by Parker, Ali
“Um, how about with a couple of drinks?” I suggested. “Maybe some dancing?”
She waved me off, turning into an overpriced parking structure I assumed was near where the club was. “Nah, let’s find the hottest bastard in the club. It’s time you play some ding-dong ditch.”
“I’m guessing we’re not talking about the kids’ game.”
“Nope. That was fun. This is better.” After circling the level we were driving on a few times, Tiana spotted an empty space and parked, winking when she caught my eye. “At least it’s better if you find a guy who knows what he’s doing.”
“I’m too afraid to ask and morbidly curious all at the same time.” I rocked my head from side to side, then nodded. “Okay, curiosity wins. What’s this version of ding-dong ditch?”
“You play with a target of your choice’s ding-dong, then you ditch. Simple enough, right?” She flashed me a sassy smile and got out of her car.
“For you maybe, but I’m wearing a girdle.” Also known to me as a chubby choker or a passion killer, to name but a couple. “There’s no way I’m getting naked in front of anyone.”
Leading me down a flight of concrete stairs with bright, fluorescent lights, she waggled her brows at me. “You were naked in front of me earlier.”
Our heels clicked on the concrete on the way down, the sound drowned out as soon as we stepped onto the busy street. “Fine, I’m not getting naked in front of anyone with a ding-dong.”
A guy walking past us gave me a strange look, then hurried past. Feeling my cheeks heat, I ducked my head behind my hair and focused on following Tiana. She stuck her tongue out at the guy’s back and nudged me with her hip.
“Ignore him. His ding-dong is probably tiny. Lucky for you, I already have a plan to bypass the unfortunate underwear situation you’ve got going on.”
“I’m not taking it off when we get to the club,” I warned her. I was wearing this awful rib- crushing thing for a reason.
She rolled her eyes as we turned a corner. Almost as soon as we did, I saw a neon sign with two large men manning a velvet rope and a line outside that was growing by the second.
“I wasn’t going to suggest you take it off inside the club.” We reached the back of the line and I slowed, thinking we would have to fall in line but Tiana kept going. “We’re going to liquor you and the hot bastard up good. You can take it off when you get back to our place, or his.”
I snorted. “Fuck that. All the alcohol in the bar won’t be enough to make the poor guy forget the sounds I’ll make trying to get it off.”
“You can just pretend you were warming up. Good?”
“Hell no.” I laughed. Noticing she was headed right for the front of the line, I caught her arm. “I think we need to get behind all these people to get in.”
“Not a chance.” She dragged me forward confidently. “I know the bouncer, I’ll get us in. You just decide what you want to drink once we get in so I can set my plan in motion.”
“Have you heard a word I’ve said?”
“Of course, I’m just not listening to you. Alcohol and darkness in there are your friends, embrace them. Cut loose a little, birthday girl.”
“Alcohol is also going to make me feel more bloated than I already am. I might just do some dancing and go easy on the drinking.”
“You get to be picky on what you drink because it’s your birthday, but you know as well as I do the cocktails have been calling your name all day.”
“True.” I sighed. “They do have such sweet voices. So convincing. ‘Drink me, Steph. I’m sweet and tangy and made of such pretty colors.’”
“That’s the spirit. Heed the call, girl.”
We finally got to the front of the line. Tiana walked up to the bulkier of the two bouncers, resting a hand on his meaty forearm. “Hey, Dave. This is the friend I told you about. Steph. It’s her birthday today.”
For a guy with practically no neck and muscles bigger than my torso, he had a pretty nice smile. Pitch black eyes met mine, sliding quickly to my cleavage and back up again with an appreciative gleam. “Happy birthday. Go on in. You ladies look amazing. I’m almost jealous I can’t be in there tonight to take my chances.”
Tiana smiled flirtatiously and leaned in to whisper something in his ear. I suppressed a giggle and turned my head away from them, giving her time to work her magic. No doubt Dave was on her long list of admirers.
