Chapter Eight
Ivy
As the door to this fine establishment comes into view, it doesn’t appear to look like much up close, but as you know… Looks can be deceiving.
“Welcome to The Underground.” The buff looking dude with tattoos peeking out from every corner of his shirt says. “My name is Dawg, and I’m sorry to have to do this, but I have to pat you both down before you can enter.” He smiles, stepping up to Cam first.
“Oh, he’s gotta frisk us.” Cam says, a little too eager to have this man's hands on his junk. Spreading his legs at the same time he opens his arms wide, assuming the position.
“Okay, calm down there, tiger.” I mumble, moving out of Dawg’s way.
“You don’t have any kind of weapons on you, do you?” Dawg asks, bending down to start searching Cam.
“No, sir, mister officer.” He is just too damn happy to be frisked. “You know, this has never happened to me before, and I’m just a little excited is all.” Cam says as if Dawg cares.
He surprises me when he says, “Understandable. Happens all the time.” He chuckles, wrapping it up. “You’re clean.”
“You bet your ass I am.” Cam says, putting his arms down. “Now this one,” he nods in my direction, “She can hide weapons in various spots on her person. Women just have it like that.”
Narrowing my eyes, I screech, “Camden!” I’m so mortified, but there’s nothing I can do besides plaster a fake smile on my face while Dawg tries to mask his laughter.
“Nah, a pretty, little thing like her wouldn’t be crazy enough to hide anything on her.” He says, winking at me.
In a very seductive way that would knock your socks off.
If I didn’t have other plans, I’d definitely let him take me home tonight, but I haven’t even gone inside to see what my other options are. Can’t be making rash decisions on who’s getting the cookies tonight.
“Cookies? What cookies?” Dawg asks, a smile on the edge of his lips.
Shit, I said that out loud? “Oh um,” I clear my throat, “I was wondering if there were any cookies inside.” I mumble, avoiding his gaze and failing miserably.
He’s looking at me like he doesn’t believe the filthy lie coming out of my mouth. “Sure, there might be some cookies inside.” He mumbles, doing his best not to violate me while feeling me up. “You’re good to go.”
I utter my, “Thanks,” passing my hand along my skirt, readjusting it.
“Hey,” Dawg calls out to my retreating back, “If you’re not busy later, let’s grab a drink.” He smiles, and it’s nice.
He’s really handsome. “Yeah, for sure.” I mentally cringe at my use of words.
For sure?
Who says that?
Me, I say it.
“Way to go, Ivy. That was almost as smooth as butter.” Cam scoffs, making me feel worse than I already do.
“Nobody asked you, Cam-den.” I enunciate each syllable, putting so much emphasis on his name that I’m sure he can hear the distaste. “Get your bony ass inside.” I say, speeding past him.
“She can be a feisty one.” I hear him say to Dawg before scurrying behind me. “What jumped up your ass?” He asks, catching up to me.
“You! You jumped up my ass, Cam.” Acting like a brat has never been my thing, yet here I am… Hand on my hip, stomping my foot, while giving him a pointed glare. “I’m beyond mortified and instead of you coming to my rescue… You just added more kerosene to the fire.”
He has the nerve to stand there looking like a wounded puppy, with his sad, little puppy dog eyes. “I really didn’t mean to. I thought I was lightening the mood.” I hear the smile in his voice before I see it. “Besides, Dawg over there wants to hook up with you because of it.”
I watch his hips sway as he walks deeper into the club. I follow him, looking around, I take in my surroundings, letting that fiasco with Cam ease away from my mind.
I figured it’d be dark in here with strobe lights flashing across the ceiling and walls, making our eyes cross with their psychedelic colors, but that’s not what’s going on here. The lighting is nice and calm in all the right places. Light rays beam down over the tables as people stuff their faces with food.
Out on the dance floor is where the strobe lights circle around the dancers, pumping up the alcohol already coursing through their veins to get out there and dance the night away. I watch the smiles appear on their faces as they become one with the music.
Spinning around until I face Cam again, I place my hand in his outstretched one, letting him tug me along to the bar. “I feel like some liquid encouragement is in order.”
He pulls a barstool out for me, and I have to watch how I sit because of the slits in my skirt. Once I’m situated, I sneak a glance at my best friend.
Someone looking out, not knowing the story of us would think that we’re an odd couple. Me with my damn near black skin, natural black hair, and blue eyes, alongside him and his fair skin, shimmering red, long hair, and green eyes.
“Why are you looking at me like you want to date me?” His lip curls up toward the ceiling, but it quickly turns into a smirk. “Oh, you do wanna date me. You want to jump in my bed and keep me warm at night.” He’s laughing hysterically while poking me in my side.
