Marked

by Charisse Spiers

  He fiddles with his ear again. "Okay. Whatever you say. You're the boss," he says, while I'm hoping that he's actually talking to someone and not himself, and then removes the rope hook from the stand, giving me room to enter. He looks at me. "ID, beautiful. Looks like it's your lucky night."

  I look at the people standing in line that is now groaning, cursing, and mumbling shit that is probably best I don’t hear. What exactly just happened? I open my clutch and grab my license, showing it to him as I pass through. "Should I ask questions?"

  He smiles at the same time that he winks. "I wouldn't if I were you."

  I pass by him and through the door of the club. Yeah, okay, whatever. It's dark inside, the only lights being the tube lights that basically border the entire club like crown molding in a bright blue, as well as the bar, and the dim spotlights scattered throughout the ceiling of the club to allow enough light to see, but nothing more.

  I start lightly bumping to the music as I squeeze my way through the crowded bodies, basically stacked on top of each other. It's packed out, and that makes me excited, giving me the beginning of an adrenaline rush. That means there will be more man-candy to choose from. The liquor is flowing. I can smell it, the various scents filling the air. Some are stronger than others. The song changes to another hip-hop tune, a faster paced one. The energy changes in the air and the dancing becomes more sensual as I glance around me.

  Grinding. Lots of grinding. I'm about to be one of them.

  The bar finally comes into view. I turn and slide through the group that is littered in front of the bar, creating a barrier. I spot an open seat and quickly take it, laying my clutch on the bar in front of me. I lean to the side, trying to signal the bartender when I hear it. "What you drinking tonight, beautiful? I'll buy."

  That accent. Holy hell, that sexy accent.

  I turn to the man sitting beside me sipping on a Corona. His physical appearance matches the sexy voice that accompanies it. From the dark complexion and sun-kissed blonde hair to the clear, baby blue eyes, I'm going to guess Australia. I glance at his left hand. No band or suntan line in its absence. Tonight, this one is mine. I'm going to have a little fun. "Long Island iced tea. Thanks. What's your name, handsome?"

  Grabbing the neck of his bottle he turns it up at his lips as a smile breaks free, setting it back down moments later, now half empty. "Flynn. What's yours?"

  "Well, Flynn, I'm Lux." I spin on the stool to face him and hold out my hand. He takes it as he noticeably stares at my rack peeking out of my dress. Hook, line, and later sinker. "Tell me, what brings you down south? I'm going to say based on that sexy accent that you're not from around here. Where are you from?"

  He doesn't immediately answer, but his smile holds its position spread across his face. Instead, he drops his hand and turns his head toward the bartender now standing on the other side of us. "What can I get you?" He yells out over the music.

  "Another beer and a Long Island for the lady. Add them to my tab." Hell.... I've never had one with an accent like that before. Shit, I want to hear that in action. There is just something about a foreign accent that will get your girly bits going in two seconds flat.

  The bartender nods as he begins making our order while he rhythmically sways along with the beat, as if it's no longer due to the music but out of habit from working in a bar every night. Barely a few seconds in and our drinks are sitting in front of us, ready to make the night a little more fun.

  I grab my cup and place the straw between my lips, sensually sucking on the tip as I wait for him to speak. I dramatically cross my legs and take notice as his mouth slightly falls open when his eyes land on the narrow, black straw fueling my aggressive personality for later.

  He clears his throat and takes another gulp of his beer. "Australia. I'm down here working." The way that rolls off his tongue he probably wouldn't even need to touch me to get me ready. Hell, he could just talk to me. "Are you a local?"

  "I guess you could say that. I've been living here for almost seven years. Before that it doesn't matter. You would have to have a magnifying glass and a road map to find where I came from. How long are you here?"

  He leans over closer to me, resting his elbows on the top of the bar. "Long enough for fun, but short enough I know where the line lies. What's your story, Lux? Are you just having fun or is it something more you're looking for?"

