because he wanted her for himself!
It was totally insane and unacceptable. Sure, he might have been flirting with her this past week to make her sweat, but he’d never intended it to go this far.
Still, he couldn’t bring himself to just walk away and pretend he didn’t care about what had happened.
“I’m fine, thanks.”
“Is the pig bothering you?”
“Who?”
“Darrell. I saw him touch you.”
Her lips tightened. “And you felt the need to, what, play overprotective older brother? I’m not Sarah, you know.”
“The guy’s a creep.”
“I’m a big girl.”
“I’m just giving you fair warning. You can’t trust him.”
“You think the third grope under the table didn’t tip me off to that?”
Steam built in his head. “Third? He groped you three times? I only noticed him touch your leg.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “That’s not surprising. I mean, how could you have been paying close attention to what I was doing when you were so busy trying to score with that ditzy blonde who’s been hanging all over you?”
It was his turn to gape in surprise. “What?”
“Come on, Chaz, don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about,” she said, edging closer until the tips of her sneakers touched his. “She acted like a toddler learning to walk during the game. Oh, Chaz, would you teach little old me how to kick like that? Gag me.”
Tension and anger sparked between them, creating a nearly electric current. It crackled between their bodies, and he noticed her chest was heaving with anger and emotion as she struggled to control her breathing.
“Who’s the pot and who’s the kettle here?” he said, inching even closer, until one of his legs was between hers and their hips grazed. He ignored that, towering over her. “Sounds to me as if you’re projecting your own behavior.”
“I’m not shaking my tail under some guy’s nose and playing the poor-hopeless-girl-can’t-kick-a-ball role to try to get his attention,” she snarled, not backing down one inch.
They were so close, they shared each breath. Fire snapped in her eyes, and her voice shook with emotion.
“No, you’re just playing the creamy filling for a guy sandwich, sitting between two dudes who’ve been taking turns looking down your shirt.”
She gasped audibly, and fisted her hand to punch him. Typical Lulu. Chaz instinctively reacted, reaching up and grabbing her wrist before she could take a swing.
They glared at each other for a loaded moment, and then, somehow, their mouths were together and they were kissing with anger-driven hunger.
Chaz didn’t think, didn’t plan. He acted on tension and instinct, just wanting to shut her up, to win the argument, to taste her and stop the crazy wondering that had been tormenting him since last week when he’d followed her up the stairs to her apartment.
He moaned, or she did, and suddenly her arms were around his neck, her fingers tangling in his hair and holding him tight. He dragged her body against his, lifting her off her feet and wrapping his arms around her waist. Their tongues tangled wildly as they gave and took, demanded and received.
The kiss affected him from head to toe. The feel of her soft, curvy form against his drove him slightly mad, and he pushed her up against the wall, loving the way her legs instinctively snaked around his until he was supporting her entire weight. The spandex was slick in his hands, but he had no problem gripping her taut ass, hoisting her even higher until they were lined up at just the perfect angle for wild, intense, up-against-the-wall sex, just as he’d envisioned having on Halloween night.
It made no sense. That night, he’d been with a stranger who’d driven him wild with lust. But this was Lulu, a girl he’d known forever. How could she possibly be even more exciting, more arousing to him than his masked mystery woman?
Kissing Lulu was like leaping willingly into a volcano, aware you might get burned but also sure you’d be in for a hell of a ride when it erupted. It was pure, raw excitement, born out of anger, but quickly exploding into sexual frenzy.
Only the fact that they were erupting in a bar filled with their friends finally brought him to his senses. He ended the kiss, releasing her and staggering back one step. She did the same, her eyes wide and wild, her face red and her whole body quivering. She looked shocked and aroused, but her expression quickly segued into embarrassed confusion.
“What the hell was that?”
He thrust a hand through his hair, which was tangled from her tight grip. “Damn it, Lulu, I didn’t mean...”
“Don’t. Just don’t say another word. This is bad enough.”
“Uh, is there a problem?”
They both jerked their attention to the side and saw Schaefer, who’d just emerged from the men’s room.
“No, there’s no problem,” Lulu insisted.
“I don’t mean to intrude,” the other guy said, “but Lulu, you seem upset.”
“I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? I could...”
“Back off, Ludwig,” Chaz snapped.
Schaefer’s eyes rounded into circles and his pale face lost what little color it had held. His spine stiffened, and he looked as though he had been slapped. Chaz closed his eyes, dropping his head, feeling like a complete heel. What the hell was it about Lulu that made all his brain cells dry up and blow away?
Lulu had obviously heard. “Ludwig?”
“You dick,” Schaefer said, glaring at Chaz before pushing past them and heading straight to the exit. Chaz knew he owed the guy an apology, since he’d promised not to reveal his real name. But right now, that goofy name, and Schaefer’s swishy diva walkout, relieved the tension and enabled him and Lulu to recover from their crazy kiss.
She broke first, starting to snicker, and then to laugh.
Equally relieved, Chaz joined her in the laughter. “He’s never gonna forgive me.”
“His first name is Ludwig? Seriously?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I think his parents had a Beethoven fetish along with their hippie lifestyle.”
“Poor guy,” Lulu said, leaning back against the wall, her laughter fading until just a faint smile remained. “No wonder he goes by his last name and keeps the first one a secret.”
When a more comfortable silence descended, he murmured, “Lulu, I’m sorry.”
She didn’t look at him, merely
