by Anthology
Tag glanced around, wondering where his father was. He was the only person that Cole didn’t mention, not that Tag was all that surprised. It seemed that these last few days, Jackson had been using this trip as his personal vacation. After the first dinner they’d all shared together, Jackson and Victoria had spent most of their time alone.
That only bothered Tag somewhat. The fact that his father had agreed to join them on the trip at all was shocking. The man spent his days worshipping his wife, not worried about anyone other than her. He could’ve asked Cole if he’d seen his mother, but Tag’s stepbrother looked otherwise occupied as he stared at Luke with a knowing smirk on his lips.
Before Tag had met McKenna, he’d allowed his father’s behavior to get to him. He had spent the majority of his life playing second fiddle to first, his own mother, and then to Victoria when Jackson had remarried after Tag’s mother’s death.
Tag could somewhat understand at this point in his life because he was infatuated with McKenna, wanted to spend every waking moment with her. Even now, after two years of being with her. But he still couldn’t imagine putting everyone and everything on the back burner. Certainly not the children he intended to have with McKenna.
“Get outta your head,” Luke commanded. “We’re here to have a good time tonight.”
Tag glanced over at Luke and nodded. “You’re right. Did you tell Sierra that they’d be staying with McKenna tonight?” Tag asked.
“I did,” Luke confirmed. “It took both of us to get her to calm down.”
Tag shook his head and laughed. “I wouldn’t doubt it.”
“What?” Cole asked, looking sheepish. “She’s a handful. Sometimes—”
“Don’t finish that sentence,” Tag said with a chuckle.
“Seriously, though, they’re all excited about the wedding. So, of course, when I told her that tonight’s McKenna’s bachelorette party, Sierra got on the phone.”
“With who?” Tag asked.
“Guest services.”
“About?”
“She wanted to see if they had male strippers on board.”
“Oh, Lord,” Tag said on a sigh.
“Good news,” Cole inserted. “They didn’t.”
“Bad news,” Luke added. “We volunteered to be the strippers.”
“We who?” Tag exclaimed, turning to face two of his closest friends, one of whom just happened to be his stepbrother.
“Well, after her parents go back to their cabin, and yours, if they join us tonight, we’ll be putting on a show for the ladies,” Luke explained.
“Are you fucking serious?” Tag questioned, praying that their somber expressions were part of the joke.
“They’re very serious,” said a voice from behind him.
Tag turned to see Logan approach, Elijah walking alongside him. “We’re apparently the entertainment for the night.”
“Oh, hell.”
“They were very accommodating, offering up one of the clubs for tonight’s performance.” Elijah smirked.
“I hope y’all don’t plan for me to strip,” Tag said, downing the scotch the bartender had just delivered before signaling for another.
“Oh, your name’s definitely on the roster.”
“Xander agreed to go first,” Logan stated with a laugh.
Tag’s gaze scanned the room, looking for the giant Dom.
“It’s not like we’re not used to gettin’ naked in public,” Cole countered.
“Y’all, sure,” Tag agreed. “Me, not so much.” Although Tag was a member of Devotion, and yes, on occasion he had been known to enjoy the public exhibition that the club afforded them, it was rare.
Regardless, stripping for a group of rowdy women was an entirely different story.
“Just think, maybe you’ll make a few bucks out of the deal,” Luke said.
Tag glared at his friends, wondering what they hell they’d been thinking when they’d decided this was a good idea.
But more importantly, he wanted to know when the hell Luke McCoy had become the optimist.
***
“You should have something stronger than that,” Sam told McKenna when she joined them at the table. “It’s your last night as a single woman.”
McKenna chuckled. “I haven’t been single for a long time.”
“Touché,” Sam stated. “But tomorrow’s the official day.”
There was no way for McKenna to hide the huge grin that split her face. She’d come down to join Sierra and Ashleigh at the ship’s outdoor bar an hour ago. She hadn’t been there for two minutes when Sierra’s excitement had gotten the best of her, and McKenna’s friend had blurted that tonight was the official bachelorette party and tomorrow would be her wedding day.
From that moment onward, McKenna’s nerves had been frayed, her excitement palpable. She’d also given considerable thought to what a night of boozing would do to her, which was why she intended to play it safe, stick with wine.
“I assume we’re gonna do something a little more exciting than this tonight,” Mercedes said as she pulled out a chair and took a seat beside McKenna.
“Oh, we are,” Sierra stated with a smirk.
McKenna glanced over at her friend, studying her face. Sierra was terrible at keeping secrets.
“Go ahead. Tell them,” Sam said, a matching grin on her face.
“We got us some male strippers,” Sierra said excitedly.
McKenna’s eyebrows lifted. “On this ship? They have male strippers?”
“No,” Sierra said quickly. “But tonight they do.”
“What does that mean?” Ashleigh questioned, looking just as curious as McKenna was.
Sierra leaned in as though she were about to tell a national security secret. “The boys are gonna be the strippers.”
“Are…” McKenna couldn’t get the question out because she started to laugh, imagining all of their men working it up on stage.
“Think Magic Mike, only … hotter,” Sierra added.