  Fucking hell. Screw the straw. Placing the rim of the glass to my lips, I take a long swig, swallowing the mixture of goodness. The main flavor in focus is tequila. I lick my lips to ensure no spare drops are remaining. "All I know is fun, baby. In my world nothing else exists. I guess we're just two healthy, young individuals with mutual interests. I'm an open book, Flynn. I'm not in here for a night to forget, but a night to remember. That is what will land me in your bed later."

  He starts to bite the inside of his bottom lip, still watching me with that adorable, white, surfer boy smile as he drinks his beer. He seems fun, relaxed, and not a control freak like someone I’m getting to know. "Lux! Where have you been?"

  I turn toward the drunken voice that I would recognize anywhere: Delta. She runs toward me, instantly wrapping her arms around me. "I thought you were going to stand me up, bitch! Where have you been? You have to come dance with me, but first I have your shots."

  I slam back the rest of my drink, way too fast, and place the empty glass back on the bar. The stronger the better. Delta is pulling my arm toward her, but first I reach into my purse. I'm always prepared for anything. "One second, Delta."

  He is looking at me as if he's curious. I hold out my hand as if to shake it again. He takes it, but I leave a small piece of paper behind. "When you get ready for that fun, find me. I'll be in here somewhere. First, I have to do my best friend duties." I wink. "Thanks for the drink, Flynn."

  That smile I thought was broad earlier just got bigger. He wears it well. "Lux! Come on! Who is that guy?" Delta pulls harder, trying to pull me away, and I let her, distancing myself from the sexy Australian I will have for desert later. I guess it’s true what they say – Australia has some sexy men.

  You haven't really lived until you've lived free. To be wild is to explore your deepest desires. A one-night stand is just a part of being a strong woman, succumbing to knowing exactly what you want and not being afraid of going after it. Years ago, everything was about depending on a man, but now, the true definition of an independent woman is being able to satiate all desires and still live completely alone. I am that woman.

  Delta pulls me through the bar as if she's a woman on a mission. If I weren’t so used to heels I'd probably topple over. "Damn, Delta. Slow down. What's your hurry?"

  We arrive at a table she's obviously reserved, speckled with drinks all over it, and occupied by people I recognize that she works with, sitting and drinking. I'm guessing when you work at a bar being at a bar is no longer anything special. I nod their way to be polite, even though I don't really hang out with any of them. "What's up?"

  "You have to do this shot with me, La- Lux."

  I look at her and down at the row of shots in front of us. "From the sounds of it you may not need any more."

  "Stop it. You're only saying that because you haven't had enough. Drink."

  She hands me a shot. I don't even ask what it is. I just shoot. Then she hands me another...and another. I take a deep breath between shots, trying to relieve the burn in the back of my throat. It’s a good thing I didn’t skip dinner. I set shot glass number three down. She's already holding up another. I lightly shake my head. She nods. "It's power hour, baby. We haven't done this in a few years. Stigma or stamina? It's all or nothing. We party like rock stars or stay home like moms."

  On that note...

  I grab another shot glass and tap it on the table before turning it back, swallowing in one gulp, and then slamming it back down. She smiles. "Don't ever compare me to a mom again. I'm not cut out for that shit. Never have been and never will." For effect I grab another and repeat my
previous notion.

  Shots one and two in combination with my earlier drink are starting to do their job. My buzz is enhancing with every minute that passes. I start to dance by myself to the music when I feel a set of hands enclose around my waist from behind. "Dance with me," he says.

  I smile and lean my head back against his chest. "I see you found me."

  "I would have looked through this entire bar before I left without you. Some opportunities you don't pass up. Every businessman knows that."

  I grab his hand and turn as I lift them both above our heads. "I like how you think, Flynn. All good things start with a dance." I wink and take a step backwards. "I'll be on the floor, Delta," I yell as I lead him off. The song change is perfect for two bodies introducing themselves. As we arrive on the dance floor I line his front to my back and grab his other hand.

  Starting out with a small distance between us, I start to dance, closing in as the song plays, until we're so close that there is not a single space. I start to roll my hips against him, his movements matching mine. We are in a perfect rhythm with one another. He moves one hand on the front of my stomach, pressing me into him as he grinds his erection into my ass.

