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.

second thought, I cupped his stubbly face in my hands,

soft skin on my cheeks.

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

felt as though the wind

dear. Shall we...?" He nodded his head to the door, indicating

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

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

man was picking me up in his arms princess-style, my skirt trailing over his elbow. Then, without so much as a second

all I could see

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

placed my hand on his arm to steady myself, feeling my heart throb beneath his gray gaze. Here, the falling snow seemed to mute all other sounds except

and stepping away. "I'm not sure if he would have

to help," he said, turning.

I panicked. Before he could turn fully, my hand was shooting out of its own accord. I darted my gaze upwards through my lashes,

plan to get revenge on Max flashed through

I blurted out. "I don't

at me.

taste the whiskey from his kiss,

one second for the man to understand what I was getting at. A ghost

...

like old books and fresh ink. The light of a small lamp on the bedside table illuminated the room, and a chill worked its way inside through the

us each a 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

didn't care about that. All I cared about was

his fingers deftly pulled open the last button on my skirt and

cascaded around my ankles, 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

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

shudder at his

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 as his fingers worked their way over my ass and

I went to kiss him-but then

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

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