McKenna wasn’t sure that was possible. “You mean…”
“Yep,” Sierra confirmed. “Luke, Cole, Logan, Tag, Kane, Xander, Shane, Trent, and Alex are gonna strut their stuff for us tonight.”
Glancing around the table at all of her friends, McKenna’s grin widened. “And they agreed to this?”
“Everyone except Tag, but that’s because it was a surprise,” Sam informed them.
“Xander even volunteered to go first,” Mercedes announced. “Can you imagine?”
“Does he even have any rhythm?” Lucie asked Mercedes. “I can tell you that Kane doesn’t possess an ounce of it.”
“Not a lick,” Mercedes admitted with a chuckle. “But I can guarantee I’ll have my dollar bills ready.”
“Kane really agreed to this?” McKenna asked Lucie.
“I haven’t talked to him. But he’s always been a team player,” Lucie admitted.
Lucie’s husband, Kane, managed Club Destiny, the nightclub that’d originally been the front for the fetish club before Luke closed down The Club at Club Destiny and reopened it as Devotion. McKenna didn’t see much of Lucie and Kane. They spent their time working or with their daughter, Haley. From what Tag had said, the couple was trying for another baby, but as of yet, they hadn’t gotten pregnant.
“So when do the festivities begin?” Ashleigh asked.
“We’re waiting for McKenna’s parents to go to bed. We asked Tiffany if she and Matt wanted to join in, but she politely declined.”
McKenna was grateful for that. It would’ve been a little awkward to see her straight-laced brother-in-law stripping for a room full of women. Not to mention, Tiffany was a jealous woman, and McKenna doubted her sister would’ve been able to sit back and take all the women cheering him on.
“What about Tag’s parents?” Ashleigh asked.
“They’re here somewhere, but they didn’t commit to joining us tonight,” Sierra explained.
McKenna’s gut tightened at the thought of Jacks
on not wanting to spend time with his son. After all, Tag had been the one to extend the olive branch, inviting his father when he would’ve preferred to leave him back on dry land. Their relationship hadn’t improved over the years, neither of them putting forth much effort. Although McKenna never understood how a father could be so blind to his own children, she didn’t push the issue. She’d had plenty she wanted to say to the man, but for Tag’s sake, she’d always kept her mouth shut.
“Well, I can’t wait,” Mercedes said. “It’ll be interesting. Especially if Luke actually does follow through.”
Sierra grinned. “Oh, he’ll be up there. I promise.”
The twinkle in the other woman’s eyes spoke of secrets that McKenna didn’t even want to know about. That threesome never ceased to amaze her. Luke was opening up, and McKenna knew that all of the thanks went to both Sierra and Cole. It was incredible what love could do to a person.
It seemed as though it could even get an uptight man to strip on stage.
But as entertaining as she knew that would be, McKenna was most interested in seeing her own man up there. Because no matter what these other women said, Tag would definitely steal the show.
Chapter Seven
“I can’t believe y’all are really gonna make me do this,” Tag told Luke and Cole as they led the way down a long, narrow hallway to the area behind the stage in the nightclub that had been sanctioned off to them for the night.
“I told you to have another drink,” Cole said, glancing back at Tag over his shoulder.
“I could’ve had ten more. It wouldn’t have made me agree to this,” Tag informed his so-called friends.
Xander’s giant hand landed on Tag’s back. “How hard could it be? Just get up there, rip off your shirt, make the ladies go crazy. Simple as that.”
“I thought—” Trent was instantly silenced by Xander.
Tag stopped, causing the others behind him to stop abruptly. “What’s goin’ on?”
“Nothin’,” Luke stated. “Come on. We’ve got a show to put on.”
Something was off. Tag could feel it. Luke McCoy was a lot of things, but eager to strip for a room full of women wasn’t one of them.
Luke opened a door and took a step back, allowing Tag and the others to enter. The area was dark, with only a few dim lights from above providing enough light to see where they were going and that was about it.
“Dressing rooms are over there,” Cole pointed out.
“Based on what you’ve told me,” Tag stated gruffly, “we aren’t going to need them. No need to dress if you’re just gonna take it all off.”
A sharp knock sounded on the door behind them, and Tag turned with the others to see who was there.
“Gentlemen,” the younger man said as he stuck his head in the door. “I’m here to set up the sound system and show you how to work it. I’ve also brought the music you requested.”
“And what song are we strippin’ to?” Tag questioned, not really wanting to know the answer to that.
Cole smirked. “Have you seen Magic Mike?”
“No,” Tag stated firmly. “No intention of seein’ it, either.”
“Well, then the song’ll just be a surprise,” Xander added.
“Nope. He’s gotta watch it. Come on,” Logan commanded, turning toward the dressing rooms.
Tag obediently followed Logan and the others into the dressing room. What he saw before him made his mouth go dry.
“What the hell are those?”
“Costumes,” Shane informed him, amusement in his steady gaze.
Hanging on the wall in front of them were—Tag paused to count—ten outfits. Several of them were black sweat pants and white hoodies, while the rest were the opposite—white sweatpants with black hoodies.
“Good news,” Elijah stated. “No G-strings.”
A few chuckles sounded behind him. That’s when he noticed there were black boxer briefs along with shoes for each of the outfits.