“You are so annoying.” That might be true, but him and Travis are the only two that can make me smile without really trying. “I wanna dance, but I need something strong to give me the confidence I need to go out there.”
“Say less, baby girl.” He grins, signaling for the bartender.
“Hey, guys,” the bartender says, “what’ll it be?”
Cam takes the liberty of ordering something for the both of us as I turn around and face the crowd.
The first thing I really notice is that we are seriously over dressed. Either that or this place is a new leather club or hangout that us squares have walked into. The men and women all have on leather.
Leather pants, leather jackets, leather chaps. This place is swimming with so much leather it’s friggin’ unreal.
“Cam, why didn’t you tell me they were all about the leather here?” I watch as confusion shines on his face when he turns around to look at the crowd. “How did we overlook this tiny, little tidbit?”
“Because we don’t belong here and the way we’re dressed shows. Now, quit your whining and drink this.” He says, pushing my drink towards me.
Wrapping my fingers around the cool glass, feeling the condensation drip down my hand reminds me of being on a beach somewhere. Lifting the glass to my lips, I take a sip. “Mmm, this is good.” Not too sweet, but extra strong, just like I need my drinks these days. Before I know it, I'd downed the entire thing in a few gulps.
“Hmm, someone was thirsty.” Cam smirks. “You want another before we go out on the dance floor?” He asks, slowly taking ladylike sips of his drink. Playing around with it is what he’s doing if you ask me.
“Yeah, I’d like another.”
“I knew you would. You’ve been crying yourself to sleep for how many nights now? All because of that worthless piece of shit you had the nerve to call a boyfriend.” He scoffs. “Filthy piece of trash is what he’ll forever be known as in my book. Thanks, sweetie.” He mumbles to the bartender.
“That’s not something I want to get into tonight. Tonight, I just want to forget and have a damn good time while doing it.” I grab the drink, toss it back, loving the cold, burning sensation it creates as it slides down my throat. “I’d love something else sliding down the back of my throat.” I whisper, but not as low as I thought.
“Hells yeah,” Cam chimes in, tossing back his own drink, “let’s go out there and show them what the dynamic duo is all about.” Ahh damn!
The dynamic duo is what we used to call ourselves when it was just us. There was no him without me and vice versa.
Then, along came Travis and we turned into three’s company.
We had some good times together.
We’re still making memories with each other, but it’ll soon be time for me to go, no matter how much they disagree.
I refuse to be the third wheel in their life, watching them tap dance around me and my feelings.
No siree Bob.
So, once this night is over, I’m going to get my shit together.
No more thinking about the events that led up to this.
It’s time for fun, no more games.
“They’re not ready for this.” I say, hopping off the barstool, grabbing his hand, and dragging him with me to the jukebox sitting in a corner.
One thing about this place is the nostalgia mixed with whatever else they have going on.
After I eyeball the selection, and what a damn good selection it is, I find something that piques my interest.
Pressing the letter E and the number 4, I watch as the track springs forward, making its way to the record spindle. From there, the needle slides down over it and one of the greatest songs by Joan Jett fills the club.
“Oh, you took it there.” Cam grins, ready to jam to “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll”.”
“You bet your ass I did. This happens to be our song.”
“Oh, I haven’t forgotten.” He smirks, grabbing my hips and pulling me flush against him where we get lost in the music.
Bumping our hips together, grinding on each other as we belt out the words with Joan, I laugh and smile, forgetting about everything else.
As this song comes to an end, another one begins. I look over at the jukebox to see two handsome, yet rugged men standing there with huge grins on their faces.
I can’t help but offer them a friendly smile in return. “I think those hotties wanna dance with you.” Cam leans in, whispering in my ear.
“Well, if they’re gonna stand there all night and just watch, let’s at least give 'em something to see.” Probably it’s the liquor talking.
“Hells yeah we still got it. Why else would they be looking? God, if only I weren't tied down already, I’d hop on a few of their meat sticks.” Cam laughs, eye fucking those guys.
Meanwhile, there’s me, not missing his reference to the male anatomy. “Meat sticks?” He just shrugs.
It feels like all eyes are on us, but in all actuality, just the hotties by the jukebox have their eyes glued to me.
My face burns from the heat of the alcohol coursing through my system. That gives me enough confidence to say fuck it, and go with Cam’s flow.
With his hands planted firmly on my hips, I rock my body from side to side. Closing my eyes, imagining Theo James is here instead of Cam. Theo’s hands move up and down my body, forcing me to give it my all, and give into the desire for him.
