by Amber Heart
Gina, Lily and all others went to the dance floor and I stayed back with Avery as she tried to get her head straight after all those shots. I asked Sandy, the bartender, for a pitcher of cold water and then poured Avery a large glass of it. “Drink it. You’ll feel better,” I slid it towards her. “I won’t regret this, Cass,” she said to me. “For once, for the first time in my life, I feel like I have made the right decision. For the first time I know what I am doing and this is what I truly want. There will never be anyone else for me, Cass. It will always be Quinn,” she confided to me and my heart warmed at her love. “Anyone can see how much you both love each other. I do agree that this is way too early to get married. I mean you haven’t even finished college yet. I don’t understand the rush, but I do understand how you feel and I will always be here to support and stand by you with every decision you make,” I said to her sincerely. “No matter how immature that might be,” I teased her and we both laughed.
“Thank you, Cass, for being here with me. You don’t know how important it is for me to have you here by my side,” she said. “I know how hard it was for you to take time off from work but you still did and came all the way out here.” Her voice cracked. If only she knew what happened. But I didn’t let my personal problems ruin her time, so I masked everything with a smile. “Oh nothing could keep me from my best friend’s wedding and honestly, who would want to turn down a trip to the Bahamas?” I said to her with a wink and she laughed. “You know Quinn is really glad you came all the way out here,” she added. “Of course he is. Or else he would have to handle you and your wedding tantrums all on his own which would be a nightmare for him.” Avery smacked my arm and I laughed.
“So where is he puking his guts out?” I asked. “Cass!” “What? Oh come on, Av, it’s a well-known fact that Quinn is a light drinker,” I chortled. “He just doesn’t like to drink much,” she defended. “Yeah. Yeah. If you say so, Ms. I-Just-Had-Eight-Shots.” I rolled my eyes playfully. “So where is he?” I asked, taking a sip from my own martini. “Oh he is having his bachelor party with his friends. It’s just a couple of halls down. He was upset that Aaron couldn’t make it here tonight. He even planned the party for tomorrow, but it’s the rehearsal dinner so that couldn’t be arranged,” Avery revealed the whole story.
“Aaron?” “Yeah, he’s Quinn’s oldest friend and the best man for the wedding,” she said. “Oh I see,” I took another sip. “Yes, you’ll see. From what I have heard he is quite the catch.” She elbowed me. “And a man whore,” she winked at me. I twisted my mouth at her description. “And why are you keeping tabs on your fiancé’s best man?” I asked her with a quirked brow. “Oh haven’t you heard what they say about the maid of honor and the best man?” she asked playfully. I don’t think I want to know the answer to be honest. But she answered anyway. “They are meant to hook up after the wedding, Cass,” she was grinning at me. “So not happening.” “Oh it’s so happening. You need to get laid, Cass. And Aaron is just what you need. No strings,” my best friend was definitely up to no good. “Alright, I think you’ve had enough to drink. It’s time to do some dancing!” I said to her and then waved Gina over. We both took Avery to the dance floor where she finally gave into the beat and swayed her hips like Avery Bradford can. I couldn’t stop thinking about what Avery had said though, I mean the last thing I wanted was a man in my life right now, strings or no strings.
I left the dance floor and pulled out my phone from my back pocket as I felt it vibrating. It was a text from the hotel manager that said the stripper was on his way. A wide grin spread across my face as I pictured Avery’s reaction. She would be furious, but tonight she deserved some fun before she gave herself to Quinn. I stowed the phone away and gave Lily a signal that it was time. She gave me a thumbs up. Taking my martini, I walked towards the door. Let’s see what the hotel concierge has sent for us. As I inched closer towards the exit and reached for the door knob, the damn door came towards me with a hard push and hit me straight in the face. “Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!” I jumped around as the pain rose in my head. I raised my hand up to rub it. “Are you fucking blind?” I shouted above the music and yelped in pain again. There was no response from the attacker. “What? Don’t you know how to apologize…?” I looked up to set my eyes on the man before me.
