Hero Force United Boxed Set 1

by Baron Sord

  “Don’t call me that here!” She hissed and dug her nails into my forearm.

  Fortunately, the loud music had likely drowned out my unfortunate utterance. Or so I hoped. Either way, I felt like a complete and total jerk. Why had I said her name?! I ran my hand through my hair and sighed, “Sorry! I—”

  She cut me off with a growl, “You need to get out of here!” She shoved me in the direction of the pink exit curtains. Hard. She was incredibly strong. Super-powered strong.

  Had I been a normal man without super-powers, I would’ve gone flying. But my strength allowed me to merely stumble once before stopping myself and her. I pleaded, “Wait!”

  “NO! GET OUT OF HERE!” She was mad as hell, but her angry face was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen and her cyan eyes pierced my heart.

  “Wait, Kri— I mean LL! Wait! This is serious!”

  “IT SURE AS HELL IS! YOU CAN’T BE HERE! NOW LEAVE! I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU CAME HERE AFTER EVERYTHING I SAID! DON’T YOU LISTEN?!”

  I felt awful.

  Two bouncers in tuxedo vests were suddenly by Kristy’s side and glaring at me.

  “Is there a problem?” one said. The other was muttering into his headset mic. More bouncers were already on their way over.

  I pleaded, “LL! I need to tell you something!”

  “No! You need to go!”

  KRISTY! I sent my thoughts as hard as I could. LISTEN TO ME! SOMEBODY BEAT UP JEFF STRICKLAND TONIGHT! I WAS JUST AT HIS TRAILER PARK! THEY WERE ASKING ABOUT YOU! THEY CAME HERE! I THINK IT’S THOSE GUYS FROM THE DRUG WAREHOUSE! GRAY EYES AND FWCK!

  Six big bouncers in vests suddenly circled me.

  “It’s time for you to go home, friend,” one said with icy politeness.

  The men herded me toward the exit curtains.

  I could’ve easily overpowered all of them, but I chose to let them move me, out of respect for Kristy. I didn’t want to make a scene at her work. But I did take one last look at her, finally seeing her from head to toe in her bikini.

  Her body was…

  I didn’t know how to describe it.

  Like the other strippers here at Flashbacks, Kristy wore only high heels and a skimpy bikini that barely left anything to the imagination. Despite me having seen her several times in her Lady Liberty costume, which was skintight, it was a bodysuit that had covered her from neck to toe.

  But now?

  Now her undeniable beauty was literally blowing my mind.

  Perfect full and natural breasts, perfect eraser nipples poking through the bikini top, perfect flat stomach, perfect slit of a navel, perfect narrow waist, perfect hips I was dying to grab, perfect thigh-gap I was dying to… you know. Perfect legs, perfect slender calves, perfect ankles, perfect feet, perfect toes, perfect arms and hands and fingers, perfect smooth skin, perfect mound of sultry hair cascading down her shoulders, and most of all, her perfect face. And those shining cyan eyes.

  They got me every time.

  But it wasn’t just her looks.

  Stazia Wilcox had looks.

  Kristy seemed to somehow have more. Again, I had to wonder if Kristy’s powers included super-powered charm. But it didn’t matter because Kristy was the woman I had met at San Diego Comic Con before she had gotten her powers, the incredibly talented comic book artist with her own self-titled comic book, the woman who’d encouraged me to ask Jeff for a penciling job, the woman who’d won the Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award at the Eisner’s where she had told that emotional and tearful story about her mom buying her a Wonder Woman comic book when she was a little girl in kindergarten — Kristy had called it “kindygarden” — and how that one comic book had inspired Kristy’s lifelong love of drawing.

  Ever since then, I had known Kristy was the most amazing woman I had ever met or ever would. Stazia was great, but Kristy? Where did I begin?

  That said, Kristy had made it clear she wasn’t interested, but that didn’t change my feelings. And here she was, standing before me in a nearly nonexistent bikini. She could be wearing a bedsheet, and I’d still think she was the most amazing woman in the world. But she wasn’t.

  I could see every perfect inch of her.

