“Stunned?” I reached up and cupped his cheek, letting the roughness of his beard scratch my palm. Giving his cheek a light pat, I grinned. “Don’t answer that.”
When I turned to face the other two again, Dominic surprised me by catching my arm and spinning me back into his chest. With my chest pressed against his, I sucked in a sharp breath. He was a solid wall of muscle and so warm. His scent was leather and fresh rain, a combination that made me think of dirty Sunday mornings spent in bed.
“I’m not an easy man to stun, Sugar, but I have a feeling something like that would never stop you.” His eyes flicked to my lips and then back to mine. “I am.”
I thought about that as Holden took my hand and pulled me with him to a table at the back of the bar. For a fake date, this felt pretty real. The things I was feeling in reaction to them were definitely real.
5
***SJ***
“That’sanotherthing!Youactually care about what I think. Is that something that happens to a man’s brain when he hits thirty-five or something? I swear I haven’t been asked my opinion by a date, or fiancé, ever!”
I crossed my legs and looked around the bar. It wasn’t Gray’s anymore. We’d left there after a few drinks and gone to a different place.
“I’m wasting so many chances at material for my blog. I should be taking notes and thinking about this food, but I got myself drunk somewhere along the way and now I’m useless. My opinion about this food…that’s what you asked! Yeah, I don’t get it.”
Holden laughed and leaned in, resting his hand on my thigh. “More.”
I stared at the food and frowned. “The theme of the bar is a speakeasy, but they’re serving finger foods that I swear the FBI would serve as protocol. It’s so…boring and square. There’s nothing exciting or adventurous about a bland slider with frozen French fries. Their step into the wild adventure that was running moonshine during the prohibition was adding this soggy jalapeno. I just don’t get it.”
He threw his hands up. “Yes! Exactly! It makes no sense! Yet, there’s a cover charge to this place and people pretend that the chef is one meatloaf away from a Michelin star.”
Barrett moved into my space and played with a piece of my hair. “How about a break from trashing unsuspecting chefs? Dance with me.”
I nodded quickly and couldn’t contain my happiness. “I love dancing.”
He took my hand and pulled me after him onto the dance floor. The music was slow and he wasted no time in pulling me close and wrapping his arms around me. With his hands resting low on my bare back, he moved to the beat. “When’s the last time you danced?”
I played with the hair at the base of his neck as I thought. “It’s been a few years. My ex wouldn’t dance. He thought it made him look stupid.”
“Looking stupid would be worth it for the chance to be this close to you. The guy clearly didn’t have his head screwed on straight.”
I tilted my head and studied his handsome face. “Tonight has been the best night. Thank you.”
“You shouldn’t settle for less, Sugar. A man worth anything would see what a treat you are. The right man will know what he has when he’s with you. He’ll treat you like it, too.” He wagged his brows suddenly and grinned. “Or the right men.”
I surprised him by stretching up and pressing a quick kiss to his mouth. It might’ve been considered innocent if I hadn’t given him a look that I could feel radiated “come fuck me” energy. “Thanks to the three of you, I’ll probably be ruined for life. It isn’t often a woman gets spoiled by three men like you. I think I need to maximize the night.”
A slow smile stretched his mouth. “How so?”
I turned so my back was to his chest and his hands rested on my stomach. Swaying to the beat at that angle had my ass rubbing against him with each movement. “I want to really experience this. Like a real date.”
Barrett’s voice was huskier as he spoke against my shoulder. “And your version of a real date is what?”
I rolled my hips and stretched my arms over my head to grab his hair and then stroke my hands down his neck. “Letting go. I’ve been on my best behavior because of…because you’re Samantha’s dad. But I want to make the most of the first good date I’ve ever had.”
Groaning, he settled his hands on my hips. “I can’t say I’m not interested in seeing you be bad, Sugar.”
A shudder racked my body and I rolled my hips against his lap. Dropping my head back on his chest, I covered his hands with mine and dragged them up my stomach, stopping just below my breasts. Feeling wild against the backdrop of my heart thundering, I slowly moved his thumbs so they stroked the underside of my chest. “On a normal date, if it was decent, I’d be touchier. I like being touched. I’d flirt more. Tease more.”
Barrett spun me around so I was facing him again. His hand settled even lower on my back and I felt the tips of his fingers slip under the material of my dress until they rested on the top of my ass. His eyes were focused on mine while he moved his hand lower, until he was toying with the string of my panties. “Show me.”
I looked up at him through my lashes and licked my lips before leaning forward to press a featherlight kiss to his throat. “Do you want them?”
His fingers pressed harder into my ass cheeks, understanding immediately dawning on him. His eyes burned like nothing I’d ever seen. “Almost as much as I want them off of you.”
My eyes fluttered shut and I took a moment to gather myself before looking back up at him. Grinning suddenly, I stretched up and nipped his chin before pulling away. “Maybe later.”