Jane chuckled warmly and said, “It’s quite the place, isn’t it? It’s so sexy being around such uninhibited people, driven by nothing more than a desire to give and receive pleasure.”
Emma nodded softly, a blush rising in her cheeks.
“You’re such a beauty, Emma. Why do I get the sense that you don’t really know how gorgeous you are?” Jane asked, her tone laced with sincerity. Emma felt the compliment land on her in the best way possible and gave pause, considering Jane’s question carefully. She had felt pretty tonight but that was a rare thing for her. Flattery from her husband had been infrequent and was usually back-handed, insults disguised as compliments. Out of self-preservation, she learned to side-step it, like one might dodge a slap.
“Thank you, Jane. You’re a sweetheart,” Emma replied shrugging dismissively, unsure how to navigate her way through genuine kindness, offered without any expectation.
She turned to Luke, who was enjoying his conversation with Paul, and listened in on a story about a recent flight in which he chartered a famous movie star and his wife to the Cannes Film Festival in France. The actor had just won an Oscar for a major block-buster, a fantastic film that she and Luke had seen together just a few short weeks after her separation. Apparently, the two of them, madly in love, were quite amorous in their private quarters and joined the mile-high club on the flight. Paul told the story proudly, like it was a badge of honor.
Chuckling, Luke gazed over at Emma, “You good?”
She really was, content, horny and happy, but she really had to pee.
“I’m awesome, but if you’ll excuse me, I need to use the ladies room,” she admitted, standing up and straightening her dress.
“I’ll walk you,” he said, gesturing to follow.
“I’m fine, enjoy your friends. Just point me in the right direction.”
Emma washed her hands and touched up her lipstick, giving her hair a quick fluff with her fingertips. The bathroom was just as high-end as the rest of the club with grey-blue Carrara marble countertops and funky cobalt blue glass faucets, unlike anything she had ever seen before. Kudos to swingers with good taste, she thought, rearranging her breasts inside her push up bra, ensuring they were presented in the best light possible. She made a funny face in the mirror before turning to leave.
Walking down the long corridor from the bathroom her body tingled with anticipation, as though it sensed that something racy might happen. She eased past a couple that were up against the wall, making out, their bodies entwined in the kind of embrace reserved for new lovers, intense, passionate, all-consuming. It made her ache with longing, to be held like that. As she passed them, another couple skirted by, oblivious that she was in their path. She jumped out of their way, spinning around to avoid their frolicking, and smacked right into a man’s chest. He reached out and scooped her into his arms before she could tumble to the ground.
She heard his voice before she saw him, a familiar creamy accent that instantly made her weak in the knees, and pretty much everywhere else too.
“Hello, Mimi McGuire, fancy meeting you here,” Arran purred, righting her to her feet. “Are you stalking me, clever girl?”
“No!” Emma blurted, “I had no idea you would be here,” she stammered, tripping over her own tongue.
She saw his face brighten playfully, realizing he was only teasing. He was just as striking as she remembered and at that moment all the hot fantasies she’d had the night she met him came surging back, pinking her cheeks with pleasure.
“No matter, I’m just happy to make your acquaintance again. You are a ray of sunshine in a rather bland evening. Let’s enjoy a cocktail and get to know each other, shall we?” he said, reluctantly releasing his hold on her. Emma smiled sweetly at him, grateful her trembling legs held her up.
She nodded, bewitched by his persuasive blue eyes and inviting smile. He clasped her hand in his and guided her toward the bar.
Chapter 19
“Is that Emma?” Paul asked, signaling to the other side of the room. Luke followed his gesture and easily picked her out, sitting on a bar stool, one long leg crossed over the other. With that long auburn hair she was hard to miss. She definitely stood out in the crowd.
“Who’s that tall drink of water with her?” Jane cooed, her Alabama accent thick and sultry. Luke knew exactly who he was. He just wasn’t sure how he felt about it.
“That is Arran Barlow,” Luke explained, downing the last of his wine. He gestured impatiently for more.
