by Angela Blake
“Something did happen between us.” He pointed as he uncrossed his arms, his muscles flexing in the process causing Claudia to momentarily stare and forget why she was arguing against this in the first place.
“I’m not denying that it did. I’m simply saying that it can’t happen again.”
“Are you going to spew forth that crap about how you can’t be near anyone again?”
Claudia’s eyes flashed dangerously. “It’s not crap. Just because you don’t believe it doesn’t make it any less true. It’s my truth, my beliefs, and you don’t get to invalidate that.”
He held his hands up in surrender. “I’m not trying to invalidate it. I’m trying to make you see reason.”
They stood in front of each other, breathing heavily, the tension in the room was so thick, and you could cut through it with a butter knife. They were both in the middle of a staring match, neither one willing to be the first one to break.
Finally, Archer turned his gaze away, the frustration rippling off of him in waves as his mouth pressed into a thin line. “This isn’t over, Claudia, and you know it. You will be the one to ask me to kiss you next time, you’ll see.”
Claudia crossed her arms over her chest. “I doubt it.”
She knew that he was probably right though. Her heart was already hammering in her chest at the mere thought of it, and she didn’t if she’d be able to handle being around him now that she’d gotten a taste of him, but she knew that she had to at least try.
Archer bent over the couch and began to slip on his shirt. He picked up her shirt and bra and tossed it to her from across the room without even looking at her. Claudia’s hand snapped up and caught them mid-air, and she began to put them back on, all the while wondering if she’d made a big mistake.
Besides her belief that she lost everyone she cared about, she really had no convincing reason not to do this. Realistically, he wasn’t asking her to care about him nor him her. He was just asking her to give in to her carnal desires and enjoy it, so he could enjoy her too. In retrospect, it didn’t sound like such a bad idea especially if it meant she could break the loop she was stuck in.
Before she had any chance to consider it further, Archer had turned his back on her and walked straight out without even saying bye. She flinched as she heard the door slam shut behind him, the sound resonating throughout that empty hall. She sighed as she ran her hands through her hair, picked up her purse and headed out the door.
Chapter Four
Claudia’s nose crinkled in distaste as the smells of the pub hit her nostrils. It was packed tonight. They usually liked to come here because it wasn’t. Given the nature of their work, they tried to avoid clubs because they actually wanted some privacy for a change while they were out. But O’Jackley’s had a larger than usual crowd.
Claudia’s eyes scanned the room as she looked for her friends. She finally spotted Chastity waving her arms about furiously to get her attention. She smiled at her as she weaved in and out of the throngs of people.
“You made it,” Chastity said, a little too loudly.
Claudia smirked as she realized that she probably had quite a bit to drink by then. “I see someone’s already started the fun.”
Chastity waggled her fingers at her. “Why not? Life’s too short, Clo. I wanted to wait for you to get here, but you took way too long.”
Claudia shrugged off her coat as she slipped into the booth next to them. “Yeah, I had some unfinished business that I had to attend to.”
Chastity eyed her curiously. “Everything okay?”
“Just peachy.” She signaled to the waiter who came over to take her order. She ordered a rum and coke and settled back in her booth. “Where’s everyone else?”
Chastity pointed behind her. “They’re over there.”
Claudia leaned over and spotted the girls huddled in one corner, drinking and dancing. She shook her head at their antics especially as she realized that a group of men in the corner were watching them. She decided to keep a close eye on them in case they needed any help as the waiter brought over her drink.
She curled her hands around it and brought it up to her lips for a sip. The liquid burned its way down her throat, and she smiled in satisfaction. Chastity brought up her drink for a toast. “To bad decisions.”
Archer’s eyes flashed through her mind as she clinked her glass against Chastity’s. “To bad decisions,” she echoed.
***
A pleasant buzz coursed through Claudia’s veins as she smiled at Chastity who was regaling her with crazy antics about patrons. She was half listening as she kept her eye on the group corner who so far seemed safe from the group of men who just kept getting louder and louder.
“Wait, what?” Claudia shook her head as she grinned. “He actually proposed to you?”
