Chapter 1: Closing Time Sparks
The Miami summer clung to the air like a lover who wouldn’t let go, heavy and hot, the kind of heat that made your skin beg for a breeze. Inside The Coral Dive, the bar was a haze of neon and sweat, the jukebox crooning sultry blues as Mia slung drinks with a precision that could cut glass. Her dark hair was pulled back, a few rogue strands sticking to her neck, and her tank top hugged every curve as she moved with a predator’s grace behind the bar. She was fire incarnate, and every man in the joint knew it—especially Jake.
Jake sat at the far end, nursing a beer, his rugged frame barely contained by a worn-out tee and jeans so tight they might as well have been painted on. He was all hard lines and rough edges, a construction worker with hands that could build or break, and eyes that hadn’t left Mia since he walked in. She felt his gaze like a physical touch, burning into her as she poured a shot of tequila for a loudmouth at the other end. Wiping her hands on a rag, she sauntered over, hips swaying just enough to make a point.
‘Staring’s free, handsome, but I charge for the show,’ she quipped, leaning on the bar, her cleavage a deliberate taunt. Her voice was low, smoky, a challenge wrapped in velvet.
Jake grinned, slow and dangerous, leaning forward so their faces were inches apart. ‘I’ve got deep pockets, darlin’. Name your price, and I’ll pay to see what’s behind the curtain.’
Mia’s laugh was sharp, cutting through the humid air. ‘Oh, sugar, you couldn’t afford the backstage pass. But keep looking—I like an audience.’ She winked, turning away, letting her ass sway with purpose as she grabbed a bottle from the shelf. She knew he was watching, could feel the heat of his stare, and damn if it didn’t make her pulse kick up a notch.
The night dragged on, the crowd thinning until it was just a handful of stragglers and Jake, still perched like a wolf waiting for prey. Closing time hit, and Mia locked the front door with a decisive click, her eyes finding his across the empty bar. ‘You planning to camp out, or you got somewhere to be?’ she asked, crossing her arms, her tone dripping with mock irritation.
Jake stood, all six-foot-something of him, and walked over with a swagger that screamed trouble. ‘Only place I wanna be is wherever you’re headed after this. Unless you’re scared to play with the big boys.’
Her smirk was pure defiance. ‘Scared? Baby, I eat wolves like you for breakfast. Back room. Now. Let’s see if you can keep up.’ She didn’t wait for an answer, striding toward the dimly lit storage area, her boots clicking on the sticky floor. Jake followed, the air between them crackling like a storm about to break.
The back room smelled of spilled beer and old cardboard, but neither cared. Mia turned, backing against a stack of crates, her eyes daring him to make a move. ‘Well? You gonna stand there gawking, or you gonna show me what’s under those jeans? I’ve got bets on whether you’re all talk.’
Jake’s chuckle was dark, predatory. ‘Keep talking, sweetheart. I’m about to shut that pretty mouth of yours.’ He closed the distance, his hands finding her hips as he pressed her against the crates, his body hard and unyielding against hers. Their lips crashed together, a battle of tongues and teeth, hungry and raw. Mia’s fingers dug into his shoulders, pulling him closer, her breath already coming in sharp gasps as the heat between them ignited into something feral.
She could feel him, hard against her thigh, and a wicked grin spread across her face as she broke the kiss, her voice a husky taunt. ‘Looks like someone’s ready to play. Let’s see if you can handle the game.’ With a swift move, she dropped to her knees, her hands working his belt with expert speed, her eyes never leaving his as the tension built to a fever pitch, promising an explosion neither would forget.
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