A group of men talking to the other bouncer caught my eye. The line in front of his rope was considerably shorter, and people in it were motioned inside after flashing their phones or giving him their names.
One man was laughing with the bouncer, signing some kind of card. Three of his friends waited just on the inside of the velvet rope, wearing varying expressions of amusement as they watched the exchange.
They stood out to me because even in the sea of beautiful people dressed to the nines around me, they made for an impressive sight. All four of them were tall, and each one was striking in his own way.
The man talking to the bouncer had longish, light brown hair, chiseled features and an easy smile. Another one wore glasses with thick black frames that somehow added to his appeal instead of distracting from it.
He was talking to a cocoa-skinned man who had to be either a model or an actor. And if he wasn’t, he should’ve been. He was gorgeous and looked like he was carved from stone.
The last one, however, he was nothing short of breathtaking. Exactly my type, but not the type to go for girls like me usually. Dark hair curled slightly at the collar of an expensive looking black button-up shirt.
He stood tall, with his shoulders open and his chin slightly lifted. There was an ease to his cocky, commanding posture I admired. He oozed confidence and power. Like he was holding the whole world in the palm of his hand.
And yet, he still looked like he knew how to have fun. That was what set him apart from others I’d seen like him. The faint crinkles around his eyes and on his cheeks I could hardly make out at this distance, visible only for the tiny shadows they left on his face illuminated by the neon lights.
As if he could feel me watching him, his eyes snapped suddenly to mine before I could shy away or avert my gaze. Instead of seeing repulsion or disinterest, there was a spark in the dark depths of his eyes I wasn’t expecting.
I knew I should look away, but I didn’t. I just couldn’t. Until I heard Tiana’s voice behind me, breaking whatever spell was keeping me caught in his gaze. “Steph? Let’s go. Dave’s going to join us inside later for a drink to celebrate.”
“Coming,” I said, tearing my eyes away from the mystery man.
One corner of his mouth lifted just before I turned completely, followed by the sexiest wink I’d seen in a long time. Then I realized the direction my thought had taken and gave myself a mental talking to. Cut it out, Steph. How can a wink be sexy? Winks aren’t sexy. Or are they…?
Chapter 6
JEREMIAH
“Good grief, Williams. You just eye-fucked that girl so hard, I feel like I walked in on you on a porn set. I’m a little turned on right now.”
I smirked, watching the sway of the girl’s hips as she followed her friend inside before turning to Shawn. “If you walked in on me on a porn set, you’d be more than a little turned on. You’d be creaming your panties right about now.”
“Maybe if I walked in on you and that chick on the porn set,” Bart chimed in, scratching the stubble on his chin. “But it would all be for her, not for you.”
“Bullshit. I’m hot. And I think I would make an excellent porn star. I’ve got the goods.”
“If you have to say you’ve got the goods, you don’t got the goods,” Shawn retorted, a teasing smile on his face.
I laughingly flipped him off. “You know I’ve got the goods. You’ve seen me naked.”
Shawn pressed the heels on his hands to his eyes, letting out a pained groan. “Don’t remind me of that. The memory still makes me want to cut my eyes out with a blunt butter knife. It’d be l
ess painful than living with the knowledge I have.”
Bart chuckled and patted Shawn’s shoulder. “The cost of sharing locker rooms, my friend. You should’ve gotten into e-sports with me. Everyone stays fully clothed behind the scenes.”
“Yeah.” Tanner stepped into the conversation as we began to walk into the club. “But girls who look like those two don’t wait outside your non-existent locker rooms.”
Bart started to object, but I narrowed my eyes and looked at Tanner. “You saw them? I thought you were playing nice with your number one fan.”
“I got eyes in the back of my head. You should know that by now. Oh, and a hotness radar. That girl was fine.”
“They were,” Shawn agreed. “Looks like Jer has dibs on the one though, and we’re not even inside yet.”
