Christian (The Mitchell/Healy Family #3)(4)
Author: Jennifer Foor

We both turned to see what they wanted. Immediately I caught eyes with one in particular. His brown hair was disheveled on the top of his head, while white teeth brightened his smile. “My name’s Seth.”

“Christian.”

“Is that your dancer name?” I was flustered that he’d ask that, assuming I was a stripper.

“No! This is my first time at a place like this.”

His eyes traveled from my chest down to my legs. I crossed them when his glaring made me uncomfortable. “You would kill on the stage.”

It was a good thing that the room was dark, because I didn’t want this guy to see how much I was blushing. I narrowed in on his hand, tracing the condensation on his bottle of beer. There was something about the way he caressed it that made me think about how he touched a woman. Perhaps I was horny, or maybe this kind of place brought a sexual arousal out in people. Whatever the case, I began licking my lips before I could respond. “You think so?”

He leaned in close to me, so that the other people at the table couldn’t hear us. “I know when I’m in my bed tonight I’m not going to be picturing the women that work here.”

Our eyes met as I took in his compliment, wondering if he was actually hitting on me. “Do you go to school here?”

He sipped his beer. “We have two classes together. Since you sit in the front, I knew you wouldn’t notice.”

During class I remained focused. I’d always sat in the front of the room, and been the first person to participate. Clearly everything else in the room was unimportant.

“Sorry. I’m very studious.” A barmaid delivered a round of shots to our table. As one was slid in front of me I waited for the cue and downed the liquor. It burned going down, but seemed much easier than the first couple. I was feeling relaxed as Seth replied.

“If that’s the case then what are you studying right now?”

“What…nothin’! I came here with friends,” I said defensively.

“Right. First timer.” He looked over at topless Amber. Right away I felt a wave of unexpected jealously. Her perky breasts were exposed and she downed a shot with several guys at the table.

“What about you?” I interrupted. “Do you come here a lot?”

Slowly he directed his eyes to me. “It depends.” I watched the rim of his beer bottle surrounded by his lips. His Adam’s apple bobbled as he swallowed. This place was like a natural aphrodisiac. I’d never felt so drawn to a man before. As naked women danced on the stage in front of us, all I could think about was what it would feel like to kiss this guy.

“Occasionally.” He put his arm around me as he talked. “Take a night like this. I didn’t really feel like going out, but a friend of mine shot me a text that said the ladies tonight were the best he’d seen. It peaked my interest.”

“The dancers are very pretty,” I added.

He smiled and drug his index finger over my bottom lip. “Yeah, I don’t think he was talking about the dancers.”

I pulled away quickly, getting a sense of presumption out of his comment. “That’s flattering.”

He flipped me a grin, turned his attention to the stage, and then back to me. “Would you feel better if we got out of here?”

Stumbling for an answer, I was saved by one of my roommates. “How about we all get out of here? Y’all can come back to our place if you want to party. We’ve got plenty of booze.” Becca seemed excited, and I got the feeling that she knew the guys pretty well.

“Yeah, and I could come by once I get off. I’d love to see what Chris did to my old room.” She winked at me before climbing up out of her seat and walking away.

I fidgeted with my clutch purse, trying to avoid making eye contact with Seth. He was sexy, sure of himself, and clearly out to get my attention. Just because I was dressed like a slut didn’t mean I was one. He obviously had the wrong impression if he thought I was ready to take him back to my room and get freaky, or did he?

As we all climbed back in Becca’s car I started wondering what would have been so bad about hooking up with a hot guy. We were both adults. It wasn’t like it was against the law. If I wanted to be treated like a normal person I had to step out of my shell. Even though I knew sex was never an answer, there was a possibility that I’d become so worked up that I may not be able to decline.

Chapter 3

Christian

With a car full of guys pulling up behind us we didn’t have much time to prepare the house for visitors. Although we kept it pretty clean, my room had clothes all over the floor, including underwear. I rushed inside and began shoving my bras and panties into a pile. When I heard someone laughing I turned to see Seth leaning against the doorframe. “You don’t need to straighten up on my account. I’m not here to admire your furniture.”

I noticed how he was looking at me as I sat down on my mattress. “What are you here to admire?” It was a rhetorical question.

He crossed his arms and chuckled to himself. “I think we both know the answer to that.”

Looking at my nightstand, I noticed that it was still early. Laughter could be heard from the living room, and a part of me knew that we should go join everyone else. After only three shots I was feeling adventurous. It was unlike me to drink at all, combine that with my low weight and I knew I was already buzzed.

I crossed my legs, noticing immediately where his eyes lingered. “So you think that since we shared a moment I’m going to put out?”

He still didn’t move from my doorframe. I suppose someone else could have been listening, not that I cared. I wasn’t close enough to any of them to give a damn.

“I don’t think anything.” Slowly he walked into the room and closed the door behind him. At first I assumed he’d make his way over to my bed, but instead stood in the same place. “Invite me over there with you.”

“No!” He was crazy if he thought I was going to ask. When I didn’t respond right away he located a chair under my computer desk and walked over to it. After turning it around to face in my direction he sat down and placed his palms on his knees.

“Is this better?”

“Actually, it was probably a mistake for you to assume that any spot in my room would be a good one.” I let my words sink in for a moment. He needed to know I wasn’t easy, even though every single time I looked his way I thought about what it’d be like to date someone like him. “I’m not going to sleep with you, Seth.”