She gives me a weak smile and her eyes drift shut.
Skylina is transferred into a regular room and when my mom comes to visit, the two of them act like they’ve known each other forever. Sky is healing up nicely and the doctor says she should be able to leave in a couple of days.
I still haven’t left the hospital and don’t until the day she’s released. When she’s discharged, she has too many flowers to carry home (mostly from me) so we give them to the nurses. She doesn’t go home because I won’t let her. She moves in with me so I can take care of and spoil her.
Her first night home, I cook her lasagna, and make a salad. She doesn’t stop saying, “Mmmm,” the entire time she eats, which has me grinning like a fool.
When she’s finished, I clean up. As I stare at her sitting on the sofa, I can’t believe how lucky we are.
“I feel so guilty.”
“Ryder. You just ruined it.”
“Ruined what?”
“My plans,” she says.
“What plans?”
“Well, it’s been so long since we’ve slept together, I had all kinds of ideas. So stop thinking about this damn guilt of yours. You ought to be thinking about something else.”
“Yeah. Like what?” I grin.
She laughs, and asks, “Well, are you up for a dirty night? Because I’m long overdue.”
“How dirty you wanna get?”
“Filthy dirty.”
TWELVE
Skylina
One Year Later
“Now remember, chin up. Look at the auditors. Smile when appropriate. Romance them with your eyes. Hell, eye fuck ‘em if you have to. Keep your carriage upright and don’t ever drop it. Never relax. And let it fly!”
“Shiz! I’ll never remember all of this,” I said.
Ryder kisses my nose, slaps me on the ass and says, “You’ll do great.”
I heard my name. “Skylina O’Donnell.”
“Ferk. I’m so nervous.”
“Good. I’d be worried if you weren’t. Now go get ‘em. And remember, I love you.” Whack.
My butt stung after that one and I felt myself grow damp. Damn him!
I moved into position. My music started and I began to dance. As soon as my feet started to move, something took over and I lost myself. All the instruction Ryder gave me flew out the window so I had to rein myself back in and remember what he said. Shiz, my carriage! I pulled myself up to my full height and carried on, spinning across the floor. My legs separated into a full split in the air. Everyone looked amazed at the height I achieved in my jumps. Even Ryder said I was spectacular, but sometimes I think he has lover’s blindness. When my song ended, it felt like it just began. My final movements landed me right in front of the three auditors and I looked every one of them in the eye as Ryder told me to, and I ended with a bow. Then I walked off the stage into his arms.
“You were brilliant, Sky. It was absolutely perfect. Not one error.”
“You’re just saying that.”
He pulled away from me and says, “No, I’m not. If you don’t get this part, they’re blind fools.”
Eight days later the call came and not only did I get the part, I was second to the lead female dancer.
Now, I stand in position, waiting for the curtain to rise on opening night. It’s been a thrilling year, but I won’t say it’s been an easy one. My body has been pushed more than I ever thought possible and Ryder … well, let me just say he’s the bossiest thing when it comes to dancing. We’ve had our share of arguments over this, but I’ve always had to concede because he knows way more than I do when it comes to this stuff. I have to smile when I think about what happens after our disagreements too. Makeup sex is the best. And I have to admit to starting an altercation or two, just to experience this magical phenomenon.
The music begins and I’m off. Everyone’s nerves are on edge because this production has been buzzed about for months now. Edge is exactly like it’s title … edgy. It’s an ultra modern musical showcasing homeless life on the streets of New York and the critics are already weighing in on this one. They’re split on their opinions and they haven’t even seen the damn thing. So we’ve all decided to throw down the towel and dance our butts off.
When the orchestra plays its final note and we take our last steps, the audience brings down the house. Everyone one of us is dripping in sweat, our tattered costumes soaked. The stage lights shine so bright in my eyes, I’m disappointed because I want to see Ryder’s face, but it’s not possible. I begged him to stay backstage, but he said he wanted to watch me from the audience’s perspective.
After several ovations, we finally drag ourselves off stage and there he is, waiting for me, with a huge bouquet of white roses and the biggest smile I’ve ever seen him wear.
My excitement is at an all time high as I run into his arms and he swings me into the air.
“You were outstanding, Sky. That was the best show I’ve ever seen. It made me want to dance again.”
My breath catches when he says those words. “Oh, Ryder.”