Chastity’s body shook with laughter. “Exactly. Right in the middle of me trying to seduce him.”
“Were you that good?”
Chastity gave her a playful wink. “Honey, you have no idea.”
Claudia laughed. “Was he old?”
Chastity took a gulp of her drink and grimaced. “No, that’s the thing. He wasn’t. He was quite young compared to our usual patrons. That’s why I was surprised. I think he’s one of those noveau riche type. Probably made his money off of tech or something. That’s usually the type to say stuff like that.”
Claudia nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah, I always feel bad for them. They’re practically kids. They’re not even in this because they like it. They’re in because they think they should be as part of some unspoken agreement that when you’re that rich, you have to be a part of this particular group.”
Chastity sighed. “That is too true, Clo. I wanted to tell him to get out of it while he still could. I did, in fact, but he started blundering and talking about how he really was into all the BDSM stuff. I could totally tell that he was lying though.”
“You never know somebody’s reasons for doing something,” Claudia responded as she downed her drink, and signaled the waiter for a second one.
“That’s true.” Chastity grew silent, no doubt contemplating something of importance as she mulled over what Claudia said.
Suddenly, her eyes snapped to Claudia’s, and they glanced at her neck. For a minute, Claudia was confused then she realized that she had taken off the scarf she used to hide the bite on her neck, and it was probably very visible by now.
“What’s that on your neck?” Chastity’s tone was both playful and shocked. They had known each other for a while now, and Claudia was sure that Chastity knew what it was.
“I’m not sure. I must’ve hurt myself somehow.” Claudia shrugged as she felt the blush rise to her cheeks.
“On the neck? In the form of a bite mark?” Chastity sounded dubious.
“It doesn’t look like a bit mark, Chas. You’re just imagining things.”
Chastity raised an eyebrow as she sat back in her seat and ran her fingers over her top to smooth it out as she eyed Claudia with a decided interest. She was quiet for a moment. “Nope. I’m not buying it. That’s not an accident. That’s a hickey.”
Claudia’s face burned. “It is not a hickey. How would I get one anyways? You know that I don’t want to be with a guy.”
Chastity gave her a look. “Just because you won’t sleep with a guy doesn’t mean you can’t have fun in other ways. Come on, Claudia. I’ve seen enough of those and covered enough of them to know what they are.”
Claudia lifted her chin up. “Not debating that, but still, come on. The mere idea is preposterous.”
Chastity titled her head to the side. “Perhaps, but the fact that you’re blushing just now tells me that I’m closer to the truth than you want me to be. It’s that guy, isn’t it? What’s his name? The one we were talking about before the big show, with a name like a bow or something.”
“Archer Paisley.” Claudia mumbled.
Chastity grinned. “That’s the one. It’s him, isn’t it? Is that why y
ou warned the girls to be careful?”
Claudia’s face morphed into shock. “What? No, that wasn’t why at all. It’s just that I know his type, and I didn’t want anyone to get hurt.”
“Yet, you’re okay with getting hurt yourself?”
“I won’t get hurt,” Claudia responded stubbornly.
“It sounds like you just might. Clo, I thought you didn’t like him.”
“I didn’t. I mean, I don’t.” Claudia shut her eyes and opened them again. “I don’t know, Chas. He’s arrogant sometimes and kind of annoying, but there’s something about him.”
“Is it the money, the prestige, the power?”
“I don’t know.” Claudia sighed as she began to massage her temples. “I don’t think it is, to be honest. I’ve been pursued by attractive rich guys before. This is just the first time I actually wanted to say yes.”
“What about that vow you made to yourself?” Chastity asked, sympathy coloring her voice.
“I don’t know how that’ll come into play, but I said I’d never get close enough to hurt anyone again. This could be different. Sex doesn’t mean you’re close to someone.”
Chastity snorted. “Come on, Clo. You and I both know that emotions get involved in a lot of the cases, and that’s when things get messy.”
Claudia made a sweeping hand gesture. “I’ll simply keep them from getting involved. Anyway, I didn’t say anything. He expects me to be the one to ask him to kiss me. Like that’s ever going to happen.”
END OF TEASER
