"Don't drink too much of that unless you can hold your liquor," he told her.
"I won't." That had to mean she couldn't. She might get drunk from two sips for all he knew. And that would put them in a worse mess.
He pulled her close and pretended to talk dirty in her ear. "It's dangerous as hell for you to be here. I need for you to pretend to be my date. Follow my lead." When she nodded, he continued. "My name is Nick Worth. Yours is Emily Green. We went out one time before, last week. I'm the drummer in this band called Moonstone."
He had to get her out of here, but the band hadn't yet played their set and he never left with women this early in the night. He didn't want to deviate much from his normal MO.
"We're supposed to go on and play in a few minutes. All you have to do is act like a groupie."
"What's a groupie—oh, you mean one of those sex-addicted girls who can't wait to screw the whole band."
A shot of arousal ricocheted through him and his cock hardened like granite. "Don't say things like that," he growled. Damn, he couldn't take being around her, especially in those clothes. "And, by the way, could you have dressed any skimpier?"
The top of the dress had two strips of fabric that barely covered her breasts. Her cleavage was lickable, the sides of her perky breasts showing. Her hard nipples protruded beneath the thin fabric. The hem of the dress barely covered a few inches of her delectable thighs. He wanted to carry her to the back room and fuck her against the wall.
"I didn't want to…draw suspicion." She sipped at the margarita and licked the salt from her lips. His gut clenched and his balls tightened. Damn, he wanted to lick her from her red pouting lips to her ankles and back again.
"Believe me, you won't." But she'd draw every straight man's attention in this place, and he might have to fight them off. He knew how to solve that problem. "Let's dance." He set her drink on the bar and lifted her off the stool. She'd had enough alcohol anyway. More than half a margarita and she'd probably start staggering.
He had to show every man here she was with him so there'd be no question. No bozos hitting on her while he was on stage with the band. If he left with her now, the band couldn't play, which would jeopardize the cover he'd cultivated for months. They all knew he enjoyed a variety of women, but he'd never bailed on his band mates to leave with one. Not only would the guys think he was acting odd, so would the nightclub owner who'd hired them to play.
Hell, he wished she hadn't come here tonight, but he knew she'd had no other choice.
* * * *
"I don't want to dance," Emily grumbled, glaring at Nick's broad shoulders as he practically dragged her onto the crowded dance floor. Did he have to be so sarcastic and bossy? She stumbled, but caught against his back. Probably shouldn't have drunk so much of the mixed drink since she'd skipped dinner. But she was thirsty and she loved margaritas.
To the rhythm of the slow, rough-edged love song, Nick pulled her close into a languid dance, sliding her arms up around his neck and then framing her waist with his strong hands. Breathing hot against her temple, he dropped his hands an inch or two and caressed just below the small of her back. An electrical tingle skittered through her and she almost gasped.
The alcohol heated her veins, making her dizzy. His strong body sliding against hers sparked excitement and arousal.
Nick had touched her more in the last three minutes than any man had for the past two years. She hadn't realized how starved for physical contact she was.
His silky hair brushed the backs of her hands at his neck. Through the open front of his black leather vest, her breasts, barely covered in a sequined fabric, brushed his bare chest, hypnotizing her.
"You're doing great," he murmured against her ear, only loud enough for her to hear over the blaring music. His breath scorched her skin. "You're right. You dressed perfectly for this role. You look hot as hell."
His words sent a blast of lust and exhilaration through her. He truly thought she looked hot? What could she say to that? "Thank you." How lame.
He grinned, making her feel far more naïve than she was.
"I knew you'd think so," she added.
Turning more serious, he lifted a brow.
There, she'd put him in his place.
"You hoped I'd think so," he breathed into her ear. She shivered. Her nipples tingled and ached. Flirting with Nick was a wicked indulgence.
"I know what turns men on," she said, taking their play a risky step further. Could she turn him on?
He narrowed his eyes, then spoke into her ear again. "Well then, you also know what tells other men you're mine and off limits."
His possessive words snatched her breath. She loved the way he'd said you're mine. "What are you talking about?"