Holy mother of wow! This man was ridiculously hot. Just the sight of him made my knees weak and my feminine parts jump to attention. Wow! He was some package! He was tall, like really tall with almost a foot towering over my five and a half frame. He wore a pinstriped jacket and black pants which gave away his muscular build. His long neck emerged out of his collar like a tower. Okay I might be exaggerating. His dark brown hair was tousled in a messy hairstyle. What made me breathless was his eyes, black as coal and sharp as an eagle. Boy! He was hotness on legs. A ten out of ten. I could see his lips pressed into a thin line that flexed his square jaw and his brows were pinched together in waves.
“Isn’t this the bachelor party?” his throaty voice hit my ears and I snapped out of the trance. I had already forgotten about the pain I was in. Wait, did he just ask about the party? Oh Gosh! He was the stripper. “You are here for the party?” I finally found my voice and asked. The sex god quirked his brows. Well, this will be interesting! A grin started to appear and I arched my back straight. It was play time! “Alright, Mr. Smoking Hot, let’s get the party on a roll!” I wiggled my hips and caught his tie in my hands. For a stripper, he did have a lot of clothing on him. I wondered how he would look with his clothes being pulled off. I flushed as the images began to appear in my head and I imagined him around a pole.
“I hope you are good at what you do,” I said to him in a loud voice and tugged at his tie. His eyes widened in surprise, I wondered if that was because of what I said to him. But hey, I had a right to know if he knew what he was doing, didn’t I? “Ladies!” I called at the top of my lungs and everyone turned to face me. “Look who we have here. Our Stripper for the night!” I announced as I slipped his jacket off in one quick move. The girls applauded and cheered, oohs and aahs rose in the air. “What the fuck?” I heard a sharp growl behind me and I turned to see the sex god glaring at me. “Maybe our stripper is a little shy,” it was Avery’s cousin, Jenny who advanced to where we were standing and gave his butt a good squeeze. I couldn’t hold back the laughter that rolled out of me, though deep inside I wanted to touch this man in all the right places.
“Everybody cheer for him. He needs some encouragement,” Gina yelled. “Where’s the bride? Call her so that we can show her our lovely gift,” Lily exclaimed and rushed to wrap a fur scarf around him. “Stop this right now,” a low thunder roared out of Mr. Hot Stripper Pants. “Hey, we paid you to entertain us, not growl at us,” Sandra, one of the other bridesmaids said in a slurry voice. It was clear that most of the girls were drunk now. Just then Avery emerged, stowing away her phone. “Girls, we need to …” she began to speak as we all spurred at the same time, “Surprise, surprise!” and gestured at the sexy stripper who was now wearing a load of fur shit and ribbons.
Avery’s face turned pale and both her hands went to her mouth. “Come on, Avery!” Sandra encouraged her. “Oh my God! Aaron?” Avery said in a small voice. I looked to and fro between my best friend and the sexy as fuck man who struggled with all the ribbons around him. “Aaron, you are here,” Avery rushed to him. “Girls he is not a stripper. Step back,” she cried and then was next to me, helping him out. I signaled the bartender to turn down the music volume.
“I am so sorry, Aaron. These girls thought you were the stripper,” Avery said to Mr. Hot Pants as he was back to himself with all the furs and ribbons and other stuff gone from him. “I figured that much out,” he said and his eyes stopped directly at me. “Girls, this is Aaron Maxfield, Quinn’s best friend and his best man for the wedding,” Avery made the introduction and my heart almost stopped beating. Oh holy shit, Aaron Maxfield, manwhore, best man, stripper, what have I done? “This is Cassandra Levant, my best friend
and maid of honor,” Avery introduced me and he gazed at me with an unidentified expression.
Why the hell was I feeling embarrassed? It was just a mere misunderstanding. I was expecting a stripper for the bachelorette party and if any other man would have entered the hall, I would have thought he was a stripper. “That was really embarrassing. I hope you don’t mind,” I placed my fake smile back and extended my hand for a shake. He peered at me intently and I began to feel like an idiot. Before I could pull my hand back, he took it in his larger one and squeezed it in a gentle shake. That famous jolt of current that I read in every damned book, ran through my own veins at his touch. Holy Smokes! They wrote it right. I pulled my hand away and ran it in my shoulder length hair, smoothing the knots. I guess that’s my nervous habit.
