CHAPTER SIX — STEPHANIE
"You're so fucking sexy, you know that, right?" Philip whispers into my ear.
I smile and press my body tighter against his. I feel electrified by his touch and safe at the same time.
Still, I can't help but glance over at David every few seconds, and I hate that.
"Is he watching?" Philip murmurs into my ear.
"Mm-hmm," I murmur.
"Good. Let's give him a show, then."
Philip's hands drop from above my waist lower until they're around my hips. He's behind me, and he lightly nips at my neck. I tilt my head to the side, closing my eyes briefly. I breathe in. God, he smells delicious, like vanilla and cedar.
His hands squeeze lightly. He keeps one hand slightly below my waist while the other creeps up my body. For a split second, he grabs my hair.
Fuck. I get a tingling sensation between my legs. More than any man I've known, except for maybe David, Philip knows how to touch a woman.
"You have no idea all the things I'm thinking of doing to you right now," he whispers in my ear.
"Oh, yeah?" I say, my voice low and raspy. "Like what?"
"For one, bending you over that bar countertop and fucking you until you can't think straight."
"I like that," I murmur.
"I want everyone to see me using this tight, perfect little body of yours. Do you have any idea how lucky I am? I have the most beautiful woman in the club here to myself."
Warmth blooms inside. Philip makes me feel so good.
My head jerks to the left, almost involuntarily. I can't help it. As if we're in sync, David looks up and finds me. I catch his eyes.
After a second, David's eyes look away and turn back to Jocelyn's neck. But it ignites a fire in me. I hate that he has this effect on me.
I have everything I want right here with Philip. Why isn't it enough?
"It's okay, you know," Philip says. "The fact that you like him, you know I'm not upset by that, right?"
"I know, but why aren't you?"
The words tumble out of my mouth before I can help them.
Philip laughs.
"Do you want me to be?"
"Maybe a little."
I have to say, I do appreciate this radical honesty thing with Philip. It makes talking to him so much easier.
"But you don't even like me like that," Philip says. "Isn't it the best for both of us that I'm not tied down to you either?"
The thing is, when Philip says it, he means it. I've been with other men who've said the same thing, but it was really an attempt to preserve their own ego, because they liked me more than I liked them.
But with Philip, it's actually the case. He's dating other women. He likes me, but it's not like he thinks I'm his soulmate. And frankly, I do find that a bit offensive, which I know is absolutely ridiculous, since I don't think he's mine either.
But hey, I can't help how I feel, and it's not like I'm asking him to change or do anything differently. I guess it just feels good to be wanted.
"I do want you," I say. "I mean, but not like that."
"What do you mean?" Philip asks.
"Like, in a jealous or possessive way, I guess," I say.
"You know I'm not jealous," Philip says.
I nod.
"You're not upset?" Philip asks.
I shake my head.
"But you'd just like it if I were. Is that right?"
I shrug.
"I know it's not fair of me, since I'm not all in on you either, but there's something kinda hot about being claimed. You know what I mean?"
"To be honest," Philip says, "I genuinely don't. I've just never been that kind of person, jealous in that way. But I appreciate you telling me. I like the honesty. And the good thing is, now that you've told me, I can always help you out.
"You know I'm not looking for something serious with you, and it doesn't seem like you're looking for something serious with me either. Right?"
I bite my lower lip. Even though Philip already knows the answer, it feels mean to tell him.
He laughs.
"Relax, princess. You don't have to pander to my feelings. You're not upsetting me at all. It's refreshing. I like it this way for both of us. It makes things easier. But even if this isn't serious, we can still pretend like it is, to make David jealous.
"In fact," Philip says, "it's kind of hot watching him get all flustered that he can't have what I have. It feels so good to have you right here while he's over there seething."
I laugh.
"I don't mind it either," I say. "Let's kick it up a notch, then."
Philip grabs my waist and spins me around. Before I know it, his hand is snaked up the back of my neck and tangled in my hair. I sigh as he presses his body close against mine.
I feel my heartbeat against his chest as he leans in and kisses me. His mouth claims me authoritatively, decisively. I melt into him as his tongue captures me. I moan into his mouth a little.
"You're such a good little slut," he whispers, so quietly that no one else can hear.
I feel butterflies in my stomach.
His other hand squeezes my waist and then lightly dips, moving to my ass. It rests there for a second before moving up my back. He bites my lower lip hard. I arch my back slightly.
"I love the way you moan into my mouth," he whispers. "It feels so good when you're making those little noises with that pretty mouth of yours wrapped around my cock."
Oh my God, my face flushes. He said that a bit louder. I don't think anyone heard, but if they had been trying to, they could've.
"And I like watching you get all flustered too," Philip says.
The hand that's tangled up in my hair drops slowly, so it's wrapped around my neck. It's wrapped around the back, though, so nobody can see, but I can feel it. He squeezes for a second. It's a small show of dominance.
"Tell me, do you feel flustered when I do this?"
He moves his hand slightly so that his thumb is resting over my vocal cords and squeezes.
"A little," I whisper.
"And how about now?"
He gathers my hair in a ponytail and then yanks.
"Mm-hmm." I nod.
"And how about now?"
He pulls me closer, which I didn't know was possible given how close we already were, and moves his hand so that it's under my armpit. His thumb gradually starts to circle my nipple on top of my dress. I'm not wearing a bra. It's not necessary with this dress, given how thick the material is.
But still, I feel my nipple stiffening. A small moan erupts from my mouth. It's quiet, but I immediately flush red.
"Are you getting wet?" he asks me.
I nod.
"Use your words, Stephanie."
"Yes," I say.
"Yes, sir," he says.
"Yes, sir," I say.
"Say it louder," he says.
Oh God, I'm turning more red.
"Yes, sir," I say, my voice a few levels above a whisper.
"Good girl," he says.
He says this at normal volume. I flush bright red.
"You like being my good girl, don't you, Stephanie?"
"Yes, sir," I whisper again.
"That's what I thought," he says. "Now, I want you to go to the ladies' room and take off your panties. Come back and give them to me."
"What?"
"You heard me," he says. "Come back in five minutes. Now go."
He lightly taps my ass.
I start to walk towards the ladies' room, legs trembling, heart racing a million miles a minute.