Chapter 4: Liam

She's right.

It won't end with one drink.

I've spent the better part of my evening keeping my sights locked on her. There is no way I'm going to allow this woman to slip through my fingers. If I'd thought I wanted her from afar, it's nothing compared to the hot shafts of desire spearing through me now.

She's even more beautiful up close. I knew her hair would be a dark, lustrous color but upon closer inspection, I realize that it's as black and silky as a raven's wing. And long. It tumbles over her shapely shoulders and down her back in thick, full waves.

Waves that I'm already fantasizing about sinking my fingers into. Or wrapping around my fist as I tug her head, forcing her to arch that curvy little body as I thrust deep inside her. That image has my fingers itching to tangle themselves in that heavy mass.

And don't get me started on those eyes. She has the clearest blue eyes I've ever seen in my life. Even in the dim lighting that shrouds us, they shine brightly.

It's almost as if I could glimpse right into her...

Shit.

We'll just leave it at that because me waxing poetically at this stage of the evening will only make me sound like a pussy.

When she was laughing a handful of moments ago, her eyes were twinkling with humor as if we were old friends sharing a private joke. It had me wanting to say inane things just to see that bright smile overtake her face again.

To be clear, she's no longer smiling.

Nor are her eyes sparkling.

All of her previous lightheartedness has fled. Instead, she's watching me carefully. Intently. As if I'm a dangerous animal she now realizes that she should be wary of. Which is exactly how I feel.

Her instincts are razor sharp. Apparently, she can sense my intentions.

Even though there's an interested look in her eyes, she cautiously backs away as if any sudden movement on her part will cause me to lunge. I have no intention of doing that. Although, I can't say the primal urge to give chase isn't thrumming through me. Maybe I sound cocky, but when I leave O'Brien's tonight, this woman will be in my arms.

"Look," she whispers, sounding desperate, "I appreciate what you did a few minutes ago, but I really need to go."

Without waiting for me to respond, or-more accurately-detain her, she turns, hastily pushing her way through the crowd toward the table she's been camped out at for the last few hours.

As much as everything in me demands I give chase, I hold myself in check. I refuse to be that guy who can't take no for an answer. Instead of taking off after her, I watch and make sure that she gets back to her friend safely without any more hassles from the asshats trolling the bar like hungry sharks.

Does that necessarily mean I'm throwing in the towel and moving on to easier pussy?

Hell, no.

I'm nowhere near finished with her. I need to take a moment, regroup, and come at her from a different angle. For the time being, I'll retreat.

The night is still young.

With one last glance in her direction, I head back to my table. It's crammed full of my teammates. The season just ended, and everyone is here to blow off steam. We won the conference championship last week, so spirits are still riding high. The whole university turned out to celebrate for three nights straight. It was complete mayhem. Not to mention, the most fun I'd had in a long time.

Boisterous conversations play out around me as I nurse my beer. My attention never strays too far from her. With the bar packed, I'm still able to see her from this vantage point. Every time someone approaches her table, or what I consider to be a no-fly zone, my hand tightens around the bottle I'm holding. If I'm being honest, she's been on my radar since she first stepped foot inside O'Brien's. I watched the trio run off every guy who's had the balls to approach them.

FYI-what I'm doing isn't stalkerish or creepy.

Not really.

All right, fine...maybe it is.

Trust me, this isn't one of my finer moments. I'm usually more chill when it comes to the opposite sex. I don't give chase. I don't have to. The ladies flock to me.

At this very moment, a few stray hands are stroking their way up my arm, tracing light patterns over my ink. Two of the girls attempt to strike up a meaningless conversation but my attention is locked elsewhere. I'm barely aware of the chicks who continue to hover, offering themselves up on a silver platter to anyone interested. What I know is that my cock is most definitely stirring, but it isn't for any of the scantily clad girls buzzing around us like bees.

Once the band takes a break, two of the guys on stage beeline for her table. My body coils, waiting to see how this will play out. This might be another opportunity for me to run interference. At this point, I'm more than willing to do it. I'll happily latch on to any trumped-up excuse to talk to her again.

Within moments of the guys arriving at their table, the four of them are talking and laughing. Almost as if they know each other. Like they're friends or maybe something more. A surge of unwanted jealousy shoots through me when the woman I've had my eye on rises to her feet and wraps her arms around one of the guys.

I grit my teeth. The need to rush over and lay claim pounds through me, which is totally fucked up. I've never felt this kind of possessiveness rush through my veins. It's disconcerting to feel it so keenly now. Especially over some chick whose name I don't even know.

Music pours from the sound system. Before I realize what I'm doing, I've pushed away from the table and am heading in their direction. I don't know what the deal is between her and this guy, but I'm sure as shit going to find out.

It doesn't take much to bulldoze my way through the thick crowd. Most people know who I am and scurry out of my way. If I'd hoped I would cool down before reaching them, that hasn't happened. If anything, I'm more torqued up than before. Jealousy rushes through my blood, making it impossible to think clearly.

