by Dee Garcia
“It’s not a regular club, Rome,” he chuckled, posting up beside me. “During the day, it’s a dance studio, but Friday nights are Play Nights.”
I had to motion for him to continue because I wasn’t familiar with this so-called Play Night.
Vic shrugged, flashing a grin as he locked his vehicle and shoved the fob into the pocket of his jeans. “Good music, drinks, and every so often, the girls show off some of their routines. Lux is quite good.”
His grin widened, but I didn’t miss the side-eye gauging my reaction.
I gave him shit, though.
Outside, I appeared aloof. Uncaring. Unfazed by the knowledge that Lux knew how to work her body.
But inside, I was gaping, twitching at the images flashing through my mind.
“She dances?” I hedged evenly.
“On occasion. One of her best friends owns it. Lux actually bought the place for her when the space went up on the market,” he explained, throwing me for a loop.
“That was generous of her.” I couldn’t hide my surprise.
Vic nodded, but his expression was nothing short of bitter. “With her girls? Always. The rest of the world, however, we don’t matter. Hence why we’re here.”
Glancing over at the two-story shopping strip, I noted Vybe dominated the entire second floor. Must’ve cost Lux a pretty penny. Seeing the establishment teeming with life shed a whole new light on her I never expected to see.
Perhaps she wasn’t as villainous as she wanted the world to believe…
“Right, well, where do you want her then?” I questioned, anxious to get inside the building.
“As long as she’s away from her friends and I can watch from the shadows, it doesn’t matter.”
“You say it like I know who these friends are. Quick profiles would be helpful, mate,” I snapped, luring another chuckle out of him.
“Suki’s a shorty, on the curvy side with bleach blonde locks. She’s loud, wild, covered in ink. Fat ass, too.”
“Noted. She the only one?”
“Usually yes, but sometimes their third wheel makes an appearance. Ramsey’s a redhead, thick girl, heavy goth style. She’s more reserved than the other two.”
The redhead from the party…
The one berating Lux in the middle of my office.
I remembered her clear as day.
“Anyone else I need to look out for?” I pressed.
Vic shook his head. “That I know of, no.”
“I’m going in then.” Pushing off the Rover, I fished out my beanie from my back pocket and pulled it over my head. “Make it quick, though. She goes off in seconds.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t be far.”
The inside of this place was nothing like I'd imagined. I was expecting a true dance studio, but there was seating, and a bar fully stocked in the far corner.
Classy yet industrial, the east and west walls were a glittering gold, a stark contrast to the exposed steel pipework above. The other two were nothing but mirrors. Everything popped against the ebony settee’s and it was all tied together by the bare factory-style floors.
The eye-catcher was on the far wall, though—a mass neon sign that read Play. It flickered every few seconds, adding to the edginess of the overall aesthetic. The space before it was littered with bodies, but the lack of furniture made it clear that was the main performance area.
I became more impressed with every detail noticed, in awe of what Lux had so generously done for her friend…and then I saw her.
Tiny black caged halter top, loose army fatigues that still managed to hug her bubbly little ass, and black ankle boots. Those emerald locks were far more sleek tonight, too, cascading down her sparsely inked back.
But the genuine smile on her face as she chatted with the blonde Vic told me about was the cherry on top.
My mouth watered.
Every time I saw her, she looked better than the last.
More sexy.
More alluring.
More fucking beautiful.
I wanted to rush her, invade her personal space, drown her in my insanity as punishment for beguiling me without consent.
But I hung back, digging my feet into the concrete beneath me to keep myself in place.
After all, Vic was here. I had to play my cards right. One wrong move and he’d understand the sudden silence he kept pestering me about.
Chris Brown and Yo Gotti erupted through the speakers then, prompting Suki to squeal and drag Lux out onto the dance floor. Bodies that had been dancing just seconds prior made some room for the two, cheering and clapping as the blonde immediately broke out into a dance. It was clearly a practiced set, one Lux must’ve known, too, given how Suki cajoled her to join.
Lux laughed coyly, intent on not making herself the center of attention, but Suki backed her ass up all over her and sucked her right into the rhythm.
The second her body started following the notes, I was rapt, on high alert. My dick pulsed to life, hands clenched at my sides. I had to grit my teeth, loathing the way every male eye in the room was suddenly on her.
And it only got worse as the seconds went on.
Vic was right, she was quite good, fluidly instep with Suki at every turn.
Rolling.
Grinding.
Spinning.
The routine was skilled yet highly seductive. Some women in the crowd danced along, others watched. The male population was completely fixated, and I was growing more agitated.
This madness went on for a full minute, a full torturous minute I didn’t want to relive ever again. If Lux was going to shake her ass for anyone, it’d be for me.
And me only.
Not that she knew that yet.
“Told you she was good,” Vic’s voice slithered in my ear.
I swerved aside, not having expected him right in that moment. The smug look on his face raised my hackles all the more.
Chuckling, he slapped me on the back and stalked right past me towards the crowd.
