Chapter 1
Eliana’s POV
“Tell me again why you’re wearing that dress if you don’t plan on getting laid tonight?” Sophia’s voice cut through the bass-heavy beat of the club, smirking as she tilted her glass in my direction.
“Excuse me?” I said, nearly choking on my drink.
“You heard me.” She said, leaning closer, “That neckline? Those legs? And don’t think I didn’t notice the glitter you swore you wouldn’t wear. Eliana, sweetheart, you came here hunting. Admit it.”
"She’s not wrong. That shimmer on your thighs is practically screaming touch me.” Juliette said, tipping back her shot and licking the salt from her wrist with exaggerated flair.
“I just wanted to look nice, okay? It’s called self-care.” I said with a tease.
“Self care?" Sophia said, leaning in. "Honey, if a man doesn’t have his hands on you by the end of the night, it’ll be a crime against humanity.”
"Careful, Soph. She might take that as a dare.” Juliette added laughing so hard she almost spilled her drink.
The three of us had come out tonight to just have a little ladies' night. To enjoy some drinks, music... and maybe some views.
"You two are the worst,” I said with a laugh, narrowing my eyes at both of them.
Because the thing is they weren’t entirely wrong. I hadn’t come to the club planning to find trouble, but I wasn’t exactly running from it either. Yes, I’d spent an extra ten minutes picking out this dress. And yes, I’d dusted my thighs with that shimmer lotion I’d been saving. Maybe some part of me was open to whatever the night might throw my way. What's a girl gotta do?
“Look at her blush,” Sophia teased, nudging me with her elbow. “That’s a guilty face if I ever saw one.”
“I’m not blushing.”
“You’re definitely blushing,” Juliette said, smug. “Neck to ears. Classic Eliana giveaway.”
“You both should be banned from ladies’ night.” I groaned again playfully, tugging at the hem of my dress.
“Please,” Sophia said with a dramatic roll of her eyes. “Without us, you’d still be at home, curled up with a blanket and Netflix. Tonight is about freedom. Fun!”
“Translation: she’s already picked someone out,” Juliette stage-whispered to me.
"Maybe I have. Maybe I haven’t. A girl never tells.” Sophia smirked, not even bothering to deny it. She tossed back the rest of her shot like it was water, her eyes scanning the crowd again with practiced ease.
I shook my head but couldn’t hide my smile.This was why I loved being out with them. Sophia’s wild energy and Juliette’s sly humor. They both pushed me out of my comfort zone even when I resisted.
A waiter passed by with another tray of shots, and Juliette snagged two before he was even gone. She slid one to me and raised hers high.
“To guilty faces and wasted potential.” She said.
“And to making sure Eliana doesn’t go home alone tonight.” Sophia added as we clinked glasses.
“Cheers.” We all said with a laugh.
The music shifted, pulling people toward the dance floor like a tide. Sophia’s head snapped up, eyes locking on someone across the room. I followed her gaze and spotted him immediately. His eyes were on her and he's not even pretending otherwise.
“Oh no,” I said, already knowing.
“Oh yes,” Sophia purred.
Within seconds he was at our table, leaning down to whisper something in her ear. She giggled. Sophia giggled, which almost never happened. And then she was sliding out of her seat, shooting me a wink over her shoulder.
“Don’t wait up.” She said as she left.
“That was fast,” I muttered, as Juliette and I exchange looks.
“She’s got a gift. We should take notes.” Juliette said with a smirk.
We both let out a laughter while continuing to enjoy our drinks.
“You thinking about it?” Juliette said, nudging me with her shoulder.
“About what?”
“Dancing.”
“Maybe." I said with a little hesitation. "After this.” I tipped back the last of my drink, savoring the rush of warmth as it slid down my throat.
Sophia had vanished into the crowd with her new conquest, her laugh still ringing in my ears, and suddenly it was just Juliette and me at the table.
Then there Juliette was, grinning, her chin propped on her hand as she scanned the club. Her eyes weren’t searching the way Sophia’s were. And then I saw who she was watching. A waitress.
Juliette’s lips curved like she’d just been handed a dare.
“She’s cute.” She said without looking at me.
“Mm-hmm,” I hummed, leaning back in my chair, amused.
She didn’t even pretend to play coy. Juliette stood, intercepted the waitress mid-round, and said something in her ear. The girl laughed, set the tray on the nearest table, and the two of them disappeared into the crowd before I could even blink.
"Jesus..." I groaned, dropping my head back against the booth. “Unbelievable. Both of you.”
Now I was alone.
Nope!
Not tonight.
I finished the last swallow of my drink and slid immediately off my seat. The air shifted the moment I stepped closer to the crowd. The dance floor swallowed me whole. I joined Sophia and we danced a little before I watched her getting kissed by the guy from earlier.
And that’s when it happened.
I spun too quickly and slammed into someone. The man’s cup tilted and the drink splashed across his cuff.
“Oh my God!” I blurted, “I’m so sorry!”
He looked down at the spreading stain, then at me.
“Shit. Here, let me...let me help." I winced. "We should clean this up before it sets.”
Before he could reply, I gestured toward the booths lining the far wall. Anything to escape the throb of the dance floor and the accusing beat of my own pulse.
“Come on. Just for a second.”
To my surprise, he followed me without saying a word.
We slipped past people swaying to the music into the lounge area. There was an empty table there and I snagged a handful of napkins from a passing tray and turned to him, breathless.
“Please. Give me your hand.” I said.
Carefully, I dabbed at the damp fabric, biting my lip.
“I swear, I wasn’t drunk. I just—”
“Distracted?” He said, cutting me short before I could utter another word.
“Yeah...I'm so sorry...”
I focused on his cuff while trying to hide my embarrassment, making sure I didn't look up to meet his gaze.
“This isn’t helping, is it?”
“It's not bad.” He said calmly.
"There. Not perfect, but at least you won’t look like you arm wrestled a wine bottle and lost.” I cleared my throat nervously, tossing the soaked napkin aside.
He didn't yell. He just leaned back against the booth, his lips curving slightly. And finally, I got to look at his face. I smiled nervously, sliding into the seat across from him without thinking.
“I'm so sorry about your shirt.” I said.
The way he smiled made it seem as if the accident never happened. He was so calm about it.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
“Eliana.” I replied, feeling much calmer now. “And yours?”
“Asa.”
After he told me his name we started talking about nothing and everything. Everything just flowed smoothly. We talked about the music, the crowd, and how my friends had pulled me here. And he admitted the night was his way of shaking off a long, stressful day.
I teased him about his serious tone. Not reading much meaning into his words. And he teased me about nearly knocking him flat. Somewhere between our laughter, I realized how close we’d gotten in such a little time and how easily it was.
And just like that...
“Can I kiss you?” he asked.
The question hit me like a spark. He was bold and super direct.
“Yes,” I breathed without thinking twice.
What am I doing?! I thought to myself immediately.
The word had barely left my lips before he closed the distance and kissed me.
God this man is sexy.
The kiss lasted longer than I could have imagined.
Then Asa’s arm tightened around my waist and, with a sudden pull, he guided me onto his lap. My knees pressed against the seat on either side of him as he held me close. My breast pressed against his chest.
His hand slid down and grabbed my thigh, squeezing gently. He kissed me a little softly and his palm started sliding higher along my leg, still squeezing gently with every grip. I could feel the budge of his p***s beneath me and the strength in the way he held my thigh made me wet immediately.
“Not here,” I whispered, as I broke the kiss just enough so I could speak.