  That was why it killed me that she hated me. The rage on her face left no question: with all her heart, she hated me for invading her workplace.

  I couldn’t blame her.

  I had broken my solemn promise.

  Feeling terrible, I turned to go.

  —: Chapter 51 :—

  This time it wasn’t K-Cray losing her cool.

  It was Kristy.

  She’d told Doug never to come to Flashbacks!

  It didn’t matter if she liked him!

  Strangers seeing you dance naked was one thing.

  People you knew?

  Ew!

  Way too embarrassing.

  Worse, he’d said her effing real name out loud in front of everybody!

  And the way he was looking at her?

  Literally drooling like a dog?

  It was…!

  Was…!

  She didn’t want him looking at her like that!

  He needed to leave!

  Wait, had he been at the Eisner’s?

  Had he seen her win that award and heard her speech?

  Why hadn’t he said anything about going to watch?!

  It didn’t matter!

  Doug needed to leave!

  Right the eff now!

  —: Chapter 52 :—

  My Robot buzzed in my pocket.

  I pulled it out to check.

  A message.

  Stazia Wilcox: Come over if you want.

  At that exact moment, standing in the middle of Flashbacks, the significance of me being super attractive to women finally sunk in. It had taken nearly two months, but I was finally getting it.

  For the first time in my life, when it came to women… No, to the most beautiful women in the world…

  I had options.

  Lots and lots of gorgeous options.

  Why was I clinging to Kristy when Stunning Stazia Wilcox was opening her door — and possibly the rest of herself — to me?

  Or Wet & Ready?

  Or every other hot stripper here?

  I didn’t need to cling to anyone, least of all Kristy.

  I had done what I’d come for — I had warned Kristy about Jeff and Gray Eyes and FwCK. If she didn’t want to listen, what else was there for me to do, besides Stazia?

  Kristy could hate me all she wanted.

  I was a man with endless fricking options.

  Smirking to myself, I put my Robot in my pocket and the six Flashbacks bouncers followed close behind as I walked toward the black-lit pink exit curtains.

  Is Jeff really in trouble? Kristy thought with compassion.

  I stopped short and the crowd of bouncers stumbled all over me, two of them falling to the floor.

  “Move it, buddy,” one growled in my ear. “Don’t make me tell you twice.”

  The two on the floor quickly scrambled to their feet.

  One hissed in my ear, “You wanna get your ass arrested? That it? I make one call and 5-0 is taking you downtown. You hearing me?”

  Several of them shoved me from behind.

  Although I now had endless options when it came to women, I had responsibilities when it came to people in need. People like Jeff Strickland. Or people in danger, which included Kristy. Whether or not she could take care of herself, she needed to know the whole story, for her sake and Jeff’s. He might still be in danger. If not tonight, tomorrow, or whenever FwCK struck again.

  I stood my ground against the impatient bouncers and sent a thought to Kristy, Yeah, they beat up Jeff in his trailer. I tried calling you on his phone, but you didn’t answer. So I drove here to warn you. There’s five guys in black leather jackets somewhere inside Flashbacks looking for you.

  Z-Z-Z-ZAP!

  I looked down and saw one of the bouncers jamming a flashlight-shaped stun gun into my side. 10,00
0,000 volts (or however many it was advertised as having) had never tickled so little.

  Stun Gun Man stared at me like I was a myth or a legend or a tall tale he could not quite wrap his head around.

  Another bouncer saw what was happening and pressed a finger to his headset mic and said, “Code red. Code red. Call 911.”

  “Wait, you guys,” Kristy said, rushing over to me. “Just wait. I know this guy.”

  The bouncer on the head mic muttered, “Belay that order.”

  Kristy grabbed my wrist gently. “He’s my friend.”

  The bouncers eyed me suspiciously.

  “Relax, guys,” Kristy grinned, “I know him. It’s okay.”

  “You hear that?” I smirked at the angry bouncers. “I’m not a threat.”

  They weren’t backing down.

  “Guys,” Kristy laughed. “This is my boyfriend Doug. It’s okay, I promise.”

  Two emotions flashed through the minds of the six bouncers surrounding us at the same time: surprise and disappointment. Their thoughts echoed a similar sentiment:

  She has a boyfriend?

