Chapter 13
I have triedto avoid Keaton at every opportunity. It’s been hard. I mean, it’s Keaton.
He is sex on legs.
But I haven’t given in anymore apart from those two times. Yes, we’ve done bits, but no sex.
I wrap myself in my coat as I walk towards Prestige. I was in no mood for work, and I am grateful that I am only working till five today.
As soon as the hour hits, I am going to run out of there like a bat out of hell. I want a self-care evening. Face mask, bath salts, chocolate and a chick flick.
It really does sound like the perfect evening.
I nod to Jerry on the door and slip down the corridor to the dressing room. When I enter, April is sitting on the sofa scrolling her phone.
“Hey,” I wave, dropping my bag by my feet, “how was your vacation?”
“Oh, it was perfect, Bora Bora was beautiful. If you ever get the chance, go,” she nods at me, all wide eyed and giddy.
“That would be a dream,” I sigh, opening my locker and lifting my bag into it.
“Can’t believe I am back here though,” she whines, her head dropping back.
“Mm, Bora Bora is definitely more appealing.” She nods in agreement. “Hey, how about next time your dad wants to book an all-inclusive trip, he can take me too?”
“Sure thing,” she winks and pushes up from the sofa. “Well, the show must go on,” she places her phone in her locker and walks out the room and into the busy club.
I take a moment to fold my clothes and get changed. I was over work already and suddenly I felt desperate for a holiday.
Walking the floor, I am a little grateful I’m not on the stage tonight. I honestly don’t think I have it in me. I feel exhausted, my head is pounding, and I am silently praying the Advil I took a while back kicks in soon. Rounding the room, I stop at a table of rowdy football players and give the captain some attention. His hands are on my hips as my body rolls over him, but I am careful not to touch him at all.
His head tips back, his eyes on mine as he leans up.
“Let me pay for a private…” he whispers against my lips, and I stiffen.
“Not working privates tonight,” I smile back at him, then spin so my back is to his front. His large hands back on my bare skin.
Pulling me onto his lap, he tucks my hair over my shoulder and places his lips to the shell of my ear.
“I’ll pay double.”
And my body vibrates in laughter.
“She’s not working privates.” The deep British accent floats across me and my skin pebbles.
Dex.
“Fine, fine, sorry man, jeez,” the football captain rolls his eyes and thumbs behind him to his mates as if to say what’s with this guy.
“She told you once, don’t make her tell you again,” he steps closer, wrapping his fingers softly round the top of my arm as he gently pulls me away.
“You didn’t have to step in,” I half laugh, half scoff in annoyance.
“I know I didn’t, but I can’t stand it when drunk ass fellas ignore when you talk,”
his comment sounded directed towards me specifically, which I know it wasn’t, but still.
I spin to look at him in the dimmed room.
His long, black hair pushed back. High cheek bones, beautiful eyes you could lose yourself in. Broad, lean, tattooed from head to toe.
“That wasn’t aimed at only you by the way,” he chuckles, rubbing his large hand over his chin, Sage’s name tattooed over his fingers on his left hand, a crown on his wedding finger.
“I know,” I sigh, dropping my eyes from him for just a moment.
“I just don’t like guys taking the piss out of young women, I know it’s a bit of a stupid statement to make seeing as this,” he throws his hand around the lavish club, “but still, I’m a little protective.”
I laugh when I see Sage roll her eyes as she stands beside him.
“You? Dex Rutherford, protective?” she snorts a laugh, “Not you babe,” she adds as her arm tucks into Dex’s.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he turns his face down, smiling at her.
“Anyway, I better be going,” I give a weak smile, wanting out of their little PDA and walk past Sage.
“Hey, Ari, wait a sec,” Sage runs up behind me and grabs me by the elbow.
“Everything okay?” my brows pinch for just a moment.
“Me and Dex are flying out to Vegas in a couple of weeks, potentially buying a new club and well, I was thinking why don’t you come with? I would love to get your opinion?” she stands hopeful, her eyes bouncing around excitedly.
“Me? Really? What about Sasha?” I place my hands on my hips and she shakes her head. Stepping towards me for just a moment she leans in and places her lips by my ear.
“She doesn’t have the potential… plus, we’re thinking of replacing her soon…” she pulls away and gives me a wiggle of her impeccably shaped brows. “So, Vegas? With me and Dex? You’re welcome to bring someone with if you want?”
“Sounds amazing, I’ll put my vacation request in.”
“No need,” she stands beside me, linking her arm through mine as she leads me away, “it’s already approved.”
I stepout onto the sidewalk ready to hail a cab and I see Keaton parked and waiting. A soft smile graces my lips as I saunter over to him, the door unlocking as I approach. Slipping in he turns to face me.
“Well, hello you,” my cheeks color pink as I buckle myself in.
“Didn’t want you getting a cab.”
“I am big enough to get a cab, you don’t normally mind when it’s five a.m…” He chuckles, signaling to pull out onto the busy road.
“Okay, fine… I missed you. It’s been a week and you’ve ducked out at every chance you’ve had,” he licks his lips, brows furrowed for just a moment as we roll to a stop.
“I just thought it was best we kept our distance… we’ve not been very good at it recently,” I sigh.
“What if I don’t want to keep my distance?” he asks, looking at me for just a moment as the lights turn green.
“We both agreed it was a bit of fun, it was never going to be any more than that…” I rub my lips together and ignore the way my heart is jack hammering in my chest.
“Ari…” the way my name rolls off his tongue does things to me that I am too ashamed to voice out loud.
“Keaton,” I spin to face him, “it needs to be like this. If you can’t then… maybe I need to move out for a while. I’m sure I can crash on a sofa somewhere.”
“What?” he hisses as we roll to another stop. Jeez. The lights are not on our side tonight.
“I mean…” I shrug, “it might be better for us. Just to help put the distance between us.”
I don’t want to move out, but the more the silence fills the car and I am alone with my thoughts, the more I think that this might be best for us. He stays quiet, fingers tightening round the steering wheel of his SUV.
“You can’t help being a walking god and my lady boner can’t take it,” a slow smirk pulls at my lips and I know I shouldn’t inflate his already huge ego.
At least it matches his huge dick.
Fuck, he has a beautiful dick.
“Can we talk about it at home? I am famished and need food,” he groans, his eyes darkening as he pulls off the busy main roads and into the side streets.
“What you hungry for?” I ask as my own stomach rumbles.
“Your pretty wet cunt,” and I choke on my intake of breath, “that’s the only thing that will appease my appetite.” He glares at me, and my eyes widen.
Shit.
He isn’t joking.
My fingers grip into the seat as tension builds over the duration of our drive home.
And I would be lying if I said I wasn’t excited.