“The business tycoon? Doesn’t he own a multitude of companies?” Paul asked, filling Luke’s glass.
“He does, but his main business is a little up and coming company called Deja New, you might of heard of it?” Luke snorted derisively, casually watching the bar. “Just a multinational tech company in the same league with Apple and Microsoft, no big deal.” “No shit,” Paul smirked, failing miserably to hide his reverence.
“I’ve read that he’s a philanthropist too. Apparently, he does a ton of charity work, gives away millions every year,” Jane chimed in. “Well good for Emma!”
Luke grinned weakly, hoping it was good for her, but was cynical nevertheless.
“Will you guys excuse me?” he asked, not waiting for their reply. He stood up quickly and inched his way to the bar, shimming his way past two beautiful, half-naked women loving up on one another, a sight that never failed to liquify him. In spite of his mission, he couldn’t help but take a peek as he walked by.
Mimi looked pleased to see him he thought as he approached, her smile assuring him that she was fine.
Luke edged up beside her, placing a protective hand on the curve of her shoulder, a gesture meant to send Arran a message. That he was looking out for her.
“Hi, Arran, what a surprise to see you here,” he greeted, tossing him a nod in lieu of a handshake.
Arran smiled back flatly, guarded but not unfriendly. “Luke,” he replied, regarding him curiously, as though questioning his motives. That was the exact response he was hoping for. Luke needed him to know that he was there, watching out for his friend and that Arran’s motives better be fucking honorable.
“Having a good time?” Luke asked, turning toward Mimi, reading her face carefully.
She smiled broadly at him, her eyes lighting up in a way he had not seen in many, many years. It made him both regretful and pleased at the same time, a disconcerting feeling that landed heavily in his gut.
“Yes!” she assured, tapping the hand resting on her shoulder, signaling him to step down, the way one might call off a pit-bull. He dropped his hand awkwardly, unsure what to do with it, suddenly uncomfortable with the physical disconnect. He hooked his thumb in the belt loop of his jeans, hoping he appeared more casual than he felt.
“Ok, great,” he murmured, knowing it was time to take his leave. He gestured to the bartender for a beer, hoping it would come quickly. It did. He picked the chilled mug off the bar and tipped it towards Arran before taking a manly swig.
“I’ll be around if you want to come find me later,” he said, directing his words only at Mimi. He shot Arran a stern look but still accepted the handshake he offered.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her,” Arran promised, an amused look on his face. Luke didn’t back down but instead met Arran’s gaze with a smirk of his own. The man was confident he’d give him that, Luke thought irritably.
“You better,” he replied, his words were light, but the meaning was not. Emma shifted uncomfortably on the bar stool, well aware of the pissing contest unfolding in front of her. The last thing Luke wanted to do was shake her confidence, he just wanted Arran to know, unequivocally, not to fuck with her. “Well, cheerio,” he wisecracked, tipping a make-believe hat. He left them alone together and walked back to his waiting friends, apprehensive, but also happy that she was happy. It was the strangest feeling.
“All good?” Jane questioned as soon as he sat back down.
Luke nodded and took another swig from hi
s beer, his eyes searching for Mimi across the room. “He better be,” he chortled.
“I’m sure she’ll be fine, Luke,” she drawled supportively, “let her have some fun.” He looked at Jane thoughtfully, certain she was right. He needed to lighten up.
“In the meantime, you should have a little fun yourself,” she purred, patting the couch beside her, inviting him to join her. It was tempting, but he promised Mimi he would be her wingman and he couldn’t let himself get distracted. He looked at her apologetically, glancing back and forth between her and Paul, fondly recalling all the good times he’d shared with them in the past.
“Rain check?” he asked, his eyes pleading with her to understand. Jane rolled back into the safe nook of her husband’s arm, respecting his answer, her eyes telling him she completely understood how he was feeling. He wished she’d explain it to him, he thought, wondering why the hell he was feeling so uncomfortable. This was what he wanted for Mimi, wasn’t it?
