Best of 2017

by Alexa Riley

  Clearly annoyed, the man smirked and proceeded to move forward and force a hug. “Isn’t that why you came tonight? To not be alone? To have some fun?”

  “No. And even if I wanted to be with someone, it wouldn’t be you!” I struggled to undo the asshole’s hands that clasped behind my waist. And then, suddenly, the man was yanked off me. It took me a moment to understand what just happened before I realized someone had shoved him out of the way. To my surprise, my rescuer was Axel Rye.

  What the fuck? Was this really happening?

  “Get the hell away from her,” Axel demanded, his eyes dark with fury.

  The man’s face went pale as he looked around to see who was watching. “Just a misunderstanding, dude.” He quickly backed away and disappeared into the crowd without protest.

  Axel turned to face me. I stood there wide-eyed and embarrassed by the commotion the incident had caused. “Are you okay?”

  A few people noticed the scuffle and slowed as they walked by, but the disruption was not enough to call the attention of security. Thank God. The stares made me want to crawl off into a hole. I hated being the center of attention, especially negative attention. The entire night had just been one fuck up after another, and once again, I looked like an immature and stupid girl in front of the coolest man in the room.

  I nodded. “Yes, thank you for being my knight in shining armor.” I attempted to smile and wash away the fear. I was embarrassed to have so much attentiveness shown to me by Axel. I also hoped my boss wouldn’t get wind of this. Off duty or not, I didn’t think he’d be too happy about it. It would just be my luck to be fired in front of Axel to really add to my shame.

  He chuckled. “I’ve never been called that before. More like a knight in fucked up armor.” He took a minute to glance back at his buddies before staring at me. “But you are welcome.”

  An awkward silence sat between us. But everything about me felt pretty damn awkward.

  “I feel bad for getting you involved. You didn’t have to do that. He was just being a little too forward. I could’ve handled it.” I craned my neck, looking for Felicity who had disappeared and missed the whole incident. I was trying my best to play it cool, even though I felt anything but.

  “I’m sure you could’ve. I just don’t like seeing men treat women like that. Women deserve respect. Sometimes in places like this, men can forget that simple fact.”

  I nodded, shrugged, and started toward the restrooms. I needed to get out of there fast before my failed attempt at small talk made me look like even more of an idiot. “I need to find my friend. I really do appreciate your help.”

  Axel followed beside me, walking close. My heart skipped when our hands touched for a mere moment. I tried to refocus my attention on finding Felicity and heading home. The night was long overdue to come to an end.

  “Let me help you find her.”

  I noticed all the people in the VIP section now stared at us, especially Jillian. Axel seemed oblivious to the group. His eyes were fixed on me now. “No, it’s all right. Really. I thank you for helping, but I don’t want to keep you.”

  Axel reached out and softly placed his hand on my arm. The touch sent a shiver through my body. “If you are sure…” He paused and smiled. “I really hope to see you around.”

  I nodded, never looking Axel in the eye for longer than a moment. I worried I would say or do something stupid. “Thanks again for helping back there. I really appreciate it.”

  AXEL

  I COULDN’T HELP but stare at Quinn’s eyes. No way was I letting her slip away. This could be my only shot, and I would kick myself if I let her walk away and then never saw her again. From her appearance and her overall vibe, she didn’t seem like a club goer and this night was different for her and completely out of her norm. It was likely I would never see her again unless I did something about it. I don’t know what it was, but something about this woman made me feel the need to be near her. I grabbed her hand as she turned away from me. It was soft and small, her fingers intertwining with my own. My heart pounded as she turned towards me. I tried focusing on something other than her eyes but found it impossible. She had the power to captivate with one simple look, sobering me with her stare.

  “Would you like to go and hang out tomorrow night? I need to show up at another club called Gaslight, and if you and your friend want to come, I would love to have you come along. It’s an invite-only party, but I’ll add you two to the list.” I was sweating, nerves a foreign sensation for me. Maybe it was the coke, though deep down I knew my anxieties had nothing to do with what I snorted up my nose. “It’s pretty hard-core, though. So I hope that doesn’t bother you.”

