Free Steel: Blackthorne MC #1 by Carrie Cox Page B

muscular forearm. I imagined kissing that tattoo and running my mouth along his skin.
    “Your drink,” he said in that same low, sexy voice.
    I glanced upwards and blushed, knowing full well that he had caught me checking him out. He had a smirk on his face.  
    I was feeling lightheaded, and I didn’t know whether that was the margaritas I’d had earlier or the fact I was standing so close to this gorgeous guy.
    I reached for my drink and took a nervous gulp. “Thanks,” I said. “My friend is around here somewhere.” I looked around over my shoulder, but I couldn’t see Claire. Maybe she’d gone to the ladies room.
    He didn’t say anything. He just looked at me with a hot, intense gaze that made my body tingle.
    Christ, how was it with just that one look he could turn me on more than Jeremy had during a whole night in bed?
    Could I flirt with him? Would I just embarrass myself?
    “So,” I said. “Do you come here often?” As the words left my mouth, my heart sunk in horror. Seriously. Of all the cliched things to say, I had to pick that one .
    He was only staying here with me out of politeness, and now that I’d used that line on him, I was sure to send him running for the hills. But he didn’t run, he gave me a slow, sexy smile and reached out his hand.
    I held my breath as his fingers grazed my cheek and then gently tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. His fingertips felt rough against my skin and I imagined how they would feel touching other parts of my body. “Are you coming onto me?” he asked.
    I flushed scarlet. “I… er…”
    Great. Way to go. So sophisticated. How could he possibly resist me now?
    He chuckled. “I’m just teasing you. I come here now and again.” He leaned forward, put his mouth close to my ear and whispered the words. I could feel his breath on my cheek. It sent delicious tingles down my neck, and I felt my nipples pucker beneath my dress. I swallowed hard. I hoped he couldn’t see just how much he affected me.   “I’m more interested in what you are doing here? It doesn’t really seem like your kind of place.”
    I was so nervous. I reached out and took another sip of my drink, savoring the warming sensation of the alcohol.
    His eyes travelled down from my face to linger on my breasts. I was breathing faster than normal.
    The gorgeous stranger leaned forward again, and I felt his lips hot and soft against my ear as he whispered, “I would really like to take you to my room right now.”
    He pulled away just a fraction to study my face for a response.
    Oh my God. Was this really going to happen? Was I really going to have a hot one night stand with a tattooed stranger? It wasn’t like me. I was Ella Anderson, first-year medical student at Columbia. I studied hard and got good grades. I’d only ever slept with two men before. Could I really go through with it?
    It seemed that every part of my body was screaming yes.
    He leaned closer to me again so that his body was pressed hard against mine and said, “What’s your name?”
    “Ella.” I barely recognized my own voice.  
    “Nice to meet you Ella. I’m Nick.” His lips grazed my cheek and I let out a shaky breath. “Would you like to come to my room, Ella?”
    Oh, God, yes, that was exactly what I wanted.  
    But there was something stopping me saying yes. This man was a stranger. Could I really trust him? Just then I caught sight of Claire out of the corner of my eye.  
    “I’ll just tell my friend what we’re going to do…” I flushed. “I mean not tell her what we’re going to do ! I just don’t want her to worry when she realizes I’m not around.”
    He smiled at me and then chuckled as if he found my babbling amusing or endearing. “I’ll wait here,” he said and leaned back on the bar, giving me a sexy grin.
    I had butterflies in my stomach as I rushed over to Claire. I needed to talk to her quickly and get back to him before he changed his mind.
    Claire was sitting at a table next to a