Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
STEFANI
"Anna! We're going to get caught," I lecture my best friend as she pulls me toward the doors to Blackout. "We're not twenty-one!"
"Stop being such a pansy. Remember… YOLO!" She winks at me after spouting the corny slang word. "I know a friend of a friend who can get us in. They're working the door tonight."
I give up trying to talk any sense into my best friend. It does no good—she never listens to reason. I wish I could be more like her, without a care in the world.
Although her crazy ideas typically don't work out, I have to admit, this one is the craziest, yet it seems to be working. We're allowed entrance into the club.
The bass thumps so hard, it vibrates every cell in my body. Colored lights flash through the haze as bodies grind together on the dance floor, sweating out their day's aggressions. A long bar dominates one wall, while tall tables and scattered booths crowd the rest of the space.
Anna laces her fingers through mine and tugs me toward the bar. "Come on. Let's get you a birthday drink."
Right. Eighteen. A legal adult—and already letting my best friend drag me into my first crime spree. Sneaking into a club underage was strike one. Drinking underage is strike two, as she presses a glass of something bright and fruity into my hand.
I stare at it momentarily, the neon lights catching the bright color, taunting me to take a sip. So, I do. And then I take another, and another one.
Soon, I join the bodies out on the dance floor as the alcohol begins to loosen me up. Anna grinds behind me as we dance to some techno song I've never heard of.
I finish my drink and place it on a nearby table before going back to dancing. With my arms in the air, I let the music take control of my body and move with each beat.
"Don't look now, but two hotties are staring at us." Anna grins at me, sucking in the corner of her lip.
"Really? Which two?" I try to turn and look, but she grabs my arms, holding me in place.
"No! Don't look…" She's quick to stop me. "You can't let them see you looking back!"
Slowly, I turn around to make it look like I'm just dancing as I look around the club.
There, right in front of us, are two men.
They're older, but hot as fuck. And Anna was right—they're watching us.
Two sets of eyes, one with dark and the other one with light blue that almost glow in the flashing lights.
"See," Anna whispers loudly in my ear as she slides her hand around to my stomach, "I told you we were being watched. Now, let's give them something to look at."
Anna's always been bisexual, but I'm not, so when her hand comes up to cup my breast, I'm shocked that it sends tingles to my lady bits. Maybe it's because we're being watched. Either way, I cover her hand with mine, urging her on while I keep my eyes on the two men.
I'm really getting into it when Anna's phone vibrates. She tucked it into her cleavage, so I feel it against my back when it goes off.
"Shit," she curses when she looks at the screen, "it's my dad. I've got to answer this." My friend walks off, leaving me alone on the dance floor.
I've never been one to take the lead in anything, so I'm left with knot knowing what to do. I turn, only to watch Anna disappear into the crowd. When a hand grips my waist from behind, I spin to see some stranger leering down at me. His eyes rove over my face before going to my chest.
"How about I be your dance partner now, baby." The guy runs his slimy tongue over his lips, grinning.
He isn't my type at all. With slicked back dirty blonde hair, his dark eyes, which are way too close together for my liking, creep me out the way they glue themselves to my cleavage.
"I'm not interested… thank you." I try to leave, but his grip tightens.
"I'm not done with you."
"Let me go, you perv!" I struggle to break free of him, but he only laughs.
However, it's cut short, and his grip disappears as soon as I hear a deep baritone voice say, "She said to let her go…"
I spin, but lose my footing and stumble. A pair of strong hands catches me, and I'm left staring up into light blue eyes.
"Are you okay?" One of the guys who was watching Anna and me dance smiles down at me.
"I-I'm good," I stammer. "Thank you."
Once I'm standing upright again, I turn to the other two men, who are now nose-to-nose. Light Blue Eye's friend is glaring down at the prick who accosted me, challenging him.
"Leave her the fuck alone… Got it?" Dark Eyes sneers.
"Who the fuck are you?" The perv challenges.
"It doesn’t fucking matter," my savior replies. "The lady told you to leave her alone—now, get the fuck away from her."
Not wanting to see anyone fight over me, I place my hand on my savior's arm, hoping he plays along.
"You're finally here," I say, smiling at him. "I've been waiting for you, babe."
Dark Eyes gaze down at me. He's grinning, and I'm instantly lost in the brown depths of his eyes. Thankfully, he plays along."
"Sorry, Kitten… I never meant to keep you waiting." The way he calls me by the pet name sends more tingles through me. He turns back to the perv and gives him a shove. "Get the fuck out of here before I drag you out—and you won't be conscious when I do it."
The guy glowers at me before waving me off. "Fuck this shit. I'll find another whore. There are plenty here…"
When Brown Eyes starts to go after him, I grab his arm, stopping him. "Let him go. He's not worth it."
"He may not be worth it," Light Blue Eyes says close to my ear, "but you sure are."
My nipples pebble when his hot breath brushes across my skin. Automatically, Brown Eyes lowers his gaze to the silky fabric of my top. Of course, he can see my nips… I chose to go braless because this top isn't meant to be worn with one.
"Nobody touches our girl," Brown Eyes says with a slow, confident smile, his straight, white teeth gleaming.
"Our girl?" I echo, caught between confusion and a jolt of heat his words send through me.
"Well, you did claim us as yours, so…" Light Eyes says with a soft chuckle.
"W-what are you talking about?" I twist slightly so I can look into his gorgeous orbs, and then at Brown Eyes.
A hand on my hip grabs my attention. Brown Eyes steps closer. "We're a package deal, Kitten. You get both of us."
"But—"
My words are cut short when Brown Eyes gives a subtle nod. Before I can process what's happening, I'm swept off my feet and into a pair of strong arms. Instinct takes over—my hands clutch at Light Eyes's shoulders as he lifts me effortlessly, holding me in a firm, almost possessive bridal style.
"Come on, Kitten," he says with a self-assured grin. "Let's get you home."
"Wait—no. Put me down…" The words come out breathlessly.
"No can do, sweet cheeks," Light Eyes replies, tightening his hold just enough to make it clear I'm not slipping away. "If we set you down now, you're free game. And trust me—we're not about to stake our claim in front of a club full of sweaty pissants."
I'm left speechless, heat rushing through me as the two most striking men I've ever seen carry me out like it's the most natural thing in the world.