Chapter 31 Take
Take
Getting back to the booth, I caught Darren’s side-eyeing glare and my confidence swiftly wilted away. Sliding in next to him, I schooled my features and found myself wrapped in his arm, bringing me closer so his mouth could reach my ear.
“Next time, I’m going to start a timer,” he warned.
I groaned internally. “I was cornered by a woman named Lucinda.”
Darren’s gaze darkened as he peered down at me. “What did she want?”
“To taunt me, it seemed.”
Darren’s features hardened before releasing me from his grasp. “I’ll take care of it.”
I furrowed my brows at his answer. “What does that mean? Take care of it how?”
“Don’t worry about it,” he said, his tone dark enough to tell me the conversation was over.
He then grabbed a drink that had been placed on the table and handed it to me.
“Here.” Taking the glass, I admired the work of the bartender.
The magenta-colored liquid swirled with edible glitter, topped with a large ring of lime and an edible flower with purple and white petals. The drink actually looked…pretty.
“What’s this?” I asked, swirling the drink in my hand.
“Take a sip and find out.”
I held the glass to my lips and took a cautious sip. A burst of citrus candy hit my tongue, the burn of whatever spirit used practically nonexistent.
“That’s actually really good,” I commented, taking another sip as I relaxed against him.
“Good,” he said with a grin, then turned back to his conversation with the other men.
Sipping on the drink, I allowed my eyes to wander again, bouncing back and forth from the dancing crowd to the gorgeous women in our booth. They too were drinking the same drink as me, the twins smiling and swaying their bodies slightly to the music.
When my eyes suddenly locked with the older brunette, I felt my stomach shrink as she winked at me.
Don’t be weird, Jaden. Smile back.
So I did just that, returning a small grin. She seemingly took this as an invitation to rise from her seat, drink in hand, and crossed the section in my direction.
I could see from the corner of my eye Clive shift closer to the booth like he was thinking about shooing her off, but the deadly glare I sent him kept his large ass in place.
When she plopped down next to me, she crossed her legs and held up her drink.
“Cheers,” she said, holding out her glass. I smiled, lifting my glass to clink it against hers.
“Cheers,” I replied before we both took a sip of our drinks.
Fuck, why is this drink so good?
“I’m Michelle,” she stated, holding her hand out. I took her hand and shook it, noticing the strong grip she used in the gesture, not to mention the giant diamond ring embellishing her ring finger. The thing was bigger than mine.
“Jaden,” I replied. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“I know who you are. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Oh God, not again.
“I can’t guarantee it’s all true,” I replied, having absolutely no idea what has been said about me.
“I hope it is. I’d like to think there’s more than one woman with a spine in this industry.”
Without failure, Darren’s hand spread itself over my leg, his fingertips pressing into my skin in subtle warning. Glancing up, he wasn’t even looking at me, his head turned in the other direction as he continued his conversation.
The man was ridiculously well-tuned to literally everything around him. Even when you thought he wasn’t paying attention, naturally, he always was.
“I can’t imagine there’s much room for womens’ spines around here with the male ego hogging up all the space,” I added, taking another sip of my drink.
Michelle laughed, nodding in agreement. “Too true. Though some of us learned how to shove our way through. Others just don’t have the brain capacity.”
“Is that what you did with all that amazing muscle you’ve built?” I asked, hoping it wasn’t a weird question.
She chuckled. “Most men don’t prefer a body like mine. It makes dealing with them much easier.”
“I’m honestly jealous,” I replied, shamelessly admiring her hard work.
“Thank you. Though it probably pales compared to your hair. It’s beautiful.”
I could feel myself blushing. What the fuck was wrong with me?
“Thank you,” I said, taking another sip of my drink as she did the same.
“Is that your natural color?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“It’s gorgeous. Never change it.”
“I doubt he’d let me, even if I wanted to,” I said, gesturing with my head to Darren. Which was stupid because I knew he could hear me, evidenced by the fact that he was squeezing my thigh.
What the hell is in this drink?
My chest suddenly grew hot with suspicion, the weight of the now near empty glass convincing me to return the drink back to the table.
“How long have you two been married?” I asked.
“Fifteen years.”
“Wow. So you’ve been in this game for a while, huh?”
Michelle shrugged, taking another swig from her glass. “I’ve been in this game my whole life. Born and raised in it.”
I furrowed my brows. “Yet you’re not like any of the other women I’ve met.” So far, I’d only ever encountered the meek, the dumb, and the slaves.
