I thought she might take the hint. Instead, her hand left my thigh and came up to catch the front of my jacket, pulling me in. “If you can’t come to my place,” she whispered against my mouth, her teeth catching my bottom lip before her tongue dragged over it, “you can at least come out back with me.”

Then she let go, slipped off her stool, and disappeared into the crowd, leaving it up to me whether I followed.

I should’ve gone home. Stuck to what I’d said.

I didn’t.

The alley was narrow and dark, the noise of the bar dulling to a low roar once the door closed behind me. I spotted her waiting for me in the shadows, leaning against the wall, and realized I hadn’t even asked her name before I’d followed her out here.