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 cheaper cologne, the jukebox crooning a slow, seductive beat. Mia Torres commanded the bar like a queen on her throne, her dark hair spilling over her shoulders, her curves a dangerous map under her tight black tank top. She poured shots with a flick of her wrist, her sharp hazel eyes catching every glance thrown her way—and there were plenty.
Jake Rollins sat at the far end, his rugged frame hunched over a beer, his construction boots still dusted with the day’s grit. His blue eyes burned a hole through the crowd, locked on Mia as she swayed her hips behind the bar, her ass a hypnotic rhythm he couldn’t shake. He shifted in his seat, the denim of his jeans straining against the growing ache beneath. ‘Damn,’ he thought, taking a long swig, ‘she’s trouble I don’t need but can’t resist.’
Mia caught his stare, her lips curling into a smirk as she sauntered over, wiping the bar with a rag that did little to hide her intent. ‘You gonna nurse that beer all night, handsome, or you got something else on your mind?’ Her voice was a low purr, dripping with challenge.
Jake leaned forward, his grin wolfish, the kind that promised danger. ‘Depends. You serving anything stronger than this piss-water after hours?’
She arched a brow, leaning in close enough for him to catch the faint scent of lime and sweat on her skin. ‘I don’t serve just anyone, big guy. You gotta earn it. Think you can keep up?’
‘Oh, darlin’, I’ve been hauling steel all day. I can handle a little heat.’ His voice dropped, rough and teasing. ‘Question is, can you?’
Mia laughed, a sharp, wicked sound that cut through the bar’s haze. ‘Stick around ‘til closing, tough guy. I’ll show you heat that’ll melt your damn boots.’
The hours crawled by, the crowd thinning until it was just them, the neon lights flickering like a heartbeat. Mia locked the door with a deliberate click, turning to face Jake, who hadn’t moved from his stool. Her gaze was predatory, her body humming with anticipation as she stalked toward him. ‘Last call, Jake. You in or out?’
He stood, towering over her, his presence raw and unapologetic. ‘I’ve been in since the second I saw you shake that ass. Let’s stop playing games.’
She didn’t flinch, stepping closer until their breaths mingled, her fingers tracing the hard line of his jaw. ‘Good. ‘Cause I don’t play nice.’ Her hand slid down his chest, bold and unyielding, feeling the heat radiating off him. His cock was already straining, a promise under the denim, and her own body responded, a rush of warmth pooling between her thighs, wet and ready.
Jake’s hands found her hips, pulling her flush against him, his voice a growl. ‘You’re gonna regret teasing me, Mia.’
‘Try me,’ she shot back, her eyes flashing with fire as she sank to her knees, her fingers deftly working his belt. The air between them crackled, charged with a hunger neither could deny, the promise of something explosive just seconds away.
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