Audrey

I shot a puzzled glance between the dark-haired stranger and Max. There was no way I recognized who this man was. But Max didn't elaborate on how or why he recognized him.

When the man didn't respond, Max stepped forward and placed himself between the two of us.

"I'm so sorry for the trouble, sir," he said, grabbing my hand. "My girlfriend must be pestering you. I—"

"Ex-girlfriend," I corrected Max through my teeth. Ripping my hand out of his grip, I stood and folded my arms across my chest. "I thought I told you that we were through."

There was a long, tense silence between the three of us then-Max looking at me with panic, the dark-haired stranger blinking bemusedly from behind his glass of whiskey, and me staring daggers at Max. Then, with a self-satisfied smirk, I stepped up to the man and grabbed his arm. I curled the fingers of both hands around his forearm, feeling a slight blush color my cheeks as I felt sinewy muscle beneath. "This is my new date," I said, jutting my chin out at Max. "And I would appreciate it if you would leave us alone."

Max's eyes widened at my words. "A new date?" he echoed. "You expect me to believe that?"

I merely gritted my teeth in response and inwardly prayed that this man wouldn't expose me that he would just play along until Max left me alone.

"Don't make a scene, Audrey," Max said, his voice almost lost beneath the din. "Let's go—"

"She said, no." The man suddenly stood then to his full towering height. He was easily over a foot taller than me, his muscular frame crowding around me. I felt my cheeks turn an even deeper red as he looped one arm around my shoulders, tugging me closer.

Max blanched. "I really don't believe="

The man's arm tightened around me, and then suddenly the room was tilting beneath me. He was dipping me, his strong arms cradling me not even a foot above the floor.

"Just play along," he whispered, placing our faces close and using his body to block Max's view so that it looked like we were kissing.

At that moment, the sound of bells chiming erupted through the bar. The other patrons cheered and clinked their glasses, couples kissing and friends hugging.

It was officially the new year.

“I.....” I murmured, unable to find any words. Here, this close, with his long, dark hair cascading around us, with the scent of his masculine cologne and the sweet tang of whiskey on his breath...

I couldn't help it. I had to taste him.

my hands, pulled him the extra distance, and pressed our

bit at the soft skin on my cheeks. But neither

apart, there was an undeniable heat between us. His gray eyes had gone husky looking at me, his fingers digging into the silk sash around my

then he placed me upright once again, and I felt as though the wind had been knocked out

"It's officially after midnight, my dear. Shall we...?" He nodded his head to the door, indicating for us to

out of here with him wasn't

"Yes," I said. "Let's-"

me up in his arms princess-style, my skirt trailing over his elbow. Then, without so much as a second glance, he strode toward the door

snowy courtyard, all I could see over the man's

the courtyard into silence, and I was left

hand on his arm to steady myself, feeling my heart throb beneath his

his arm and stepping away.

simply nodded. "I'm happy to help," he

he could turn fully, my hand was shooting out of its own

revenge on Max

out. "I

at me. "He's gone.

lips-I could still taste the whiskey from his kiss, and it made the warmth in my low belly almost unbearable. Then,

of one second for the man to understand what I was getting at. A ghost of a smirk tugged at his lips.

...

and fresh ink. The light of a small lamp on the bedside

we arrived, and I had sipped it as he showed me around the various rooms of his place-he had said that I was free to wander wherever I wished while I was here, a

didn't care about that. All I cared

his fingers deftly pulled open the last button on my

revealing my porcelain white skin and homemade lacey lingerie, there was a brief silence. I felt myself shifting my weight slightly from foot to foot as his gray eyes roamed my body,

asked, one finger tracing the line where my bra ended and the small mound of

a shudder at his delicate

it?" Suddenly, he was grabbing me by the hips with both hands and tugging me to where he sat on the bed. I stumbled forward, catching myself with my hands on his shoulders. I bit my lower lip

I went to kiss him-but then I stopped

"You already heard mine: Audrey. But what should I

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