Chapter 4
4
ENNIO
I brushed a sweep of glitter over my cheekbone, watching as it caught the lamplight and sparkled like a distant star. The mirror reflected a man who was no stranger to color or the allure of shimmer, but tonight felt different. Electricity buzzed under my skin, a blend of anticipation and anxiety that made my hands tremble as I did the final touches on my makeup.
“You look amazing,” I murmured to my reflection, taking stock of the eye-catching blues and purples that made my eyes pop. “This is your night.”
A deep breath steadied my heartbeat, and I gave an encouraging nod before standing back to admire the full effect. My outfit was anything but subtle. A pair of shiny, sinfully tight silver shorts and a sheer top in a kaleidoscope of colors that clashed in the most beautiful way hugged my body with shameless confidence. If you looked closely, you could see the lines of the lace panties I was wearing. I really hoped they would see some action tonight. High-heeled purple ankle boots completed the look.
With one last glance at the mirror, I turned on my heel and strutted into the living room, where Marnin was immersed in the same book he’d been reading an hour ago. How did people manage to sit still for that long? His eyes were hidden behind reading glasses perched precariously on the bridge of his nose.
“I’m ready to leave,” I said, needing to announce myself or risk being unseen, which was quite the feat, given my getup.
He glanced up, and I swear I heard the cogs in his brain grind to a halt. His gaze traveled from the tips of my boots up the length of my smooth legs to the expanse of rainbow fabrics to meet my expectant blue eyes. There was a pause—a moment suspended in time where I braced for a sarcastic quip or a dismissive grunt.
“Wow,” he finally said, and the word hung between us, surprisingly void of sarcasm. His eyes softened, and a ghost of a smile teased the corners of his mouth. “You look…amazing.”
The compliment, reluctant as it was, hit me like a wave of warmth on a cold winter night. Marnin’s usual armor of gruff indifference had been pierced, if only for a second, and a grin split my face.
“Thank you.” My voice was softer than I intended. “That means a lot coming from you.”
“Where are you off to?”
“Xtra.”
Xtra was a gay club I’d visited twice before. It was big, noisy, and sweaty, but I’d had a great time.
Marnin’s eyes locked on mine with an intensity that felt like he was peering straight into my anxious soul. “Xtra?” His face was etched with lines of concern. “Be careful, Ennio. That club can be unpredictable. I’ve witnessed some unsavory things there.”
“It’s not my first rodeo.” I rolled my eyes playfully, trying to dispel the shadow of worry creasing his brow, though his concern was touching. “And I’m a grown-ass man, remember? No need for babysitting.”
“Doesn’t mean you can’t get hurt.”
“I’ll be careful, Dad.”
He opened his mouth, then closed it again. His eyes lingered a moment longer before he returned to his book. “Have fun.”
“Always do!” I turned on my heel and sashayed out the door, leaving Marnin’s unspoken fears hanging in the air behind me.
The crisp night air nipped at my exposed skin as I waited for the Uber. The car pulled up, and I slid in. As we pulled away, I looked up at Marnin’s apartment. He stood in front of the window, a lonely silhouette. I’d never known him to be so concerned. It was sweet.
Anticipation buzzed beneath my skin, electric and alive, as we approached my destination. This was my escape, my playground where I could be unapologetically me in all my glittery glory.
The Uber slowed to a stop outside the club, and my pulse matched the rhythm of the thumping bass that spilled out from the entrance. I stepped out, tossing a thanks to the driver before my boots hit the sidewalk.
The bouncer nodded me through with barely a glance, and I was immediately swallowed by the cacophony of sights and sounds. Neon strobes painted my skin in flashes of color, and the scent of sweat and perfume mingled in the charged air. Bodies moved around me, a sea of freedom and desire, and I let it energize me.
“Showtime,” I whispered, feeling my nervous energy transmute into exhilaration as I melded into the crowd, ready to lose myself in the club’s embrace.
I got a Coke at the bar—no alcohol for me tonight as I wasn’t taking any chances—then headed to the crowded dancefloor. The rhythm took me, a pulsing heartbeat that echoed through the throng of bodies. I swayed and spun, my laughter mingling with the throb of the music as colors from the strobe lights refracted off my glitter-dusted cheeks. Men glanced my way, their eyes tracing the curve of my smile, the sway of my hips, the roundness of my ass.
“Love the sparkle, honey,” a man with a neon-pink tank top shouted over the music, his grin contagious.
“Thanks! You’re pretty radiant yourself!” I beamed back, throwing a wink his way before twirling into another’s arms. Different hands found mine, each dance a fleeting connection, a shared moment of liberation under the pulsating glow.
And then he was there, emerging from the crowd as if conjured by my own yearning—a magnetic pull of confidence and age-worn charm. Cool blue eyes, angular features, well-manicured hands, and hair styled to a T. Early fifties, probably?
“Mind if I cut in?” His voice was smooth, an undercurrent of strength amid the chaos.
“Only if you can keep up.” My heart skipped a beat as I took his outstretched hand. His fingers were warm, secure, and for a moment, the room seemed to go still around us.
We moved together, our bodies close, finding a rhythm all our own amid the sea of dancers. His steps were sure, guiding without overpowering, as if he were attuned to my every move.
“What’s your name, gorgeous?” he breathed into my ear.
“Ennio.”
