Free Body Shots by Anne Rainey

and heels made her feel stupid now.
    She’d never been one to go to bars and nightclubs. She only came tonight because Trent had asked her to dinner. She should have done something with Mollie instead. Crystal grabbed her purse. Time to go. It was the only safe and smart thing to do. Unfortunately, that meant leaving Trent behind. A knot formed in her throat at the thought of never seeing him or Mac again.
    As she passed the section of the bar where Trent was sitting, his hand snaked out and grabbed on to her arm. Crystal was brought up short. At first, she felt a rush of irritation at his audacity. Not two seconds ago, another woman had been flirting with him. She yanked away from his grasp as a nasty touch of envy crept into her consciousness. After all, the other woman had been daring enough to approach him, while she was all but running out the door.
    Crystal jerked her head around to give him a good what-for, but she was left speechless by his narrow-eyed gaze. He had the look of a lion who’d just caught dinner. Do I want to be dinner? Do I dare give in to him? If her mind had an answer, it wasn’t giving it up. Her body, on the other hand, was screaming at her to surrender.
    He bent his head down and she could feel his hot breath against her ear as she inhaled his clean male scent. “Where are you going?” he asked. He got off his own stool and stood in front of her. He was so close she could practically feel the intense sexual heat coming off him. His body was so wide, so muscular, and so very intimidating.” I thought we had a dinner date.”
    â€œYou seem otherwise occupied,” she gritted out as she looked at the woman who still stood way too close to Trent.
    â€œCome on,” he said, as he took hold of her hand and tugged her along behind him. He was chocolate to Crystal. She wanted him, even though she knew it was wrong. The small hint of amusement in his deep, gravely tone nearly had her purring.
    Crystal narrowed her eyes. “Don’t you have customers to get back to?”
    He turned his head and his eyes darkened. “No. But before you say anything else, I think it’d be best if we continued this discussion in private.”
    Still, she hesitated. Trent didn’t give her a chance to protest. “You haven’t taken your pretty eyes off me since you got here.”
    Crystal caved. Fine, so she was weak. Trent seemed to recognize the instant she succumbed. No more words were uttered from either of them. He simply led her away, twisting his way through the sea of bumping and grinding bodies. People appeared to step aside for him. She was suitably impressed. He took her to the upstairs apartment, and Crystal’s thoughts were obliterated as she watched him walk. He was so sexy. So much fluid grace. And he had the most edible ass she’d ever seen. A man’s well-muscled tush did it for her every time. Crystal felt the apex of her thighs dampen with arousal.
    When he closed the door to the apartment behind him, Crystal started right in. “Why did you bring me here?” she bit out, as anger started to rise.
    Trent stepped forward then, taking her head in his large, skillful hands, and gritted out, “I brought you here to tell you that I was turning that woman down. Not taking her number.”
    Crystal was afraid to believe him. She’d believed Richard’s lies in the beginning, hadn’t she? “It seemed to me she was getting pretty cozy with you.”
    â€œI do own a nightclub,” he murmured. “One that caters to people interested in bondage and submission. That brings on a certain amount of flirtatious behavior. Still, since meeting you I’m not interested in other women. Only you, Crystal.”
    And why did that send her heart fluttering? “You’re interested in me?”
    â€œYes, and I’ve been dying to do this . . .” Then his mouth was suddenly crushed against hers, forcing her lips