Kes, as in Keswick? I knew that name from Silver's business card. A quick peek at him showed me the tension in his face. Was he wondering if I'd heard, or what I was thinking?
I played dumb, taking the drink from Silver. “Gerard,” he said, reaching out to join the handshake. “I haven't seen you in some time.”
“Over a year, at least,” the stranger laughed. Gerard glanced between us, his lips coiling on the corners. “And who is this lovely lady?”
Sipping my drink, I looked at the other man curiously. How did he know Silver? “I'm Alexis,” I said, waving briefly.
Gerard gave Silver a thoughtful look. I tried to read it, but I failed. “Well,” he said, gesturing around. “I never imagined I'd see you back in California. Didn't you move to Portland?”
“I still do some business here,” he said.
“Yeah?” Gerard cocked his head. “What about Florian, he here too? Man, everyone was upset when you guys bailed.”
“It's not bailing to take what you know and make something for yourself.”
Gerard was watching me from the corner of his eye. Silver was, too. “I remember you guys leaving even after I offered you a severe salary increase. Guess you were too good to work for anyone else, huh?” He flashed an insincere grin.
This is awkward. I hadn't thought I'd get caught in a subtle war like this. My drink was half gone, I saw Silver hadn't touched his.
Gerard pointed his too-sharp chin at me. “Alexis, right?” He paused, his tongue running over his lips. “You been to this club before?”
“Oh, uh, no.” I smiled apologetically.
Next to me, Silver stiffened and said, “That's enough.”
He leaned close, watching Silver as he spoke to me. “You do know what happens here, though?”
“Gerard.”
“If not, I'm sure he can show you around,” the man went on. “He's been here a lot. Shown plenty of others what to expect, if you get me.”
He's pissing Silver off by making me uncomfortable. Silver and Gerard had definitely parted on bad terms. He was trying to make me a casualty. I had other ideas.
Silver stepped forward, his knuckles tensing around his glass. Gerard was watching him with a delighted smirk. That meant he didn't see me when I stood tall, my arm pulling back.
“Hey!” Gerard gasped, jumping as the last of my drink soaked his face and shirt.
Setting the glass down, I hooked my arm on Silver's. “You're right,” I said, smiling sweetly. “He can show me how this place works. Thanks.” With a firm pull, I led Silver into the crowd.
I was acting calm, but my pulse was racing. Silver yanked me sideways, his fingers on my shoulders while he stared at my face. Amazingly, his look of shock erased my nerves—I started laughing.
He said, “You threw your drink on him.”
“Yeah,” I said. “I did. He was being an ass.”
Silver pulled me into a rough hug. Knowing that I'd made him happy was an aphrodisiac. It must have been for him, too, because he held me around my hips and guided me to a wall. His palms cupped my ass through my dress, mauling me as he breathed on my neck.
We were grinding together, the music only partially creating our tempo; we had a beat all our own. He hovered above me, his hands touching me all over like he had a million fingers. Tracing down the small of my back, he crossed over my hip—my thigh.
Silver froze, his eyes glinting in the blue club lights. Bending in, he spoke into my ear. “Are you wearing some of the lingerie?”
Pushing off my heels, I kissed the corner of his jaw. “Why don't you find out?”
His mouth twitched, his expression shifting. He was asking me a question with his silence. Are you sure? Silver was checking in to see if I was willing to play here.
When we'd first met, I'd been terrified of the concept. I'd seen the people having sex in public and I'd backed down instantly. I'd been so scared.
Now, I wasn't.
His hips thrust, pinning me to the wall. I felt eyes on us instantly, even if I was too busy kissing him to see. The world was a tornado of colors and sound, but it all centered here—right here—with this man.
Coiling his fist in my hair, he wrenched my head back. Teeth found my throat, my ear... and then they vanished. Panting, I gazed up at him with impatience. He held me steady, not letting me do much more than wriggle. Silver was so damn good at teasing me. “Please,” I hissed, willing him to go further with just my eyes.
And then I felt the shift in his mood.
Silver was breathing heavy, his teeth close to snarling. To anyone else, he was a creature on the verge of leaping forward to consume anything in his path. He'd stopped himself, but not because he was trying to drive me wild.