“Does Quinn know that you are here?” Avery asked. Aaron finally took his fierce gaze off me and turned to Avery to answer, “No, I was planning to surprise him.” He gave me another quick look. Yeah, that turned out to be some surprise. I thought. “Oh he will be so thrilled. He was really upset that you couldn’t make it here. He is just three doors down in the hall with all the others. Cass can show you,” Avery gestured at me and I gaped at her with wide eyes. She fluttered her eyes innocently. What was she thinking? He could strangle me in the middle of the corridor for all I know. “That will not be necessary. I’ll find it on my own,” he said in a curt tone. Giving Avery a small nod, he turned and left the room. What a first impression I gave to the man whom I was supposed to sit next to for the next two days. Holy cow! How will I last until the end of the wedding? And how was I supposed to keep my composure?
Chapter 2
Aaron
I adjusted my pants before entering the hall where Quinn’s bachelor party was being held. I couldn’t take another series of events like that again. My attention was already stolen by that that platinum blonde, Cass Levant. She had the audacity to try and strip me in front of all those women. It was always, always the other way round. Women stripped for me. It was so weak and unmanly of me to let her tug at me like a puppy and show me off in front of a bunch of drunk ass girls. One of them even squeezed my butt! Real loser, motherfucker. I don’t know why I let her do all that. I could have stopped it before it even started. But inside I knew why I couldn’t stop her, because I was thinking with my dick instead of my head. Her little sexy dance with that stunning body. The combination had never appealed to me before but standing right there, looking at her, my only reaction was the straining of my manhood. Her perky ass and full tits that jumped out of that narrow strapped pink shirt made me want to drag her over to the nearest couch and have some fun with her. And how she dragged me by the tie, my need to have some fun with her sky rocketed when I imagined her in a leather corset with fuck-me heels on. And how she stripped off my jacket like some dumbstruck fool. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! I gritted my teeth in rage and then pushed the door open.
“Aaron! Shit, you are here!” it was Quinn’s voice. “Hey, man. Is the party still going?” I grinned at him as we gave each other a half armed hug and smacked each other on the back. Quinn is one of the only people I care about in this world. There are not many people that could get me to abandon work to attend a wedding at a fancy destination. My initial flight was scheduled for tomorrow evening, but I had planned to give him a surprise visit for his bachelor party. Only to end up at his fiancé’s bachelorette party first.
“I’m glad you made it here early, man. The party is just getting started.” he said to me as we both sat at the bar and drank a beer. “Couldn’t have missed your party, buddy,” I raised my bottle at him. Quinn was a good man. He deserved the best and I sincerely hoped that Avery was the right girl for him. I had met her briefly, when Quinn had brought her to one of the company’s events. She was younger than him by a good amount but they looked good together. I hoped it went deeper than just looks – for the sake of my friend. Because I didn't believe in the words love and happily ever after. My rule was fuck ‘em and leave ‘em. It had worked miraculously well for me and I was pretty content with my life. And I was looking forward to pinning a few more points on my scoreboard during this short holiday. The most appealing thought right now was to drag that platinum blonde who was three doors away, up to my room and teach her a few basics before having my way with her. She will be the one doing the stripping, not me.
**
I woke up from the irritating buzz of my phone that kept on going relentlessly. I thought of ignoring it, but then reached out to pick it up. “Better be something important,” I muttered sleepily. “Get your ass down here for the breakfast, Maxfield or I am sending someone up there to whip you before dragging you down,” it was Quinn’s mother, Aria. I chuckled at her crude tone. She was always like that. And I loved her for it. “Yeah, yeah. Send your best at me,” I challenged her. “Don’t challenge me, son. Get down here in five or you’ll be sorry,” she said and ended the call. I groaned and then got out of bed. My body ached from all the exhaustion of last night’s activity. Throwing my phone on the pillow, my gaze fell on a pink material that laid next to the night table. I picked it up. It was a thong with a piece of paper attached.
Call us when you want to meet us again. XOXO
Lucy and Lulu.
