately embarrassed by my tantrum, I focused on reining myself in. I didn’t need to get kicked out of the airport, not today.

  His laughter caught me off guard. I expected somebody of his stature to be put-off by my antics, not find them enjoyable.

  I narrowed my eyes at him, wanting him to stop. Only, he didn’t. His laughter intensified.

  I wanted to be pissed at him, but I ended up catching his laughter like a yawn. What started as a chuckle escalated into a full-blown guffaw. Hanging onto the bar, trying to catch my breath and praying that I wouldn’t piss my pants, every ounce of stress left my body with each roll of laughter. After every last bit of tension was chased out of my body by raging happy endorphins on horseback, I managed to sit up and rally my decorum. “I really needed that.” I fanned my face.

  The way he looked at me, so full of interest, lessened my instinct to hide behind the nearest large object. With a steady hand and pensive gaze, he brushed a wayward strand of hair behind my ear, leaving behind a path of goose bumps in his wake.

  His touch had fully awakened a need that I hadn’t felt in years. Two years to be exact. I froze, suddenly hyperaware of our proximity. If not for his gaze holding my head above water, I would drown in the beating of my heart.

  “Are you seeing anyone?” He took my hand in his and noticeably examined my ring finger. Something about the way he asked the question made me think that my answer really didn’t matter. He had the poise of someone used to getting his way. In this moment, his sights were set on me.

  I didn’t know how to answer his question. I didn’t have a boyfriend, but I was married to my job. Of course, this wasn’t something I needed to explain to Dark Eyes. “No,” I said after way too much deliberation. “Are you seeing anyone?” It was a straightforward question, be he didn’t answer.

  He caressed the palm of my hand with his thumb and looked me over appraisingly. I normally didn’t like to be touched by loved ones, let alone strangers. But oddly enough, I found myself enjoying even the slightest bit of physical contact with Dark Eyes. His hands were just as mysterious as he was - smooth and manicured on the backside and calloused across the palm.

  “How long are you going to be out of town?” he asked.

  I was grateful that he spoke and broke the spell he had me under. Otherwise, I would still be staring dumbly up at him while he traced my lifeline with his forefinger. Appreciation aside, he had dodged another question. I removed my hand from his and busied myself shredding strips of a cocktail napkin. I could question dodge too.

  “Are you going to tell me or do I have to go ask your friend in the employee’s break room?”

  I exhaled all of the air from my chest. His ultimatum irked me. Where did he get off? I had been far more than forthright with him, and yet he insisted on a maintaining a shroud of mystery. “You keep avoiding my questions, why should I answer yours?”

  He thrummed his fingers on the bar.

  I arched an eyebrow and waited. I didn’t like games. If he didn’t give me something, I would be forced to disengage out of self-respect. It didn’t matter that I wanted to pull a Marlowe and drag him into the break room or that he awakened my long dormant need for male companionship, I would walk away before I allowed history to repeat itself. My last relationship was built on bedrock of deception and lies. I deserved better this time around.

  “I don’t mean to be evasive, I just have a one track mind.” His devious grin made me both want him more and hate him at the same time.

  “Oh, and what track is playing on repeat in your diabolical mind?” I purred.

  “I believe it’s called I’m really into you,” he replied, and there it was again, that devious grin that made me want to shed my panties.

  “I like that song.” I leaned in, smiling, stroking his ego. Then I straightened my back and got to business. “Now, are you going to answer my question, or do I have to pay my tab and leave this fine eating establishment?” I tried to say my ultimatum with conviction, but even as the words left my mouth, I knew that I would not be able to make good on my threat. I only hoped he wouldn’t call my bluff.

  Dark Eyes had the goods, we both knew it. But, more importantly, he had presented me with something I loved - a challenge.

  “What question was that?”

  I rolled my eyes. He knew. “Are you single?” I repeated.

  “I am very single.”

  I stared at him, waiting for him to say more, but he didn’t. He sure was parsimonious with his language. I couldn’t help but wonder if he held back in the bedroom too.

  “What do you think about that?” He leaned in even closer, his breath smelled of mint.

  “That’s good news, because I don’t flirt with taken men.” I leaned back a little, afraid that I would do something rash, if we continued to banter with our mouths so close.