Tanner shook his head sadly. “There was another one? Damn, I didn’t see her. You shouldn’t narrow your options this early in the night though, Jer. You don’t know what’s waiting for you in there.”
I shrugged off their commentary when we entered the club. Conversation was near impossible anyway, with the music pounding so loudly I could feel the baseline in my blood.
It didn’t matter what my knuckle-headed friends had to say about it. I wanted that girl. A memory of my fantasy from that morning played in my head. She was the perfect candidate to make some of those conjured-up fantasies reality.
Besides, it wasn’t like I’d chosen my bride or anything. I wasn’t looking for anything long term, but I certainly wanted at least a dance with her. I could practically feel the way those shapely hips would move under my hands. Desperately wanted to feel those generous tits pressed into my chest.
Shawn might’ve been a little turned on from that exchange out there, but I had to work at keeping my dick from going hard as the fucking steel in the exposed rafters of the club from just the sight of her.
Thick brown hair, long enough to wrap around my fist or knot my hands into. Miles of pale, smooth skin covered the kinds of curves I literally dreamed about. By some twist of fantasy fate, she was even wearing a similar dress to what I’d imagined ripping off in my dream that morning.
“Belvedere with a twist?” Tanner asked, mercifully interrupting my dirty thoughts before my straining zipper lost the battle it was fighting against my dick.
I nodded. “Make it a double.”
Tanner ordered our round and slapped a couple of bills down on the bar counter. The thing was translucent, made from plastic. The whole place had a new-agey feel I didn’t love, but the music was good, and the people were pretty.
None more so than the girl from outside though. I stretched my neck, trying to see if I could find her. No such luck.
Bodies were packed tightly on the dance floor, and the line at the bar was at least four deep. She and her friend weren’t tall. with this many people, it would be hard to find them. But I knew she was in here. It was only a matter of time.
“Jeremiah Williams?” A voice cooed behind me. I could barely hear her above the music, but the hand on my arm confirmed there was a girl talking to me. “I’ve always wanted to meet you.”
I turned to her, a forced grin already on my face. “I’m honored. I’m sure I’ve always wanted to meet you too.”
Probably not. But I’d learned to deal with the attention of being recognized. Being a complete douchebag, though necessary sometimes, was something I avoided. It only spurred on arguments or posts on social media that perpetuated the briefest of exchanges.
Not worth it.
The woman who had approached me wasn’t bad-looking, but she seriously lacked the curves I wanted right now. She had nothing on the chick from outside.
Her scarlet dress clung to her bony frame, stretching tight from hipbone to hipbone. I nearly shuddered imagining how those things would feel jutting into me. Matching lipstick was painted onto lips that had to have been enhanced somehow.
She smiled, her grip on my arm tightening. “Well, aren’t you charming. Want to buy me a drink?”
I shook my head, feigning regret over turning her down. “I promised the guys a boys’ night. Perhaps next time.”
Tanner, overhearing what I said, rolled his eyes and made a crude motion with his hands. I ignored him, turning back to the woman. She took my brushoff like a champ, but I had a feeling she’d be back later. “I’ll hold you to it.”
Shawn ordered a round of shots, including two extra for women who had approached him and Bart. We lifted them, clinked the glasses together and downed the clear liquid. One of the women shoved a lime in my mouth.
I took it from her before she smashed it into my teeth and gave her what I hoped looked like a grateful, thank you grin instead of the aggravated look I wanted to shoot her way. Shawn noticed and wrapped his arm around her narrow waist, diverting her attention away from me.
More women came up to us, pawing at us. Most of them knew exactly who I was and recognized some of the others. Which is why flying under the radar never worked for us.
Quickly surveying the crowd around us, I made sure there were no camera phones aimed in our direction. It wouldn’t be the first time photos of us downing shots while drowning in a pack of women would make it onto the internet.
The paparazzi weren’t the only ones we had to look out for to avoid being splashed all over the front pages. Determined to have a good time while still not breaking my promise to myself that I would not end up as tabloid fodder again, I pounded another shot and set my glass down on the bar.
