Page 91 of A Dark Fall

“Well, as nice as your proposition sounds, we can’t leave right now, because that would be bad dinner party etiquette. We’ve just finished eating.” I smile.

The low light of Rob’s conservatory makes his eyes look incredibly green as they glitter at me deviously. When he gives me a little pout, I almost orgasm at the table. Something that would also be bad dinner party etiquette.

“Who said anything about leaving?” He begins to stroke the inside of my wrist with delicate, soft strokes of his fingers. “I’m sure Rob and Dan have a room upstairs we could use.”

My stomach does another tight, warm clench at the thought. Then I wonder why on earth we’d bother climbing a flight of stairs when I’d let him take me right here. Under the table, I place my hand on his thigh and slide it upward until I meet something semi-hard. His eyes close over a soft groan as he licks his lips. I want to lick his lips. I also want to unzip his trousers and make him come with my hand, but that ismost definitelybad dinner party etiquette.

What I do is skim my hand gently over his erection before curling my fingers around it teasingly.I see his jaw clench as he bites back the groan. He almost sounds as if he’s in pain. When I drop my hand away, he shoots me a glare.

I give him my most innocent smile. “What’s wrong, darling? Aren’t you having fun?”

He reaches out to skim his hand over the back of my neck, fingers dancing light over the nape. “Mmm, I’m having a little fun, darling,” he breathes. I love how strained and low his voice sounds. “But I can think of a few other things I’d rather be doing ... Starting with—”

“So, Jake, you own a club in the city, that right?” Mark’s authoritative voice comes slicing through the carnal haze that’s settled in front of my eyes.

Jake blinks a few times, looking mildly irritated at being interrupted, before slowly turning his head to look at Mark.I sit up as he settles his arm along the back of my chair, hand draping casually over my shoulder.

“Yeah, that’s right.” Jake nods.

Mark lifts his glass, his eyes fixed hard on Jake. It’s the same look he’s had all night whenever he’s looked in Jake’s direction: wariness bordering on animosity. I vaguely wonder if it’s an alpha male thing. They both have that sort of vibe.

“Whereabouts?”

“Brick Lane.”

Mark nods as he turns his glass on the table. “It new, or have you taken it over?”

Jake begins to shift in his chair. I glance at him. His face is impassive. I suppose he doesn’t want to answer any of these questions, but he’s doing it because he’s a guest here, and it would be impolite to tell Mark to mind his own business.

“New,” Jake answers. “Building was an old metalworks before.”

Jakesoundsrelaxed, but I feel his body tense beside me. He isn’t. Mark nods again slowly, and I begin to feel uncomfortable.

“So, what’d you do before that? Before you got into the London club scene?”

I’m about to step in when, to my shock, Jake answers this too.

“This and that,” he says. “Working for other people, mainly. Helping manage a few places. Did a bit of personal training for a few years before that.”

“You encountered any issues?” Mark asks.

Jake frowns.

“With the club, I mean.”

“Issues?”

Mark shrugs. “I mean, the London club scene can be pretty hazardous. Financially, physically ...” He makes a weird whistling noise. “Seems to me only a certain kind of person would take on that kind of venturein that part of Londonin this kind of climate.” There’s something hidden in Mark’s tone that I can’t put my finger on.

Jake nods, holding Mark’s gaze directly. “Oh, yeah? And what kind of person is that?”

“Someone brave, connected, or fucking stupid.” Mark smiles, but it’s that same cold smile I saw earlier. His delivery also causes the whole table to stop talking and turn their attention to either Mark or Jake. They were only half-listening before, but now, with everyone’s attention on them, the whole atmosphere intensifies.

I feel rage simmer up inside me, bright and fiery. How dare he say that to Jake here? Here, where Jake’s on unfamiliar territory, and Mark isn’t. Here, where Jake knows nobody but me. I’m about to speak again when I hear Jake laugh beside me. A small, cold thing.

“Yeah, you’re right there, mate. You’re fucking right there.”

“So, which are you then?” Something like irritation flashes over Mark’s face.