Chapter 34
34
KAISEN
I was already running on fumes, and we still had the actual party to go to. I was getting old. I was the kind of guy that could party for three days straight without needing a break. But last night had been very busy.
And then being out on the yacht all day with the sun beating down and having a few beers? I was wiped out. But I had taken the time to call in to the spa and set up Dorie’s spa appointment. And then I arranged for a designer dress and heels to be sent to her room. I’d told myself she wouldn’t be sleeping in that dress tonight. The thought had kept me going through the chaos of Cullen’s endless demands and his friends’ relentless energy.
I closed my eyes behind my dark sunglasses and sipped the lemon water one of the attendants had brought me. I should have gone to the spa with the ladies.
“Hey, after dinner, I say we go to the strip club,” Marcus said.
I turned my head to look at him. Marcus leaned back in his chair, smirking as he sipped his beer. “Come on, man. It’s your bachelor party. You can’t just not go to a strip club. It’s like tradition or something.”
Cullen rolled his eyes. “Tradition? Since when are you the authority on bachelor party traditions?”
“Since forever,” Marcus shot back. “It’s practically a rite of passage. One last hurrah before you’re tied down for life. I threw my brother’s party, and we had some hot strippers.”
“I’m not tied down,” Cullen said. “Eliza and I are partners. This isn’t the nineteen fifties.”
Liam, who had been quietly sipping his drink, chimed in with a grin. “Yeah, sure, partners. Partners who are about to sign a legally binding document that says you can’t sleep with anyone else for the rest of your life.”
Cullen looked unfazed. “You guys don’t get it, that’s exactly what I want. I don’t want another woman. I only want her.”
Marcus made a gagging sound while Liam laughed.
I ignored them all. I kind of knew where Cullen was coming from. The only naked woman I wanted to see was Dorie.
Twenty minutes later, the captain announced we would be docking in a few minutes.
There was a car waiting to take us back to the hotel where we would get changed and ready for dinner. I seriously thought about finding an excuse to get out of all of it. But that only worked if I could convince Dorie to skip her party.
And that would make her feel like shit. So, to the bachelor party I went. Not surprisingly, the women were running late.
I sipped on a whiskey, half-listening to the others talking about their work. I was ready to collapse.
“There they are,” Cullen said and got to his feet.
Eliza walked in with Samantha right behind her. I waited, holding my breath until the moment I saw her.
She took my breath away. The moment Dorie walked in, everything else faded away.
She was wearing the dress I’d picked out—a sleek, black number that hugged her curves like it was made for her. And the heels? They added just the right amount of height, making her legs look endless. I did a quick onceover, trying to play it cool, but I couldn’t help the smug smile that crept onto my face. She looked stunning, and I couldn’t wait to get her alone later.
“Hey, guys,” Cullen said.
He grabbed Eliza’s waist and kissed her. “I missed you, babe.”
“I missed you,” she said.
“Ladies,” Cullen greeted.
Me and the other guys all stood.
“Hi.” Dorie smiled at me.
“Hello. You look stunning.”
“Thank you.”
“She’s wearing Prada,” Samantha said.
I was tempted to tell her I knew that because I bought the dress, but I didn’t want to embarrass Dorie.
“It’s beautiful,” I said.
Dorie sat directly across from me.
I couldn’t help but watch her, even as she tried to act like she wasn’t paying attention.
“Kaisen,” Samantha said, leaning slightly into my space. “You’ve barely touched your wine. Not a fan?”
I glanced at my glass, then back at Dorie, who was now sipping her own drink. “Just pacing myself,” I said, offering Samantha a polite but distant smile. “Got a long night ahead.”
“It’s going to be a very, very long night,” Samantha said. “I’m looking forward to it. I’m ready to go. All. Night. Long.”
“More power to you,” I said and raised my glass. I turned my attention back to Dorie. “How was the spa?”
She looked directly at me. For a moment, it was like we were the only two people in the room. “Amazing,” she replied, her voice warm. “I feel like… I don’t know, like I’ve been rebooted or something. Thank you for that.”
“You deserve it,” I said, my voice dropping just enough for her to hear the sincerity in it. “You work harder than anyone I know.”
She blushed before taking a drink from her wine glass. Our meals were delivered and everyone dug in.
I kept stealing glances at her throughout dinner, my mind wandering to what the night might hold.
“We’re trying to convince Cullen to go to the strip club with us,” Marcus said.
“Oh yeah?” Eliza asked.
I could tell she wasn’t thrilled with the idea.
“I only have eyes for my bride,” Cullen said. “I told you that. If you want to see naked women, buy a subscription.”
“Sounds like you’ve got him whipped,” Liam joked.
Cullen shook his head. “I’m a one-woman man now, boys. Eliza’s all I need.”
The table erupted into laughter, but the guys weren’t ready to let it go. They turned their attention to me. “What about you, Kaisen?” Marcus asked while grinning like an idiot. “You’re not tied down, right? I’ve heard stories about you back in the city. You’re practically a legend. Go with us. Show us how it’s done.”
I froze, my eyes flicking to Dorie. Her smile faltered for just a second. My stomach dropped. I didn’t want her hearing about my past, about the reputation I’d worked so hard to leave behind. But before I could shut it down, the guys were off, recounting exaggerated tales of my supposed exploits.