I’m so lost in the music, I don’t notice the shift in the air or hands that don’t belong to Theo, I mean, Cam caress my body. It’s not until their words penetrate my ear do I hear the difference.
“You looked so fucking good out there, dancing with your man that we decided to ask him to let us cut in.” My eyes open slowly, staring into a set of dreamy, mint green ones. These are the kind a girl could get lost in if you let her, and something tells me he would definitely let me.
Or make me, judging by the way he looks. Ink travels the length of his neck and arms, making me wonder where else he has tattoos, because these leave nothing to the imagination. Long, strawberry blond hair tied into a low ponytail, with a little peach fuzz lining his chiseled jawline. Muscles bulge from underneath his black short-sleeved shirt and leather vest.
Tall, dark, mysterious, and ready to cause trouble.
“Is that right? You think my man isn’t man enough for me?” I ask, a grin on the cusp of my lips.
His smile widens, showing off his mother of pearly white teeth that reminds me of the big bad wolf. “Not saying that, beautiful, just saying I don’t think one man is enough for a woman like you.” A woman like me, huh?
“What kind of woman would that be?” I ask, gazing deeply into his eyes, trying to mesmerize him with my charm.
He just laughs, a throaty, belly-rumbling laugh when his friend says, “Dance with us?” grabbing me around the waist.
Clearly it wasn’t a question.
I burst into a fit of giggles, feeling his warm hands wrap around my body. I’ve missed the way a man’s hands feel around me. The closeness, the intimacy… Everything.
Rather than answer, I lean into him, allowing him to guide my body as if I’m the doll and he’s the child playing with me. We make the few steps it takes for them to get me back in centerstage.
Looking over his shoulder, my eyes land on Cam, silently asking if he’s okay by himself. He simply nods, watching us from the bar. My knight in shining armor without being my real knight.
As “Sex Metal Barbie” by In This Moment begins to play, I let his hands control my movements.
Swaying from side to side, feeling the music deep in my bones, I grind along with him.
Wrapped up in the song and the way we feel together, my hands reach up to the sky. Slowly his hands move from my waist, down to my ass, pulling me closer.
Okay, this doesn’t feel too awkward, so I just roll with it.
I can feel his growing erection with each bump against my hips he makes.
Shortly after, I feel someone else’s hands slide into my afro, gently tugging. “Mmm, that feels nice.” I croon, letting my head fall back.
“You look so beautiful between us.” His friend observes my parted lips, sweat on my brow, and gyrating hips. Suddenly, the gentle tug from before is being replaced by a rough pull when my body collides with his. “You feel that, you feel how hard you have me from watching you shake your ass with him?”
“Care to loosen your grip there, guy?” I say, looking into his semi-darkened eyes. They’re wild and unfocused almost like he’s looking without seeing.
“Don’t mind him, he just likes to play rough, but he’s cool, I promise.” The guy in front me says, leaning in to trace his tongue along the base of my neck up to my throat. His actions slowly draw my attention away from the other guy going all dominant on me. “That’s right, sweet thang, eyes on me.” First of all, don’t you try to seduce me with your words. Eyes on me, yeah okay, buddy, I’ll put something on you alright. I giggle, making him ask, “What’s so funny?”
Rather than answer, I pull his head down to me, closing my lips over his.
To say they are some of the most kissable lips I’ve ever seen, he kinda sucks at it. Too thick as they suck mine in, way too much tongue that generates too much wetness for my liking, and his breath smells like stale cigarettes.
I can clearly see this was a mistake.
When I try to pull back, his hand holds me in place. He looks down at me and says, “Oh no, don’t start something you can’t finish, sweet thang.”
“I never intended to finish it. We’re all just here having a good time, now let me go.” That’s when his buddy yanks my hair, drawing a yelp from me. “Hey, asshole, that hurts. Let go or I’ll fucking punch you in the nuts.” Suddenly, the guy in front of me grabs my hands, bringing them around my back, causing me to yelp again.
Grinding his dick into my pussy he says, “This is how it’s gonna go down, sweet thang, you’re gonna leave here with us. With all that teasing you’ve been doing, we’re gonna enjoy fucking that sweet ass of yours.” He grunts, still grinding his cock into me while his friend pushes his cock into my ass.
If I were into rough stuff, maybe this would turn me on, but all it’s doing is repulsing me, and I have to fight down the bile that’s rising in my throat.
Just as I’m about to hit him with my words and a knee to the dick, he’s being shoved out of the way while the guy behind me’s grip is suddenly no more.