Twisted

by Christa Simpson

  "Yeah, I'm talking to you," I said, scowling. "I saw you ogling my man, and I heard what you said. Well, I'm here to tell you to keep your claws off. He's taken."

  "I didn't see any ring on his finger," she replied brazenly, flashing a pleased smile to her friends. One of them was grimacing, but all the others only egged her on.

  My eyes never left hers. "Okay, I can play your game then," I projected. "Try and touch him bitch, and see where that gets you.” I whirled around, anger fuming, as I stalked off. I entered the main room. It had low ceilings and insignificant lighting.

  "Wait," she called, chasing after me.

  Oh, did she want a piece of me? Cuz I am so ready to knock her block off. She gazed at me with wide black trimmed, eyes. She looked horrified, like she was about to deliver some earth shattering announcement.

  "No one has ever stood up to me like that. I'm impressed," she said shakily.

  I shrugged my bare confident shoulders at her waiting for the apology. I must be seriously scary.

  "I get it. He's off limits. I'll keep my distance." Her pause told me she had a new proposal, but why would that involve me? “…but what about that other guy that came in with you?" she asked.

  Ah hah! “TJ?"

  "Is that his name? Mmm," she said, knee deep into the cocktails.

  “He's absolutely available, and a really nice guy," I said, surprised by the turn of conversation.

  "It was rude what I did back there. I do apologize. Can you forgive me?" she asked.

  One thing was for sure, the girl was hot, and I’d say anything to keep her off my man. "I can do one better. Come with me," I said, reaching for her hand.

  She shrugged a dainty shoulder, smiled wickedly and twiddled her fingers in the air to wave goodbye to her infuriated friends. They looked equally as surprised about our new found friendship. I yanked her hand to find TJ and deliver her to him on a silver platter. We ducked into the crowd to avoid the deafening sound coming from the massive speakers. The place was packed wall to wall. And though it wasn’t super classy, the DJ was mixing something fierce, the drinks were flowing steadily and nearly every person was tinged with sweat from dancing up a storm. After scanning the bar, I found TJ and Edwin ordering drinks.

  I pulled the girl along until I was at Edwin's side. "You better make that two more," I hollered.

  TJ turned back to me, taking in my long-legged companion and nodded, a roguish smile creeping onto his lips. TJ handed Edwin a drink, then reached his own out to Blondie.

  Hand gripped tight on mine, I lifted it up for TJ to take. "TJ I want you to meet…uh…um…" Oh shit! "How rude of me, I don't even know your name," I said to the girl.

  Blondie stepped in front of me, took TJ's drink from his hand and passed it off to me, without ever taking her hawk eyes off of him. She slipped her hands over TJ’s shoulder and sunk her fingers into his dark well-trimmed hair. "Hey TJ, I’m Milayna, your next partner in crime and dream come true," she said, with no shame.

  "Yes you are darlin’. You know Abby?" TJ asked, dreadfully intrigued.

  "I do now. And now you know me too," she replied. She flashed an appreciative look my way. "I think I can take it from here."

  I laughed, but knew how to take a hint. I linked my fingers around Edwin's and pulled him away from the ravenous falcon. Before creating much distance, Aliah found us.

  "You still haven't found Hunter?" I asked, my eyes indicating my concern. Though crowded, the dance floor wasn't that large. My only guess was that Maddie was hiding Hunter for her own deviant purposes.

  "No, I can't find him anywhere. What has she done with him?" Aliah grumbled.

  My eyes scanned over the crowd, desperate to locate them before Aliah did. There they are. I shuffled toward them, blocking Aliah’s advance. Maddie, the devil in all her glory, was groping Hunter on the dance floor and I’d be damned if I didn’t say he was enjoying it.

  As soon as Aliah realized what I was doing, she followed my anxious eyes and her instant horror quickly turned to rage. "That bitch is dead!"

  Before I could stop her, Aliah got to Maddie and pulled her off of Hunter by the hair. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" she screamed.

  Maddie, being a firecracker herself, shoved Aliah off of her. "What's your problem?" she screamed.

  "Back off bitch. Hunter's mine."

  Maddie got in Aliah's face and I was waiting for Aliah to deck her. To my surprise, she waited to hear what Maddie had to say. Hunter stayed far enough back, knowing what was done was done.

