Chapter 25 #2
The girls have a booth table, and one of them, Danielle, waves me over when she sees me walk through.
I slide into the seat beside Becky. There are also Tammy and Bea.
They have been dancing here for a lot longer than us and have made both of us feel at home, both backstage and in the dressing rooms.
“What’s your poison, girl?” Danielle, the stunner with long, wavy, chocolate-brown hair, asks, tipping up her empty margarita glass.
“A Fireball whiskey shot?” I ask, knowing how uncertain I sound, but I loved it when I drank with Sloane, and I could do with something stronger than champagne tonight. Especially with what I’m going home to. Cranky-bear Jagger is going to be a pain in my ass over this, I just know it.
“Coming right up.” She saunters her way through the club to the main bar, leaning over as she talks with the girl I met the first day I came here looking for Sloane, I think her name is Myriah.
“I’m glad you joined us tonight. I was starting to think you didn’t like us,” Tammy says with a wicked smirk.
She already looks half buzzed. She’s a pretty girl and looks like she spends all her free time lying in the sun, with white-blonde hair and golden skin and flower tattoos snaking up her arms.
“Thanks for asking me every night. Sorry it’s taken me this long. I just have a lot going on.”
“Yeah, I overheard one of the girls saying you just moved here from Italy. That’s cool, girl,” says Bea, the pretty redhead, with the craziest green eyes I have ever seen. She also has massive tits that are hard to miss in the low-cut cowl-neck top she’s wearing.
“It’s been an adjustment, but I’m loving it here so far.” The men, the money, the new friends, the freedom, well, kind of—what’s not to love?
Danielle returns with a fresh round of drinks for all of us. “I got you two; you need to catch up.” She winks at me playfully, making me feel part of their crew already.
I beam back at her as I take the first shot and slam it back, wincing just a little as the burn hits the back of my throat. I feel the buzz almost immediately. The other girls take their drinks, and Danielle takes her seat back across from me.
“Right, I want to know it all. How did you end up in this place? And are the rumors true and you’re living with the boss’s brothers?” She grins from ear to ear.
“I hear Jagger is an asshole,” snips Bea as she sips her espresso martini.
“That rumor is definitely true. He’s the biggest asshole I’ve ever met.” I smirk back at her.
Becky’s eyes go wide, and she slaps me on the arm. “So, you are living with them?”
I shrug, not loving all their eyes on me. “I’m staying with them until I find something more permanent, that’s all.” I try to brush it off.
“You lucky bitch. Does Asher live there as well? I would let that man do anything he wanted to me,” Becky chimes in, all wide eyes and flushed cheeks.
I glance back at her, and I know my own cheeks are glowing red. That man did do anything he wanted to me, last night with his brother. But I’m not telling her that. She clearly has a crush, and I’m not going to be the one to destroy her dreams. “No, he doesn’t, sorry to disappoint.”
Her expression changes, a stupid grin fluttering onto her face as she glances behind me.
I feel the brush of my hair over my shoulder and then lips pressing to my cheek. “There you are. I thought you’d taken off before I could give you a lift home,” comes Asher’s sexy-as-all-hell voice.
All eyes on the table land on me, and my skin pulses with heat.
I don’t mind being the center of attention up on the stage, but here like this, I can’t stand it, and now I know why Becky got so excited; she was watching him walk across the room to me.
“Ash. Have you met the girls?” I say, trying to get the attention off me and onto him, motioning to the others.
“Evening, girls.” He slides in beside me.
With flirtatious smiles, they all welcome him, not at all bothered he’s crashing our conversation.
“What are we drinking, little princess?” He picks up my shot glass and gives it a sniff. “I’m impressed. I would like to think this is my influence.”
“It’s not,” I snip back with a half-smile. I just can’t not smile at him when he’s grinning at me with those damn dimples. I throw the shot back, my shoulders shivering as the burn gets me once more.
“What’s going on, girls? We having a big one?” He motions to the girl behind the bar to come and take our order like he’s included in this we.
I lock eyes with him. “It’s a quiet drink after work, Ash, I’ll come get you when I’m ready to go home,” I tell him, not wanting him to hang around and cramp my style.
I’m trying to make friends, something I desperately need since the only people I really know in this town have the last name Stryker.
