“No, I better start with water.” The effects of the shot I’d done at the last bar still hadn’t worn off. I wasn’t sure how much more alcohol I could take.
“Really?” She gave me a disapproving look. “You said you wanted an adventure. Look around.” She motioned out at the dance floor. “There are tons of guys here. All you need to do is pick one and bam, you’ll have sex tonight.”
“I didn’t say I wanted to have sex.” Although I had seen a few prospects I wouldn’t mind kissing this evening. “I just wanted to have some fun and I have.”
“When was the last time you had sex?”
“What? I don’t know.” That was a total lie. It had been eight months and three days. “Derrick, maybe?”
“You broke up with him last year.”
“Eight months ago.” And three days. “So?”
“What have you been doing for eight months?”
“Studying?” I shrugged. “The time got away from me.”
“We’re going to end your abstinence streak tonight.” She glanced around the club. “I’ll find someone for you.”
“That’s not necessary.”
I’d never picked up a guy before. Derrick and I had dated since my freshman year of college. He was the only one I’d ever been with. We didn’t end badly. Just grew apart. After him, I decided it was easier to be single. I wasn’t very good in social settings.
“Come on, you need to live a little.”
Having sex with a random guy made me squeamish. The thought of getting naked in front of someone I didn’t know, well, maybe that was why I was single.
“Do you know those guys over there?” She nodded toward the spiral staircase in the corner, but it was dark and hard to make out their faces. They were sharply dressed, tall and fit, and looked like they belonged here. Bouncers maybe? “They’ve been staring since we got here. There’s two of them so I’ll let you call dibs.”
“Dibs?”
“Which one do you want?” Monica nudged me in their direction. “You can’t have both.” She laughed. “That’s more my speed.”
When I stepped in front of her I realized I did know them. “Avery and James Giles.” I smiled because I hadn’t seen them in a few years. James and I had gone to school back in Connecticut. We grew up together. Avery was older than me. He’d already left for college by the time I got to middle school. He’d come home occasionally, and I’d always thought he was handsome, refined. Not at all like the boys I hung around with. Avery was a man. One I’d thought about a few times in high school but knew I’d never have a chance with him.
“The owners of Posh?” Monica asked. “Oh my God, that is them. How the hell do you know them?”
“They own this club?” I thought for a moment, recalling my mother saying they had moved to the city a while ago. She told me I should get in touch with them but New York was a big place and I wasn’t exactly the most outgoing person around.
“Yeah, don’t you read the city news? Avery Giles is one of the most successful club owners in Manhattan. This club is a gold mine. Two local channels just did a feature on him this month.”
“I went to school with James. They lived on my street.”
“So is that who you want? I’m up for either sexy, rich brother.”
“What? No.”
“Then you want Avery because he’s really the one who can’t take his eyes off you.”
“He can’t?” I tried not to stare as I gazed in his direction. He’d matured rather nicely. I looked back at Monica so it wasn’t obvious we were gawking at the men. “He is really sexy.” I giggled. “I like his panty-dropping beard.” It wasn’t a full beard, but just enough to cover his jaw. I wondered if his sparkling blue eyes would still make me shiver with excitement like they had when I was seventeen. He had the most attractive smile too.
“You do want to have sex!” She yelled. “I knew it.”
“Shh!” I glanced back in the brothers’ direction.
“Let’s go say hello.” Monica tugged at my arm. “You need to introduce me.”
“What if they don’t remember me?” I tried to dig my heels into the floor, but she wouldn’t relent.
“Then you need to remind them.” She kept yanking me. “You’re our ticket to the two most sought out bachelors in the city. I won’t let you screw this up. This was totally meant to be.”
“Okay.” I stopped until she released me. “I’ll go over, but don’t expect much. At least not from me. If you’re into James that’s great but Avery is older and probably doesn’t even know who I am.”
“Whatever.” She took my hand and guided me over to them. “He looks like he wants to devour you. Trust me, that’s a good thing.”
When I stared into his intense gaze everything in the room stopped. I wouldn’t mind letting him devour me.
Chapter Two
Avery
Glancing around the club, I realized we were in for a crazy night. It was spring and everyone seemed to be coming out of hibernation. People were tired of the long, snowy winter we’d survived. Three area universities had held graduations this week. We were coming up on wedding season. Lots of bachelorettes running around the floor with tiaras on their heads. Posh was forecasted to have its most successful year in the history of the club thanks to some recent media coverage and several celebrities who had stopped in. Social media had helped spread the word on the place and I was reaping the benefits.