As the song came to an end, the music faded out in entirety before the DJ switched on a microphone, tapping it several times. I snapped my head over in that direction just as he passed it to a panting Suki.
She smiled and thanked him with a tip of her head, turning toward the masses with an inked arm in the air.
“How’s everyone doing tonight?” she bellowed, the heavy Brit of her accent taking me aback yet again.
How long had Lux know this bird?
Clamors arose around me, tearing me away from my silent observation.
“Sounds like you’re all having a good time then, yeah?”
They cheered again.
“Well let’s make it a better one, shall we? A sexier one.”
More cheers and rowdy concurring whistles.
“I figured you’d agree,” she chuckled. “Over the last two weeks, my advanced girls learned a little routine from Miss Lux here that’ll knock your socks off. To show you, though, we need a volunteer, preferably male.”
Lux.
Routine.
Male.
Volunteer.
I was there, at the front of the crowd before I could process what the hell I was doing. Literally front and center, chest heaving, eyes blazing, willing Suki to catch me.
Every second she spent looking elsewhere, I grew more anxious, barely containing myself from keeping silent.
When our eyes finally met, hers widened in shock. Clearly, she knew who I was.
A devious smile stretched her lips as she turned to Lux.
A clueless Lux, I should add, brow arched and all.
Suki tipped her head in my direction, prompting Lux to cut her eyes my way, and almost instantly, the color drained from her face.
I could practically hear her heart slamming in her chest from here.
“You,” Suki spoke through the mic, pointing at me. “You. Right. There. Come take a seat in the hot seat, old chap.”
A younger girl, possibly a student, d
eposited said seat beside Suki right as I stalked up to her with determined strides.
“Go on, sit,” she ordered, motioning to the chair, devious smile still in place.
I sank as instructed, legs spread, draping my arms over the narrow back. My heart was lodged in my fucking throat.
What the hell was she planning?
“Helix, music please.” She pointed at the DJ, gaze trained on Lux. “That’s allllllll you, baby girl.”
I heard the gasp loud and clear.
Watched those blue pools widen impossibly more from the corner of my eyes.
Lux shook her head and retreated several steps, holding her hands up. “Hell. No. Hell to the fuck no, Suk! Not happening!”
“Give it up for Lux, everyone!” Suki yelled into the mic.
Another round of cheering ensued, leaving Lux no room to rebut, especially when the music started up too—slow, sensual.
She looked mortified, begging her friend with a tortured stare not to do this to her. But Suki simply shrugged and retreated to the shadows.
Alone.
There were eyes everywhere, and yet it felt like we were alone. In a tunnel-like vision, all I could see was her, standing so close, yet so fucking far away. She must’ve felt it too, because those blue orbs fell on me, piercing me.
They were raging.
Intense.
She was on one fucked up rollercoaster of emotions right now, and I was to blame for most of it.
I both loved and hated it.
I wanted her to feel everything with me—every single solitary emotion—because ultimately, owned would be her favorite.
Lux was going to love being mine.
I just had to lay that claim first...
Sitting perfectly still, I allowed her to take me in. I didn’t move. Didn’t taunt her. I just sat there…until renewed purpose burned bright in her eyes.
A small curl played on my lips.
Snapping my head over to the DJ, I whistled for his attention. His dark stare lifted toward me almost instantly, headphones around his neck.
“Start it over,” I ordered, circling a finger through the air.
Our audience seemed to agree.
Amongst their whistles, he nodded and got right to work, first slowing down the track, then scratching it out deftly to the beginning.
The sensual beat started building again.
Lux closed her eyes and brought her arms up above her head, rocking slowly side to side. I should’ve known right then this would be the best dance of my lips, but I was far too hypnotized to acknowledge my fate.
As soon as Rihanna’s voice started crooning those provocative lyrics, Lux’s hips started rolling.
Swaying.
The enticing motion traveling through her stomach to her arms.
Up to her head.
A quick roll fanned her hair around as she bent forward toward one leg and snapped back, stare on me as those green tresses fell over her face in a mess.
Fuck me, this was torture. The lines of her body were just... They were goddamn perfect—delicate curves adorned in a plethora of ink.
Curves I wanted beneath me again.
On top of me.
Trapped in my hands.
And the erotic words splashing through the speakers didn’t help.
They only amplified her movements, doubling—no, tripling—their effect on me.
It took everything in me to stay fused to that damn chair, and once again, she picked up on it before I could slide the mask in place.
Sinking to her knees, she rolled her head around once more and stretched out onto her hands, a wicked smirk puckering her already pouty lips.
Goading me, she was purposely goading me.
Look at her—rolling around on the floor, eyes pinning me to the seat as she arched her ass in the air, shaking it around for everyone to see.
And then that crawl, that dick-twitching little kitty cat crawl with claws and all before she slithered into my lap, pressing her back flush to my front. An inked arm wrapped around my neck from behind as she ground all over me in time to the music, that sweet scent of hers slamming into my senses faster than three lines of blow.
I was fucking salivating like a dog.
