Page 9 of Challenge Me

“Then you threw your turn. Guess you gave me two chances.”

“You’ve gotta take ‘em when they come.”

The tips of his fingers brushed mine, and my nerves ran wild. In the space between us, the air was charged, crackling with tension that had begun to build the moment I’d walked into this bar.

“Next time I will,” I said.

“Oh, I won’t go easy on you again.” He covered my hand with his and looked down at them. “Tell me what you do.”

“Tell me where you’re from.”

His lips curved, but he didn’t respond. The way he shifted forward put him close enough to feel the heat from his body. Beneath the dim lights, the entire scene was like something from a dream, a mix of oversaturation and sharp clarity. The background faded as he became the focal point. His eyes were harsh in the way they surveyed me, the color shining almost golden.

“I should head out,” I said.

His confident expression wavered, and for a brief second, I got a glimpse of vulnerability. But it was gone so quickly that I wondered if it had ever actually existed.

He pulled his hand back and let it hang at his side. “If you’re sure.”

“I’m sure.”

“Have a good night, then, Amir. It was nice to meet you.”

Before I could respond, he turned around. As he pulled the balls out of the pockets, I heard a dozen different voices. One that sounded like Trav called me an idiot. The others were all over the place, and most of them I chose to ignore.

“Fuck it,” I muttered.

I grabbed Remi’s arm and spun him around. His eyes were wide and flashed with something that felt like a warning, but when my mouth came down on his, everything else disappeared. A new sort of delirium took over, and I slid my hand up his arm until it reached his neck. Cupping the side of it, I let him push my lips open.

It was like Pandora’s Box exploded, releasing a torrent of chaos and desire, impossible to unmake once unleashed.

Chapter 4

Remi

The mirror cracked, the shadows swayed,

A storm uncaged in shallow breath.

Hunger took the place of shame;

I drank it down and starved the rest.

I felt the moment Amir let go of his reservations. They evaporated like smoke and flew away on imaginary winds. I’d have to make a sacrifice to Aeolus to thank him for the assist.

He groaned into my mouth as he leaned closer. The grip on my neck tightened, and I felt trapped in the best way. Still, I pushed back against him, testing his control. Instead of fighting me, he grabbed my hip and backed up until he hit the pool table.

I slipped a finger under his hair tie and started to unwrap it. Once it was free, he shook his head to let his hair fall forward, and I caught more of his signature scent that made my body go haywire.

Pulling back, I took him in fully. The dark strands fell to his shoulders, and just like I’d thought, there were waves. They were sort of beachy, and I could imagine him on a surfboard, shirtless with an ankle bracelet or some shit. He looked like he belonged in nature, commanding it but also respecting it in the way it deserved.

“You’re the kind of sight that ruins a man’s restraint,” I murmured.

Even his bronze skin couldn’t hide the way he blushed.

Sinking my fingers into his hair, I kissed him hard. He leaned into me, but I shoved him back against the table, and it rattled. I heard one of the balls sink into a pocket and wanted to make a joke about my skills, but I decided the man in front of me deserved my undivided attention.

He put a hand on my chest and slipped the other beneath my shirt. He was shaking, but he wasn’t hesitant as his fingers brushed my abdomen.