  I move my hand to the back of his neck and hold on to give me more leverage against him, never letting up. The heat between the bodies on the crowded dance floor and us is making me hot, causing a slight sheen on my skin. The alcohol has now taken over my blood stream, giving me that bold edge I need, and making me want more from him. Me consuming alcohol is like putting my personality on steroids.

  I spin to face him, still dancing and rolling against him to the music. He looks into my eyes and I can tell he's about to kiss me. I want him to. He leans in and I close my eyes, waiting, when a hand cups over my mouth and pulls me backward against a hard chest. "I thought I told you I don't share with other cocks," he whispers into my ear.

  Now that voice I recognize...

  What the fuck?

  My eyes open and Flynn looks a little taken back. I imagine he probably is. I grab Kaston's hand and remove it from my mouth. "What do you want?"

  "Oh I think you know what I want," he grits out. "And here you are trying to give it away."

  Hell no....

  "Should I leave?"

  I hold up my index finger to Flynn and turn around, shoving Kaston in the chest, no doubt the alcohol inhibiting wise decisions. "Let's get one thing fucking straight. You do not own me, my body, or my ability to make decisions in regards to who I do or don't sleep with. You had your chance, Kaston. You walked away not once, but twice. At some point a woman moves on. You aren't the only man that can turn me on. I'm over it. Back the fuck off."

  A mask falls over his face. He has this seriousness about him I haven't seen before. Hell, that's not abnormal. I hardly know him! I’m sure he has several expressions I’ve never seen. His jaw steels as if his teeth are about to break. "Flynn, is it? You won't be taking this one home. She's taken."

  How does Kaston know his name? Oh right, probably the same fucking way he knows my last name. Damn sexy psycho. Well, psycho boy meet bitch girl. World War III is about to begin.

  "Uh, no the fuck I'm not. Don't tell my date to leave. You leave."

  "You want me to leave?"

  Pause. Briefly thinking...

  "Yes."

  "Okay. I'll leave." He reaches down and picks me up, throwing me over his shoulder, my almost bare ass in the air. "But not with you still standing in front of someone waiting for the second you let him dip his dick in your pussy."

  I am not a fucking child. I pummel my fist into the center of his spine. "Put me down, Kaston."

  He slaps my ass, hard. Dammit. I clench my inner leg muscles together. "You're going to have to try a lot harder to hurt me, baby." Where is he even going? I see a blur of stairs. He's climbing stairs. Where is he taking me? He climbs them with ease as if I weigh nothing, one by one, until he reaches a level floor, confirming we're at the top.

  "Where are we going? You can't just take me wherever you please. Have you lost your damn mind?"

  "I lost my mind a long time ago, and yes, I can take you anywhere I damn well please. Do you really object?"

  My body goes limp. Plotting. I'm starting to get a head rush from being upside down. This is not smart with all I’ve had to drink. People are getting sparser the farther he walks down the long hallway. Can he even be up here? I don't know anything that is upstairs and I've been to this club on numerous occasions. I look down at his ass. He walks with a swagger, noticeable even from this angle. His jeans are fitted but not tight. It gives me an idea.

  I grab his shirttail and pull it up, revealing the waistband of his jeans. Running my hand palm down, underneath the band, I can feel the smooth skin of his buttocks. I continue down until my fingertips are gliding over the crack of his ass. I start to press between them, hoping for a minor freak out like most straight men so that he will drop me...but instead, nothing, and then I feel his hand mirror the actions of mine, after swiftly pulling my thong down by the small V that sits above my ass, toward the bottom to reside underneath my butt cheeks.

  His finger is barely pressing between my ass cheeks just like mine on his, directly above the point of entry. "You want anal play, baby, I'm ready. Just remember you get what you ask for. I'm not gentle. If I break it in I break it in right."

  I should have fucking known...

  "Dammit, Kaston, put me down. For the love of all things holy will you decide what the hell you want? You're going to drive me insane. This is crazy. We don't even know each other that well. It was just supposed to be a random hookup. Here we are a couple of weeks later and haven't hooked up. I figured you had moved on by now."

