Chapter 1: Last Call
The Miami night was a sultry beast, the kind of heat that clung to your skin like a lover who wouldn’t let go. Inside The Coral Dive, the air was thick with the scent of cheap tequila and desperation. Mia Alvarez, the bartender with a tongue sharper than the lime wedges she sliced, owned the room with every sway of her hips. Her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, sticking to the sweat on her neck as she poured shots with a smirk that could stop a man dead.
Jake Tanner sat at the far end of the bar, his construction boots scuffed and his tanned forearms glistening under the dim lights. He’d been watching her all night, his gaze heavy and unapologetic, tracing the curve of her ass as she bent to grab a bottle from the lower shelf. His jeans strained against the growing hardness beneath, and he didn’t bother hiding it. Mia caught his stare in the mirror behind the bar, her hazel eyes flashing with something dangerous.
“Keep staring, hardhat, and I might charge you for the show,” she quipped, sliding a beer across the counter without breaking eye contact.
Jake grinned, slow and predatory, leaning forward on his elbows. “Worth every damn penny, sweetheart. You always this mouthy, or am I just lucky?”
“Lucky’s not the word I’d use,” she fired back, wiping down the bar with a rag, her movements deliberate, teasing. “I’ve seen guys like you before. All muscle, no game. Think you can handle a woman who bites back?”
“Oh, I’m counting on it,” Jake growled, his voice low, dripping with intent. “Question is, can you keep up when the bar’s closed and there’s no counter between us?”
Mia’s laugh was sharp, cutting through the hum of the jukebox. “Big talk for a man who’s been nursing that beer for an hour. Finish it, or I’ll kick you out myself.”
He tipped the bottle back, draining it in one go, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he watched her. The bar was nearly empty now, the last stragglers stumbling out into the humid night. Mia flipped the ‘Closed’ sign on the door, her pulse quickening as she turned to face him. The air crackled, electric and heavy, as she sauntered toward the backroom, tossing a look over her shoulder.
“You coming, or are you all talk?” she taunted, her voice a challenge wrapped in velvet.
Jake was on his feet in a heartbeat, following her into the cramped storage space littered with crates and empty bottles. The door slammed shut behind them, and before she could throw another barb, his hands were on her hips, pulling her against him. She felt him, hard and insistent through his jeans, and a wicked smile curled her lips.
“Damn, you weren’t kidding,” she purred, her fingers trailing down his chest, nails scraping lightly. “Let’s see if you’re worth the hype.”
Their mouths crashed together, hungry and fierce, teeth clashing as they fought for dominance. Mia’s hands fumbled with his belt, her breath hitching as she felt the heat of him. Jake groaned into her mouth, his grip tightening, and she knew they were seconds away from losing control completely.
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