“I’m done for the night, so you’re stuck with me, baby.” He looks at the other girls, who all seem to have their mouths wide open and their eyes glued to us. “You girls don’t mind if I stay?” he asks, all cheeky.
Bea smiles all sexy-like. “Of course not, Asher,” she purrs in a way that makes my hackles rise.
“You’re always welcome, you know that.” Danielle giggles playfully, touching his arm, and I feel the tension rise throughout my body.
Something in their reaction, in the way they all look at him and openly flirt with him, makes me think they know him intimately.
Has he really screwed every girl in this place?
The sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach tells me he has.
And last night I was just the next girl on his list. I shouldn’t be disappointed or even really care, but I do.
He wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me in closer. “See, the girls love it when I hang out with them.”
The girl I met my first day here, Myriah, arrives at our table with a tablet to take our orders. She sees Ash’s arm draped over my shoulders, and I’m not sure if she knows it or not, but her face pales. She glares at him and then at me.
I smile back, not sure what to do. Fuck, he has without a doubt slept with her.
All the times I knew Valentine was sleeping around and I couldn’t care less, I was relieved.
But knowing Ash has slept with some girl before I was even in the picture makes me jealous as can be.
“What can I get for you all?” she asks, the strain in her voice obvious.
“I’ll have a whiskey neat, and my girl will have another fireball shot, thanks, Myriah.” Ash talks for me, hugging me a little closer under his arm protectively. It’s the strangest thing and not what I was expecting at all.
My girl. Did he really just call me that in front of all of them? But from the looks of amazement I get from every member of the table, as well as Myriah, I know he did.
“No worries,” Myriah cuts, smiling tightly.
The other girls order their cocktails, and Myriah strides off toward the bar. She couldn’t get out of here fast enough. I feel bad because she’s clearly upset.
The girls’ light and playful conversation continues on around us.
Asher lowers his lips to my neck and sucks lightly.
“What are you doing?” I whisper so that only he can hear.
“Making sure they know I’m with you now.” His voice is a low grumble.
His words and his proximity send goosebumps over my skin. Okay, that was crystal clear, but what is his game? “Why?” I ask tentatively.
One of the front doors swings open and crashes into the wall, loud enough that we all turn to see who’s making the commotion. As soon as I do, I wish I didn’t. Because I lock eyes with a furious-looking Jagger. “Shit,” I mutter under my breath, knowing I’m the reason for his anger.
“What did you do, little princess?” Asher chuckles playfully.
“Poked grumpy bear,” I huff out, glancing to the back of the bar for an escape. Of course, not one but two Stryker brothers are intent on ruining my night with their overbearing behavior.
Jagger strides across the bar and right up to me, the dark, deranged look in his eyes sending a chill over me instantly.
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little scared of him right now.
Also lying if I didn’t admit to the fact I’m also majorly turned on.
“Out front now,” he growls, a no-shit tone in his voice.
I turn away from him. “Nope, I’m having a drink with my friends.”
“Come join us, Bro,” Asher calls to him.
Even though his brother is talking to him, I can feel the burn of Jagger’s eyes on me.
I swallow the lump in my throat, kind of terrified to turn back to him.
I catch sight of Becky, and she looks fascinated by the entire scene the guys are causing.
Regret kicks in. Maybe I shouldn’t have been such a smartass when I was turning him down.
“Don’t keep me waiting,” he roars, his voice vibrating through me.
I glance at Ash and then the table of women who seem to find the grumpy asshole in front of me amusing.
I don’t want to go anywhere with him right now, but I also don’t want to cause another scene in this place, and I already know Jagger isn’t the kind to back down when he wants something.
“I’ll be back in a sec,” I tell the others.
Asher stands and helps me out of the booth.
I don’t miss the way his eyes narrow on his brother.
He might not be making a show of it, but he’s not happy with Jagger for stealing my attention.
“Bring her back,” he warns him before pulling me in for a scorching kiss.
When he eventually pulls back, I’m left with my heart in my throat and my head spinning.
His lips twist up at the sides, all charming, as he squeezes my hand. “See you soon.”
I nod, not able to find words. I can’t glance back at the table because I don’t want to see their reaction to that. Asher is making it blatantly obvious that we are a thing. And I honestly don’t know what to make of it.
