Terms and Conditions (ONC 2023)

03

"Excuse me," I shout to the bartender, hoping he hears me. Then, I realize he's already making seven drinks, so I snap my mouth shut and wait.

"He'll be done soon enough. Don is one of the quickest bartenders here."

The voice comes from behind me, and I stiffen as I recognize the accent. I fight the urge to turn, because I know if I do, my face will only be inches from his chest, and judging by the way his musky cologne makes my stomach heat up, I don't think I want to be that close, anyway.

Why does the universe have to be such a bitch?

"However, if you plan to order some fruity drink, then I would suggest you give him a couple of minutes. He'll be annoyed if he has to make everyone else wait for a girly drink."

"How do you know I was going to order something fruity?" I ask without looking away from the alcohol display. "Maybe I was going to order a Black Russian."

"Ah, a girl with humor, I see." Jonah leans in close, and his hot breath tickles my ear. "Tell me, why do you keep your back turned to me when it's quite apparent what you actually want to do?"

"I'm just waiting to get my drink," I reply, ignoring the urge to back up ever so slightly.

"Can't have a proper conversation if you're not looking me in the eye, can we?"

I sigh and turn, scooting closer to the bar because I'm not sure how close our faces will be if I don't.

"There we go," he says. His eyes search mine, and the intrigue swirling in them is almost palpable.

I don't say anything. Not because I don't want to, but because I'm not entirely sure what will come out of it if I do. Everything about him turns me on, and I hate it. I'm going to have to see him at work - and possibly work with him - and I can't do that if I sleep with him. The only thing I'll be able to think about is the fact that he's seen me naked.

"I told you I'd see you if you come here often." He smirks a little and looks up as the bartender approaches us. "Give me a Dark and Stormy and a Black Russian for the lady."

I manage to find my words as his attention returns to me. "I can order my own drinks."

I fix my gaze on the black button-down he's wearing, still avoiding his eyes. The top two buttons have been left undone to reveal his collarbone and the slightest hint of toffee-colored chest hair.

"Why do you avoid my gaze? Is it because I told you I was interested?" His voice is low, but despite the deafening roar of the music surrounding us, I can still hear him.

"I don't sleep with coworkers." I look up at him through my lashes because I don't dare to lift my head. "It's too messy."

"Fiore, I'm everything but messy." He taps his fingers on my chin to lift my head and searches my face for a moment. A heat so strong I can feel my resolve withering lies behind his eyes. "But, if that's what you truly want, I will leave right now and never mention it again."

And just like that, my resolve shatters. I'm not sure what I want from him, but I do know that I don't want him to leave here without me.

Someone behind Jonah waves their hands, and as my gaze cuts to them, I see Olivia and Danny grinning. Danny makes a suggestive face and Olivia motions toward the door.

Jonah moves in front of me, and my attention turns back to him. "Please don't leave me with an unanswered question. I can't take it."

"Why?" I grab the glass the bartender slides toward me and take a drink.

"Because ever since I saw you here the other day, I haven't been able to get you out of my head. I don't exactly know why, but no matter where I am, no matter who's talking to me, the thought of you always snakes its way into my brain. And, there's a very honest truth I must confess if you would like to hear it."

"Okay?" I take another sip of my drink, not because I have to, but because I need an excuse to not look him in the eye.

"You are quite possibly the most beautiful and intriguing woman I have ever met."

My head snaps up and my lips part in shock. He shoots me a look of innocence as if what he just said is something I must hear all the time.

I want nothing more than to give in, to let this man care for me in a way that I haven't felt in a while. But it terrifies me that if I do, something will go terribly wrong and I'll have to deal with it at work - or worse, quit because I can't handle it.

"Can I get a couple shots of tequila?" I ask the bartender as I wave him over. After he pours them, I toss them both back and squeeze my eyes shut. The sultry look in Jonah's eyes disappears as I shake my head, and he looks more curious than anything.

"Dance with me," I tell him, grabbing his hand and pulling him into the crowd of writhing bodies.

Jonah doesn't hesitate to follow along as I dance against him, and I can feel his hot breath on my neck as he leans in close. This feeling is more potent than the alcohol, heating every inch of my skin and burning a path through my body and deep into my belly.

"You tease me," Jonah murmurs into my shoulder.

As much as I would have rather stayed home and watched Game of Thrones on my bed, I'm glad Danny dragged me out of our apartment. I have never felt this sexy, even when I was a freshman in college and dressed to the nines for every party I went to - invited or not.

I quickly lose myself to the music and the feel of his hands roaming over my body. Dancing against him makes me wonder what it might be like to be with him. My cheeks flush red as an image pops into my mind - one of his head between my thighs, fingertips digging into the soft skin.

"Are you always like this?" Jonah asks behind me.

If I wasn't so caught off guard by his voice so soon after the explicit imagery of my imagination, I might have laughed. "Never."

I turn toward him, and he studies me, lips staying motionless but eyes smiling. "You are dangerous," he says.

This time, a laugh bubbles out of me. "You think so?"

"Yes. And I'm not so bold as to ask you to come home with me tonight, but I would like to ask you to dinner."

I'm not so sure if it's the mix of alcohol and the excessive hormones my body is producing right now, but I find myself saying, "What if I want to come home with you?"

I think I managed to shock us both, because wrinkles of surprise form on his forehead and he tenses for a second. His surprise quickly turns into a smirk as he stares down at me through long lashes.

"Bold," he comments. "But I find it hard to believe that you're the type of girl who sleeps with a man before the first date."

"You don't know me that well," I point out and turn back around. I can feel myself relaxing as I become more aware of my body and how I'm moving it. It's obvious he can tell, too.

Jonah presses a cautious kiss to my shoulder. "I think it may be best if we end the night here. I'll take you on a proper date, first. You deserve the best I truly have to offer before anything else. Besides, we're both very intoxicated and I want to remember everything."

I turn back around to argue with him. To keep him here, dancing against me. Prolonging the fun. But he's already inching himself away.

"I'll call you and we'll figure out the details," Jonah says.

As he disappears into the crowd, I can't help but wonder how he'll get my number if he didn't ask me, but then I remember.

We work together now.