Motorhead

by Landish, Lauren

  I shift again in my cushioned seat, messing with the cufflink of my shirt. I can’t deny the excitement in Nathan’s words, but I know you can do all the right things and still have a business fail. So I’m not getting my hopes up too much yet .

  The nightclub was his idea, developed right about the time the rumors started about Graham Holdings, the company I work for, buying out Franklin Consolidated. I’d been reluctant to invest at first. But when Nathan laid out the numbers, I was sold. “I’ll believe it when I see it,” I say .

  “Damn, man, can you be any more excited?” Nathan says, peering at me with a scowl. “This is a big day for us .”

  It’s not that I’m not excited, and I usually consider myself calm and collected under pressure, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t sweating bullets. We poured a lot of money in this thing. In fact, I poured everything I’ve saved into this .

  I need this to succeed .

  Especially when I have Sophie depending on me to take care of her, I think to myself. Sophie’s my sixteen-year-old sister who was orphaned six years ago when our parents were taken in a car accident .

  She wanted to come with me tonight. Of course, she knew she couldn’t since she’s underage. “You can let me in. I don’t even need a fake ID,” she’d said, bouncing up and down and trying to look her cutest. Maybe that works when she wants me to let her buy a new skirt on my credit card, but this isn’t the same thing .

  Still, it makes me smile. I’d done the same shit when I was younger, but I’m not going to let her break off into bad habits .

  “See it?” Nathan asks as I’m still silent in my thoughts, his Bronx accent coming on full as he pulls my mind back to the limo. “The fuck? It’s all right in front of you. We got the whole fucking world at our feet .”

  Nathan's lucky that he works independently because he curses like a sailor .

  I adjust my collar, rolling my neck. I’m not in a full-on tux, but I’m in a designer suit that I bought just for the club. It’s a slightly brighter blue than I’d wear for my day job with a pristine white dress shirt and metallic red tie. Nathan insisted I wear something that ‘pops’. “I was just saying there’s a still lot of work to do, that’s all .”

  It’s easy for Nathan to feel more nonchalant about the whole project. He’s a stockbroker who’s gotten rich with other people’s money, whereas I’ve had to work for mine. My grandfather lent me a name and a legacy that got me into a good school, but Mom’s love of Dad meant a middle-class life. Climbing the corporate ladder has been grueling. I’ve busted my ass and more than once pulled eighteen-hour days to make sure that I’m in a place of power. I’m going to be the Regional President for the Franklin Consolidated subsidiary, and I plan to do great things with the role .

  Still, I’ve got responsibilities, Sophie being the chief one. The five million I sank into this club could set her up for life. Could being the operative word. “We have a long way to go,” I say .

  “And I have every confidence we’ll make back every red cent,” Nathan says. “You do too. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have signed on .”

  It's hard to argue. I knew this was a risk, but I don’t mind that. I’ve always been guided by my instincts, and when something looks good, I go for it .

  I shrug. “You’re right. It’s just a helluva few days—our grand opening and this merger. I start in my new position on Monday .”

  “Oh, what’s up with that ?”

  “I’m being sent to kick a little ass for an underperforming unit.” To say it’s been underperforming is a mild way of putting it. “I’ve been told to cut the fat or burn the place down if I have to. I’m not looking forward to being ‘that’ guy. I know some of the in-house employees are going to hate me .”

  “Oh, well. Fuck ‘em is what I’d say,” Nathan says. “You do you .”

  “Too bad I love my job,” I say. “They might hate me for a little while because I’m new, but trust me, they’re gonna respect me by next quarter. Those who are left .”

  “If you say so,” Nathan says. “Glad I don’t have to do that shit. Making money with other people's money is my specialty. I don’t have to work on someone’s job. Which is why you should be jumping for this club to succeed. If it goes right, you can retire off all the Benjamins we bank .”

  I chuckle. “That’s the plan,” I say, not wanting to tell him what I’m thinking. Truth is, I don’t think I’ll be satisfied even if this does turn into a huge income generating machine. I can’t imagine just retiring right now. I work too much to even imagine what that would be like .

  “Speaking of which,” Nathan says as the limo rolls up to the sidewalk of the club. There’s a good amount of press, and even a few of the VIPs are gathered outside the club. I’m as impressed by it during the day as I know it’s going to look once the sun goes down. It was one of the things I insisted on, that our club looked as classy during the day as it will at night .

