Aussie: A Bad Boy Second Chance Romance Read Free

with so many others crammed in. Somebody slid in next to me, and joined my circle of friends. He turned toward me and smiled. He had a nice smile, but I couldn’t tell you much more about the guy. With his mask on, the dark, and the level of noise, I couldn’t even hear him when he leaned in to introduce himself. I heard nothing. I mouthed it and pointed to my ears.
    Slowly, he siphoned me away from my friends and made the dancing about the two of us. I was in the mood to party, and after the earlier dancing, I enjoyed the attention. Fuck it. I was here to have fun and let loose. He stood about six-foot-tall and had dark hair. Not many other details were visible. He was built. That’s for sure. His shoulders were like a mile wide. His arms were thick and muscled. He obviously took care of himself, but his face, not a clue. Okay, not that I’m a snob or anything, but he could look like a Pug beneath it all, and well, that’s just not my thing. I let my imagination run wild, and looked at it as a gamble. Why not? I liked everything else that I saw.
    I wondered if he was making the same judgements of me. He’d obviously chosen to dance with me, so I figured he’d already made his decisions. We moved closer, as I let go of the inhibitions that wanted to box me in. Fuck, no. I was ready for fun. I haven’t truly let loose in way too long. I decided to let the mood take me along for a ride.
    The dark shirt he wore circled his biceps. I wanted to reach up and run my hands over them, to see how they felt. The more I got into the dancing, the more I enjoyed the attention from him. He moved in closer, this time his hands circling my back, pulling me to him. I gyrated on the floor against him, the buzz of the night, alcohol, and earlier entertainment had me getting comfortable. Once I let my guard down, I was determined to have fun.
    His leg brushed against mine, once, then again. A small electric current ran through me. I realized how much I missed being touched. It had been a while. Too long. I tipped my head against his broad chest, enjoying the sensation of our closeness. The masked stranger dropped his hand from my small of my back to my ass. Slow, measured, he cupped the curve of my ass cheek and squeezed.
    How I was getting worked up by a total stranger was news to me. I was revved up and enjoying the sensuality of the moment. I’d lost track of my friends, drawn in against the man before me. I needed his touch. I needed anybody’s touch. I closed my eyes and let my mind go. For one night, I’d simply live in the moment.
    I drew a hand up to his chest, and stroked it through his shirt. The edge of a tattoo peeked out of his collar. I lifted it up to peek and smiled. “Sexy,” I murmured.
    He took it as a sign, and lowered his other hand. Slipping it over my hip, he cupped my other ass cheek. I reached up and grazed up over his shoulder, then trailed down the bicep that curved big and strong. Mmm. My fingers wrapped around his steel-hard muscle. That did it. It put me over the edge. Yes, I was desperate, okay? I admit it. I’d shut myself down. Closed myself off. Refused to let go after…well, not that it mattered.
    Not tonight. Tonight, I’d enjoy the ride. Every last bit of it. Every last drop. 
    He slid his hand into mine and pulled me gently through the crowd.
    Normally, I’d have yanked away from him, but instead I followed. We maneuvered to a corner and out of the middle of the floor. He drew me into him and we danced slower, even with the fast, heart-pumping club music. His hands trailed over my shoulders and down my back. No words, only the sensation of his fingers grazing lower, and then resting on the curve of my back.
    “Kiss me,” he whispered into my ear. I could barely hear him, but there was a tinge of an accent. It brought the past rushing back to me. Not that it mattered. Lost in the moment, I parted my lips.
    He licked his lips, then brushed them to mine. Sparks flew. I didn’t see it coming,