  Quinn studied me for a moment, and then her voice cracked as she answered. “I can’t. I’m working.”

  “Where do you work? Until what time?”

  “I work here until eleven.”

  I smiled, loving what I heard. She must be a new hire. “You work here, huh? Well, I guess I’m going to see a lot more of you. I’m at this club a lot. What about after your shift? I don’t usually show up at the other place until midnight, anyway.”

  “Okay, I’m sure Felicity would love it, too.” Quinn broke her hand free from mine. “I really need to go, though. So, I’ll see you tomorrow. Gaslight right?”

  I nodded. “Yes, Gaslight. I will put you and…”

  “Felicity Dexter.”

  “Okay, I will put your names on the list and see you there,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm.

  She nibbled her lip for a brief moment as if she were contemplating saying something, but then she nodded and left.

  I stood staring after her as she walked away. Why did I feel like a love-struck schoolboy? Then it dawned on me. I hadn’t actually asked a girl out in a very long time. I’d always just hooked up with someone at a bar or club since all of them sought my attention. I never had the desire to ask anyone out… until I met Quinn.

  CHAPTER THREE

  DRINK FROM THE FUCKED UP BOTTLE

  QUINN

  I SAT IN THE KITCHEN, watching the phone, willing it to ring. I needed to talk to Harrison in the worst way. I’d already left a few texts and messages for him, and he still hadn’t called me back. I tried to work on the initial outline of my story to keep my mind busy but couldn’t focus long enough to even write a few words. Not to mention I found describing a club next to impossible. All my attempts kept sounding like some paranormal novel in an underground coven. I glanced at the clock as I typed the word “drug” again. Wishing I could come up with a different word, I realized I’d hit my writing wall for the day.

  I jumped when the phone rang, grabbing it as fast as I could. “Hey, Harrison.”

  “It’s good to hear your voice. How was your first day of work last night?”

  “I’ve been dying to talk to you. You’re never gonna guess what happened.”

  “What? You sound really happy.”

  I took a sip of my coffee before speaking. “I met Axel Rye last night. Not in the most glamorous of ways, but I met him.”

  “Axel Rye? The drug dealer?”

  “I think we can say he is more than just a drug dealer, but yes. He wants me to hang out after work with him. He invited me to some exclusive club. I feel like I got the in already!” I continued to explain the details of the night, barely pausing to take a breath. I was more excited than I’d realized. “What if I actually get enough from him for my book? Can you imagine? An instant book deal right?”

  “For sure.” Harrison asked, “You gonna go tonight?”

  “I’m not sure. I know I should for the book, but I’m scared shitless. To be honest, I feel so stupid around him and that entire crowd. They’re completely above me. But I also know if I want to truly get the meat for my book… I guess I have to. But I’m not sure if I’m ready to dive in so quickly.”

  “Are you kidding me, Quinn? Shut up. This is your chance to have some fun out there and make some friends. This is also your chance to get
the information you really need to make your story genuine. Not to mention Felicity will kill you if you say no. Stop living in your white, boring box. Axel Rye invited you, which is something most people would die for. So, you don’t say no just because you are scared.”

  I smiled. Harrison was so good for me. He was forever my built-in cheerleader. He always had a way of making me feel good about myself and gave me the self-confidence I knew I lacked. “You don’t understand. I’ve seen the women he hangs out with. They’re so mysterious and sensual and… urban looking. Their style is their own. I honestly worry I’ll look like a Plain Jane compared to them.”

  I stood up with the phone against my ear, then walked over and stood in front of the mirror. No tattoos, no piercings, nothing original about me. I looked at my less-than-exciting clothes and grimaced. Although I couldn’t picture myself all tattooed and pierced, either.

  “Who cares? Let me tell you something, Quinn. You need to stop thinking so little of yourself. I can guarantee you this group of women would die for your natural beauty. Axel asked you out for a reason. Stop knocking yourself down.”