“Remember that time at the gala?” Liam said, laughing. “You had, like, three women hanging off you by the end of the night.”
“And what about that club opening?” Marcus added. “I heard you closed the place down with some model.”
I clenched my jaw, my grip tightening on my glass. “That’s enough,” I said. “Let’s not ruin the night with old stories. The women do not want to hear this nonsense.”
“I don’t think we’re in the midst of a bunch of blushing virgins.” Marcus scoffed.
I shot Marcus a warning look, but he didn’t seem to notice. Dorie’s eyes were on me now, her expression unreadable.
“Anyway, we’re here to celebrate Cullen and Eliza. Not dredge up ancient history.”
The conversation shifted, but the tension lingered. I could see Dorie’s mind working. I wanted to pull her aside, to explain, but the timing wasn’t right. Not here, not now.
Dinner dragged on, and as the plates were cleared, the group started discussing plans for the rest of the night. Marcus and Liam were still pushing for a trip to the strip club, while Cullen remained firmly against it.
“Why don’t we all go to the regular club?” Eliza suggested.
Originally, the groups were supposed to go their separate ways—the guys to a gentleman’s club, the girls to some trendy cocktail lounge.
“I’d love that,” Cullen said. “I don’t want to be without Eliza. Maybe I’m not like most almost-husbands. I want to be with my wife.”
There were some groans from Marcus and Liam, but ultimately, it was decided we would all go out together. I wasn’t thrilled about the idea of sharing Dorie with the rest of the group, but it was better than being apart from her altogether.
There would be no casually sneaking away. If we disappeared together, people would notice.
“Let’s go,” Cullen said. “Limo is waiting. We can all pile in and get friendly.”
We made our way to the door. I managed to put myself next to Dorie.
“After you,” I said, stepping aside to let her walk ahead of me. My eyes lingered on the curve of her back, the way the fabric clung to her hips as she walked. It took every ounce of self-control not to reach out and pull her close.
Cullen ushered Eliza into the limo first, playfully bowing as she laughed and climbed inside. Samantha followed, throwing me a coy glance over her shoulder that I pretended not to notice. Marcus and Liam piled in next, their voices already rising in anticipation of the night ahead.
I held the door open for Dorie. My hand rested lightly on the small of her back as she stepped inside. The touch was fleeting, but it was enough to send a spark of electricity through me. She settled into the plush leather seat. I slid in beside her, our thighs brushing as I closed the door.
At the club, I kept my distance from Dorie, nursing a cocktail and trying to keep my cool. The women were sitting together and the guys at another table. I wanted to pull her into my lap, but that was a scene I knew she didn’t want. Still, it was impossible not to watch her.
“Let’s dance, ladies!” Eliza called out.
The alcohol had kicked in.
“Have fun,” Cullen called out.
My eyes were fixed on her—Dorie. She was out on the dance floor with the other women, her body moving like she was born for it. Every sway of her hips, every twist of her shoulders, it was irresistible. She wasn’t trying to be sexy, but damn if she wasn’t.
She looked free, like she’d let go of everything weighing her down. I wanted to be the reason she smiled like that.
I took a slow sip of whiskey and continued to watch her. She tossed her head back, laughing at something Samantha said. I wanted to be the one who made her forget about everything else. Every time she glanced in my direction, my heart skipped a beat. I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to be near her.
I downed the last of my whiskey and made my way to the dance floor, weaving through the crowd until I was standing beside her. “Dance with me,” I said.
Cullen had followed me out and grabbed Eliza.
Dorie hesitated, her eyes darting to Eliza. “Kaisen, I don’t know. What if my sister sees?”
“Would it be so bad if she did? If everyone knew we had something going on?”
“Do we have something going on?” she asked, her tone teasing but with a hint of vulnerability.
The question caught me off guard. My whole heart was screaming yes , but my brain was trying to pump the brakes, stirring up old memories of my parents—of the pain my father’s infidelity had caused. I pushed those thoughts aside, refusing to let them ruin the moment.
Instead of answering, I leaned in, my lips brushing against her neck. “What do you think?” I murmured.
She shivered, her hands coming to rest on my shoulders. “I think you’re trouble,” she said, but there was a smile in her voice.
I kissed her temple, my lips lingering. “You have no idea what kind of trouble I can be,” I whispered.
I felt her relax. Her body melted into mine as we started to move together. The music was loud, the bass thrumming through me, but all I could focus on was her. It wasn’t really a slow song, but that was the way we were dancing.
“You know,” I said, my mouth close to her ear. “I’ve been thinking about what I’d like to do to you tonight.”
“Oh? And what’s that?”
I smirked, my hands sliding down to her waist. “I could tell you,” I said, my voice dropping to a whisper. “But I’d rather show you.”
She laughed. “You’re impossible.”
“Maybe,” I said, pulling her closer. “But you like it.”
“Thank you for the dress by the way,” she said. “I don’t even want to know how much it cost.”
“Trust me, the pleasure is all mine. I can’t wait to take it off you. Are you wearing the panties?”
“I am.”
“That’s what I’m really looking forward to taking off,” I said.
She didn’t argue. I took that as a win. As we danced, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of triumph. My old charms might have been rusty, but they still worked on Dorie. I was more than ready to use the rest of my skillset on her tonight.