“No, babe, it’s a good thing. It made me feel right. You know?”
I can’t say that I do, because I’d like so badly to give back what was stolen from him. So I do the only thing I know and I lean in and kiss him, intending for it to be just a short peck on the lips. I should’ve known better. None of our kisses are ever just short pecks on the lips.
“Hey, break it up O’Donnell,” I hear one of the cast members say.
Ryder runs his thumbs lightly beneath my eyes, swiping up some of the moisture created from my sweat. “You’re a mess, babe.”
“Right? I’m drenched.”
He shoots me a look that says all kinds of things and I become drenched down there as well.
“I meant from sweat. But now …”
“Now what?” he smirks.
“I’m in bad need of a shower.”
He smirks again. “Oh, the possibilities.”
“I’m also in need of some ice.”
“Are you intentionally trying to give me hints?”
“Ryder!” I scold him.
He laughs. “Mom, Dad and Aunt Emmy are waiting. We need to meet them.”
“You didn’t bring them back?”
“Yeah, but they wanted us to have our moment alone.”
“Aw, they’re so sweet to us,” I say.
He takes my hand and leads me to them where they all want to hug me. I won’t let them, because between my running pounds of makeup and smelly sweat, I know I’m a nasty mess. They say they don’t care, but I do.
After they leave, I head to my dressing area, while Ryder waits behind. Since I don’t have a starring role, I have to share so it’s quite crowed. Hurrying, I rub the goopy gunk off my face and strip off my clothing, leaving it for the crew to be cleaned. We have several costumes that we alternate wearing, so we don’t have to wear the smelly ones the next day. As soon as I’m changed, I run back to where Ryder is waiting.
He throws his heavy arm over my shoulders and hugs me next to his hard body. It never fails to amaze me how his touch affects me.
“You hungry?” he asks.
“Starved,” I say, licking my lips.
“That could very easily be misinterpreted.”
Smiling, I say, “Hmm, you catch on quickly.”
“I have been told I’m fast.”
“You also told me you were dirty.”
“Oh, babe, I am dirty.”
“Well, guess what?”
“What?”
Standing up on my toes, I whisper into his ear, “I love dirty. In fact, I’m in the mood for something real dirty right about now.”
He faces me and says, “Is that right? And how dirty are you thinking?”
“Filthy dirty.”
“I guess that means we’re in for a dirty night then.”
My arm slips around his waist and I say, “I was hoping that’s what you’d say.”
THE END
&n
bsp; Thank you for reading this novel. If you enjoyed Dirty Nights, I would be so grateful if you would spread the word and help others enjoy it too! PLEASE consider leaving a REVIEW on your favorite e-tailer, LEND it or RECOMMEND it to your friends, family, discussion groups, etc. If you do leave a review, please email me at [email protected] and I’ll thank you with a personal email.
Dirty Nights is also available as a three part novella series and is published under my pen name, Emerson St. Clair.
About The Author
A.M. Hargrove lives in South Carolina with her husband and family. After spending years in the corporate world, she now enjoys writing fiction while she is fully caffeinated. She also thinks coffee and chocolate should be added to the USDA food groups. Oh, and ice cream too!
Other books by A.M Hargrove include:
Tragically Flawed(Tragic 1)
Tragic Desires (Tragic 2)
Exquisite Betrayal
Edge of Disaster
Shattered Edge
Kissing Fire
The GUARDIANS OF VESTURON Series (Survival, Resurrection, Determinant Beginnings and reEMERGENT)
and Dark Waltz (A Praestani Novel)
Follow A.M Hargrove:
www.amhargrove.com
www.twitter.com/amhargrove1
www.facebook.com/AMHargroveAuthor
www.goodreads.com/amhargrove1
www.pinterest/amhargrove1
[email protected]
Acknowledgements
As always, I would like to thank my family and friends, particularly those who read the original rough drafts of DN, for supporting me throughout my journey of the written word. Without their inspiration, this never would have happened. I’d like to send a special thanks to Terri, Kat, Megan, Hetty and Courtney, who helped with this book, when I released it initially as a series. You ladies totally rock in every way!
I would like to thank Ellie Folden for providing the editing services for all three parts of Dirty Nights.
And finally I would like to thank Matthew Bagley at Bagley Designs for creating such sexy covers.
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