  “I know. You’re right.” Hearing Harrison’s advice caused me to miss him even more.

  “You need to promise me something,” he said.

  I hesitated. “What?”

  “You’ll have a good time while you’re out there. Don’t limit yourself because you’re scared or lack the confidence. Step out of your introverted self and live a little. And don’t forget to take mental notes. You’ll have your story sooner than you think.”

  “Okay, I’ll try. But you’re asking a lot. PJ bottoms, a glass of cheap chardonnay, and reality TV sounds pretty good right now.”

  “Quinn, I swear. Now, go get yourself ready, don’t just put on black for the sake of it or so you can blend in, and have a good time. Let loose a bit.”

  AXEL

  WE’D JUST LEFT the restaurant, which was our first request by owner for the night, and we were all in good spirits as we rode in the limo to the club. Knox opened a bottle of Jack and began to pour everyone a drink, while Teddy started cutting lines on a mirror.

  I tried not to groan. As much as I was trying to have a good time, I was tired and not really in the mood for partying. I’d never admit it to anyone, but the only reason I went at all tonight was for the possibility of seeing Quinn. She had been on my mind ever since last night. Hell, “consuming my thoughts” would be a better way to describe it.

  The line outside the nightclub always made me feel odd. All these people patiently waited to get inside, when my crew and I would just waltz up to the door and be escorted in the minute we arrived. I knew it was all part of the scene and nightlife, but it made me feel arrogant. I swallowed the lump in the back of my throat, feeling my palms sweat against my whiskey glass. As we parked, everyone took turns snorting their lines and then began to move toward the limo door.

  “Hold on, give me a sec,” I said as I wiped at my nose after taking my line. I downed the whiskey as quickly as I could. I needed some artificial courage to kick in before I faced the night.

  “Just bring the bottle with you,” Teddy said, sniffing hard, and wiping away the residue of the coke beneath his nose. “I’m ready to get my party on.”

  I turned to Knox, who checked his image in the mirror one last time. His eyes were wide as saucers and blood shot, but I knew he didn’t give a fuck less. Hell, I knew I looked the same, and just hoped Quinn didn’t notice or, at the very least, care. I took another long swig of booze to help ease the flips going on inside my stomach. “All right, I’m ready.” It wasn’t the appearance that made me nervous, walking by all the club goers, or the fact that I had enough drugs on me to sell that could lock me up for the rest of my life, but rather who may be inside. The girl stole all my game.

  Teddy reached for the door and put his classic meet-and-greet smile on. “Let’s do this.”

  Knox and I laughed which sounded deep and distorted as the drugs kicked in and numbed my soul. I grabbed what was left of the Jack and followed him into the club.

  QUINN

  “THEY HAVE VIEWING ROOMS HERE,” Felicity informed me as she excitedly pulled me through the crowded club.

  “Viewing rooms? What do you mean?”

  “There are rooms where BDSM sex acts are going on. This will be great for your research! Talk about dark and gritty.”

  My heart skipped. “Wait. You want to go watch people have… sex? What’s BDSM?”

  Felicity continued to tug my resistant weight past dancing bodies. “Exactly! And you’ll soon see.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a little plastic baggie. Inside were tiny little pink pills. “Here, take one of these. It will help you loosen up. You look like you are about to have a panic attack any minute.”

  I shook my head. “No, thanks. I don’t do drugs.”

  “I know.”

  “What is it?”

  “Just take it.”

  She put the pill to my mouth and pressed lightly. I could have turned my head, or resisted. I could have held my ground and refused to take the drug. But deep down, I didn’t want to. I did want to loosen up. And I felt sick to my stomach at the thought of seeing Axel again, so maybe this would help. I didn’t want to make a fool of myself again, and maybe this magic little pink pill could instantly turn me into one of the cool kids. It was worth a shot.