  The crowd applauds as I get out. I shake hands with our local boxing champ and pose with him for a few publicity shots on the red carpet as the crowd builds. Cameras flash, and as the sun touches the horizon behind the club, it’s a certified throng .

  Nathan and I both adjust our suits, and I wave as we mount the platform in front of the fountain. Nathan pauses, giving me a wink. “It’s show time !”

  I know we look strange. I tower over Nathan at six foot three while he’s a modest five foot six. The cameras are flashing in our faces as soon as we’re ready, press calling our names and people in the crowd already chanting for the club .

  Our staff strings the big red ribbon across the stairs leading up to the entrance, and I swear that I feel like I’m at a Hollywood premier. When Nathan brings over the special scissors that we’re supposed to use for the ceremony, really just painted up hedge clippers, the camera flashes are nearly blinding. I lift my hand, taking the wireless mic from Nathan .

  “Thank you all for coming,” I start. “I’m not going to say that we’re as important as opening a new wing at the university hospital. But I’m proud of the work our team has done, and I’m looking forward to enjoying a few hours relaxing here. Thank you again .”

  There’s polite applause, and I take one arm of the clippers while Nathan takes the other .

  A cheer goes up from the crowd as Nathan and I slice through the ribbon, and the two of us lead the VIPs up the stairs and through the doors. It’s been awhile since I’ve been here. I’ve been so busy setting up my place here in town and getting things settled with my transition to Franklin Consolidated. But seeing it like this, I have to give it to the architects. The place is a dream, with the perfect blend of classic touches that I like along with cutting-edge lighting and styling. It’s going to be a unique club for a very long time .

  I check out the bar and the stage, then head to the VIP section overlooking the club just as the doormen start letting in the regular customers .

  “This club is amazing,” one of the first women through the doors says to Nathan as she comes up to where we are. She’s going around and checking everything out I guess .

  By the look in Nathan’s eyes, I don’t think he’d be opposed to taking her home tonight. “Thank you. My partner here helped, of course. But all the heavy lifting was on me,” he says to her .

  I smirk. Nathan’s going to take the credit, huh? “Well, I let you do the heavy lifting since you’re closer to the floor. Less distance to move .”

  The girl chuckles, but Nathan’s undeterred. “You know what they say, big things come in small packages. And you’re right, having three legs to stand on helps .”

  I have to chuckle. Nathan is an outrageous flirt, and it works. The girl’s eyes flicker down to his crotch before she smiles. Nathan pats the seat on the couch next to him, and she sits down, making me shake my head. He’s going to have a fun night .

  “Champagne, sir,” the waitress says, handing me a glass. She’s wearing a form-fitting blouse, a damn near painted-on skirt, and is even som
e wearing some thick-rimmed glasses, totally playing up the naughty professional vibe of the night. But she’s as professional as can be, just like we instructed all of our employees .

  It was one of the things I insisted on. While I know Nathan would love to sample what some of the girls could offer him, I won’t allow it on my watch. I want to set an example for Sophie, and that means showing her that I can treat my employees with respect. I can be a gentleman. And I want my employees acting with respect too .

  “So how much do you think we’ll clear tonight?” I ask, getting down to business. One of the local celebs comes up, shaking hands. I return the favor, sending over a bottle of Kristal as thanks for coming by .

  “You send more bottles like that? We might break even,” Nathan laughs. “We’re doing just fine, man. I’ll check with the manager before we leave tonight. He’ll get me an estimate. But remember, tonight isn’t about turning profit. It’s about getting rep. We get rep now, and we make bank later .”

  We chat for another forty-five minutes or so, and I’m amazed as the club fills up. There’s no way the folks still outside are getting in for hours unless they’ve got a reservation .

  “Great turnout!” Nathan crows, loving the flow of people still coming through the doors. It’s fun, and best of all, authentic .

  “It is,” I murmur. I have to say even I’m impressed. “It’s a weight off my chest . . .”

  My voice trails off as I see her walk in. She stands out in the crowd of mostly whites and blacks in a fire engine red dress that hugs her body like it was custom made for her. Long brown hair frames her angelic face, and while I’m too far away to see her eyes, her lips are perfect. The way her cheekbones are shaped, she looks like . . . “An Angel .”