  I hear a door open and then watch as it closes, my drunken emotions spinning farther out of control. The lock on the doorknob sounds. The room is dark and cold. "You're about to find out what it is that I want. I've backed off as long as I can."

  What does that vague shit even mean? He messes with something on the wall and spotlights turn up but he keeps them on dim. They are placed in the ceiling over a large, wooden-framed desk. It's neat and orderly, barely anything residing on top. That is obviously his destination as that is where he begins walking.

  A desk, a dark room, an alpha-male psycho killer, and we're alone.... That could mean one of two things: one, it's about to be a blood battle, or two, this is about to be a fuckfest, and I'm more than ready. Don't ask me why I want him like I do, but I do. There is no reason to deny it. He's dangerous, but to what exactly I'm not sure.

  He sets me down roughly on top of the desk. My head spins from going quickly from one position to another. I close my eyes and place my hand on my head, hoping it will stop. He places his hands firmly on my thighs and slides me to the edge of the desk, closer to his body. My already short dress is hiked up to my waist, the backside of my panties still beneath my ass.

  I open my eyes. He is staring directly at me with a heat so fierce my body temperature increases. I can't decipher what he's thinking. "I can't fucking handle someone else touching you, kissing you, or fucking you, because I want to do those things to you."

  "What's stopping you?"

  My eyes divert as his hand disappears into his pocket. "Because I shouldn't touch anyone that makes me feel this way. Doing that is going against the rules. You're supposed to be dead. You know too much."

  "Yet I don't know enough..."

  I sit up and grab his shirt in my fist, pulling him closer to my level. "You don't strike me as someone that follows rules or formalities, hence me being here against my original will. I don't give a shit what you do in your spare time. We all have things we keep hidden from others. If you're worried I'll tell, I won't. I was taught a long time ago not to be a rat. If that makes me the same caliber of person as you then so be it."

  I pull him to where his lips are just outside of mine. "As far as what happens between us.... Make me yours or cut me loose. You can't straddle the fence, sexy."

 
; "Where the fuck have you been all of my life?" He grabs the back of my head with his free hand and crushes his lips to mine, instantly sliding his tongue between my lips. It is ridiculous how turned on he makes me. I just want him to do it already. The way he tastes is like getting a dose of crack cocaine. A little isn't enough.

  He halts again, releasing my lips. I growl out in aggravation. "You have got to be fucking kidding me! Come on! Would you just fuck me already? I'm about to just kill you myself. Fuck."

  I'm probably being a little dramatic, but this is getting ridiculous. He smiles, his eyes on me. Smiles. Is he serious? I'm about to get up and walk away when he hooks his index finger behind the fabric of my dress, in the area between my breasts. "I'm going to, but first you will be naked. I want to see it all."

  Pulling his hand from his pocket, he flips a blade up on a pocketknife and places it blade down on the fabric beside his finger, point between my breasts, before swiping it downward, ripping the fabric in a straight line from hem to hem until it parts completely. I think I may have even sucked in, but the blade never cut my skin. My mouth falls slightly. I'm trying to push aside the fact that was dangerous, but hot as fuck, and focus on the part where those were designer threads he just mutilated in less than two seconds.

  He closes the knife, putting the blade away, but his eyes never stray from mine. "That was lace on satin overlay! What the hell am I supposed to wear out of here at closing?"

  That smile returns. "Not my problem...yet. Next time maybe you'll look a little less appetizing in your choice of clothing. You aren't leaving at closing. This may take a while."

  He nods to the right. I turn to a bed across the room. It's just now that I realize how big it is in here. It looks more like a studio apartment than an office. "Where are we? Are we supposed to be up here?"

  "The only thing you should be concerned about is that I have connections all over this town. How do you think you got in tonight?"

  He pushes what's left of the dress over my shoulders, letting it fall to the desk. It all suddenly and very clearly makes sense. Who exactly am I dealing with? He leans in and unhooks my bra with his lips just outside my ear. "I'm warning you, Lux. I'm a bad man. I'm capable of many things, but leaving you alone isn't one of them. I know that now. Things are about to get complicated."