The Rules Of Attraction Read online

  Feeling embarrassed for staring the way I was, I turned away and changed my movements to a light sway.

  The song was still going, it was in its height of the beat. A guy shuffled closer

  to me and started dancing.

  He was cute. Not as gorgeous as Mr. Perfect over by the column but cute, and seemed to be a little goofy too.

  More what I would class as my type. He got me back into my flow and I would have continued dancing with him if I didn’t catch sight of Mr. Perfect now standing amongst the crowd, eyes locked on me.

  The lights flickered on him. Blue, red, gold, green, but didn’t mask the sexiness that radiated from him or the fact that he was fixated on me.

  I slowed my movements again, unable to look away like I had before.

  I was the last person to stare at anyone because I thought it was rude, but this man made me want to stare.

  Someone bumped into me from behind, breaking the connection. It was only then that I turned away.

  I’d lost Mr. Goofy in that little shuffle and was now surrounded by a bunch of guys who looked at me like I was fresh meat. One started dancing with me. He was gorgeous with his shoulder length locks and that laid back style.

  Again, though, not like Mr. Perfect who I’d seemed to lose.

  Maybe this was a little too much carefree for me. I wasn’t here to pick up guys.

  I should go. Go back to the apartment. I’d had the drink and danced myself silly if only for a few minutes, but me dancing with all these guys was probably a bad idea.

  I shuffled away from them and headed back up to the stairs where the beat was chilled.

  I was about to turn the corner for the exit when the warmth of a strong, large hand grabbed mine, stopping me.

  Twisting to look, I found myself gazing up at Mr. Perfect, who towered me with his height and that fascinating masculine presence.

  “You couldn’t possibly be leaving yet.” He said in a deep, alluring voice that immediately captured me.

  His eyes roamed over my body and I allowed myself to look at him too.

  I didn’t think it was possible, but the man was hotter up close.

  His face was all angles with a chiseled jaw, tanned skin and a five o’clock shadow.

  Those compelling eyes riveted me to the spot, looking at me in a way that did sinful things to my body. I saw pure, raw desire in them.

  Being this close also allowed me to see his eye color.

  They were gray, like silver. Very unusual looking, almost otherworldly reminding me of a smoky cloud.

  “Yes.” I answered realizing that I was simply staring and hadn’t answered him. I also noted that his hand was still clasped around mine.

  “Don’t tell me I’m the only one who felt that back there.” The slow easy smile widened in a cunning way.

  “What?” I acted like I didn’t know what he meant, but I knew.

  If I didn’t know anything else it was that, whatever that was. And, I felt it now.

  “Attraction.” He cajoled.

  “Oh, really?”

  “Yeah. Definitely.” He nodded. “Pure energy with the power to evoke and control.”

  “You make it sound like an actual thing.”

  “It is, and there are rules.” The smile up close was well and truly sexy too. It paralyzed me.

  At least I had to give him credit for being original with his pick-up lines, but then guys like him didn’t have to worry about what they said.

  “Like a game?”

  “Yes, exactly like a game. And, we just got chosen to play.” I noticed the way he lingered on the word play.

  “We?” I smiled inched across my face. Yup, definitely original, and not bad at all.

  He nodded.

  “What are the rules?” Why did I ask? That was letting trouble take me, but some part of me reached out for this attention.

  “Don’t fight attraction, do what it tells you. That’s the first rule. So I can’t allow the most beautiful woman here to leave without dancing with me first.”

  God, what should I say to that?

  An electrifying shudder reverberated through me.

  I was a wreck inside, and didn’t exactly look my best on the outside, but this perfect man thought I was beautiful, and he was still holding my hand.

  It had been awhile since I felt beautiful, and definitely not in the last few months.

  His gaze, bold and assessing dropped from my eyes, to my shoulders, to my breasts, then drifted casually down the rest of me. The look was so galvanizing that it sent a tremor through my body and scattered my nerves.

  “I should –”

  This guy was one of those that spelled trouble, and I didn’t need trouble right now. I usually avoided guys like that. The cocky, arrogant sort that were usually assholes. But what did I know? After Tom I could hardly claim to be a good judge of character.

  “Dance with me, angel.” Magical words which charmed me. Jauntily, he cocked his blonde head to the side.

  “Dance?”

  “Yes,” he stepped towards me and suddenly I became aware of how close we were standing. He dipped his head low to my ear, and with a low, seductive voice said, “I liked the way you danced. It was damn sexy. The guys who got close to you were lucky. I just want a chance too.”

  I considered it and allowed the fantasy of dancing with him to take over.

  How could I resist a dance with a truly handsome man who thought I was the most beautiful woman here?

  Chapter 2

  Summer

  It was electric.

  Magnetic and hot.

  Dancing with him was like nothing I’d ever done before.

  Rhythm poured from him and our bodies moved together like they were made for each other.

  This was what people called chemistry.

  Every touch sparked a connection, a reaction. It interested me, intrigued me, and yet I didn’t even know my mystery man’s name.

