Tamed By You (Always & Forever #2)

9. Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Harry

It's been ten months since I've seen her and she's just as hot as ever in her figure-hugging gold dress.

Screams come from the girl’s table, as Jack makes his way over to a visibly drunk Ria who falls into his arms, and they start making out.

“Did you know they would be here?” Brad asks, eyeing me curiously.

“No, I didn't, but may as well make the best of it hey.” Lies. I knew they’d be here. Jack said the girls were heading to Omnia after dinner, so I made a few calls and secured us a VIP booth. I gesture for the guys to follow me over to where Jack stands at the side of the booth. The girls all greet us except Ali, who is sitting sipping on her champagne and only acknowledges Jack and Brad.

I lean over her, nipping her ear with my teeth. “Hey, Ali Cat… miss me?”

She bats me away, standing and whipping her blonde hair in my face.

“What are you doing here?” she shouts and I’m not sure if it’s because of the loud music or that she’s angry.

“Celebrating. What are you doing here?” I ask her before sipping my cocktail, sensing I’ve got under her skin already judging by the deep scowl she’s giving me. Ali is without a doubt one of the most stunning women I’ve ever known or been with. But fiery, pissed off Ali, holy shit, is something else.

“Of all the hotels, of all the clubs, you picked this one.” She folds her arms across her chest, pressing her gorgeous tits together; tits I’ve yet to see. My eyes rake over her chest and back up to her eyes.

“Weird, isn't it? Maybe fate has brought us back together.” I grin.

She scoffs, rolling her eyes again.

I turn my attention to my friends standing nearby. “Brett, Mason, meet Alice. These are our buddies from the Marine Corps,” I say, gesturing to the guys.

She gives a half smile, reaching out her hand to shake theirs. “Any friend of Harry’s will unlikely become a friend of mine, but good to meet you both.”

Brett laughs. “We've heard a lot about you. You weren't kidding about her. She’s a firecracker,” he says to me, while eyeing her up and down.

Back off, fucker.

“Aww, you’ve been telling people about me, H?” Her tone is laced with sarcasm, but hell, if my dick didn’t just twitch when she called me H.

“More of a warning, really.”

Her face drops, looking at me deadpan. “I see England didn't change you. Such a shame.”

“Come on now, you wouldn't want me any other way, would you, my little pocket rocket?” I slip my arm around her neck and pull her into a headlock. Kissing the top of her head, she shrugs me off before smoothing out her hair.

“Let’s just keep things civil, okay, for them.” She points at Jack and Ria, who are lost in each other.

She steps closer, her mouth brushing the shell of my ear. Lowering her voice, she says, “And don’t call me your pocket rocket. I’m nothing to you. You stay out of my way, and I’ll stay out of yours.”

I grind my teeth at her words. Oh, she wants to play dirty already? Okay, fine . I go to say something when Kate interrupts us, and we abruptly move apart.

“You guys showed up at the perfect time. It's time for dare cards,” she declares, waving a pack of bright pink cards in front of her face, blowing her short platinum blonde hair.

“Now, me and Harley have just agreed if we have to take a shot off anyone, we won't be doing it off either of you.” She gestures between me and Brad.

“Jack is an obvious no go too,” Kate adds.

“We thought it would be weird if we licked our bosses,” Harley slurs, giggling.

“Wouldn't it be the first time someone licked their boss? Hey Ri,” I shout, giving her a wink. She blushes and buries her face into Jack’s chest as everyone laughs, obviously remembering how the two of them got together and it all started with a body shot of tequila.

“I'll go first,” Gabby yells, waving her arm in the air. She's usually the quiet one of the group, but it's clear she's been knocking a few back and good for her.

She pulls a card and reads it aloud. “You and one other bridesmaid need to collect as many items as possible of men’s clothing in one minute. The loser has to do a shot of the winners choosing.”

“Aaaah, yesss, Ali, you’re helping,” Gabby calls. Ali steps forward. “Okay, okay, prepare to lose, baby girl.” She laughs and squares up to Gabby.

“Bring it.” Gabby claps back.

Ria has stepped up on the table and begins to count the girls down. “Okay, get ready, three, two, one, go!”

