Read Online Behind His Lens by R. S. Grey - Free Book Online

but I’m left hanging. Instead, he turns toward the beers Tom placed on the table. He leans forward to grab a bottle and brings it to his lips in one fluid move. His sharp gaze flits back over to me as the bottle reaches his mouth and I watch, completely enamored, as the liquid slides down his throat.
    A slow, sexy grin spreads across his mouth and somehow without uttering a single word, he’s stolen all the power once again.
    “That doesn’t seem so bad,” he murmurs, glancing at me through the corners of his eyes with amusement.
    He’s going be the death of me.
    “You’re k ind of a smug bastard sometimes,” I accuse with a skeptical glare.
    Did I actually just say that?
    “Sometimes?” he asks, licking a drop of beer off his lips and placing the bottle back down on the table.
    Drunk off cheap shots and determination, I reach forward and take the beer, repeating the same exact move he just did for me. Except I’m taking his beer and the look on his face says I’m going to pay for the rebellious behavior.
    My entire body shivers with anticipation. What would he do in front of all these people? Take my bait? Kiss me? No. That would only happen in my fantasies.
    “It appears our little Charley is drunk,” he smiles sardonically, looking toward Tom.
    Fuck him.
    I drop the beer haphazardly onto the table in front of Jude and he has to reach out to stabilize the bottle before it tips over. The whirling of the beer’s rim on the wooden table in the only sound I hear as I try to calm my nerves.
    “Tom,” I ooze sweetly, glancing up at him from under my lashes, “Would you like to go get that drink with me now?”
    I glance back toward Jude and notice his jaw clench. His blue eyes drift from my face down to the exposed skin afforded by my off-the-shoulder sweater. He’s hardly a foot away, and I swear I can feel his warm breath caress the arc of my collarbone. What would his lips feel like against the delicate skin at the base of my neck?
    “Oh, sure, yeah .” Tom hops up and a sudden pang of guilt hits me. I only asked him to go with me to piss Jude off. What kind of person does that? Right then I resolve to be polite, but careful not to lead Tom on. I actually think we could be good friends if he was up for it.
    After a calming breath, I stand and straighten my sweater. The world spins slightly from the quick change in position, but I reach out to grab the back of my chair before anyone notices.
    “Ready?” I ask with a friendly smile.
    “Here. I’ll get this round.” Jude pulls out his wallet even though Tom protests.
    Jude doesn’t pay attention to him; he pulls out cash and looks directly at me. “I insist.”
    Something about him uttering that phrase while his eyes are locked on mine makes my insides tingle with need. I don’t know how long I stand there like that, staring down at him with soft focus, but eventually Tom clears his throat and I laugh. I laugh because there’s nothing else to do. This situation is completely out of my comfort zone and I need more alcohol. Stat.
    “How sweet of you, Jude,” I say slowly, reaching for the cash. I know it wasn’t necessary to say his name, but I wanted to know what it felt like. And as I turn on my heel to head for the bar, I know I made the right decision. The lust that washed over his blue eyes confessed exactly how erotic it was to hear his name on my lips.
    …
     
    Jude
     
     
    I reach down and adjust myself beneath my pants. That freaking woman will be the death of me. Just when I had her figured out, she showed up tipsy and completely threw me off. I watch her walking away and I’m reminded of how drop-dead gorgeous she is. She has that sexy, fuck-me hair that tumbles down her back in loose, natural waves. And her top. That hint of skin is a complete tease, making it so I can’t help but want to rip off the rest of the material.
    She knew what she was doing when she said my name like that and just as she intended, my dick hardened as if