Scribbled down was a mobile number. What the fuck? I threw it away in a corner. I’d find someone else if I wanted another quick one. I rarely went with the same girl twice. The only rare cases were those who were outstanding and there had only been two women who were honored enough for that; Jasmine and Elsa. These Lulu and Lily or whatever their names were, they were one timers. I had picked them up from the hotel’s public bar after leaving Quinn’s party, brought them up to my room, fucked them senseless and then kicked them out. I wanted to get that platinum blonde, perky assed woman out of my mind and had succeeded with these two giggling girls at my service, willing to do anything and everything.
Changing into a gray T-shirt and blue jeans, after a quick shower, I went downstairs to the tables where Quinn’s and Avery’s families were settled for breakfast. “Ah, here he is. Aaron, my boy,” Aria hugged me tightly and I returned it. She was a second Mum to me. I had spent more of my childhood in her backyard instead of mine. “How is my favorite Mrs. Robinson?” I asked her grinning from ear to ear. She swatted my back. “Get to your seat so we can start with the breakfast. I haven’t let them touch a thing,” she said to me and then turned to the rest of the members at the table. “My other son is here so you may as well begin the breakfast,” she announced and blew me a kiss. This woman was spectacular and I would do anything for her.
The only chair that was empty was the one tagged with 'Best Man' printed on the back. I took the seat and that’s when I realized that next to me was the maid of honor, the platinum blonde, Cassandra Levant. Holy fuck was she hot! I had spent my night wasting on two girls just to get this woman out of my mind and here I was, seated to next to her first thing in the morning. “Good morning, Aaron,” she turned her face to me with a drop dead gorgeous smile. Her hair wasn't dead straight like last night. It was frizzy and soft, it looked natural and I wanted to take a whiff of it and touch it to know if it was actually soft or it just appeared so. “Morning.… it was Cassandra, right?” I deliberately sounded like I didn’t care what her name was. “Yes, but please call me Cass, everybody does,” she replied to me with narrowed eyes. “Cass,” I tested the word. “I think I prefer Cassandra,” I told her. Her mouth opened slightly in surprise at my words. As hard as it was to look away from those full lips, I dragged my eyes away and reached out to the pitcher of orange juice. I could feel her eyes following my moves. When I didn’t give her a second glance, she turned sharply to the other side and ignored me for the rest of the breakfast.
“Hey, Aaron, Sandra just told us that they thought you were the Stripper last night. And Cass even stripped you. Fuck man, I wish I were there to witness that. The biggest man whore of Seattle, Aaron Maxfield being stripped by a bunch of drunk girls,” Logan, Quinn’s
cousin said as I was just about to get away from the table to make a few calls for work. Laughter roared out from the audience and everybody’s eyes turned to me. I heard Cassandra gasp beside me and I wanted to punch that dorks face. He was trying to humiliate me. But hey, who has given him the chance to do that? It was me. No it was Cassandra Levant. It was her who had given them an opportunity to laugh at me. “I may have been made a fool of, but how are you feeling after last nights fiasco? I saw that Mexican waitress hitting you down to your knees last night when you almost spilled your guts and begged her to spend the night with you.” There. Take that asshole. He shut his mouth and flushed with embarrassment. I had seen that waitress raising her knee to his groin when I had gone to pick up someone to warm my bed with last night. It looked like I had gotten his story just right. The chair beside me pulled back. “Excuse me, please,” Cassandra said and then left the table. I admit, my comment was a tad inappropriate, especially for a nice breakfast in front of friends. But I will not be the butt of someone else’s joke. You can say I lack a sense of humor, but I refuse to look weak in front of these people.
**
“Man, did you really? I mean … seriously?” Quinn asked me when it was just the two of us in the lounge and everybody else was in the pool. “Cut it, Quinn.” I never give details and I won’t do so now. I was forced into that situation because of her. I looked around but she was nowhere in sight. Those two girls last night meant nothing, they were just a distraction.
“Come on, boys, jump in!” Avery was waving at us from the pool. “I have a few calls to make,” I said to Quinn who was already stripping out of his shirt and getting ready to jump into the pool. “Come on, dude. Don’t be a spoil sport. You are off from work.” “Like you give a rat’s ass about it,” I raised my eyes and he grinned. Of course he thought of nobody when he was around Avery. Love turned men into stupid mindless fools. I shook my head as he splashed into the pool.