  That thing I felt, attraction, drew me to him.

  I didn’t think that anything could make me forget the reason I sought refuge in this place. Dancing with this gorgeous man had proved me wrong.

  As we moved I became more and more aware of his touch.

  His hands on me, his hips moving with mine and the fact that he made no effort to mask the desire in the way he touched me.

  He wanted me to know he was attracted to me.

  We were dancing like we’d known each other long enough to be dancing this close.

  Like we knew each other intimately.

  There was nothing chaste in the way that we moved and I got lost in the moment and the feeling.

  People were watching us and actually giving us our own space.

  Gold lights beamed down on us and I turned to face him. Heat washed over me when I saw the intense lust in his eyes. It pulled me further into this enchantment.

  Butterflies filled my stomach and fluttered straight to the pit of my groin, alerting me that I was completely turned on.

  He took hold of my hips and pulled me closer so that our bodies were touching again. He then dipped his head low to my ear and whispered when the music changed so I could hear.

  “Sexy, truly sexy.”

  His face was close to mine and I was aware of his hand creeping down the hollow of my back.

  “You too.” I whispered back, but my voice got lost in the sound of the beat that came back.

  This song was slower, made for lovers.

  We should stop here. I should stop because this man was making me lose control of my mind and I didn’t think that was a good thing.

  That would have been the logical thing to do but for some inexplicable reason, I couldn’t move to leave him. That part of my brain was shut for business.

  It had been a long time since I was touched this way. A long time since I allowed myself to be turned on.

  A long time since I actually felt sexy, as sexy as he said.

  The fire that took over from this new persona I�
�d created for the night had wanted me to tease and play so I did. Something inside me caved and allowed my emotions and inner desires to run free. I realized in that moment that that was what the drink had done to me. It stopped that part of me that held myself back from doing what my inner desires pushed me to do.

  Like this. I would never normally be in a club, drinking and dancing with a stranger.

  And, dancing like this.

  I wiggled my hips to the beat of the music setting alight a wicked smile his face. He leaned closer, so close that I thought he was going to kiss me. He stopped just a breath away from my lips and paused with that sexy smile for effect. The heat of his body radiating. Hot, just like him.

  “Again.” I read his lips.

  When I did it again I amplified the move, making it more sexy just for him.

  Moving my hands slowly over my hair, down my chest drawing his attention to my breasts.

  His gaze heated up turning into a look reserved for a predator stalking a prey.

  Devour. The look told me he wanted to devour me.

  He slid his hands across to my waist, but it was like I could feel him all over

  me.

  God, if Tom and Becca could see me now. If they could see this man who was a million times more gorgeous than Tom, and sexy, looking at me as if I was one of those women who were perfect.

  And, me… being in this man’s presence instantly gave me sinful thoughts that must have come from a combo of the drink and the wild streak my mind was running on.

  The music stopped but that didn’t stop us. He pulled me closer, compelling my head to turn into his powerful shoulders then he dipped down to brush his lips against the curve of my neck.

  Just like his voice, it caressed my skin and sparked the endings of my nerves making desire pool deep in my core. I moved away, completely aware of what this man was doing to me, but he caught my hand and pulled me back.

  Gazing into his eyes, I saw something sensual there.

  It froze me, holding me in place just like earlier.

  He reached up and brushed the side of my cheek with his thumb, then lifted my chin towards him.

  The cockiness of his smile danced on his lips but served to keep me in the trance of the moment.

  His eyes…

  They clasped me with lusting invisible fingers and I felt powerless to resist his charm.

  “Let me buy you a drink.” He offered.

  Nice as this was I couldn’t have another drink, and I was cautious of what having another drink with him would lead to.

  “Just had one, but thanks. It was nice to meet you. I should go now.” I stepped out of his touch and moved away.

  He was trouble, dancing with me like that. And I would be in trouble to entertain any further contact with him.

  I wasn’t used to feeling like this, or sparking weird connections with strangers who could get me all hot and bothered with sinful thoughts I’d need to book a week in confession for.

  That wasn’t me, and as carefree as I wanted to be for the night I didn’t think adding a man to the drinks I’d had was a good idea.

  Especially not this man, who I shouldn’t have been surprised wouldn’t take no for an answer.

  He caught my hand once again before I could get away from him, stopping me in my tracks.

  I looked down at our hands joined and then back up to him, and the charmer that he obviously was lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it.

  Damn.

  I noted how soft his lips felt on my knuckles and couldn’t stop myself from wondering how he’d feel on my lips.

  “Just one.” He mouthed as the music started up again, and held up one finger.

  This was the part where I could walk away, and go back to my hovel of an apartment where I knew I would sink into depression over Tom and Becca again.

  Or I could have one more drink with this guy?

  “Okay,” I gave in. “Just one.”

  The smile he gave me now reached his eyes.

  Instead of going to the bar I was originally at he led me up to the VIP section, which was actually a room on its own with glass walls. The volume was controlled in here too.