“It’s packed in here,” James said as he joined me. “I just checked the door. The sales are impressive. I pulled the money. We’re way ahead of where we were last week at this time.”
“Nice.” I nodded. “We’re going to fill to capacity.”
“Lots of opportunity in here for you.” James pointed to the bar. “Did you see that group that just came in? I talked to one of them on her way to the dance floor. They just graduated from NYU.”
“That might be a little young for me.” I wished James would just drop this subject. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with a woman or all the bullshit that came with that.
“Hey, that’s Faith Mitchell over there.” He motioned toward two stylish women standing in the crowded bar area. “Remember her?”
“The one you grew up with?”
I studied the women, immediately recognizing my brother’s quiet, unique friend. She was shy, understated. I remembered a group of them had come to our parents’ house on the way to the prom. We talked for a few moments before they left and I thought she was refreshing. Not at all like the teenagers I’d remembered hanging with. I wanted to tell her she was gorgeous. Had she been a little older I might have.
“I haven’t seen her in a couple years. She’s, well, wow, she’s something now, isn’t she.” James stared at Faith and I wondered if he was interested in her. “Let’s put her and her friends in the VIP lounge tonight, okay?”
“Sure.” It didn’t take my brother long to go after what he wanted. I admired his confidence. I used to be him. “You should go say hello to her.”
“We don’t have to.” James grinned. “They’re going to come right to us.”
The women headed in our direction. Once Faith stepped away from the crowd I realized just how stunning she had become. I recalled a beautiful teenager, smiling and polite, but this creature in front of me could stop traffic. She’d already caught the attention of some of the men in the club. I didn’t like the way they gawked at her.
“Yeah, let’s get her in the lounge.” I could keep a better eye on her and knew most of the people in the VIP area. She’d be safe there.
“Her?” James laughed. “What if I was going to make a move on Faith?”
“Pick someone else,” I snapped. “She’s not your type.”
“You’re going to go after the proverbial girl next door to fuck on your first night of freedom? Cool.”
“Stop that.”
“I’m not judging. She’s a good choice.”
“I’m not going to...” I lost my thought proc
ess when Faith and her friend joined my brother and I. “Hi.” I smiled at them, paying particular attention to Faith, wondering if she even remembered me.
“I wasn’t sure you would know who I was.” A pleasant blush colored her cheeks. There was that shy girl I remembered.
Even if I hadn’t remembered her it wouldn’t have mattered. She had my undivided attention now.
“Of course we do.” James pulled her into a hug. “How have you been?”
“Good.” She let go of him. “My mom told me you guys were in the city. This club is amazing.”
“Thank you.” I leaned in and kissed her soft cheek. “It’s nice to see you.” I lingered by her ear a moment before whispering, “It’s been too long.”
She smiled. “I was thinking the same thing.”
“What brings you to Posh?” James asked.
“We’re celebrating our graduation.” Her friend offered her hand to James. “I’m Monica Snyder, Faith’s roommate and friend.”
“Congratulations.” James shook her hand. “Graduation is a huge accomplishment. That deserves access to the VIP lounge.”
“Oh.” Faith shook her head. “You don’t have to do that. I just wanted to come over and say hi. We don’t need any special treatment.”
Not many people turned down the VIP lounge. She was still as polite as I recalled. Very different from the women who usually buzzed around me every night. Someone always wanted something from me.
“We’d love to.” Monica smacked Faith’s arm. “That would be so cool.”
“It’s no problem,” I assured her. “It’s not as loud in there and it’s much easier to get a drink. It’ll be a better experience for you on such a crowded night.”
“I’ll set it up,” James said.
“We came with a few others,” Monica said. “Is that okay?”
“Oh God.” Faith closed her eyes but I saw the embarrassment in her expression. It was kind of cute.
“What?” Monica placed her hand on her hip. “We can’t go without them.”
“Of course you can’t.” I looked at James. “Get wristbands for everyone in their group.”
“Sweet.” Monica laughed. “VIP at Posh.”
“Want to come with me?” James took her hand. “We can find your friends and I’ll hook you up in the lounge.”
“Can we dance?” she asked.
“I’m working.” James grinned. “But maybe I’ll make an exception.”
“Should I come too?” Faith seemed uncomfortable almost like she wasn’t sure she fit in with her outspoken friend.
“Nah.” James glanced at me. “Keep Avery company. We’ll catch up later.” He kissed her cheek and then winked at me. “See you soon.”
Subtle, asshole.
