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.

his stubbly face in my hands, pulled him the extra

stubble bit at the soft skin on my cheeks. But neither of us pulled away. Not until the bells had stopped

finally pulled our lips apart, there was an undeniable heat between us. His gray eyes had gone husky looking at me, his fingers digging into the

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

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

nodded hastily-just wanting to get out of here. Getting out of here with him wasn't

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

world was moving again-only this time, the man was picking me up in his arms princess-style, my skirt trailing over his elbow. Then, without

we emerged out into the snowy courtyard, all I could see over the

behind us, casting the courtyard into silence, and I was left all alone with

the door, the man gently set me down. I placed my hand on his arm to steady myself, feeling

releasing my grip on his arm and stepping away. "I'm

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

could turn fully, my hand was shooting out of its own accord. I darted my

to get revenge

"I don't want you

an eyebrow at me. "He's

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

A ghost of a smirk tugged at his lips. "My

...

on the bedside table illuminated the room, and a chill worked its way inside

glass when 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

All I

deftly pulled open the last button on my skirt and let it fall

a brief silence. I felt myself shifting my weight slightly from foot to foot as his

this, too?" He asked, one finger tracing the line where my bra ended

a shudder at his

me to where he sat on the bed. I stumbled forward, catching myself with

couldn't contain my grin. Leaning down, I

murmured. "You already

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