  Fuck, I thought she was single!

  I was totally gonna ask her out finally!

  No wonder she won’t fuck me!

  Despite their disappointment, they finally relaxed.

  I didn’t even blink at Kristy calling me her boyfriend. Once upon a time, she had called Arnold her boyfriend, but we all knew that hadn’t meant anything because she flew solo. I doubted she’d changed her mind in the last 30 seconds. Yes, some part of me would always want her to mean it, but she didn’t, and I was done with saving myself for her.

  After a few moments, the bouncers started to disperse.

  The head bouncer got right in my face and growled, “Listen to me, buddy. Don’t make any trouble. Got it? If you look at anybody the wrong way, I’m calling the cops. You hear me?”

  “Yeah,” I nodded.

  “Okay. Go have fun.” Lucky fuck. I can’t believe he’s with Kristy. Nobody can get that girl. Not even me. She’s a fucking nun. Only girl here who doesn’t break the rules.

  The intensity of his thoughts were loud and clear, and they came as a complete relief. From the sound of it, Kristy was nothing like Wet & Ready or Crystal or any of the other strippers who worked here. Not that I cared. Kristy flew solo and I would never be her Chewbacca or Han or whoever the hell she was saving herself for.

  More importantly, I had Stazia waiting for me.

  Now that I had delivered my message to Kristy, I turned to go.

  Somebody grabbed my arm hard from behind and stopped me short.

  Thinking it was a bouncer — or worse, Gray Eyes and his goons — I spun around, ready to fight.

  —: Chapter 53 :—

  “WHO’S STAZIA?!” Kristy hollered over the loud music, clearly having read my thoughts. She had my arm locked in her super-powered grip.

  “Nobody,” I grumbled and made a point of glaring at her hand where she was grabbing my tricep. “I need to go. Do you mind?”

  “Wait! What happened to Jeff?!”

  I sighed and hollered, “Is there someplace we can talk?! I can barely hear myself think!”

  She glared at me.

  “What?!” I demanded.

  “Nothing!” She shook her head and started walking, pulling me along with her. She said, “This way! It’s quieter back here!” She led me down the pink neon hallway toward the heavenly pleasure palace that lay inside.

  At the end of the tunnel, we turned a corner into an open area. It was a third the size of the main room, but mirrors covered the walls and ceiling, making the space seem much larger.

  Instead of fancy stages surrounded by tables and chairs, this room had numerous plush pink circular couches that surrounded table-sized round stages with just enough room for a single stripper to dance. On some, strippers were writhing for small groups of men who were inches away, sitting on the edges of their seats while they greedily tucked cash into the stripper’s G-strings or bikini tops, eyes all over the girls.

  On other couches throughout the room, several guys by themselves were sinking into the pink cushions while a single stripper climbed all over them. These guys were mesmerized and looked stoned out of their minds on sexual ecstasy.

  Kristy led me through another pink-curtained archway. Beyond it, a row of narrow booths lined one wall. Pink curtains hung in front of every booth, some open and empty, others closed and clearly occupied by a stripper and her customer.

  Kristy pulled me into the first empty booth she found. She whipped the curtain shut behind her. “Sit down,” she ordered as she pushed me into a comfy pink chair.

  For a second, I expected her to climb all over me.

  No, she sat on the armrest.

  That said, her boobs were right in my face. Maybe two inches from my nose. She smelled like feminine heaven, a scent I could only describe as everything I had ever desired emanating from her exquisite flesh.

  She leaned into my shoulder with her breasts.

  Chuckling, I said, “What are you doing?”

  “Relax,” she whispered. Her lips were inches from my ear. Her minty breath washed over me like a drug. “I’m making it look like I’m giving you a lap dance. This is the only place we can have any privacy.”

  Every cell in my body and every neuron in my brain lit up with pure pleasure. Stazia was hot but Kristy was addictive. Intoxicating. I found myself instantly straining with desire for Kristy so hard I was ready to punch a hole in my jeans. Fully erect and ready for sex.