“I was raised by a single dad. Turned me into the son he never had.”
I paused at her answer, finding it completely unexpected, but also hopeful.
“Did that make life easier for you?”
“In a way,” she answered with a nod. “I certainly received more respect than the other women, but that was mostly because they knew they’d end up with a mouth full of bullets if they didn’t.”
I smiled, a stupid giggle suddenly leaving my lips. Slapping my hand over my mouth, I widened my eyes at the fact I just giggled like a child. But if Michelle noticed, she didn’t act on it. She just smiled back at me as she sipped her drink.
“I like you,” she said, eyeing me up and down with approval. “How long are you in town for?”
Darren abruptly turned around then, his hand clamping down on my leg while his eyes blazed with caution at Michelle. When all she did was smile sweetly back at him, I think I instantly fell in love with her.
“Michelle,” Darren said, a tone of warning mixing in that single word.
“Darren,” she returned with a cool nod. “Enjoying your stay so far?”
“Cut the shit, Michelle. She’s not interested.”
My brows furrowed as I turned to him. “Interested in what?”
“Oh, I bet she’d be real interested by the end of the night,” Michelle drawled, a sly grin curling the corner of her mouth.
“She’s off-limits. Even to you.”
A sarcastic pout replaced the smirk on Michelle’s lips. “Why not let her decide for herself?”
“Decide what?” I tried again.
“Because she’s mine,” he growled. “Now, back off before I have to involve your husband.”
Michelle rolled her eyes and downed her drink, slamming it onto the table.
“Fine, fine. Don’t share. But at least let me take her for a dance then. She’s going to need to let loose any minute now.”
What the shit? Why would I need to do that?
And then like fucking clockwork, I felt a lightness floating through my limbs, a dubious sense of joy tugging at my lips. Awareness snapped my attention back to the damn glass on the table, irritation braiding itself with the odd rush of endorphins.
I felt my shoulders begin to sway to the music, my movements instantly drawing Darren’s interest back to me. The wolfish grin curving up his face was all the confirmation I needed.
“Goddamn you,” I managed to growl before giggling my annoyance.
Darren planted a quick kiss against my temple. “You were too tense. You should relax.”
Why? So I can make an ass out of myself for your entertainment? No thanks.
“What did you give me?”
“Nothing you won’t enjoy,” he answered, then took my chin in his hand and pressed his lips to mine, completely ignoring Michelle. I loathed the way his kiss warmed my stomach, sending a rush of blood to my pelvis where it collected and pulsed for attention.
Damn him and his skillful tongue, pushing me to an edge that promised pain, pleasure, and guilt. If he kept kissing me like this, then we’d be bound for one hell of a display for the unsuspecting crowd and his business associates.
Sensing the same dilemma, he finally released my lips, groaning as he did.
“What exactly am I not interested in?” I asked, finding my words difficult to form.
Darren leaned down into my ear. “Michelle swings both ways, and is a popular dominatrix at the club she and her husband own.”
“Oh…ooohhh,” I sang, understanding suddenly clicking in my head. “I can see it. She has an amazing body that I’m totally jealous of. I want muscles like that.”
Fuck, why am I admitting this shit?
Darren frowned down at me. “No. Your body is exactly the way I want it. You’re lucky that I actually find your little four-pack to be as adorably sufficient as it is.”
I scoffed at him, waving him off with the sway of my hand. But then movement behind him caught my eye as I watched the twins rise from the couch, giggling as they did.
“Come on! Come dance!” they called enthusiastically, their hips moving playfully with the music.
Michelle then turned back to Darren, a knowing smile on her face.
“Come on, Darren, let the girl dance,” she teased, standing up and stepping down from the booth to the floor. She then held out her hand in silent invitation.
And goddammit, I actually wanted to. I wanted to unleash my body to the music and dance like I had when I was in my early twenties.
When not a single obligation could breach the strength of the alcohol and endorphins running through my veins.
When the world of responsibility melted away for just a few blissful moments.
A heavy sigh hissed from Darren’s throat, the telltale sign of his begrudging approval.
“Go on,” he relented, nodding toward the crowd and the women still waving for me to join them. “I know you want to.”
I did want to, my teeth biting into my lip as I watched the dancing sea of bodies entice me more and more. But was it even a good idea?
Darren groaned again as he grabbed my chin. “Go,” he ordered, “before I change my mind and fuck you over this table until you scream.”