  "I think you're barking up the wrong tree," Maddie said, inches from Aliah's mouth. "Hunter's a grown man, he can make his own decisions. The way I see it, he's fair game." She raised an eyebrow, daring Aliah to try something.

  The music got so loud that no one but Maddie and Aliah could hear the exchange, but their body language said it all. In one fell swoop, Aliah knocked Maddie's drink from her hand and shoved her viciously into the crowd. Maddie stumbled over a couple of dancers who, being caught off guard, lost their footing and tumbled onto the beer soaked floor. Hunter reached for Maddie, but was unable to snag her. Maddie toppled on top of them. Aliah wasn't done. She was hunting Maddie down to mess up her face. Hunter put a stop to it, his hand flat against Aliah's middle.

  "Crazy bitch! What is your problem?" Maddie screamed, as she took Hunter's proffered hand and regained her balance.

  "I'm crazy? Really?" Aliah screeched, pushing Maddie with both her hands again.

  This time, Maddie maintained her stability, with Hunter holding onto her. He raised his hand again.

  "That's enough Ally.” Just then, the thumping music stopped. "You're making a fool of yourself!" Hunter hollered, for everyone to hear. His embarrassment from the entire episode was evident.

  A couple of large, bald, bouncers, in black collared shirts, had materialized out of the shadows. One grasped firmly onto Aliah's arm. "It’s time for you to go," he said.

  Aliah yanked her arm away from the man who looked about three times her size. “Get your hands off of me. I’m not going anywhere.”

  "You're gonna leave now or I'll remove you," he said, his deep voice firm. "Your choice."

  "Fine! I'm outta here. I can see when I'm not wanted," she said, flashing a rude glare at Hunter.

  Hunter just shook his head, as Aliah stormed away. She pushed through the crowd to the front door, with the bald man following her. The music resumed, as did the dancing, and it was like nothing had even happened.

  Hunter hung his head low and stared at the floor, while Maddie rubbed his shoulder to comfort him. Then he turned to face Maddie. "Let me get you a drink. I think we can both use one," he said.

  Since it was apparent Hunter wasn't going to check on Aliah, "I'm gonna go," I told Edwin.

  He nodded with understanding as I spun away to chase down the large bald man. I caught up with Aliah in the dark hall.

  "Ally wait!"

  She stopped near the exit, but the man continued to usher her outside. She was clearly very upset when she stepped outside, anger in her eyes and tears on her cheeks. Ignoring the girl with pink hair, a stamp extended out toward me, I chased after Ally. I crossed the threshold and pulled on her arm to make her face me.

  "What's up with you? You just lost it in there."

  "I couldn't take it, seeing Maddison throwing herself at Hunter like that. I wanted to smash her face in. She's lucky I didn't get my hands around her neck."

  "She is lucky, because now she's in there with Hunter and you're out here," I said, making a point.

  "In or out ladies," the doorman voiced.

  "I just need a minute," I said.

  "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine," Aliah lied, as she walked out to the curb.

  I pushed past the doorman. "No, I'm coming with you. You're not going off alone."

  Aliah stood there festering when, out of the blue, Tanner and Jay emerged from the club. Jay had a small but spunky girl under his arm, with short spiked hair and full r
ed lips.

  "Abigail, Aliah, funny running into you again," Tanner said to me, drunken and sarcastic.

  "Yeah, funny," I repeated, unimpressed.

  Aliah covered her hands over her face. "Let me guess, you guys saw me in there," she whined, embarrassed.

  "Actually we're just leaving, and I have no idea what you're talking about," Tanner said, uninterested.

  "It looks like you could use some company tonight Tanner," Aliah said, motioning toward his empty arm.

  He waved a hand at her, suggesting he was fine. Drunk. But fine.

  "I know I certainly could use some," Aliah hinted. She was desperate, pleading.

  "Yes, please," Tanner said, taking her into his arms.

  It was depressing to watch them share their heart break and gloom.

  "You don't have to do that Tanner," I said to him. "You don't know what you're doing Ally. I'll go with you."

  "Stop,” she said. “I've already ruined my night, no need for me to wreck yours too. You have Edwin waiting in there for you. As for Hunter and Maddie, they can go fuck themselves. I'm with Tanner. I'll be fine," Aliah insisted rather impressively.