Her gaze catches mine before her eyes flare. Surprise colors every delicate feature. Not bothering to acknowledge anyone else at the table, my attention stays riveted to her.

Oh sweetheart, did you really think I was going to let you get away so easily?

No fucking way.

A panicked look flashes across her face.

I break eye contact, swiftly turning to the guy parked next to her. He looks a little too comfortable-almost like he belongs at her side. His narrowed gaze collides with mine. There must be one hell of an expression plastered across my face. Before I know it, he rises to his feet.

She slaps a restraining hand on his forearm. That's all it takes for my temper to ignite. I don't like her touching him. I'd enjoy kicking his ass for that alone.

"Noah, please."

"Is this the asshole who was hassling you earlier?" he snaps out.

Her fingers curl, biting into his flesh. "No, he's actually the one who stepped in and helped." Her gaze slices pleadingly to mine as she says to the table at large, "I'll be right back."

She releases her grip on the other guy before grabbing hold of my hand. As she does, everything in me settles and I'm able to draw in a deep breath. I throw a steely look over my shoulder to make sure we're not being followed as she tows me through the crowd. Once we're about twenty feet from the table, she spins around to face me.

Without any further preliminaries, I jerk my head toward the guy. His gaze is pinned on us. Me, specifically. His brows stay lowered. I can almost see the indecision as it flickers across his face.

I don't like that he's this protective of her. And I sure as shit don't like the implication. I don't want to think about her belonging to another guy.

"Who's the dude?" I bite out.

A strange mix of confusion and irritation settle over her expression as she nibbles at her bottom lip. Damn but that's sexy as hell. I'm tempted to swallow up the distance that separates us and nip the fullness between my teeth before sucking it into my mouth.

Irritation wins out as she plants her fists on the curve of her hips. Her eyes turn icy. "Does it matter?"

I slant an amused brow in her direction. She can't possibly be that clueless.

There is no damn way the attraction careening through me-throwing off my equilibrium-is one-sided. She has to feel it. I can sense her arousal, and it's driving me insane.

"I need to know if we're going to have a problem when we walk out of here tonight."

Her bright blue eyes flare wide as her mouth tumbles open. I'm sure she thinks that I'm one hell of a presumptuous asshole. And she'd be right about that. Regardless, that's the way it's going down. Whatever this is between us, it no longer feels like a choice.

"It doesn't matter if I'm with him or not. At the end of the night, I'm going home with my friends. I don't know you. Why would I leave with you?"

The steely challenge threaded through her words has me stepping closer, crowding her personal space until I can feel the heat of her body. And yet, it's not nearly close enough. It won't be enough until I've peeled off every piece of clothing from her and can press her naked body against mine. Until I can drive myself deep inside her warmth. Only then will it be enough.

My nostrils flare, catching a hint of the light, summery fragrance. As her scent wafts over me, I'm tempted to inhale a big breath of her.

I reach out, trailing my fingers over the curve of her jawline. When she doesn't knock my hand away, I lean in until my lips can ghost over hers. There's a quick hitch in her breathing and something primal expands in my chest.

All I want is one damn taste of her lips.

That thought makes me snort. Already I know that one taste won't be nearly enough to satiate the desire burning inside me. All she needs to do is give me a few hours of her time. Just enough to fuck whatever this is coursing through me out of my system.

And then we'll both be good.

I tell her exactly what she wants to hear. What she needs to hear in order to make this happen.

"Come home with me. I'm not asking for anything more than tonight. This is a strictly no-strings attached deal. Whatever fantasies you've kept locked away in the back of your head, I'll make them happen. That much I can promise."

The breathy sound that escapes from her parted lips arrow straight down to my balls.

I take a chance and turn my face until my mouth can feather across hers. Once. Twice. On my third sweep, she opens for me.

Just like I knew she would.

I don't waste a moment before slipping my tongue inside her mouth and causing all sorts of havoc. Teasing, stroking, stoking the fires within. I want her as hot and needy for me as I am for her. My cock is already rock hard as a moan falls from her lips. Before I know it, her slim fingers thread through my hair to drag me closer.

That's when I know she's mine for the night. I pull away enough to rest my forehead against hers.

Not that it matters but...

"I need to know-is he your boyfriend?"

Her eyes are glazed as she shakes her head. I'll take that as a testament to the affect my kisses have on her. Truth be told, I'm feeling just as bowled over.

My fingers tighten around her hand before I nod toward her friends. "Tell them you're leaving and let's get the hell out of here."

I'm not in the mood to waste any more time. What I want is to be buried balls deep inside her body.

The haze filling her eyes vanishes as her gaze slides toward the group crowded around the table, staring at us. I hold my breath and wait to see if she'll comply.

Thankfully, I don't have to wait long.

"Okay," she murmurs.

The fist wrapped around my heart loosens.

Good. I'm in the mood to fuck. Not fight.

Although, I would have if that was the only way she was coming home with me tonight.

Hell.

Yeah.