Page 133 of The Storm

I push through the crowd gathered in front of the bar and hold up two fingers to the bartender. He pours the shots and slides them in front of me. I glance around to see if the dude is still there, but there are only strangers around me. I shrug and toss back the shots a moment before he manages to push his way up next to me.

He glances at the empty shot glasses and at me.

“You work fast,” he says.

We’re pushed close together. His hand goes to my hip when somebody bumps into him, and his cheeks flush.

“Sorry,” he calls out. “It’s?—”

The rest of what he says is inaudible because of the music.

I nod anyway and smile. Why not?

His lips move when he says something else. No idea what. I point to my ears and shake my head.

He leans closer. “It’s loud here,” he shouts.

“I know,” I call back.

He seems relieved for whatever reason. He calls out something else, and I just nod and smile because I don’t really care what he said, so it’s whatever, but clearly I missed something because he takes my hand and starts pulling me through the crowd and away from the bar.

Amused, I let him.

I assume we’re going to dance again, but he skirts past the floor, and we’re heading toward the exit. Before I know it, we’re outside.

“Umm…” I stop walking.

He turns around and sends me another one of those bashful smiles. “Where do you want to go? Not many options this time of night, but there’s a diner a few blocks away that’s open all night?”

I stare at him, glance over my shoulder at the door of the club, then back at him.

“What?”

Now he looks confused. “I… asked you if you wanted to go somewhere quieter? To talk?”

Well, that’s sweet.

But no.

Of course I managed to find the only dude in this place who wants to get to know me instead of just wanting to fuck. This is just my luck.

I start to laugh because I’m drunk enough that this misunderstanding feels funny for no reason at all. He starts to look very unsure in turn.

“That’s gentlemanly.” I take a step closer so we’re standing toe to toe. “You really don’t need to do all of that…”

I blank on the name. Did he tell me his name?

“Julian,” he says.

“Right. Julian.” I tilt my head. He’s so adorably shy, and that blush is pretty sexy. I could fuck him. “Are you planning to seduce me, Julian?”

His eyes round, and there’s another one of those furious blushes that’s visible even in the dimness of the streetlights. His throat moves as he swallows.

There are people all around us on the street. Talking loudly, walking past us. The low thump of the bass pulses in the air from the club. Two guys are making out by the wall.

“I…” His voice is low and nervous. “I’ve never…” He clears his throat. “This is my first time in…” He waves toward the doors of the club. “In this kind of place.”

“In a club?” I ask.