Surrender (Club X #2)(23)
Author: K.M. Scott

He narrowed his eyes to slits and stared at me. “You okay? You look like something’s wrong?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Mika didn’t give you any more problems tonight, did she? I thought she understood once more and she’s gone.”

“No, nothing like that.”

He came around the end of the bar and grabbed a bottle of whiskey off the top shelf. Putting it on the bar in front of him, he grabbed two glasses and turned toward me. “Neat or on the rocks?”

“I don’t know, Stefan. I probably should get going.”

“You don’t look like you’re in any hurry, Shay. Something happen between you and your boyfriend?”

Ignoring his question, I simply said, “Neat, please.”

He poured me a glass and I downed a few gulps hoping to push the whole Elliot thing out of my mind as quickly as possible. I’d finished the entire glass without saying another word, only realizing afterward that I’d gone into my own head right there and ignored Stefan.

I pushed the glass back toward him. “Another one, thanks.”

He did as I asked without a word, and I closed my eyes as the alcohol hit my tongue this time. I’d believed that ending things with Elliot would be easy since I’d always kept him at arm’s length, but now that the reality of his leaving settled into my brain, I couldn’t be so cavalier about it.

“You want to talk about it?”

I turned to look at Stefan and shook my head. “No. Talking isn’t going to make it better.”

He threw back the last of his first glass and nodded. “Okay. I’m sure you two will work things out sooner or later. I wouldn’t worry.”

I took another swig and looked away. “Elliot moved out right after you left. We’re over.”

“Oh. I’m sorry, Shay.”

“Yeah. Thanks.” I turned back to face him. “Pour me another.”

“You sure? I wouldn’t think a little thing like you could handle much more.”

I leveled my gaze on him and snorted my disgust. “Little thing? You must have me confused with someone else. I’m no little girl. Hit me with more of that whiskey.”

A sexy grin spread across his lips. “Okay. Your wish is my command.”

“Good. I’m in no mood to be told no tonight, Stefan.”

“I would never tell you no, Shay.”

I took a drink and felt it burn as it went down my throat. Rolling my eyes, I chuckled. “You never tell anyone no, Stefan. You’re the definition of a man whore.”

He didn’t say anything, and I thought I saw him cringe ever so slightly at my mention of him being a man whore. I couldn’t imagine why. He’d meticulously built that reputation with many women, and never before had I seen any evidence that he didn’t enjoy every minute of his conquests. In some way, there was something to respect about that.

“I guess you have me all figured out, don’t you?”

I raised my glass to him. “Hey, there’s nothing wrong with knowing what you want and going after it. That you don’t want one woman is perfectly fine, in my mind. You’ve got looks, money, and freedom. Who would want to give any of that up? You can have any woman you want. It’s hard to believe you wouldn’t take advantage of any opportunity that presents itself.”

“What about you? You have all that going for you.”

“What about me? I don’t have the money you do, Stefan. If I did, maybe I’d be like you. Who knows? But you’re not going to get a lecture from me about your being a man whore. Play on, player.”

I swallowed the last of my drink and pounded the glass onto the bar a little harder than I’d intended. A giggle escaped from my lips. “I didn’t mean to let that slam like that. I think I might have had my fill.”

“Maybe I should give you a ride home. You might not be okay to drive.”

Taking a step forward, I walked straight into the edge of the bar. I looked down and then over toward Stefan. “I was going to say no, but since I just walked into the bar and there isn’t a priest or rabbi around to make it a joke, I guess I better take you up on your offer.”

He stepped behind me and wrapped his arm around my waist. “Always a smart ass, huh? Come on. I’ll take you home.”

I wasn’t too drunk to walk, but by the time I hit the warm night air outside, I definitely knew I shouldn’t be driving. I walked beside Stefan and wondered what kind of car he drove. I guessed it would be something expensive and definitely fast. Maybe a Porsche. Or maybe a Jag. Yeah, he had a Jag vibe to him. Looking around, though, I didn’t see any car that fit.

“Where’s your car? I’m in heels here, Stefan,” I said as I clutched his arm tighter.

“I don’t have a car. My bike is behind the club.”

A bike? I should have known.

We turned the corner of the building and there it was. Stefan’s motorcycle. I’d never seen a bike like it, and it definitely was expensive and fast. Big, black, and with him sitting on it.

With a way too sexy look, he said, “Climb on.”

I slid my leg over the seat and wrapped my arms around him. “Shouldn’t I wear a helmet?”

“Not tonight. Hang on!”

He revved the engine, and the bike vibrated beneath me, powerful and loud. I tightened my hold on him and pressed my cheek to his back as he took off flying through the streets of Tampa. His body felt powerful like the bike, and I moved my hands down over his stomach, feeling his washboard abs beneath his t-shirt. When my palms touched the top of his jeans, I stopped their movement, sure I felt his hard cock just beneath my hands.

“You okay back there?” he yelled back as we turned the corner onto my street.

“Yeah, I’m good,” I answered, unsure of what I was now that my buzz had vanished on the ride there.

He stopped in front of my apartment and shut the bike off. I swung my leg around to stand and tried to fix my hair, sure the wind had blown it into a look that resembled a brown Darth Vader helmet. “Thanks for the ride home. See you at work!”

Turning toward the front of my building, I heard Stefan get off the bike and say, “I’ll walk you to your door.”

He followed me all the way down my hallway, and I knew where this was going. The desire to go through with my plan to play the infamous Stefan March mixed with the emotions I was feeling over Elliot’s leaving. I knew I should have just closed the door on him, but at that moment, I didn’t want to be alone.