I accidentally lock eyes with Jagger and regret it immediately. He’s one scary motherfucker when he wants to be. He turns and strides back from the bar.
For a split second, I wonder if I should just make a run for it.
I was just having fun, I don’t want him to sour my mood, but I’m also a glutton for punishment, and I’m kind of keen to see just how much I got under his skin by turning him down and what he’s going to do about it. I also need some air after that kiss.
I follow him through the front door, where I find him walking back, a bike helmet dangling from his tattooed fingers. “Put this on,” he demands as he shoves the helmet toward me.
I stare back at him, hands flying to my hips. “What? No, I’m not leaving here with you. I was making some new friends.”
“You have plenty of those already. Cruz, Ash, Sloane, and me.” He counts them out on his hand as if deciding four is enough. “You’re coming with me.” When I don’t take the helmet from his hands, he forces it onto my head.
I shove his chest. “Quit it. I know you’re pissed because I wouldn’t go into the private suite with you, but you don’t get to be all assholish about it.”
“Assholish?” His brow rises and his glare intensifies, his eyes running over my face in a way that sends goosebumps scattering over my skin. “Get on the bike before I pick you up and shove you on there.”
I cross my arms over my chest and plant my feet on the spot. “No!”
He takes a step closer to me, his eyes locking on mine again. “Stop being a brat.”
“Stop acting like my overbearing papa, it kills my libido,” I sass back. I can’t help it. He wants something from me, but instead of asking for it or talking to me like a normal person, he’s all bossy and aggressive about it. He needs to learn it’s not going to get him anywhere with me.
He sucks in a labored breath as if he’s trying to get his temper under control, and I’m pushing him to the brink. Well, good, I kind of hope I am. “You asked me for something tonight,” he says more quietly, his voice still holding the same edge.
I blink back at him, wondering where this is going.
He takes another step closer, closing the gap.
Tension zaps between us, crazy and irrational but all-consuming.
I can’t look away from him, can’t run. I crave being consumed by the insanity that is Jagger.
“Demanded it of me. A proper date, no blindfold, or you won’t spend the night with me again.
Those were your words, weren’t they?” His hand lands on my waist, and I jump. That makes him grin.
“What are you saying? You’re taking me on a date? It’s close to one am.”
His eyes light up, challenging me in the way they do. “You never said it had to be at a specific time.”
“I need to say goodbye to the girls and Ash.”
He leans in a little closer, his scent overwhelming me because it takes me right back to our time together in the VIP room. And that was hot, my greedy pussy is craving it again. “You need to get on that bike before I change my mind, flower.”
Fuck. My insides turn to liquid. I can’t be this close to him, his bossy-as-all-hell voice directing me. I just give in. I blink up at him, unable to move or do anything else.
“Five,” he counts.
“What are you doing?” I gasp, a thrill of fear and excitement racing through me.
“Four.” A psychotic grin spreads across his face.
“Jagger,” I warn him, taking a step out of his hold on me. My heart is racing like crazy.
“Get moving, flower. You’re running out of time. Three.”
I open my mouth to say something else, but words won’t come out. I’m rendered speechless by the way he’s looking at me alone.
“Two.” His eyes lock with mine, a clear threat in them.
“I… I should at least text Ash,” I stutter out, knowing I’m not getting out of this. I don’t want to.
“One,” he snarls with a little too much delight in his tone.
My heart pounds so damn hard I hear it. My feet move without me controlling them, practically running to where his bike is parked. I throw a leg over. He’s right there with me, climbing on in front.
He takes my hands and wraps them around his middle, allowing me to touch him properly for the first time.
“Keep them here and don’t let go,” he tells me with a no-shit tone.
But I have no intention of letting him go.
For one, I’m scared of being on a bike; two, Jagger Stryker is letting me touch him.
And I know I shouldn’t be so excited about that, but I am.
My fingers tangle into his soft T-shirt, and I lean my head against his back, holding him close as I inhale. He smells like his aftershave, something with cedarwood, but it’s more than that, it’s leather, whiskey, and sin, an intoxicating combination that has my body on fire.
He kicks the bike into action and speeds off up the street. I grip on for dear life, a thrill of excitement dancing through me.