  I opened my mouth and allowed Felicity to place the pill on my tongue. It tasted bitter, so I swallowed it as fast as I could. For a split second, I pictured how Alice in Wonderland drank from the bottle and could relate to the darkness of her tale. God that fairytale was really messed up. I only hoped I wouldn’t be seeing a white rabbit running by me once the drug kicked in.

  “Let’s get a drink, and go watch some scenes get acted out. You’re going to love it,” Felicity said, tugging on my hand. “The bar is crowded. It’s going to take forever to get something.”

  Maybe it took forever to get our drink. I don’t know. Everything seemed like a blur, I was losing sense of time, and I still didn’t see Axel.

  Walking into the viewing room, I could smell the arousal. I could almost taste the sexual need of the raven-haired beauty splayed naked across the makeshift bed. Her ebony curls concealed parts of her breasts, allowing her hard nipples to peek between her cascading hair. Her pale body glistened in the colored club lights that swirled around her as she writhed in want.

  Oh shit, the drugs were kicking in.

  I felt lightheaded, hot, weak. The lights seemed to spread out in long lines. My ears felt as if they were clogged. My heart beat fast.

  Shit. I was on drugs.

  I was going to be like one of those characters in a Lifetime movie and die at a club.

  Shit. I was going to die at a BDSM club and I didn’t even know what that was!

  Shit. Why did it feel like I was speaking my thoughts?

  As if Felicity knew I was on the verge of calling 911 and telling them I was about to overdose, she whispered in my ear, “You’re fine. It’s just kicking in. Give it a minute, and it will even out. Just watch the scene and relax.”

  I nodded, and swallowed hard. A warmth oozed through me slowly, and I didn’t exactly mind how I felt. I felt gooey but I liked it. I decided to do as Felicity instructed and I watched.

  A gradual hush worked through the crowd as the bass music still pounded from the main room. I positioned myself near the exit so I could observe, but flee if it ended up being too intense. I watched in amazement as a man with a scarlet-red scarf around his neck walked into the room. He was obviously the person people wanted to see, the man who would act out the scene.

  He closed his eyes as if taking in the energy, the smell, the passion rushing through the audience’s veins. It was almost as if I knew this man could feel our desire, hear each breath we took, and taste the anticipation of the show to come. His dominance almost took my breath away.

  Or was it the fucking drugs? Shit. I was high.

  His
dark brown hair rested slightly below his ears: his pale skin and ominous appearance gave him an aura that intrigued me. I watched the black jacket he wore sway as his body moved. The tight, black pants clung to his muscled thighs. His button-down white shirt revealed enough of his chest to make me and every audience member’s mouth water in anticipation of glimpsing more. Watching his performance pulled at every sensation in my body. I wanted to run away, close my eyes, or do anything but stand in that room. On the other hand, my curiosity about the taboo won over.

  “Master?” the woman on the bed questioned, her head lifting off the mattress to better view the man.

  “No. I’m here to prepare you for his return,” the man with the red scarf answered softly.

  “I want Master.”

  “You will have him.” The man moved to the bed. “Place your arms above your head,” he commanded.

  The dark-haired girl hesitated for a moment. Any doubt she may have had was overpowered by the seductive energy this man possessed. Her dark eyes twinkled with arousal as she gradually brought her hands over her head, laying her head down again. Her lips parted in desire, beckoning the man for the simplest of touches. She arched her back just enough to thrust out her hardened nipples, pleading for him to take them under his control. The man reached for each of her wrists, wrapped them with the red scarf from around his neck and tied them to the headboard of the bed. He then pulled two additional scarves from his pocket, grabbed each ankle and repeated the step of securing her to the bed.

  “Kiss me,” the woman begged as she gasped.

  I could see the moisture along the soft folds of the woman’s completely denuded pussy. She gyrated her hips in desperate need to be satisfied. I could only imagine how the woman felt. The sexual spell this room had on the spectators was all-powerful. It was an assumption, of course, but I could almost feel the craving, needing, longing, and desire that people felt as everyone watched. I could feel the pulsating between my own legs. Surprised by my feelings, I couldn’t look away. I hungered for more.