  “What?” Nathan asks, but I barely hear him as I watch her breathlessly. She goes over to the bar with a girl who’s obviously her friend or wingman, and a thread of anger courses through my head as I see some guy come up on her. I grip my glass harder as I see him laying on the moves, even though she doesn’t seem too into it .

  Nathan waves his hand in front of my face. “Yo, Jake, are you listening to me ?”

  I blink rapidly, shaking my head as I turn back to him. “Huh ?”

  “I said this place is going to change our lives .”

  “Hold that thought,” I say, my eyes and my mind on one thing only. I toss back the rest of my glass and get to my feet, heading for the stairs. As I leave the VIP area, I’m not thinking about Nathan, or money, or even how well our grand opening is going to turn out tonight. All I can see is the angel in a red dress .

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  Coming Soon!

  W e step into the still darkness, and as the door slowly closes on its pneumatic arm, there’s a breath where I think she’s changed her mind. Hell, maybe I’ve changed my mind. The part of me that puts on a tie Monday through Friday says this could be the worst decision of my life. I mean, I don’t know this woman, she could be carrying everything under the damn sun. But I know that’s not true the moment our eyes meet and I can see the heated need in her big blue eyes .

  She’s like me, someone who’s worked too many hours trying to make their mark in the world. Someone who’s sacrificed hours and hours, sacrificed relationships, maybe even sacrificed a part of ourselves that we didn’t even realize was missing until we woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and wondered what the fuck is going on ?

  No, Rose is pure, and clean… and like me, needs this. So I move closer, slowly so as not to startle her, and lift a hand up to cup her cheek. She turns into my touch, a soft sigh escaping as her lips part. “Nic …”

  “I know,” I whisper as the need to taste her sweet lips overtakes me and I cover her mouth with mine, kissing her softly at first. But the sparks ignite, and quickly, our kisses are passionate, her tongue dipping in to tangle with mine .

  Moaning deep in my chest at the velvety feeling of her mouth against mine, I nibble at her bottom lip, pulling her body flush with mine and wrapping my arms around her waist tightly to hold her to me. Rose lets out a little whimper and tilts her head back, and I take the invitation, kissing down her neck to the line of cleavage pressed upwards by her tight-fitting dress. She even tastes good, her skin lightly spicy and smelling almost like cinnamon as I bury my nose in the dark valley of her cleavage .

  She pulls away from me, sliding along the wall to gain a little separation from me, and I’m disappointed for a moment, thinking she’s stopping this… whatever craziness this is .

  But instead she turns in front of me, giving me her back. “My zipper ?”

  My heart and my cock leap inside me, one pushing only slightly more painfully within its restraints, and with surprisingly steady hands, I reach up and slide the zipper down, exposing more and more of her back with every inch. Her skin is flawless, lightly tanned but still creamy, and as I ease the dress over her shoulders, my fingertips whisper that they’ve found perfection, and no woman could ever compare to what they’re feeling. The interplay of soft skin, healthy toned strength underneath, and an undeniable essence combines to weave a magic spell that captures part of me that’ll never be the same again .

  My cock pulses achingly in my pants, heavy and nearly oozing precum already and we’ve barely started. Desperate for another taste of the angel in front of me, I lean forward to press a soft kiss to her bare shoulder, grinding my cock against her ass a little. “Do you feel that, sweet Rose? That’s what you do to me. And tonight, it’s all yours .”

  She presses back, humming in appreciation as she swirls her hips against me. Her ass presses against my cock with a deep cleft that awakens the desire within me. Could she be truly perfect for me? I reach around, pulling her tighter and she whimpers. “Mmmm… is that what you like ?”

  “Eventually,” I rumble in her ear. “You think you could take me ?”

  “I’d try,” she says in a voice that tells me while she might have fantasies of what I’m talking about… she has no idea what reality’s like. I loosen my grip, letting her spin back around to lower the top of her dress. She smiles, reaching behind her to undo the clasp, dropping her bra away .

  “Perfection,” I rasp as everything but her panties falls to the floor. Her breasts are just the right size for her frame, curving just right and with upturned nipples that beg for me to suck them. With a soft growl, I bend my knees and cup her tits in my hands, burying my head so low my words are almost lost in her chest. “Rose, fuck you’re gorgeous. I want to lick these little pink nipples, suck them deep into my mouth, bite them till they stay hard for me. Tell me you want that, Rose .”

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