“You guys should go and have fun though, don’t worry about me,” Luke insisted, shaking off his doubt. The last thing he wanted was to dampen their buzz.
“Absolutely not,” Jane scolded gently, “we’ll keep you company. We’re just as happy to people watch, aren’t we Paul?” She gave her husband a little nudge, who in turn gave Luke a look that said, you know better than to argue with a southern woman. Luke chuckled and nodded, happy to avoid the wrath of Jane.
Chapter 20
Emma was on cloud nine. The evening had turned out way better than she expected. From the moment she bumped into Arran until he kissed her farewell, she felt like she was in a fairy tale. He had been so charming to her the whole evening, curious, thoughtful and delightfully attentive. He held her spellbound.
As amorous couples started making their way back to the private suites to do the things she assumed that ‘sophisticated swingers’ do, the dance floor began to open up. The energy of the room dramatically shifted from sexually charged to a more relaxed tone, softer somehow, and deliciously romantic. He took her hand and led her to the dance floor, practically floating through the crowd. He pulled her close to his chest, taking her hand and raising it to his lips for a kiss, then began swaying her to the rhythms of Marvin Gaye. He smiled down at her, his eyes locked to hers, wordlessly expressing his arousal.
She loved being in his arms, his body pressing up against hers, his breath teasing the flesh on her neck. Her blood pumped hot in her veins, quickly swelling her sex, urgently reminding her of her need. She could feel his cock hardening against her, his desire for her unmistakeable. He wanted her.
They danced for a long time, song after song, softly whispering to one another under the swirl of colored lights, giggling, teasing one another with carefully placed caresses designed to heat each other up, their bodies moving with sensual synchronicity. Arran made her feel desirable, sexy and more confident than she ever felt before, and if nothing else, she was grateful for that.
Before long, they were alone on the dance floor, one last song spun by a tired DJ. Her eyes searched the room, suddenly aware that she had forgotten about Luke. He was at the bar with Jane and Paul, his arm loosely draped across Paul’s shoulders, laughing as though enjoying a private joke. Jane still looked polished and put together, her smile beaming like a beautiful accessory. Then Luke glanced her way, his smile fading ever so slightly, and she felt a moment of regret for abandoning him all night.
In that same moment, Arran raised his hand and gently touched her face, lifting her chin so she could meet his eyes. He kissed her, gently at first, his lips softly brushing hers. She accepted him eagerly after patiently waiting all night for his kiss. His fingers laced in her hair and he plunged his tongue into her mouth, making it clear that his own patience had been tested. Although the kiss was not storybook perfect, it was delivered with a passion and intensity that Emma couldn’t deny. Surely, with more practice, they could improve on it.
He reluctantly pulled away from her, his dimples punctuating his handsome smile. He told her he wanted to take her home, his eyes filled with quiet confidence. Although part of her wanted to let him take her to bed and make love to her, something just didn’t feel quite right. Her body was aching for a man, hot, eager, and twisting with desire, but her heart was still holding her back, and she wasn’t sure why. She kissed him again, this time reigning his pace, then politely declined his offer, drawing an amused look of surprise from him.
He escorted her back to Luke and his friends and told her he wouldn’t leave without her phone number this time, that he wanted to take her to dinner somewhere romantic, just the two of them. She was so relieved that he understood, that he was willing to meet her heart where it needed to be met. A true gentleman. She gave him her digits and he pulled her in for one more kiss. It was soft and sweet, respectful of the company around them. When they parted, he turned and nodded at Luke before promising to call her.
She watched him exit the bar, her smile refusing to melt away. When she turned back, she was greeted with a curious look from Luke.
“You didn’t go home with him,” he said, more an observation than a question.
She shook her head, trying to read his face to determine whether or not he was disappointed in her. She knew he wanted nothing more than for her to finally move on from Andrew, find a warm body to ease her back into the land of the living, and she wanted that too, but she needed more time. She was happy leaning into it for now, and yes, she was toeing the water, but she still wanted to explore more adventures under Luke’s wing before immersing herself completely. She would get there eventually.
