She bit her lip again, the indecision clear. He loosened his hand on her back and started to rub softly like before.
“He sounded angry on the phone. He told the person that MC doesn’t like delays and to have the shipment tomorrow night at midnight without delay. Not a second later.” Her body clouded with trembles.
Hot damn. He couldn’t believe his ears. The information he needed tossed out of her mouth like she had no clue, which he believed. She had no clue that what she overheard she shouldn’t have. And MC? Couldn’t she see the connection? That clearly stood for Martin Chilani.
He had the time. Midnight tomorrow. Now he needed a location.
“Hmm, sounds a little dubious. What does Franklin do as a job? He could’ve been talking about work. Did he mention anything else?” Heart pounding like mad, he hoped against all hope she couldn’t tell how nervous he was to hear her answer.
“That’s a good point.” She laughed like she was an idiot. “He works near the docks, doing what, I have no clue. He goes from job to job a lot, and honestly, I try to forget that man even exists. He said something about Pier 9. You’re right. It has to be related to his job and he doesn’t want to get into any trouble with his boss. Forget I said anything.”
Dax laughed with her to ease the unspoken tension. “That’s all it was. I have no problem forgetting about him. What I don’t want to forget is dancing with you.” He stood up, holding his hand out. “Will you dance with me?”
Shyly, she placed her hand into his. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Wrapping her perfectly into his arms, they moved to the slow beat like she was born to fit into his arms. “This is the best dance of the night.”
Without turning away, her face shaded to a faint red as she said, “Is this you being nice, playing along to make me feel good?”
“You mean like I did with Lora?”
“Yes,” she whispered breathlessly, almost as if she was afraid to voice it.
The best answer would be to say yes. Lie to her. Don’t encourage anything. But he already hated all the lies between them. No more worries about his job anymore. To his great surprise, he retrieved the information he’d been seeking. How that happened, he wasn’t too happy about it. He sure in the hell wouldn’t be letting his boss know it came from Sarafina. He’d deal with the potential fall-out later if it came to it. There was no way in hell he would drag her anywhere near this mess.
Because he was here for a job, he should say yes. Tear whatever was happening between them off like a band-aid. Fast and clean. He shouldn’t even be entertaining anything with her.
“No. This isn’t me being nice. Ignoring you for the entire evening was me being nice.”
“That doesn’t sound very nice to me.”
Bending his head, his mouth brushed her ear as he took a small nibble. “Giving into my feelings for you would lead to nothing good. Trust me, Sarafina. Keeping my distance was me being nice. Giving into what I crave is being selfish.” He sucked on her earlobe, then placed a tender kiss on her neck before looking into her eyes. He was such a jerk. Why did he continue to torture them both?
“I’ve wanted you almost since I met you. I’m dying to take you away from this place and lock you in a room with just the two of us. I’m dying to explore what’s underneath this beautiful dress. But I can’t do any of that. You deserve more than what I can give.”
There. A little honesty for once. And it killed him to utter each word.
She was a nice girl. Wasn’t that what Travis said? Any man who wanted to take her home would know that. Clearly, Dax knew that but refused to indulge in sweet pleasure with her knowing he only wanted a one-night stand.
Could she do a one-night stand? Was she that type of girl?
No. She wasn’t.
But for Dax, the thought sounded appealing. She wanted him. How could she deny them the pleasure? Maybe he would reconsider. Maybe it could turn into more than a one-night stand.
Of course, wasn’t that what all women thought?
No. Only nice girls thought that. The other women knew the terms when it came to a one-night stand. But maybe he would see how good they could be together if she let him take her home.
Was she really contemplating this? What happened to keeping her distance? He was the wrong man for her. Completely wrong—until he nibbled on her ear and pressed his warm lips to her skin, concluding he was perfect for her. She couldn’t stop the inferno roaring inside her body, or function to think.
“Sarafina, I feel like I lost you. What are you thinking?”
She tore her gaze away from his chest to look him straight in the eyes. “I was thinking about how wonderful your lips would feel on other parts of my body.”
Did she just say that? She didn’t say things like that.
“God, you’re torturing me.” He pulled her closer, letting her feel how strongly he wanted her. “Trust me. You’d hate me the next day.”
“Not if we’re clear what this is.”
“And what is this? What do you think this is between us?”
“A strong sexual attraction, probably from the start. What’s so wrong with giving in to that attraction?”
His feet moved with quick precision, yet gracefully, as he steered them to some privacy. Off the dance floor, away from the crowd, he grabbed her cheeks. “Listen to me. I can’t give you more than a night. That’s all this would be. One night between us. You’re not that kind of woman. I won’t treat you like that kind of woman.”
“Even if it’s what I want? I’m always picking out the wrong man, thinking they are sweet, kind, generous when they turn out to be nothing close to that. I keep telling myself you are wrong for me and to keep my distance. Well, maybe that’s what’s been wrong all along. I’m pushing the wrong men away. I’ll take one night with you. I want to be that kind of woman tonight.”
“Listen to your instincts. I am wrong for you. I won’t turn you into that. Don’t ask me to.”
Leaning into him, she ran her hands down his chest. “Because if I ask, you’ll give me what I want.”
He trembled under her touch, his eyes glistening into maddening desire. “You make it impossible to resist you. Please, Sarafina, I don’t want you to hate me. You will. Trust me.”
“I’m a big girl, Dax. I can take care of myself. I can take a hint. I’m sorry.”
Before she embarrassed herself further by flinging herself into the arms of a man who didn’t want her as much as his body said he did, she turned around. Getting one foot in front of her, a strong hand twirled her back around. She slammed into his chest as his mouth came crashing down.
She opened her mouth to let him explore when he pulled away, breathing heavily. “Damn it. I don’t want to want you. But I can’t help myself. Please, whatever happens in the future, know that what’s about to happen tonight is because I care for you. I’m risking it all to have this one night. Just one. There can never be more.”
Still feeling the taste of him on her lips, she almost had a hard time focusing on his words. “You’re confusing me. Are you married? Do you have a girlfriend or something? What are you risking?”