Holy shit.
They’d planned this well in advance obviously, because upon inspection, Tag noticed that, yes, they were all appropriately sized, and he doubted it was a coincidence that they’d find the exact sizes at the ship’s gift shop.
Trent appeared in front of him holding an iPad. “Watch this.”
With the push of a button, a video appeared on the screen. Tag could only assume it was the scene from the movie they had referenced.
“Fuck,” Tag groaned. “Seriously. Y’all expect me to do that?”
“No, we expect you to follow our lead. Your goal is to dance for your woman,” Cole informed him. “That’s all you have to do. Focus on McKenna.”
Tag figured he might be able to do that, but as far as the moves… Well, he had none.
The video continued to play, and Tag found himself laughing hysterically. He could imagine Luke, Cole, Logan, Xander, Kane, Alex, Elijah, Shane, and Trent performing to this song. But he absolutely could not picture himself doing it. He’d look like a fucking dancing monkey.
Fuck.
“All right. Who’s ready to get this show on the road?” Xander boasted with a deep, rumbling chuckle. “Time to change.”
From that moment forward, Tag was ushered where the others wanted him to go. He managed to change into the black sweatpants and white hoodie, along with a pair of white shoes that he would never in his life have purchased for himself. He tried to ignore the anxiety that erupted in his gut.
Focus on McKenna.
Yes, that was certainly the plan.
Once everyone was dressed, they made their way back to the stage. It was no longer dark, but lit up with red lights from behind the curtain. No one was there yet, which Tag considered a good thing. He wasn’t even close to being comfortable with this.
The others were laughing and joking, although Tag didn’t find anything funny about having to get up on stage and do a strip tease for his future bride and her crazy friends. His crazy friends.
Heaven help him, this was not going to go well.
Speaking of friends… From the other side of the curtain that blocked off the backstage area, an eruption of giggles and cheers sounded, signaling the arrival of their audience.
“Y’all do know that I’ll be payin’ you back for this. In the very near future,” Tag grumbled.
“Oh, we know,” Luke said. “Lighten up a bit.”
“Someone wanna tell me what Luke’s drinkin’? Since when did he volunteer to strip for women?”
“You only live once,” Luke assured him.
Tag simply stared at the other man’s back as he retreated, heading toward the stage.
“Trent, you’re up,” Cole announced.
“I thought Xander was goin’ first,” Tag asked, confused.
“He is, but we’ll let the actor get up there and set it up.”
Great.
Just fucking great.
Tag peered around the curtain, scanning the room to see the women who’d be watching them. McKenna had a front-row seat, and the others were spread out around her. The tables had been left where they were stored, and only chairs sat in front of the stage, likely to give them more room to dance.
Right.
Like Tag knew how to fucking dance.
“You’re not nervous, are you?” Kane questioned, coming to stand beside him.
“You’re not?” Tag retorted.
“Like Luke said, you only live once.”
Right. You only live once.
And then you die of humiliation.
***
McKenna was unable to hide her excitement. For the last hour, she’d shared a couple of drinks with her friends, laughed at their stories, and ultimately anticipated what the night would bring, still a little shocked.
The boys were going to strip.
Even the thought made her giggle as she sat at the front of the group, her chair in the center, facing the stage. The black curtains were backlit with red lighting, giving the entire area a sexy, seductive feel
.
“You ready for this?” Mercedes called out from behind her.
“Absolutely,” McKenna confirmed. She was more than ready.
Her attention was drawn to the side of the stage as Trent Ramsey, the incredibly handsome and equally famous actor came waltzing out with a huge grin plastered on his face.
“Ladies,” he greeted.
A round of catcalls sounded from behind her, and McKenna laughed.
“Are y’all ready for this?”
More yelling and cheers made McKenna’s grin spread across her face. A tingle of anticipation started in her belly and worked its way throughout her body.
“Remember, no touching,” Trent said with a smirk.
Right. Like they weren’t going to touch.
He disappeared as fast as he’d come. There was movement behind the black curtain, but it was evident there were bodies lining up. Big bodies.
Unable to help herself, McKenna clapped with the others.
The lights went off, pitching the entire room into complete darkness. Although McKenna was close to the stage, she couldn’t see anything.
And then it started.
“Pony” by Ginuwine started playing, causing her belly to tighten with anticipation, and the red lights near the curtains began flashing, matching the familiar beat.
“Take it all off!” Sam yelled, making the rest of them laugh.
Xander appeared, all six and a half feet of him. He was wearing white sweatpants and a black hoodie, along with a ball cap. That’s when McKenna realized they were mimicking the scene from Magic Mike—one of her favorites.
“Woohoo!” Mercedes yelled when her man moved forward, his dance moves surprisingly good. He managed to keep the beat, but then McKenna’s eyes were drawn to the others—all nine of them—as they moved onto the stage, their moves fairly choreographed.
Well, all except for Tag, who looked as though he might turn tail and run, which made McKenna smile. She was so proud of him. She knew this wasn’t easy, but there he was, giving it his all.
The excitement level rose. A deafening roar erupted in the room as the women around her went a little crazy.