  "Seriously Abigail, I'll take good care of her," Tanner promised.

  "That's what I'm afraid of," I replied, smiling.

  "It's harmless," he said over his shoulder, as he walked away with Aliah on his arm.

  I rolled my eyes at the rat bastard, getting a dose of my own medicine, then flashed some puppy dog eyes at the bouncer to let me back in. I hurried down the hall and pushed my way through the bouncing crowd back toward the bar. Every guy that I tried to slip by tried to make a pass at me, hands on my hips, grinding against my back, grabbing at my ass and trying to touch me while I was defenceless. All I could do was press on toward the bar, where I saw Edwin leaning against a pillar. Being so happy to see him, I curled my arms around his core and inhaled him, my cheek pressed to his warm, buff chest.

  He brought his lips down to my ear. "I was getting worried that some horny guy kidnapped you," he teased.

  I looked up to meet his loving gaze. "I'm not going anywhere without you." I cupped his neck and pulled him down for an affectionate kiss.

  Edwin downed the last of his drink and kissed me again, a little more provocatively. With tongue. Wet and sweet. Then he returned to the bar to order us each a refill. With our new drink in hand, we went searching for Hunter and Maddie. It wasn't hard to find the two of them dancing together playfully.

  "Dance with me?" I begged. I released him and swayed my hips as I walked out onto the dance floor without giving him any other option.

  Before Edwin pulled up next to me, he enjoyed my entertainment from a short distance, our eyes locked on each other. Before long, a skinny drunken guy, with his pants hanging loosely from his ass, mistook me for fair game. I caught Edwin's eye, before I even knew what was happening, when suddenly the tall, slim shady pressed his boner against my rear and rubbed against me, his hand around my waist.

  "Um, no," I hollered, disgusted. I elbowed him in the gut, and tried to turn around to shun him, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer. “Back off! I said I’m not interested.”

  He tightened his grip around my waist, even more aroused by my struggling. "Oh, come on baby. Trust me, you'll like it," he hollered belligerently, grinding against me.

  Edwin stepped in, puffed up his chest, grabbed slim shady by the neck of his shirt, and lifted him off the floor. "You'll listen to the lady, if you know what's good for you," he growled, terrifying the grown man. Edwin dropped him, heavy to the floor, and the loser scurried away.

  Shocked bystanders pointed and snickered, absorbed in our drama, but Edwin just ignored them and pulled me into his arms. He wrapped himself around me, tucked my hair behind my ear and dropped a soft kiss on my lips. “You okay?”

  “Mmm hmm,” I said, heart still racing.

  "I have to keep my eyes on you. You sure know how to get into trouble," he said with a low sexy growl.

  I was sure no other guy would be bold enough to make a move on me after that. I fluttered my eyelashes at Edwin, begging him to hold me close. "Trouble does have a way of finding me."

  "Well, I guess I better hold on tighter then." His hold tightened and he dipped his head for another kiss, possessive and demanding.

  We kissed. And we danced. And we kissed some more. The music was dirty, vibrating from the floor to the roof, and I was feeling frisky. I spun around and grinded him with my body, like sex with clothes on. He was captivated, hard with arousal, aching for more contact. His hands scoured my bare thighs and stroked my behind, his eyes glued to my hips, overwhelmed with my curves.

  To be a tease, I bent forward, dipped low, and slowly returned my back end hard against him. Unable to resist me, he clamped his hands on my arms and spun me around to face him, locking his glorious aqua eyes on mine. Sharing my lust through dark lashes, I dared to reach around him and grab his tight ass in both of my hands. His arms found their way around my waist, his lips twitched into an insanely hot smile.

  With too much to drink, my hand slipped between us and massaged him through his pants. He moaned in my ear, begging me to stop, but his body told me to keep going. Being a good girl, for now, my arm trailed back around him and I flashed him a devious wink.

  His lips brushed mine then he brought them to my ear. "Why don't we go take a seat? I think I need a break... and a cold shower," he said. He adjusted himself, then followed close behind me to the table where I saw Hunter sitting by himself.

  Edwin took a seat across from Hunter, and even though there was a vacant chair next to Edwin, his lap was too inviting. With an arm over his shoulder, he lifted me right where I wanted to be.

  "Where's TJ?" I hollered.