They made their way across the packed dance floor, stopping to enjoy the music. My brother had no shame. Again I had to admire his carefree spirit. I’d lost mine a long time ago.
“This is a hot club.” When Faith tossed her long, dark curls over her shoulder I caught a warm vanilla scent. My fingers twitched to run through her luscious locks.
“Is this your first time here?” I leaned against the railing of the stairs that led to my office. I knew the answer but I wanted to make conversation.
“Yeah, I don’t get out much.” She inched closer to me. “I’ve been focusing on school.”
“NYU?”
“How did you know that?”
“James spoke to one of the women you came in with. She told him.”
“Oh.”
She moved to rest against the wall. The floor got more crowded by the minute and the spaces between people were closing. I’d have to have the front door cut off access soon but for now I liked being close to her.
“What’s your degree in?”
“Fashion design.”
“That’s interesting.” I looked her over. “It explains that trendy dress and expensive shoes.”
Thanks to my ex I knew fashion. I also knew where Faith came from. While her parents lived a comfortable life I doubted they could keep her at NYU and supply the cash for the clothes she wore tonight.
“I intern for a prominent fashion house.”
“Do they let you borrow the clothes?”
“One of the perks.” She laughed. “I don’t know whether to be impressed you knew I borrowed the dress or offended that you didn’t think it was mine.”
“I’ve been in the city a long time. I’ve also traveled aboard. That dress and those shoes are the real deal. They suit you.”
“This is the first time I’ve ever taken them up on the offer to borrow something.”
“You made a good choice.”
The silver dress sat high on her thighs leaving little to my imagination. Although I wouldn’t mind a peek at what was underneath. The shoes made her even with me and for a brief moment I wondered if she would keep them on when we...
“Thank you.” She gazed around the club. “I don’t usually dress like this but I didn’t want to stand out in a place like this so I went with what I thought everyone else would be wearing.”
“You didn’t succeed.” I focused on her plump, glossy pink lips, imagining what they’d taste like. Sweet like candy.
“Huh?” She dropped her gaze to my lips, slowly licking her own as she waited for my response.
Fuck, she’s sexy. She doesn’t have any idea just how attractive she is.
“I just meant that you do stand out.” More than you know. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone as riveting as you, and I see hundreds of women a week come through these doors.”
“You’re quite flattering.” Her giggle came off as a cheery melody to my ears. When was the last time I’d made a woman laugh? Not the phony laugh they often did in my presence when they realized I was rich. Her smile was genuine. “I bet you do see lots of women every night.”
“Occupational hazard.”
“You’ve done really well for yourself.” Her hand rested on her thigh. “I’m proud to see two neighborhood guys so successful. I can’t wait to tell my mom I ran into you.”
“Thank you.” I inched closer to her because it was getting harder to hear her over the music and different conversations. Maybe I should invite her up to my office so we could reconnect. Get to know one another now that she was an adult. When she took in a quick breath, her perky breasts lifted from her dress. Bad idea. If I took her upstairs I’d be all over her.
“Do you live in the city?” she asked.
“Yeah, not far from Central Park.” I set my hand on the wall next to her face, leaning close to her lips. “It’s hard to hear you in here.”
“It is kind of loud.” Her breathing picked up. “Is it always this crowded?”
“Lately.” I tilted my head, fighting the urge to kiss her. “We’ve had recent attention with the media and some celebrities.”
“That’s good for business.”
“Very.”
I couldn’t remember the last time I was this attracted to anyone. Being with her brought me back to my clubbing days. When I’d grab a girl from the bar, dance all night and kiss her slowly to the music. How many years ago was that?
“Are you planning to stay in the city now that school is done?”
She nodded.
That had potential.
“Maybe we can meet up sometime.” She looked at me with wide, innocent eyes. “I don’t work far from the park if you wanted to have lunch or something.”
“Are you asking me on a date?” I smirked. “That’s kind of cute.”
“No, I just...” She tossed her hair behind her shoulder, looking anywhere but into my eyes. “Never mind.”
“I was just teasing you.” I gave into temptation and twirled my finger around her hair. “I’d love to have lunch with you.”
“You would?”
“I’d like to get to know the woman you’ve become.” So much for my earlier idea of swearing off women. “You’re very intriguing.”
“Am
I?” Her words came out on a slow breath and I could ignore the call of her lips any longer.
Just as I was about to kiss her, James tapped me on the shoulder.
“Hey, sorry to interrupt but you need to cut off the door,” he said. “The fire marshal would freak with the amount of people in this place.”
We Love Kink - Erotic Romance Anthology #1 Page 13
