Chapter 45

As I moved across the floor toward Lucien, his eyes never left mine. A slow smile spread across his lips, and when I came to stop before him, he greeted, “Marlowe.” Then, voice a caress, he continued, “You’re looking...different.”

A small smile gracing my lips, I teased, “That so? Different is good, right?” After receiving a nod in response, I asked, “The usual?”

His gaze traveled over me, a look of appreciation in his eyes. “Perhaps something a little extra, as well?” He teased, his voice silky and smooth: like warm whiskey.

His words were and obvious innuendo, and I held little doubt he was referring to the dance we had shared. His boldness didn’t surprise me, as his personality was strong and somewhat forceful.

Without removing my gaze from his, I brazenly replied, “Only if you can handle it.”

Offering me a smile that hit me in the gut, for it was a slow, sexy quirk, he breathed, “Oh, I can handle it.”

Sexual tension sparked between us, a live wire ready to catch fire at any moment. Engaging with him was playing a dangerous game, but one I decided, I was ready to play.

“Game on,” I tossed over my shoulder, as turning, I made my way back to the bar. Slipping behind the counter, I grabbed an expensive bottle of whiskey, and set it and two tumblers on the bar. Then looking up in Lucien’s direction, I raised an eyebrow in obvious invitation. “Come and get it,” I mouthed.

Leaning back in his chair and stretching his legs out, he reached up, loosening his tie and mouthed, “Make me.”

Tannin, having watched the interaction between Alex and myself, slipped over beside me, quietly asking, “What are you doing, Love?”


With a wink, I replied, “Spinning my web.”

~~

After Tannin had shaken her head, murmuring, “I hope the hell you know what you’re doing,” before returning to her end of the bar, I poured a sizable amount of whiskey in my tumbler. Afterward, grabbing another bottle of whiskey and the extra tumbler, I signaled Emily over, murmuring, “Take this to the VIP in the corner, and make sure he never runs dry.”

With a knowing smile spreading across her lips after glancing in Lucien’s direction, she picked up the bottle and tumbler, then stepping from behind the bar, she stated, “You got it, Boss.”

I watched Emily make her way through the crowd, before coming to a stop beside Lucien’s table, she set the tumbler down. Afterward, she splashed the amber-colored liquid from the bottle into the depths of the chunky glass, filling it three-quarters of the way full.

Lucien wrapped long tanned fingers around the glass and lifting it, he peered in my direction, saluting me, before carrying the liquid to his lips, he tipped the tumbler, downing its contents. “Your turn,” he challenged.

Carrying my own tumbler to my lips, I swallowed the contents, feeling its burn slide down my throat and set my gut on fire. Afterward, setting the tumbler down with a solid thud on the bartop, I splashed another healthy amount into the glass's depths, and staring Lucien in the eye, I ordered, “Again.”

The night grew later, the whiskey continuing to flow as Lucien and I shared shot after shot. Eventually, all the whiskey taking its toll, I made my way to the restroom. Minutes later, when I came out, Lucien was waiting for me outside the door. Placing his hands on my waist, he pushed me back against the wall, then lips roughly covering mine, he began kissing the ever-loving daylights out of me.

With a wink, I replied, “Spinning my web.”

~~

After Tanner had shaken her head, murmuring, “I hope the hell you know what you’re doing,” before returning to her end of the bar, I poured a sizable amount of whiskey in my tumbler. Afterward, grabbing another bottle of whiskey and the extra tumbler, I signaled Aurora over, murmuring, “Take this to the VIP in the corner, and make sure he never runs dry.”


With a knowing smile spreading across her lips after glancing in Lucien’s direction, she picked up the bottle and tumbler, then stepping from behind the bar, she stated, “You got it, Boss.”


I watched Aurora make her way through the crowd, before coming to a stop beside Lucien’s table, she set the tumbler down. Afterward, she splashed the amber colored liquid from the bottle into the depths of the chunky glass, filling it three-quarters of the way full.


Lucien, wrapped long tanned fingers around the glass, and lifting it, he peered in my direction, saluting me before ,carrying the liquid to his lips, he tipped the tumbler, downing its contents. “Your turn,” he challenged.


Carrying my own tumbler to my lips, I swallowed the contents, feeling its burn slid down my throat and set my gut on fire, I set the tumbler down with a solid thud on the bar-top. Afterward, splashing another healthy amount into the glases depths, I stared Lucien in the eye, and ordered, “Again.”


The night grew later, the whiskey continuing to flow as Lucien and I shared shot after shot. Eventually, all the whiskey taking its toll, I made my way to the restroom. Minutes later, when I came out, Lucien was waiting for me outside the door. Placing his hands on my waist, he pushed me back against the wall, as lips roughly covering mine, he began kissing the ever-loving daylights out of me.