Scorched

Chapter Twenty-Five

Standing in front of the flashy club, Lia began to think that maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. She’d had to get out of the palace, though. She’d run into Shane too many times, and her need for him seemed only to escalate. It was best to just slip away for the evening.

Maybe she could dance. Definitely, she would drink.

Tonight was about nothing but pleasure, no matter what it took for her to achieve that goal.

The setting for her revels was a beautiful piece of land on the sea surrounding Corythia. Children were laughing as they ran along the boardwalk, parents on their heels. It was getting late, and the night crowd was starting to take over, while the families were enjoying their last moments of fun before heading home.

It sent a pang through Lia. She was finding that she’d much rather be a part of one of the families getting ready to come home, versus the single girl heading inside a bar.

Shaking off that thought, she opened the door and tried to enjoy the blast of music that instantly washed over her.

This was what she wanted — to dance and drink and to forget all about Shane for one single night. There was no place better to do just that than in a room full of rowdy people looking for a good time. Then why was she hesitating at the bar’s entrance? Why hadn’t she stepped through the doors yet?

It was always a little frightening to go to an unfamiliar place, but Adriane had assured her that crime was low in Corythia and that the locals raved about this particular club, so Lia felt a bit safer. She’d gotten a ride to town from one of Adriane’s drivers, who had given her his number. When she was ready to return, all she had to do was pick up the phone.

There was no risk in escaping for the night. So she needed to shake off this feeling of unease and just enjoy herself like the single woman she was.

If any of the men thought she was there for more than dancing, then they’d be sorely out of luck. Her desire to be with other men had been zip since Shane, and her attempts at dating had been pathetic, to say the least. The only pleasure she was looking for was the kind of warmth a bottle of Jack Daniel’s gave and some heavy-duty dancing. She wasn’t going home with one of the locals of Corythia.

It seemed Shane had ruined her for any other man. Maybe she should just get over the misunderstandings. She was, actually. Now, it was just fear. Fear that she would hand over her heart fully, only to have that horrible phone call saying he’d never be home again — that she’d lost him forever.

Finally pushing herself to get over this very different anxiety, she stepped inside the club, forcing a smile to her lips. Smoke filled the air, and she could see people laughing, but their laughter could barely be heard over the loud bass of the music. Bodies tangled wildly in front of her on the dance floor. Yes, this was exactly what she’d needed. The smile would soon become real.

This would pull her from the mood she’d been in for the past several months; this would relieve the ache in her body from going so long without fulfillment. Nothing cured sexual frustration like what she had in mind. Plus, it would help her ego if one or two men gave her a bit of attention. Yes, that made her a slight tease, but she wasn’t feeling at all good about herself at the moment. She needed something to lift her spirits.

The worst part of the continued ache in her body was knowing that she was the cause.

All it would take would be a single word and she could be crying out in ecstasy as Shane took her to the edges of the universe and beyond. The man knew how to bring her pleasure, and only her own stupid pride and stubbornness was preventing her from taking advantage of it.

Pushing those thoughts to the furthest recesses of her mind, Lia looked around the crowded room, then began to make her way toward the bar. First order of business was a drink — anything would do. Something to take the edge off her sexual appetite. That was all she was looking for.

As the crowd parted, she froze. She would recognize those broad strong shoulders and that dark hair anywhere.

It was Shane, and he wasn’t alone.

Instant jealousy jolted her heart awake at the sight of a sleek, scantily dressed brunette hanging all over his arm, her breasts brushing his shoulder and back, her top revealing more than it was hiding.

So what? She shouldn’t care if he was enjoying himself with some trashy woman who was obviously looking to get laid. Lia had told him it was never going to happen again with her, so of course he’d move on. He was young and gorgeous, and he had his entire life in front of him.

What did she expect? That he’d pine over her forever?

Well, kind of.

That was ridiculous.

And so was this. She’d come out to get a break, to turn her thoughts away from Shane, and instead she had to watch him being pawed.

Getting ready to turn, she noticed the expression on his face.

A surge of joy calmed her ever-pounding, erratic heart. He wasn’t on a date. He was clearly trying to enjoy a drink and instead getting some very unwanted attention. Lia watched as he tried to pry the woman’s fingers from his thigh — without any success.

