Chapter 5

The heavy oak door clicked shut behind us, sealing us off from the low murmur of the pool hall and the clack of billiard balls. The air in this private back room was thick, smelling of lemon oil, stale tobacco, and the distinct, musky scent of male sweat that always clung to him. The amber lights overhead buzzed faintly, casting long, warm shadows across the green felt of the nearest table, but I barely noticed the surroundings. My entire world had narrowed down to the man standing before me, his eyes dark and heavy with a hunger that mirrored my own. He didn’t speak at first. He just looked at me, his gaze raking over my body as if he were memorizing every curve, every dip, every inch of skin he intended to claim. The silence stretched, taut and electric, until he finally stepped forward, closing the distance between us in two long strides. When his hands came up to frame my face, his palms were warm and slightly rough, the touch grounding me even as my heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird. "Look at me, baby girl," he murmured, his voice a low rumble that seemed