Page 29 of The Devil's Revelation
“What?” I repeat.
“Who told you that bullshit?”
I blink at him. “What bullshit?”
“The bullshit about you not being able to tempt a man.” He’s frowning now and his eyes are no longer filled with a good kind of heat. The heat in them now is pure temper.
I frown back at him. “No one told me that. I just know. I’m not looking for validation, Torque. Besides, I’m not here for a man, so it’s a moot point. Now, are you going to shoot or are we going to stand here and hog the table?”
“You tell him, girl,” a raven-haired woman calls out across from us. The other women snicker, and the man behind her rolls his eyes and then leans down to whisper something in her ear. Damn, he’s hot too. Again, I ask myself, is it a requirement for everyone to be beautiful to be in this place?
Torque rolls his eyes at her and then glances at me before moving to make his own shot. We play a few more rounds in silence until we’re both down to the eight ball and the shot isn’t a simple one for either of us. Torque comes to stand beside me and drawls, “Care to make a wager?”
I look up at him and ask, “What kind of wager?”
He smirks. “If I win, you have to dance with me.”
I’m surprised by that. I was sure he was going to suggest money. “And if I win?”
“Your choice.”
“So if I win, you have to do whatever the hell I say, no matter how embarrassing?” I ask, liking the idea more and more by the second.
He nods. “I win, you dance with me.”
“You know, you could just ask me to dance,” I point out drily.
“But then you would be able to say no,” he points out with a grin.
“I’m not much of a dancer, but sure, you’re on.” Now I just have to make sure I don’t lose.
The next few minutes are tense as we take our shots, neither of us sinking the ball. Everyone else has faded away as I focus on Torque, who is eyeing the table carefully. I take in the way his shoulders bunch and flex, as he cocks his hip and bends low over the table, lining up his shot. I take in the way the denim of his jeans molds over his ass, stretching the material. Damn. I never knew a man’s ass could be so damn sexy.
I pull my gaze away, taking in his hands as they brace and hold the pool cue. His hands show the hard work of his job, slightly stained with oil and grease, no different from my own. They look callused and rough, but while some might find it off-putting, I find it sexy as hell. I have no use for pretty boys that have never worked a day in their life. Give me a man covered in dirt and sweat any day.
Torque’s eyes lift to mine, and they dilate slightly as they connect. There’s no missing the want there, the desire that’s surely reflected in mine. It’s nothing I can have right now, but I won’t deny the pleasure that burns inside me knowing this man clearly wants me. He holds my gaze as he says, “Far right corner pocket.” He pulls his eyes from mine, lines up his shot, and hits the ball with his cue.
I watch the ball travel towards the side wall, then bounce off and head right for the exact pocket he called. Smooth as butter, it falls in.
The men all cheer while the women groan, calling Torque a cheater and a dick. Torque and I don’t answer. Instead, he makes his way around the table, grabs my cue, puts it with his against the table, and then takes my hand to pull me through the crowd of people towards the dance floor that is filling up. The music that comes on is a slow, country song, and Torque smoothly pulls me into him, his chest brushing mine, one hand settling low on my back, and the other lightly holding mine.
“Perfect timing,” he says just loud enough for me to hear over the music and the noise.
“For the game to end?”
He shakes his head and smiles at me. “No, the song. I get to hold you close without having to figure out a way to do it on my own.”
I blink up at him. “You wanted to hold me close?” I ask dumbly.
He lowers his head so his mouth is by my ear. “Izzy, please don’t tell me you haven’t noticed that I’m attracted to you?”
I swallow hard. “I mean, I saw some signs, but I wasn’t sure,” I manage to get out. I want to slap my forehead as soon as the words leave my mouth. God, could I sound any more inexperienced?
He gives a low chuckle, putting just a bit of pressure on my back to pull me tighter into him. I gasp softly when I feel a very unmistakable bulge against my belly. “Does that answer your question?” he whispers, his voice almost a purr.
My eyes go to his, and I stare at him. “Why?” I ask.
“Why what?”