  The ultimate old-school hard-thrusting fuck song was blasting over the PA — Kashmir by Led Zeppelin — thumping and bumping in time with the hammering of my pulse.

  She thought, Tell me what happened to Jeff.

  All I could do was groan. I felt like I was going to come in my boxers.

  Doug! Pay attention! This is important! I’m worried about Jeff!

  Sorry. Uh… sorry. He was… Can you not hover so close? I can’t think.

  Jesus, Doug. Focus! She shifted so her breast was no longer touching me, but I could still feel the heat.

  Okay, I thought. I went to Jeff’s place. He was all bloody.

  Is he okay?

  I think so. Okay enough to talk. I mean, type.

  What?

  He… I used his laptop so he could type.

  What? she frowned. You’re not making any sense.

  Never mind that. I think he’ll be okay after he gets medical attention. Like I said, I called 911 before I left.

  What did he tell you?

  He said those guys out in the club beat him up until he told them where you worked.

  Crap. You’re sure?

  I saw them drive up and walk inside.

  I didn’t see anybody weird. Are you sure?

  One hundred percent.

  It is busy tonight. She sighed. Do you know what they want?

  I have no idea. To hurt you?

  Good luck with that, she thought dismissively. Did they say anything else to Jeff? What did he tell them?

  He didn’t say much. I just know they were asking him about Lady Liberty. He was kind of beat up. But he obviously said you worked here.

  Do you think they’d recognize me?

  What, you mean out of your Lady Liberty costume?

  She nodded, Yeah.

  It’s hard to say. If it’s the same thugs from the drug warehouse, you had your mask and costume on. Now all you’ve got on is… I couldn’t help it. I glanced down at her full breasts. They were right in my face. Hers were the perfect size. Big but not cartoonishly big. Her cleavage was perfectly real and smooth and pressed together in a way that fake breasts never did. The bikini material covered her nipples, but they were poking through harder than before.

  Was she getting turned on?

  SLAP!

  She whacked my shoulder. No, I’m not getting turned on, Doug! It’s cold! And stop looking at my boobs!

  Sorry. I tore my eyes away.r />
  Was it cold in here? Didn’t seem cold to me — not with the hottest woman in the world sitting practically in my lap. That was why it was incredibly difficult not to drool all over her cleavage.

  Doug!

  Sorry. I’d forgotten how easy it was for her to read my thoughts. But I couldn’t read hers, no matter how hard I probed.

  Probed…

  I swallowed hard.

  I glanced up.

  Boobs…

  I tore my eyes away and looked down at the slit of her navel.

  Her slit…

  Yanked my eyes down to her thigh gap and—

  SLAP!

  She whacked me again. Earth to Doug! Would you focus? What should I do about Jeff?

  Jeff? I called 911 for Jeff. I’m more worried about you. I think you should go home.

  No! I’m working!

  Can’t you work tomorrow?

  No. I need the money tonight.

  Do you want me to hang out and keep an eye out for those guys? I knew Kristy could take care of herself, but I also knew Gray Eyes was capable of anything, and was likely armed, as were his men. If the five of them started shooting here inside Flashbacks, Kristy would be hard-pressed to prevent every possible injury or shooting death that might occur. I thought, If I see them and they try anything, I can help stop them.

  No. I don’t want you here. I have to go on stage in thirty minutes.

  So?

  So, you’re not watching me dance, Doug!

  I won’t watch. I’ll be watching for Gray Eyes and his men.

  Yeah, right. You’re a terrible liar. Tell me again why you didn’t message me from outside?

  You mean with telepathy?

  Yeah. Why did you have to come in here? Or was that an excuse to see me in a bikini?

  Again I thought of Stazia in her bikini. I didn’t need to come in here to see Kristy in hers.

  Who’s Stazia? Kristy thought with irritation.

  Do you mind? My thoughts are private. Stop reading my mind already. It is highly annoying.

  She rolled her eyes.

  I ignored her obvious irritation and thought, Back to the subject at hand, I tried mentally messaging you a bunch of times. You never responded. In case you hadn’t noticed, it’s hard to pick out anybody’s thoughts in this noise.