  "Last I saw him he was making out with some hot blonde chick," Hunter said smiling, as he waved over a waitress.

  Though he looked like he already had enough to drink, he ordered something and swung his hand in the air to ask for a round of it. Shots lined our table within minutes.

  When Edwin reached for a drink, we were both startled by Hunter's slur. "We have to wait for Maddie.” He glanced around for her then smiled. "Ah, there she is."

  I flashed Edwin a quick look, only to find that he was equally as stunned by Hunter's high spirits when Maddie returned to the table. I had seen that look before. It was the same look he gave Aliah the first day we met. Trouble was a brewing.

  "What’s up?" Edwin whispered in my ear, knowing something was wrong.

  "Ally's in love with Hunter, but she never had a chance to tell him. She was gonna tell him tonight. That's why she reacted the way she did earlier. She was already devastated, and now this?"

  "She had her chance. Maybe he doesn't feel the same. He seems to be having a good time with Maddie," Edwin said, then kissed my temple. "What's it gonna take for me to get back that attention of yours?"

  I smiled softly and kissed his luscious, wet lips.

  "That's more like it," he growled, before kissing me again.

  "We gonna drink these or what?" Maddie hollered. She was standing next to me, smiling, not at all bothered by our affection. Suddenly she was all confidence and comfort, which is probably exactly why Hunter was so attracted to her. It was likely the same thing that attracted him to Aliah.

  Edwin slid a shot glass my way and lifted his toward Hunter nodding his head. He gently tapped his glass against mine and then we all slammed it down in one gulp. The music was still bumping, but the drinks were starting to catch up to me. Once I was sure the drink was going to stay down, I locked my eyes on Edwin’s.

  "I take it you're ready to call it a night," Edwin said laughing.

  I nodded, only because I wanted some alone time with him.

  "We're gonna get going. Are you guys ready to go?" Edwin hollered.

  Damn!

  "Yeah," Hunter said, standing from his seat.

  Double damn!

  The place was still packed, as Edwin led the way through the mel
low crowd. I don't know why it surprised me when I caught Hunter accepting Maddie's hand when she reached it to him. I looked up into Edwin's eyes and smiled, trying hard to be ignorant to what was going on behind us.

  As we entered the long hallway and walked toward the exit, I saw Kane chatting with a bouncer.

  "Hey, you guys came. What did I say?"

  Edwin and Hunter shared handshakes with him, giving me the opportunity to tug Maddie away.

  "We're just gonna run to the bathroom real quick. We'll meet you outside," I told Edwin, then dragged Maddie off with me.

  "But I don't have to go pee," she said.

  "I don't care." I eyed the long line up stretching outside of the washroom. "I just want to know whether you know what you're doing here," I said.

  "Going to the washroom?" she said sarcastically.

  "Starting a war with Aliah."

  She rolled her eyes. "The war is over. I've won fair and square. She blew it. Her problem, not mine."

  I gave her a sideways glance. "Don’t give me that. I know you're not that cruel; so stop acting like you are."

  "You have no idea Abby. What you and Edwin have... I want that. With Hunter."

  "You're playing with fire.”

  "You know I like it hot, and Aliah’s the only one here who’s gonna get burned," she said selfishly, returning to her old backstabbing self.

  "Maddie, you know Ally's my best friend and I don't want to see her get hurt," I paused, taking a deep breath, "but Hunter is a big boy and I respect whatever he decides."

  "Thank you for your blessing Abby. That means a lot."

  "Oh, is that what you thought that was? Hardly. You're not gonna get my blessing little slutty," I said.

  She giggled and turned her eyes to the floor.

  "You do what you will, that's not my business. I'm staying out of it. It'll be Aliah's wrath that you'll have to deal with later, not mine," I said.

  "I can handle Aliah.”

  I sighed. "Okay, I'll leave it alone then."

  At last, we reached the front of the line. Before exiting my stall, I removed my panties and stuffed them into my small purse. Edwin deserved a reward.

  After drying my hands, Maddie yanked me from the washroom with her arm hooked in mine and pulled me toward the door, self-assured and happy. Men hooted and hollered at us, as we walked down the hall. Suddenly feeling incredibly vulnerable, I wished I hadn't removed my panties. A pair of guys pulled away from the group and stalked up closely behind us, coaxing us to go home with them.