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"No, thanks I’m fine"

The bartender puts the martini in front of me I take a sip, confused, and wonder what happens next

The man moves to the stool next to me, then leans even closer intoone stool over id, uy is illiterate in the body language department

"Here for the conference?" he asks, and I can s for some time alone"

"Lucky you," says the ulations Hours and hours of continuing education"

"Hmm," I say I have my Coldly Polite face on, but he’s apparently blind as well

He leans in closer still, and now he’s at such an angle that he has to grip the bar itself or risk sliding to the floor I give in to temptation and lean in the opposite direction "I can think of better ways to spend a late night," he says, his voice low and his intent unmistakable "And we are in a hotel You do the ood atto a table, but Damien specifically toldhis rules tonight

"You look like you’d be good at a lot of things," theat my tits

I turn back to the bar to find the bartender sliding a newtoward Damien

"How nice," I say, then smile at Damien, which see to the ht beside me, and as is always the case when Damien is near, I am suddenly hyperaware--of him, of my own body, of the rotation of the earth beneath us

I smile at him "Thank you for the drink Sir"

I see the hten when I say the last word, and I have to s that "I hope you like dirty martinis"

"The dirtier the better," I say

"Hey You want to get lost? I was chatting with the lady"

Damien turns to hiuy’s eyes go wide, but he recovers fast "The lady wants to be alone" Apparently, he’s now all about chivalry

"Does she?" He looks at me, then speaks very slowly and very clearly "Did you come here to be alone? Or to be fucked?"

"I--" I have no idea how I’uy is apparently shocked into silence "I guess that depends on who’s doing the fucking," I finally say

"I like your answer," Damien says "What’s your na unbidden to rins "Nice to asp, embarrassed, but also incredibly, undeniably turned on "I--"

"Now" He holds out his hand and I hesitate only ait