  The room hovered over the dance floor literally creating the feel of floating in a glass ball, but while we could see outside no one could see us in here. This was the kind of room designed with style, with the definite VIP’s in mind.

  A bartender came inside to take our orders when we sat down in the booth.

  “Water.” Mr. Perfect ordered to my surprise, then slid a little closer to me. “And orange juice for the lady,” he looked at me. “Unless if you want something stronger.”

  “Orange juice is good. Thank you.” Orange juice was better than having anything else alcoholic.

  The bartender went away with the order leaving us together.

  “What’s your name angel?” Mr. Perfect asked.

  Angel, I liked that. For a moment I wondered if this was how the woman in the pink dress felt when that man was talking to her.

  “It’s Summer,” I replied. “And you?”

  “Alex.” I liked the sound of his voice. It was deep and masculine, strong and sexy, but also playful.

  The bartender returned with our drinks handing me mine first.

  “Are you here by yourself Summer?”

  I wondered how to answer that question. Was telling him I was here alone a bad thing?

  Bad things happening to women in clubs were always on the news. I didn’t get the impression of this man being harmful in that way, but what would I know? I’d just met him.

  I was attracted to him, and knew that much but as for anything else I didn’t know.

  He laughed on seeing my contemplation. “I swear to God I don’t bite. Just wanted to know if I should expect a boyfriend or a husband storming over here to kick my ass for being with his woman.”

  I smirked. When I was with Tom that would never happen. Tom was too laid back and never said anything when guys hit on me. Even when I got the creepy kind who were overtly undressing me with their eyes, he still did nothing.

  “No, there isn’t anyone here like that. I just came here to check the place out.”

  “By yourself?” He raised a dark brow. I noticed his lashes and eyebrows were a shade darker than his hair. It was a very striking contrast.

  “Yes,” I replied tentatively.

  “What would bring a woman like you out to a nightclub, all by herself?” Those eyes of his brightened with a glint of wonder.

  The thing that brought me inside here was Tom and Becca. I didn’t want to talk about them to anyone and sound more pathetic.

  Earlier my brain felt like it was going to implode on itself and I needed to…

  “Escape.” The words went straight from my mind to my lips.

  “What were you escaping?” He looked intrigued.

  “Life,” I said with a nonchalant shrug as if it wasn’t a big deal.

  “Oh, I see.”

  “Are you by yourself?” I decided to ask too.

  “Is that like my question? As in am I here with a girlfriend, or just here physically by myself?” He held my gaze as he took a sip of water, eyes never leaving mine.

  “Both,” I replied. Why not? This was me chilling out right? And being carefree.

  The smile on his face widened with satisfaction. “There is no one like that here,” he borrowed my words. “And I’m here by myself. Turns out I’m escaping life too.” He leaned closer brushing against my shoulder.

  “Really?”

  “Yes.”

  I didn’t think there could be a girlfriend here because of the way that he danced with me, and we were sitting together now. I couldn’t imagine though what he’d have to escape from. He looked like wealth, smelled like it too with the rich woodland aftershave that tantalized my nerves. He had the arrogance and cockiness of a man sure of himself and I didn’t think I needed two guesses to know that he was here to pick up women.

  “Here’s a
n idea,” he began, mischief flickered in those eyes of his making him look more seductive. “How about we be here together?”

  The way that he looked at me held a purely sexual flame.

  I was single, very single. I’d been single for the last year, and hadn’t acknowledged or accepted it.

  Until today. Right now it waved itself in front of me, telling me I didn’t have to worry about loyalty to anyone.

  Just myself.

  I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his, being mesmerized by him and the idea of being here together.

  “Together?”

  He reached out to touch my cheek, running his fingers along the line of my jaw.

  Heat rose from the soles of my feet and spread throughout me, worsening when his knee brushed against mine.

  “Together,” Alex’s eyes flicked down to my lips, lingered there, then snapped back up to my eyes

  “What would that involve?” I asked cautiously, looking at his lips too and the perfect angles in his face.

  Butterflies fluttered in my stomach, going wild as he lowered closer, his finger still on my chin.

  “This.”

  The look in his eyes turned hotter and gut instinct told me he was going to kiss me.

  My heart fluttered in anticipation, skipping past the fact that I’d only ever been with Tom. He’d been my first everything and my only, but that was just a useless thought like everything else that used to be. Best left in the past.

  I was here, right now with the gorgeous and perfect Alex and as he came closer I did too, feeling the temptation luring me in. Casting the thrall of a spell that gripped me.

  His lips pressed to mine and I swore my mind went blank of everything except for the zing of desire that rippled through me.

  The kiss pulsed throughout my entire body. Bone-tingling and sensational, the type that was possessive, greedy, full of the firestorm of passion.

  I felt lost when he moved away briefly to offer a wicked smile that curled my toes from the sauciness that filled it.

  Seeing that I definitely wasn’t ready to stop kissing him, he moved back to recapture my lips and that was when we really got going and I got lost in him.