Gabby’s fast. She’s over to Mason and Brett and they are shrugging jackets and shirts off at lightning speed. Ali raced to two guys standing nearby and red, hot jealousy pulses through me watching them unbutton their shirts and hand them to her.

I’m impressed she’s managed to be so quick in those high heels. My eyes rake over her body, the way her sparkly dress clings to her curves, curves I’d very much like to explore again. Her long-toned legs flex as she strides like a Victoria’s Secret model over to us at double speed. “Jack, quick, give me your socks,” she breathlessly demands.

“My socks?” he asks, looking at her like she’s just asked him the dumbest thing.

“Yeah, your socks, I’m not gonna let you take your clothes off so all these women can ogle at my best friend’s fiancé, so socks off.” She whips her head to Brad and points, “You too, prison break, pants off,” she says, snapping her fingers

“Prison break?” He eyes her curiously.

“I mean, look at you. You look like you’ve escaped death row with all those tattoos, but holy hell, do you pull it off,” she says stroking his bicep suggestively.

“As it’s you.” His deep voice booms over the music as he gives her a wink and that pang of jealousy hits again. I know they are friends and nothing more but try telling my thumping heart that.

“And what about me, Ali Cat? What do you need from me?” I ask, feeling a little left out here. She looks me up and down, and then her eyes meet mine.

“For you to immigrate.”

“Ooof, she really does hate you, doesn’t she?” A shirtless Brett joins the group, patting me on the back.

She starts snapping her fingers again. “Come on, aren’t you both trained to be quick? A sense of urgency wouldn’t go amiss here. Get your clothes off,” she shouts.

Brad kicks off his shoes, and yanks down his pants so he can hand them to Ali. She stands wide-eyed.

“Don’t,” he grumbles, placing his hand over his cock. We all stare at his hot pink boxer briefs covered in bananas.

“Wouldn’t dream of commenting on the banana briefs.” She lifts the clothes she’s holding to her face and snorts a laugh.

“Funnily enough, I didn’t expect to be stood pantless in a Vegas club, Ali, when I got dressed today.”

“Or expecting to get laid?” I stood open mouthed. “The fuck did you think buying them?”

“I didn’t. They were a joke gift from my sister,” he mumbles, shifting from side to side, still covering his junk with his hands.

“That doesn’t make it any better, my man,” I say, shaking my head.

“Here,” Jack pants, flinging his socks at Ali. She catches them and glances down at his feet.

“Ermm, we’ll discuss the blue nail polish later,” she says before running back to the girls with a handful of clothing.

“Bro, what’s with the toes,” Brad says.

“What’s with the bananas,” he bites back.

“Why am I friends with you people?” I mumble, pinching the bridge of my nose.

“… and the winner is Gabby,” Ria cheers. We turn our heads to the girls, hollering and cheering and watch as a disgruntled Ali takes a shot of a clear liquid and winces.

“Ali, your turn.” Kate fans the cards out and Ali pulls one from the middle, reading her card and smirking.

“ Give a guy a hurricane shot ”

Oh shit, the girls in our bars in Miami give those out.

“So, which one of you lucky guys are going to let me spit in your mouth throw a drink and slap you across the face,” she says, smiling sweetly, fanning her face with the card.

“I’m willing,” Brett says, stepping forward. Suddenly the idea of Ali getting that close to him makes me want to do something irrational, like break Brett’s pretty face. Before I realize what, I'm doing, I’m stepping in front of him.

“I’ll do it,” I volunteer.

“You are willingly going to let me slap you across the face.”

I nod, regret creeping in, but fuck watching her swap spit with Brett.

Kate orders the drinks and I settle on the couch in the girls' booth.

Everyone settles around us, Ria in Jack’s lap and Harley getting cozy with Mason.

“You ready, H?” Ali shouts, giving me a challenging stare.

“Sure am Ali Cat. Make that slap count.”

I smooth my hands over my thighs, nerves hitting me, and I clear my throat.

Don't be such a pussy, it’s a little slap. You've had worse.

