A man suddenly appears in the doorway, and I swallow nervously when I have to crane my head back to look up at him. Jesus, he's so tall, his obviously muscular body encased in an expensive-looking suit.
My eyes continue to sweep up him to his dark hair that's stylishly disheveled like it's casually wind-tousled. My eyes are drawn back to meet his, and my breath hitches when I'm assaulted by stormy gray eyes that latch on to me.
The way they rove over me from the top of my head to the tips of my toes has me flushing and squirming.
"Thank you, James," the man tells the bouncer who brought me up here. "You may go."
He steps back and motions me into his office, and I cautiously step through the doorway, feeling his body heat jump out to burn me as I walk past him.
Good lord, I don't know what it is about this man, but his presence is dark and powerful and all-consuming.
The door clicks shut behind him ominously, and I suddenly feel like a mouse caught in a cat's lair.
He steps toward me, and I take a step back. He pauses and stares at me, his expression contemplative like he's trying to figure something out.
"Do I know you?" I ask him just to break the silence, my voice coming out more breathless than I intend it to. It's a stupid question because I already know if I'd ever seen this man before in my entire life, there's no way I would ever forget him. He's unforgettable, his presence so big and looming and powerful.
"No, little ruby, but that's something I would like to change," he says as he begins to take another step toward me.
My brow furrows. What's going on here?
"Why did you have me brought up here?"
He doesn't answer me. "What's your name?" he asks me instead.
I consider not answering him, but I find my mouth moving before I can stop myself. "Sophie Smith."
"Sophie Smith." He repeats my name slowly, like he's trying it on for size.
"Who are you?" I ask him back.
"Axe Black," he answers without hesitation, "the owner of this club."
"What do you want with me?" I ask him.
My eyes narrow as I recall the girl storming out of here looking furious. I think I'm starting to connect the dots, and if he thinks I'm one of those girls he can just pick up and command, he has another think coming.
Axe takes another step toward me, and I step back again, but this time I have nowhere else to go. He's backed me into a corner.
The smirk that tugs on the sides of his lips says that he's very well aware of this fact too and that it was his intention all along.
"I want so much with you, Sophie," he tells me, his voice gliding over me sinfully like smooth velvet.
Heat curls inside me at his tone, but I ignore it. I refuse to be another notch on this playboy's belt. I'm preparing to push him away and sprint for the door when he surprises me by lifting his hand up and touching my hair ever so softly. My breath catches in my throat.
"So beautiful, little ruby," he whispers as his eyes rove over my hair.
Okay, so maybe he's got a redhead fetish or something. He spears his fingers through my hair before bringing his hand to rest on my skin and cupping my jaw.
Sparks shoot through me from where the pads of his fingertips touch me, and I gasp at the sensation. It's like there's suddenly an electric current running through me, and he's the catalyst causing it.
He's looming over me, and my heart starts pitter-pattering away in my chest.
I look up into stormy gray eyes and lick my lips nervously. His eyes snap to my lips and darken, the storm clouds within them beginning to roll deeper and darker.
"Why are you calling me that? Ruby?" my voice comes out barely more than a whisper.
"Because that's what you are," he tells me, his voice equally low and husky. He moves his head closer to mine so that his mouth is right by my ear. "My little ruby, a sparkling gemstone among a sea of rocks."