  “Oh really? Is that what we’re doing?”

  “Yeah. What would you call it?” I uncrossed my legs and then re-crossed them with my right leg on top. His eyes lingered on my thighs before slowly returning to my tits and then my face.

  “Foreplay.”

  Maybe it was way he said the word or the timber of his voice that instantly soaked my panties, I would never know. I squeezed my legs tightly together and tried to focus on anything but his mouth. So much for foreplay. Dark Eyes just had to utter a few words, grin a few times, and I was ready.

  I returned his smoldering gaze. As I stared into his eyes, I couldn’t help but wonder what made him tick? I wanted to know every detail I could about him, from his passions to how he took his eggs in the morning. In only a few minutes, he had slipped through a chink in my armor and gotten under my skin.

  My tongue darted out, wetting my lips. I could use another drink, but my glass was empty. “I’ll be gone almost a week. I return on Saturday,” I finally answered his question. No more games.

  He reached into his interior pocket and produced an iPhone. “Excellent. I’ll make reservations for Monday night. Your address and phone number?”

  I gave him my information him without a second thought… and then I cringed at my stupidity. Now the serial killer knows where you live. Would you like to also give him your social security number and blood type little girl? I could beat myself up for days over a mistake like this. I decided to box up all of my regret for later. Surely my eagerness to give a complete stranger my address would be just as mortifying tomorrow and make for a good conversation with my therapist.

  Dark Eyes entered my information into his phone before returning it to the safety of his pocket. His eyes roamed over my body again.

  Feeling self conscious, I grabbed for my cup. The bartender must have refilled my drink when I wasn’t looking. It was her way of driving up the bill to get a bigger tip. Normally I would be annoyed, but right now I didn’t care. I needed more liquid courage anyway. Despite surpassing my limit two drinks ago, I took a giant gulp of scotch. “I should be available.” The words came out all slurred.

  “I think you’ve had enough for the afternoon.” Dark Eyes slid my glass down the bar where it couldn’t do any more damage.

  Twenty seconds later, my delayed reaction kicked in. “Hey that’s perfectly good scotch!” I yelled, grabbing for
the glass. My arm shot out toward its target, surpassing my center of gravity. With a drunken sense of equilibrium, I catapulted out of the chair and right onto his lap.

  The great moments of life typically flash before one’s eyes. Whereas moments of extreme embarrassment, like this one, which actually lasted mere seconds, will play on repeat for an eternity. After I got my bearings, positive that my body had finished moving, I developed an acute awareness of my limbs. One of my hands grasped Dark Eyes’ perfect white silk shirt by the buttons. This hand probably saved me from falling on my face. Good hand. The other hand clung to Dark Eyes’ crotch. Bad hand!

  My cheeks caught fire. I wondered if I could crawl out of the bar without having to actually face Dark Eyes again. Hoisting me up by the armpits, he didn’t give me the option. “I am so sorry,” I said and awkwardly patted him on the chest trying to smooth out his wrinkled shirt. “So sorry.”

  He gripped me gently at the waist. “Don’t be. If you didn’t fall, I wouldn’t be able to do this.” He leaned in and let his lips graze mine.

  His gentle kiss was just enough to leave me wanting. “Need to sit down,” I moaned, suddenly feeling quite dizzy.

  “Of course.” Dark Eyes helped me back onto my barstool and kept a protective hand behind my back. He ordered me water and stared expectantly.

  I drained the entire glass. The water made my brain feel less foggy. Staring at the extremely handsome man in front of me, I realized that I couldn’t start anything right now, at least not with the prospect of a new job in Paris. I didn’t need any distractions holding me back from such a major career move.

  “You have the most beautiful eyes,” he said as he locked me into a stare that I couldn’t break.

  Even though I had essentially placed him in the bad ideas box, I wanted to kiss him again. “Thank you,” was all I could think to say.

  I didn’t know anything about Dark Eyes, not even his name. But something about him had me breaking all of my rules. I didn’t kiss until the second date and I didn’t date until I ran an extensive background check. He was the perfect combination of charming and chivalrous, and hot enough to make my blood boil. For him, I could see myself breaking all of the rules. Trying something new. Being spontaneous for once in my ultra controlled work driven life.