Luke shrugged his shoulders and smirked at her. She was certain his inner dialogue was lovingly scolding her, saying ‘Mimi, Mimi, Mimi’.
“That’s ok, sweetheart, he’ll call soon,” Jane comforted, noting the exchange between the two friends, her eyes seeing more than they did. “That ole boy was hotter than a pepper sprout. You had him so turned round, he didn’t know whether to scratch his watch or check his ass.”
Everyone looked at each other and cracked up, unaccustomed to hearing southern charm-isms in the Pacific Northwest. Emma was grateful for the comic relief, the attention no longer focused on her.
“On that note,” Paul teased, putting an arm around his petite wife, “I’m going to get this little lady home. Her southern comes out when she’s horny, and I’d like to cash in on that.”
“You know I’m a sure thing, baby,” she purred, giving him a theatrical kiss. They were just too cute for words, Emma thought, hoping one day for a relationship like theirs.
“Give me some sugar, honey,” Jane said, holding her hand out to her. Emma slipped into Jane’s embrace, surprised when the pretty blond gave her a tender kiss on the lips. It was sweet and delicious, from Jane’s honeysuckle scent to the unexpected fullness of those soft red lips gently pressing against her own. She found herself softly moaning as Jane pulled away. It was curiously arousing.
Paul, far less assertive than his wife, spun Emma around and gave her a platonic hug. “It was great to meet you, Emma. Hopefully, we’ll see you again soon,” he offered sincerely.
“Yes,” she cooed, still recovering from Jane’s enticing kiss, “I’d really like that.”
Luke laughed heartily and wrapped an arm around Emma to escort her away. He knew first hand how captivating Jane could be.
Chapter 21
Emma carried two cups of coffee into the living room, set them down on the table, then curled up on the sofa beside Luke. “Let’s smoke some weed and have a sleepover,” she suggested, wrapping a blanket around herself. She had changed into a pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt, happy to be rid of her bra. Her feet were tired but she was wide awake otherwise, surprisingly amped up. It wasn’t out of the ordinary for Luke to crash on her sofa. He had done it several times since she had moved out on her own, usually after too many martinis and a gaming marathon. ‘Call of Duty’ was their favorite.
“You want to get high, do you?” he smirke
d, as though amused by her naughtiness.
“Sure, why not?” she urged, picking up her coffee.
“Because I don’t happen to have any pot. You’ll need to give me a heads up next time.”
“Hmmm, well that sucks,” she mused, gently blowing on her coffee.
“But I will crash here. Hope you have more than granola for breakfast,” he teased, grabbing a throw pillow and casually lying down, adjusting his legs behind her.
“I’ll make you eggs, smart ass. Now tell me, did you enjoy tonight? Was it good to catch up with your friends?”
Luke looked at her thoughtfully, as though considering her question. “It was. I haven’t seen them for at least six months.”
“They seem like a special couple....and Jane...wow!” Emma giggled, suddenly recalling the kiss.
“Ya, she’s something else,” Luke agreed, “I knew you’d hit it off.”
“Straightforward, smart, beautiful, funny?” What’s not to like?
Luke nodded, “Yes, you two have a lot in common.”
Emma smiled at him warmly, pleased by his compliment. “What a sweet thing to say, but Jane has a lot more confidence than I do.”
“True, but she’s also older than you and has much more life experience,” he assured. “So what about you? How was your night?”
“It was good. I’m still in a bit of a fog. There’s so much to process,” she admitted, certain he wanted her to be more specific.
“That’s for sure. And Arran?” he prodded, leading her down the path. She grinned at him coyly before taking a sip of her coffee, minding not to burn her tongue.
“He was nice.”
“Nice?” Luke chuckled, raising his brows in surprise.
“Yeah. Why, you don’t think he is nice?”
“I don’t really know him well enough to make that assessment. You seemed to enjoy his company though. Why didn’t you go home with him?” Luke asked cautiously, carefully reading her face.
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