“It’s such a pleasure to meet you, Ennio. I’m Declan.”
His warm breath on my ear made me shiver. Declan. I even liked his name.
“Quite the showstopper, aren’t you?” Declan’s eyes were intense as he looked down on me, practically undressing me.
“You think so?” I spun out and then back into his embrace.
“I couldn’t take my eyes off you from the moment you walked in the door. You’re new here, right?”
I nodded. “Sort of. I’ve been here before, but it’s been a while.”
“Mmm, I’m glad I spotted you first.” He pulled me closer, pressing me against his hard cock. Subtle it wasn’t, but then again, neither was I.
Marnin’s question popped into my head. You really think you’re going to find Mr. Right in a sea of sweaty bodies, groping hands, and strobe lights? I pushed it aside. Maybe not, but at least I’d have some fun and, if I played my cards right, some great sex. I pressed myself against him, and he hummed in appreciation, squeezing my ass with both hands.
“You have a perfect ass, gorgeous.” He squeezed it again as if to underscore his words. “But I like your lips even more.”
“Yeah?”
He brought his mouth a hair away from mine. “I bet they’d look real pretty wrapped around my cock.”
A little cheesy, but okay. All part of the game, right? “I’m sure they would…”
“Oh, I know it. And I’m packing , gorgeous. Seven inches of fat cock to fuck your throat…to start with.”
Unease trickled down my spine. It had been a while since I’d been to a club. Had it always been this crass? Maybe Marnin’s warning had gotten to me. I shouldn’t let him ruin my fun. “That a promise?”
His lips were on mine before I even realized it, the kiss aggressive and hard. I allowed myself to be swept up in it, kissing him back with all I had. He bit my bottom lip, and the sharp sting startled me. But when he soothed it with his tongue, I quickly forgot all about the pain.
“Let’s find a more private spot.”
Before I could answer, Declan grabbed my hand and led me, weaving through the throng of dancing bodies. His fingers were firm around mine as he pulled me to a quiet corner, away from the prying eyes and the pulsating lights that had wrapped us in their frenzied embrace.
Declan lifted me off my feet, and I squealed. “What are you?—”
His mouth smashed against mine again, his tongue invading. He pushed my back against the wall, and I automatically wrapped my legs around him. It made sense because he had to be four inches taller than me. This made kissing much more comfortable.
His hands tangled in my hair, holding me in position, and I matched his passion with my own, kissing him fervently. The heat between us built into a raging inferno that threatened to consume us both.
Finally, he broke off the kiss. My lips throbbed after that onslaught, and my cock was fighting against the tight confines of my pants.
“Come home with me.”
Unease tickled at the back of my head. That hadn’t been a question. Then again, wasn’t this what I wanted? Why I had come here? “Where do you live?”
“About ten minutes from here, but I drove.”
“I’ll need the address so I can text it to a friend.”
He quirked an eyebrow. “You don’t trust me?”
“I always take safety precautions.” That was BS. I hadn’t done this enough to warrant them, and the only one I could text right now would be Marnin, and that was a hell no. But Declan didn’t need to know that.
“I’ll give you the address in the car.”
He held out his hand, and after a second of hesitation, I took it. He elbowed us through the crowd, holding my hand tightly, each step bringing us closer to the exit.
Someone stepped in our way, and Declan had to halt. Marnin? What on earth was he doing here? His chestnut-brown eyes locked on mine, piercing through the club’s fog like twin searchlights. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?”
Declan’s grip on my hand faltered, his body tensing as Marnin took another step forward. “I know you. You’re…”
“Yeah.”
“You know him, Ennio?” Declan asked, a note of alarm creeping into his voice.
“He’s an overprotective friend,” I replied, though “friend” felt too generous right now.
“Ennio’s not going anywhere with you,” Marnin stated flatly, his voice carrying a warning that brooked no argument. I’d never seen this side of him—the controlled ferocity of a protective beast—and it rattled me.
“Hey, man, I don’t want any trouble,” Declan said, his hands raised in a gesture of peace, but Marnin wasn’t having it.
“Then I suggest you leave.” Marnin’s tone was icy, the threat implicit.
With a tight smile that didn’t reach his eyes, Declan nodded once and released my hand, disappearing into the sea of people as if he’d never been there.
“Marnin, what the fuck?” I couldn’t keep the anger from boiling over, even as confusion gnawed at the edges of my mind. “Why are you here?”
“Let’s go home, Ennio.” Marnin ignored my question, his gaze never wavering from mine.
“Home? I don’t need a babysitter,” I protested, trying to reignite the dying embers of my earlier excitement. But the fire was gone, snuffed out by Marnin’s sudden appearance.
“Enough, Ennio.” There was an edge to his voice that left no room for debate. “You’re coming with me.”
With a frustrated huff, I brushed past Marnin, my shoulders slumped in defeat. As we walked away from Xtra, the pulsing music fading behind us, I glanced back, searching for a glimpse of what might have been—a dream of passion and connection interrupted by the harsh light of reality.
“Are you okay?” Marnin’s voice cut through my reverie, softer now, but I wasn’t ready to forgive and forget.
“Just take me home,” I muttered, the words heavy with longing and frustration that had nowhere to go. I sank into the passenger seat of his car, the warmth of Declan’s touch still lingering on my skin.
How had it all gone so wrong?