CHAPTER FIVE

SHAW

"No problem. You're just the prettiest damn thing I've ever seen." She calms her face down a little. Not much, but enough. "You don't even know that about yourself, do you?" I back up a step, showing her I'm no threat at the moment. "I just want to buy a pretty girl a drink and relax, that's all. I'll stop looking if you don't want that." She looks back at her friends, who are all looking at us. "How about I buy you all a drink?" Her face comes back to me. "I get it. Being hit on is scary as hell sometimes."

"I'm not scared."

"No? Okay then." I move sideways, opening up the route for the bar. "What are you drinking?"

Her eyes narrow. "I can get my own drinks."

"I'm sure you can. But why not let me buy it for you?" I look past her towards the friends. "They like shots?"

"Who doesn't?"

I smile as she looks at the floor. "Did you just engage instead of pushing me away?"

Her lips twitch, a shyness coming with it under a small smile. "Maybe."

"Well now, I call that a win. Beautiful smile and a little conversation." My hands go up in the air, and I back off another step. "I'll die a happy man if that's all I get." She snorts and glances back at her friends again. "You wanna head for the bar? Or is that really all I'm getting?" The girls she's with start shifting their hips about to the beat, pretending to fuck. Even makes me laugh. "They look like a cool crew." She looks back at me.

"They are. You're American."

"Sure am."

"Why are you here?"

I start walking, pretty certain she's going to follow now she's talking. "Work."

I catch her glance back to her friends, but then she's close on my heels. "What work?"

I get some rolled-up cash out of my pocket. "Import and export. Boring as fuck, in all honesty, but it pays well."

She looks at the money in my hand. "Looks like it."

I signal a girl at the packed-out bar; one I've already given a big ass tip to for the first drink I had. She's over pretty quick, and I point at the shelves behind her. "That bottle of tequila. Some lime and salt and …" I look back at Miri. "How many of you are there?"

"Four. And me."

"Yeah,I'm not forgetting you any time soon." She smiles, wider this time. I look back at the barkeep. "Six glasses."

Bottle of tequila in my hand, and I look at her. "Where do you want me?" Her eyes widen slightly. "Calm down. Don't be thinking like that. I'm a virgin." She snorts, then laughs lightly.

"You're so not a virgin."

I smile. "Am. Pure as the driven snow. Never even been kissed." That pulls another laugh outta her.

"You're absolutely not a virgin."

"Yeah, maybe not. Made you laugh, though." She sniggers to herself and looks around. "So, where do you wanna drink? Back over there with your friends? Or in my booth?"

"Oh, you've got a booth, all to yourself, have you?"

"Money always talks." I point in the direction of it and slide the salt shaker into my pocket to pick up the tray of cut lime. "Grab the glasses and go let your friends know where we are. I'll meet you there." She picks them up from the bar and sways to the music, watching me as I start walking backwards. "I'm serious, though. No fucking. At all. I'm not down with being used for my body." Another smile beams out of her.

"I don't even know your name," she calls over the music.

"You best come find out then."

She laughs again and folds her way into the crowd, looking a damn sight lighter about me than she did when she first came over. Fucking stupid, really. A little flirting, some sweet engagement that makes them think they're safe, and all girls act like that. Guess it makes them feel like they're in control. They're not, but you gotta back off a woman sometimes, give them room to make decisions themselves, even if you did make them think that way.

I enter the VIP area, roped off with chrome poles and on a platform, and stare at the table I've got to myself. Didn't take much to get it. Just money. Everything's easier with that. Women are just the same. Throw enough of it around and they"re all on their knees, begging for a fuck or a suck. Looks like this one's no different. A flashy smile, some comedy, and there she is – damn near offering herself on a platter.

The unopened tequila gets put down, salt and limes beside it, and I look out onto the dance floor. The club's good, bouncing with energy. If I wasn't here for what I am here for, I'd enjoy it and her. Instead, I'm playing some fucking game to get her back to her sister in one of our cells. Don't know how I feel about that at the moment.

Staring at her as she dances with her friends for a while longer, I wink when she looks my way. Her friends goad her about it, pushing her my way, but the guy's scowling. I couldn't give a fuck about that. I'll charm him, too. I'll even kill him if I have to. That asshole isn't getting in my way about this, and if he tries, he'll wish he never did.

She starts to make her way towards me, glasses in the air to avoid the crowds, and her friends follow. She looks a bit like her sister, now I'm thinking about it. Prettier, though. Gutsy attitude. Questioning eyes. I guess if I'd escaped us, I'd be wary as fuck of any guy that came near me, too. Especially an American.

"So, hot guy," a voice shouts. I look sideways as one of her friends stands on the other side of the barrier by security. "Are you going to tell him we can come in?" I nod at the dude, watching as he opens the corden, and she sways over to me. "What's with the no fucking then?"

"I'm a "not on the first date" kinda guy." Lies. I'm happy to fuck anything in a heartbeat, let alone first dates.

She giggles and waits for the others to follow her in, including Miri. "Name?"

I keep looking at Miri as she approaches. "Shaw."

"Surname?" the friend continues.

My hands find my pockets, eyes still focused on Miri. "Harris."

"Where are you from?"

"San Deigo. Here for the last six months." I tilt my head, looking at Miri's eyes. They are like Naja's. Deep, soulful. Less fucking scared than her sisters currently are, though. Not broken, either. "What is this? Twenty questions to see if I'm worthy?"

"Well, yes," the friend says. "You've got to be careful these days."

"Yeah. Luckily for you, I'm not the asshole you're searching for." Yet.

The guy moves closer, acting all protective. I look at him and offer a hand. He takes it and shakes, so I give him a smile and look back at Miri. "I didn't get your name?"