It reminded her of the old days. The days she’d been in love with him, and he’d still looked at her like a little sister.

Well, those days were obviously long past, but she couldn’t stop herself from moving through the wall-to-wall crowd of people. She’d decided to ride to his rescue.

She even managed to convince herself that she was doing it as a favor for a friend, not because she wanted to stake a claim on her territory, a territory she had no right to.

“Hi, babe. Did you order my drink yet?” Lia asked as she pushed herself in beside Shane and sent him a wink.

He gazed back at her in shock at finding her there, shock that quickly turned to relief as he figured out what she was doing.

“Sorry, I haven’t had a chance yet,” he said, his arm snaking around her waist and pulling her close, leaving her no choice but to hoist one leg over his as she half sat on him.

Oh, my, her body heated up fast. She was expecting to save him, but she wasn’t expecting such close contact while doing so. It felt entirely too good to pull back, however. Plus, she rationalized, that would be sending a clear message to the annoying brunette, whose smile had disappeared as soon as Lia showed up.

The entire game would be defeated if she didn’t play along. And that was just no fun.

“Well, you know what I like,” she said, then glanced up with a start, as if just noticing the other woman.

Lia looked the woman in the eye and then raised her eyebrow as she pointedly turned her glance on the hand the woman was pressing down on Shane’s free thigh.

“He’s taken, sweetie,” the brunette growled. “Why don’t you run along?” She squeezed just a bit more closely against Shane’s side. Her breasts were so squished on his shoulder that Lia was getting far more of a view than she cared to see.

“Sorry, doll, but he’s been taken for a long time. If you don’t remove your hand from my boyfriend’s thigh, I’m going to have to get mean — and you won’t like me very much then.” Lia spoke with just enough menace to get her point across.

Shane’s head whipped back and forth between the two women as if he didn’t know what to do. Typical male.

The girl lifted her hand, grabbed the back of Shane’s neck and brought her painted red lips to his, kissing him hard and fast. “When you get sick of her, I’ll be over there,” she said, then released him and sauntered off.

Lia felt a real urge to chase after the skank, but Shane’s arm tightened around her as if he knew where her thoughts were going.

“Thanks for the rescue. I’ve been around some persistent females, but damn,” he said before giving forth an involuntary chuckle.

Lia’s gaze was drawn to the perfection of his lips, and as he caressed her lower back and the crowd pushed her even closer to him, she was forgetting why it was a bad idea for the two of them to make love again.

The reason had to be stupid.

“No problem. You’ve saved me enough times,” she said.

The bartender stepped over to them, breaking the spell Shane had her under, and Lia ordered a Long Island Iced Tea. She’d need the extra kick the drink would give her.

Neither of them said another word as her drink was mixed and set before her. Shane paid the man, giving him a healthy tip and encouraging him to come back when their glasses got low, then waited as Lia took a few long swallows.

She knew she should try to put some distance between her and Shane, but as the crowd surged, the music pulsed, and the drink warmed her blood, she decided that distance was vastly overrated.

Somehow she ended up fully on his lap, with his arm around her waist, his mouth within inches of her own.

She could blame it on the alcohol, blame it on the club — but the reality was that she wanted him, wanted him more than any other man in the universe. More than anything, period. She loved him, and no matter how much she fought it, she was always going to love him.

So why not have one more night together? Soon he’d be gone again, leaving her and going to parts unknown. Wouldn’t she regret it more if she didn’t have this memory of them together? What if the next mission ensured he never returned?

Surely it was better to have a piece of him than nothing at all.

When he leaned forward with the clear intention of kissing her, Lia didn’t hesitate. She met him halfway, groaning in celebration as their mouths joined together.

Yes, this was where she wanted to be. This was where she should have been all night. Who needed alcohol when she could get drunk from his touch?

Shane pulled back. “Do you want to leave, Lia? The choice is yours.” His lips grazed her ear as he spoke so she would be sure to hear him above the noise.

Lia paused for only a second. Could she do this and still stay strong?

Did it matter?

No. No, it didn’t.

“Yes, Shane.”

She didn’t have to say anything else. Shane threw another tip on the bar, lifted her from his lap and set her quickly on her feet. Taking her hand, he parted the crowd with the sheer size of his masculine frame, and they exited the club.