chance she ordered the drink
because of the burn in the pit of her stomach and the fuzzy feeling it left
behind.
“Hmmm.” He paused when
the waiter returned with his steaming plate and a red drink in a tall glass
with fruit floating in the middle. A replica sword pierced the largest chunk of
fruit and a small flame stemmed from the handle of the sword.
Tarik lips pursed
together as he blew on the sword and Lea clenched her thighs together. Dark
lashes dusted his lids when he closed his eyes. She cleared her throat and
shifted in her seat. His eyes popped open after the flame went out and he
reached for the drink to take a huge swallow.
When he sat the glass
back on the table, his lips parted to release a small trail of smoke. Stars and
hotness. Lea shivered. She’d only seen a few men perform that trick
successfully. Kord was one of them and refused to teach Lea.
“I have a little
wager.”
Lea tried to focus and
clear her foggy thoughts. He wanted to talk when she could barely keep the
drool from her mouth. “A wager?” Her voice came out husky. Lea stiffened her
shoulders and snapped out of lust. “You want to wager.”
He smiled and took
another drink, minus the smoke this time. “Let’s see which of us can drink the
most flaming swords.”
Lea’s eyes widened
though she knew he couldn’t see due to the dark visor she wore. She could
handle drinking. Her best count on the red fiery beverage was four on a stupid
dare a year ago.
That didn’t mean she
should immediately agree though. If she stumbled back to her room and overslept
her departure with Kord in the morning, he’d have her head. But Tarik was the
first man to catch her eye since her accident.
The streaks in his
hair were beautiful enough to make any woman drown in envy herself included and
while his eyes were an unusual shade of lavender there was nothing feminine
about them. The clothing he wore hinted at his wealth. His white shirt was of
obvious quality. The expensive fabric flowed over broad shoulders and draped a
chest made muscular by more than sitting around.
Tarik used the seven
inch metal sticks provided to eat. Another stab of envy. Lea preferred good old
eating utensils that didn’t require skill or dexterity. As he cleaned his plate
and finished the last sip of his drink, she made her decision.
“You’re on.”
He smiled slowly and
her eyes were drawn to his full lips. What would they feel like against hers?
Did he take his time or would he battle through? Both options appealed to her.
“Great.” Tarik raised
his hand without turning his eyes from hers and the waiter arrived at their
table instantly. “Bring us two more flaming swords.”
Lea rested back in her
seat trying to control her increased breathing. This was crazy. She was crazy but excitement built for
the drinking challenge. Sitting in a bar with a handsome stranger who clearly
found her attractive appealed to Lea.
“What kind of wager
are we making?” She asked.
He stretched his legs
under the table and their legs bumped again. Sizzling heat exploded in her
core. Lea yanked her feet back severing the contact. Tarik smirked but waited
until the waiter sat the drinks and left before speaking. “Let’s make it
interesting. I hope I don’t offend when I suggest a small token. A kiss.”
Lea swallowed thickly.
She’d kiss him and didn’t need a wager for it. Fiery heat scored her cheeks on
the heels of the thought. Still she forced herself to meet his gaze. “Is the
kiss the prize or forfeit?”
Tarik’s amused snort
rewarded her. “We’ll call it both unless you have another suggestion.”
Absolutely not. With
the way it stood, one of them would be kissing the other before the night was over
and in her mind that made neither of them the loser.
Chapter 10
Tarik couldn’t believe
his good fortune. His hearts thudded in double time and he barely refrained
from reaching across the table and stroking the slim fingers she worried on the
edge of
because of the burn in the pit of her stomach and the fuzzy feeling it left
behind.
“Hmmm.” He paused when
the waiter returned with his steaming plate and a red drink in a tall glass
with fruit floating in the middle. A replica sword pierced the largest chunk of
fruit and a small flame stemmed from the handle of the sword.
Tarik lips pursed
together as he blew on the sword and Lea clenched her thighs together. Dark
lashes dusted his lids when he closed his eyes. She cleared her throat and
shifted in her seat. His eyes popped open after the flame went out and he
reached for the drink to take a huge swallow.
When he sat the glass
back on the table, his lips parted to release a small trail of smoke. Stars and
hotness. Lea shivered. She’d only seen a few men perform that trick
successfully. Kord was one of them and refused to teach Lea.
“I have a little
wager.”
Lea tried to focus and
clear her foggy thoughts. He wanted to talk when she could barely keep the
drool from her mouth. “A wager?” Her voice came out husky. Lea stiffened her
shoulders and snapped out of lust. “You want to wager.”
He smiled and took
another drink, minus the smoke this time. “Let’s see which of us can drink the
most flaming swords.”
Lea’s eyes widened
though she knew he couldn’t see due to the dark visor she wore. She could
handle drinking. Her best count on the red fiery beverage was four on a stupid
dare a year ago.
That didn’t mean she
should immediately agree though. If she stumbled back to her room and overslept
her departure with Kord in the morning, he’d have her head. But Tarik was the
first man to catch her eye since her accident.
The streaks in his
hair were beautiful enough to make any woman drown in envy herself included and
while his eyes were an unusual shade of lavender there was nothing feminine
about them. The clothing he wore hinted at his wealth. His white shirt was of
obvious quality. The expensive fabric flowed over broad shoulders and draped a
chest made muscular by more than sitting around.
Tarik used the seven
inch metal sticks provided to eat. Another stab of envy. Lea preferred good old
eating utensils that didn’t require skill or dexterity. As he cleaned his plate
and finished the last sip of his drink, she made her decision.
“You’re on.”
He smiled slowly and
her eyes were drawn to his full lips. What would they feel like against hers?
Did he take his time or would he battle through? Both options appealed to her.
“Great.” Tarik raised
his hand without turning his eyes from hers and the waiter arrived at their
table instantly. “Bring us two more flaming swords.”
Lea rested back in her
seat trying to control her increased breathing. This was crazy. She was crazy but excitement built for
the drinking challenge. Sitting in a bar with a handsome stranger who clearly
found her attractive appealed to Lea.
“What kind of wager
are we making?” She asked.
He stretched his legs
under the table and their legs bumped again. Sizzling heat exploded in her
core. Lea yanked her feet back severing the contact. Tarik smirked but waited
until the waiter sat the drinks and left before speaking. “Let’s make it
interesting. I hope I don’t offend when I suggest a small token. A kiss.”
Lea swallowed thickly.
She’d kiss him and didn’t need a wager for it. Fiery heat scored her cheeks on
the heels of the thought. Still she forced herself to meet his gaze. “Is the
kiss the prize or forfeit?”
Tarik’s amused snort
rewarded her. “We’ll call it both unless you have another suggestion.”
Absolutely not. With
the way it stood, one of them would be kissing the other before the night was over
and in her mind that made neither of them the loser.
Chapter 10
Tarik couldn’t believe
his good fortune. His hearts thudded in double time and he barely refrained
from reaching across the table and stroking the slim fingers she worried on the
edge of
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