“I’m going to go out on the dance floor, see you fools later,” I shouted over the music.
Bart nodded, but Tanner and Shawn were too busy grinding against women—their version of dancing—to take much notice of me. I set off into the throng of people on the dance floor, finally catching a glimpse of the girl from outside dancing right in the center with her friend.
Her arms were raised over her head, her eyes closed. A sultry, sexy song started playing, and her movements slowed down.
Entranced by the swing of her hair as it grazed her back and the way her voluptuous ass moved from side to side, I pushed my way through the crowd to get to her. The bodies were packed so tight it was slow going, but I finally managed to make my way to her.
Not a subscriber to the idea that any girl on a dance floor wanted to be touched by a stranger, I danced around her until I was facing her. I gently lay a hand on her hip only to catch her attention before withdrawing it again.
“I’ve been looking for you.” I leaned over, brushing her hair behind her ear so she would be able to hear me.
Her eyes flew open, wide with surprise as they flashed in recognition. It remained to be seen whether it was because she knew who I was or simply because she recognized me from the line. A confused look crossed her features. “You have?”
“I have.” I moved closer to her, moving my hips in time with hers. “Mind if join you for a dance?”
She shrugged. “Can’t say no to someone who actually asks.”
I was hoping for a little more enthusiasm, but it was refreshing that she wasn’t throwing herself at me. “I’ll take it.”
Reaching for her hand, I swept her into my arms as soon as her palm touched mine. Her body felt exactly the way I knew it would pressed to mine. She was soft in all the rights places. Even with the smell of sweat and alcohol permeating the air, I could make out her sensual, salty-vanilla scent.
Her hips moved with a mind of their own, and her body melded to mine as if it’d known me for years. Dancing with her was more carnal than my previous couple of hookups had been.
Slipping my thigh between her legs, I drew her in close. Her breathing was as heavy as mine. And I doubted it was from our slow dancing.
I felt her tentatively press herself onto my leg, driving me out of my mind with lust before withdrawing again. My hands slid past her hips, caressing the flesh exposed by her dress. I wanted to encourage her to keep grinding on my leg, whatever she needed.
Jerking her forward
, I pulled her flush against my body. My very ready, very wanting body. I felt rather than heard her sharp intake of breath when she felt me press against her stomach. Her step faltered. My arms closed around her waist to keep her steady.
Her head tipped back slightly. She mouthed thanks but didn’t move her eyes away from mine. It was too dark to make out the exact color of her eyes, but they were light. Ice blue maybe, with what appeared to be a darker ring around her pupil and another around her iris.
Her lips parted slightly, her tongue darting out to wet them. That tongue… with her body so close to mine, her scent in my nostrils and her warm skin under my hands, my mind easily slipped to what it would feel like to have that tongue circling my crown, licking my shaft.
My dick twitched. I wanted this one. Bad. It was time to move. We could always come back to the dance floor for some more foreplay later. For now, I probably had to buy her a drink, learn her name. She didn’t look like the type of girl who was going to jump in the back of a cab with me without the formalities being observed.
I bent my head, my lips brushing against her ear to ask if she wanted to go get a drink just as the song ended. It mixed into another, but it was like she couldn’t hear the new song.
She went completely still, then smiled up at me, gave me a swift nod and turned around. She’s walking away?
Wait a second. Holy shit. She was walking away from me. When was the last time that happened? I called out, “Wait!”
Whether she heard me or not, I didn’t know. If she did, she ignored me and kept right on walking. I started moving through the crowd to follow her when suddenly a pair of hands encircled my hips.
Darting a glance over my shoulder, I reached down to remove the offending hands and free myself. One of the girls from over at the bar before flashed me a smile and wink and plastered herself to my back.
Before I could extricate myself from her surprisingly firm grasp, one of her friends appeared in front of me. She gave me a sultry smile, bringing her arms up to loop them around my neck.