All I wanted to do was snake a hand around her throat and take a bite into her neck, sink my teeth as far in as her adorned skin would allow.
Suck the bitch right out her until she couldn’t refuse me anymore.
But I didn’t do a damn thing, mostly because I was so focused on not going rock hard beneath my jeans, which wasn’t the easiest feat when driving me mad was quite obviously her ultimate goal.
Felt like some unspoken revenge.
Maybe it was.
“Such a tease,” I growled in her ear, trying my damnedest not to put my hands on her.
Vic was watching—hard. I could feel his stare.
Fuck, I needed to get her alone.
“You literally volunteered for this, remember? Deal with it,” she snapped, pushing off me with another roll of her ass.
But I slipped a finger through one of the loopholes at the back of her fatigues and pulled her back on my lap.
She squeaked softly, but quickly adjusted the flow of her routine as hoots and hollers went off around us.
“I need you to listen to me. Don’t look around or make it obvious—but you’re being watched,” I lied.
Well, only half-lied.
“By who?” she quizzed.
“I don’t know. Never seen him before in my life. I followed him here after overhearing your name come out of his mouth.”
“What does he look like?” Another fucking torturous roll of her ass right on my dick.
“It doesn’t matter right now,” I gritted out. “We need to get outside.”
“How?”
“Slap me.”
“What?!” she hissed, pushing off me long enough to spin around gracefully and climb back into my lap, emerald green tresses falling over us like a veil.
“I’m gonna get handsy, love. Slap me and run out back. I’ll come after you.”
“Are you serious right now?”
“Yes, do it,” I cooed, trailing my hands up along her thighs to her ass.
The second I gripped it with force, Lux gasped and reared back, whacking her palm straight across my cheek.
My head snapped sideways from the blow, face burning from her strike. Our audience was gaping, sucking in heaps of air as Lux flew off my lap and ran through the crowd.
The DJ cut off the song, drowning the room in a heavy silence.
Everyone was watching me.
I sat there for a moment or so, cupping my cheek to make it appear as realistic as possible, especially with Vic’s gaze being all the more palpable than it was before.
I’d handle it, but first I needed to handle the reason why he was even here.
♫ Spazzn - Decap and Gyrefunk ♫
I sat there for a good three minutes before finally racing out behind Lux. On the way, I shot Vic a quick text letting him know I was taking care of it and to disappear before someone caught wind of his presence.
That should take care of him, but I wasn’t holding my breath. He was more curious these days, more vigilant. Always asking fucking questions and showing up anywhere at the drop of a hat. But anonymity was still that of importance to him, so although there was a slight chance Lux or Suki might have already seen him, there’s no way he’d risk it further by following me out the door.
Barreling down the steps, I jumped off the final three and bolted to the back of the building as soon as my feet hit the pavement. I couldn’t seem to move fast enough, my limbs still somewhat weak after the strain I’d put my body through to keep my dick in check.
Took every fucking ounce of self-control within me, and let me tell you, it wasn’t easy.
A smaller, mostly emptied car park was all that awaited me when I made it around back. Surrounded by tall palms, there wasn’t a soul in sight.
&
nbsp; At least none that I could see within the lighting from the streetlamps.
“Lux?” I hissed, stepping around three large dumpsters, the gravel crunching beneath my boots.
No answer.
But then suddenly, I was pulled into the shadows between two of the receptacles.
“Woah!”
Lux had me cornered, small hand clenching the front of my tee, eyes paralyzing me in entirety.
“Were you lying to me?” she growled.
“About?”
“About the stalker! What else?!”
“No,” I shook my head, “why would I lie about that?”
“Because you’re you, you idiot, that’s why!” She pushed me further into the steel at my back with a grunt. “Who is he?”
“I told you, I’ve never seen him before.”
Why did you follow him here?” she pressed.
“Because…”
“Because what?!”
“Because it’s clear he wants to hurt you, and that’s not gonna fly with me,” I grit out.
Those baby blues jutted out, but she didn’t speak a single word. I couldn’t decipher the expression on her face.
From the erratic tempo of my breaths, you’d have thought I ran a mile. My heart was jackhammering and I couldn’t understand why after what happened inside that building not ten minutes ago.
But then I saw it.
That fire.
It didn’t just spark in her eyes—it burned everywhere. Hotter than any hell. From the inside out, I could feel it.
Scorching me.
Calling to me.
And just like the last time we were alone, we collided, more intensely if that were even possible.
Lips scraping.
Hands seeking purchase.
Her stalker was a thing of the past. I gripped her at the waist and tossed her in my spot, frantically reaching for her thighs thereafter to lift her off her feet.
She complied without protest, throwing her head back as she wrapped her legs around my waist.
Can’t run now.
“We have to stop doing this,” she panted, mewling softly as I nipped a trail up her neck.
“I can’t,” I bit down, my grip on her thighs forceful and possessive, “it feels too good. I fucking need you.”
Lux’s laugh was breathy, bordering on manical. “Why me? Why are you doing this to me?”