She looks past me, putting the glasses down on the table. "Miri."

I reach for the bottle to start this party. "Pretty name for a pretty girl."

"That's a serious charmer," the other girlfriend says to her, as I fill the glasses. "And a rich one. This is top-shelf Tequila."

Miri smiles at me, blinking her eyes softly. "Does it taste any different, though?"

I hand her a glass while passing the salt and a lime wedge. "Money always tastes better." I hold my glass out to her, moving closer so I can wrap my arm through hers. "On three. One." My arm links tighter, pulling her closer still. "Two. You're beautiful." She smiles again and takes the drink towards her lips, letting me get closer again. I lick the salt from my hand, nodding at her to do the same. "Truly stunning."

"Three," she says. We both knock them back, and I watch her face screw all the way up.

Someone coughs and curses behind us, another hollers out a howl of some kind. "Holy crap, that's some strong drink!"

I laugh and bite down on the wedge, watching Miri suck hers fully into her mouth. Her lips pout at the same time, all trembling and fragile. I'm instantly picturing my dick inside them, almost fucking groaning at the thought, as she pushes the skin back out slowly.

She picks it from her mouth, rolling those lips around again.

"See, now you"re flirting, darlin'. I told you, no fucking."

She looks away briefly. "I'm just sucking the lime."

"You sure about that?" She smiles. I smile. "Anyone would think you're busy getting dirty in that head of yours."

"Again!" one of the girls shouts. I wish she'd die somewhere about now. I"m ready to see this girl naked and fuck. But I do what needs doing and back off, ready to refill and make everyone think I'm some nice guy they're having a great night with. It's the only way I'm getting Miri on her own without forcing it, and, fuck it, I'm gonna at least enjoy myself while I'm here. Might as well get trashed.

Tossing my jacket on the seat, I top up the glasses again and, this time, do the same round of flirting with one of the friends. Miri's back in my face after the third round, linking her own arm through mine first. She pulls me in and smiles, a big, wide one this time, as she moves to the music.

"You about ready to make this party a real one?" She nods. "Good girl."

Three more rounds of tequila get slammed before we're all out on the dance floor. I don't get close unless she does. I just live the hours as they pass by, nowhere near drunk enough to worry that I'll lose her. Besides, I know where she lives, and if this doesn't go the way I'm planning, I'll just steal her ass and get it home that way.

She's more confident after a while, not so timid about getting up close to me. I leave her to it, let her get comfortable with her body up against mine. Doesn't take long. It never does with these genes running through me and some booze on my side. I'm handsome as fuck, and I know it. Tall, but not overbearing like Dante. Jaw and cheekbones like Mother's, Abel's even. Pretty, dark blue eyes that help me seem a damn sight less threatening than any of them. And well, fit. You don't do what I do, and have the brothers I do, and not learn to keep yourself in shape.

She keeps her ass to me, gently moving it on my thigh like she doesn't really mean to.

I lean into her ear. "You wanna bring that sweet ass in closer? Own it, maybe?" She looks lost for a second; maybe I pushed her too fast, but she slowly grinds her body closer. I groan and put my hand on her hip, pushing her onto my dick so I can enjoy the friction. "That's hot as fuck. Goddamn, woman." She doesn't back away, and I know I've got her.

I tip my head up to the lights, watching the neon's flash by.

Life as a Cortez is feeling really damn fine at the moment.

~

"You are fucking trashed!" Tally says to another one. I chuckle at the look of her hauling the other one towards the door. They all are. Me? Not so much. A Cortez constitution does that. "Jesus, Ade. Peter?" He walks over and shoves Ade's arm over his shoulder to help walk them out. "You," she says, pointing at me. "Are a bad influence. Don't be using those pretty blue eyes on me. You shouldn't have bought the second bottle."

I swing my jacket around me as we hit the cool air of the early morning. "Didn't hear you complaining at the time."

Miri almost falls into me as she tries putting her coat on. I grab her and help her into it, watching as Peter and the other girl help Ade and Tally into the cab.

"You've been really cool, Shaw," she says, getting her balance. "Thanks."

"You think?" She nods and looks at the cab. "Good. Maybe we can do it again."

She looks up at me, all batting lashes and coy glances. "We could go and get another drink now if you like?"

I close her coat around her properly, straightening the collar. "Don't say that. I might not be able to say no, and then you'll be taking advantage of me, and I might lose my virginity." She snorts and keeps staring up at me. "How about I take you out for dinner somewhere instead? Another night. When you're sober."

"I'm not that drunk."

"You're pretty far along that road, darlin"."

She giggles as Tally shouts at Ade about something. "Yeah. I suppose I am."

"Miri? You coming?" Peter calls.

"Give me your phone." She looks up at me. "I'll give you my number, and you can call if you want to." She passes it over and I input the burner phone's number. "Go get in the cab."

"Okay." She doesn't move.

"If you're waiting for me to kiss you, I'm not gonna do it." She smirks about something. "You'll have to get that the next time we meet."

"What if I don't call."

"Then you'll miss knowing what it feels like."

"Maybe it's not worth calling for."

"I think you know it will be." She licks her lips and leans forward, goading me into putting my mouth on hers. Not happening.

"MIRI! Jesus, Ade. Don't throw up here." Her gaze flicks to the cab again, but she's soon back to looking at me.

"Listen, Miri, as appetising as the thought of kissing you is, go. I'm about to change my mind about my virginity, and you sure as shit deserve better than some booze-fuelled fumble."

She laughs quietly and backs away from me, sliding her phone into her pocket. "Alright then, Shaw Harris. I'll think about calling you tomorrow."

I watch her get into the cab, keeping her eyes on me the whole time, and then start walking as the cab pulls away.

She won't think. She'll do. No one ever says no to me.