She steps forward, towering over me. Kate stands to the side of her with the drinks on the tray. She reaches for the clear shot. Vodka I assume as it’s her favorite drink. lifting it in the air, giving me a little nod. She brings the shot to her lips, letting the liquid pool in her mouth and holding it there before she leans down, placing her soft hands on either side of my face, holding me firmly in place.

I open my mouth, my hands instinctively drifting up her smooth thighs, landing on her hips. Her breathing hitches loud enough that only I can hear. Our eyes lock for a moment, my heart thumping in anticipation. She brings her mouth close to mine, our lips almost touching. Her blonde waves fall forward, tickling my cheeks. She opens her mouth and lets the cold liquid flow from hers into mine and I close my eyes as it burns the back of my throat.

It feels like time stands still, the music fades and all I can feel is her hands on my face and her sweet coconut scent swirling around me.

I am abruptly shaken from my haze when a cold liquid splashes me in the face, followed by a stinging slap to my cheek so intense that it makes my teeth rattle. My eyes spring open, focusing on the pretty blonde standing between my open legs, holding an empty cup and grinning from ear to ear.

I wipe cold liquid dripping down my face and run a hand through my now wet hair, my cheek burning from the assault.

“What the fuck was that?” I hiss through gritted teeth. Jeez, that hurt.

“Hurricane Ali,” she says, blowing me a kiss and walking off, cackling like a witch.

I rise to my feet, grabbing a napkin from the table and wiping my face as everyone disperses away from the booth.

Fuck, this woman is the devil.

“Man… that was hot as fuck. She can give a good slap. Wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of her,” Brett says, squeezing my shoulder, before he walks over towards the girls.

“Do you want some ice on that?” Brad smiles, pointing to my now throbbing cheek.

“Yeah, maybe. Did she have to go that hard?” I groan, looking over and glaring at her as she chats away to the gang at the opposite end of the girls’ booth.

“I think that was a year’s worth of pent-up frustration.”

“Yeah, well, payback’s gonna be a bitch.”

I stride over to Kate. “I want in on the dares,” I demand.

“You do?” Her eyebrows rise in surprise.

“Yeah, only seems fair that we join in with the fun.”

Ali glares at me, and I give her a sarcastic smile.

Kate shuffles the cards, fanning them out in front of me. I choose one from the middle and pull it free to read aloud.

“Give someone a lap dance.”

Harley shoots her arm in the air. “I volunteer.”

“Harley, girl, play it cool,” Gabby giggles.

“Really?” Kate eyes her.

Haley shrugs. “When in Vegas.”

I glance between Harley and then Ali who is standing just to the side of me. I walk towards Harley, and she freezes.

“Oh god, Harry no I…”

I lean into her, cupping the back of her head. “Ssshhh, I know. Just go with it for a second.”

She gulps and nods silently. I walk her backward until her heels hits the couch and I lower her down to sit. Everyone except Ali is cheering and hollering, and Harley covers her face with her hands, her cheeks already noticeably red.

I glance at Ali, and if looks could kill, the one she’s giving me right now would be the one to end me. Her eyes narrow, jaw ticking.

Moving my mouth close to her ear I say, “Just stay still. I’m not going to touch you, okay?”

“Uh huh.” Her reply is barely audible.

I straddle her and the cheers and hollering get louder.

“Go on, Haz!” Brett chants as I start to undo the top three buttons of my shirt, slowly rotating my hips. Harley’s eyes bug out of her head, and I let out a little chuckle. A flash of blonde hair speeds past me and I've achieved what I wanted.

I lean down to Harley. “You’re free to go.”

I get up, turn on my heel, and prowl to Ali as she walks away toward the bar. Grabbing her arm, spinning her to face me, I slide one arm around her waist and the other under her thigh, hoisting her up.

“Harry,” she screams.

She fits in my arms so perfectly, and heat floods my body when she grips the back of my neck for support. I almost consider carrying her out of here and up to my suite. But I think better of it because no one knows about us.

I head back to the booth, our friends cheering even louder now. I place her down on the leather couch in the booth, then straddling her lap, leaning in, my teeth nipping her earlobe.

“Jealous, are we, Ali Cat?”