Chapter 3
3
R AIN
We enter the place under the stern eyes of a few bouncers who open their mouths to murmur a greeting yet don’t dare to say anything else.
They nod at us––or rather at them––before we turn right and stroll across the club.
We walk past several booths lit from above and dressed in crimson velvet, where suit-clad men and women sporting beautiful dresses sit around the tables, an army of servers bringing them food and drinks.
Large mirrors line the walls, reflecting back a decadent world.
Exotic entertainers perform on a raised platform in the center, while the surrounding space is a mix of old-style opulence and modernism, designed for comfort and pleasure.
The scarlet upholstery, matching rugs, espresso finish, glass tabletops, and sophisticated lighting create an atmosphere of lustful mystery, the hallmark of a high-end gentleman’s club.
Shaped like a crescent, the booth in the back is the biggest and the most private of all VIP areas.
Out of the regulars’ sight, the round table and wide bench can easily accommodate several guests.
James motions me to the sofa. Hesitantly, I look at him.
His hand goes to the back of my neck, palming the heated skin beneath my hair as he leans closer.
“We’ll have someone look for her,” he says in response to my muted concern.
Lex scoots in first.
Reluctantly, I slide in next, and then James, who flanks me with his friend, blocking my exit.
The hostess, a dark-haired woman wearing a red hourglass dress paired with golden jewelry, stops at our table.
Her piercing eyes go over me, her lips pursed in a scowl. She looks somewhat familiar.
Out of reflex, I hide behind James.
She takes the order without uttering a word, and just when I’m about to sigh and wipe away a bead of sweat from my brow, I catch her eye again, prompting her to point at me with her tablet.
“She’s not supposed to be––”
She halts abruptly as James tilts his head up, raising an eyebrow at her and shooting her a questioning look.
“I’m sorry. I’ll be right back,” she says, her cheeks red like the bench, panic steamrolling her face.
The incident is quickly forgotten, and their drinks come within minutes.
Three glasses.
Scotch on the rocks.
James slides the third glass to the other side of the table.
It takes a few seconds as I make all sorts of assumptions regarding the third drink before a man joins us.
Tall, like them, and about the same age, he moves a warm gaze over us.
His boyish face lights up with a smile as he notices me sandwiched between Lex and James.
“Who the hell is this?” he asks, flashing a superb smile.
He tosses his phone on the table, his hazel-brown eyes hovering over my body as he rakes his hands through his chestnut hair.
“Language, Ed,” James says.
Ed presses his lips together, his eyes dancing with a smile.
“Why is she here?” he asks.
“She’s looking for someone.”
Speaking of which.
I slide my hand up James’ arm, summoning his attention.
He looks at me, his finger held up, and then I notice his cell phone pressed to his ear.
His eyes stay on me as he speaks to someone on the phone.
“Yeah... Who do we have down there? Mm-hmm...”
His eyes float over my face before dipping to my lips and locking my gaze a moment later.
“What does your sister look like, sweetheart?”
I give him the description, and he relays it to the other person. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Ed’s stare.
I flick my gaze at him.
His smile broadens.
“Leave her alone, Edward,” James rasps.
Unfazed, Ed gives me a cheeky grin, his eyes darting back and forth between James and me.
“Ed?”
Lex squeezes Ed’s shoulder, shaking it playfully. “Can you stop, for fuck’s sake?”
“Okay, okay...”
Edward shoots his hands up, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
“She’s not what you think,” Lex says to Edward.
What is that supposed to mean?
James holds his finger up again.
They turn silent.
“Is she with one of ours?” James says on the phone, and my ears perk up. “Pull her out... Uh-huh... Give him ten minutes... It’s more than enough,” he says before sliding his phone onto the table.
They laugh as I innocently move my eyes around the table.
“I’m sorry, baby,” James says, his fingers curling casually around my arm and staying there as he swings his gaze between his two best friends. “She’ll be out momentarily.”
They chuckle some more.
“So... What’s her name?” Ed asks, looking at James.
“Why don’t you ask her?”
They all cut their eyes at me.
“Are you going to tell us, sweetie?” James asks, drinking me in.
“Rain,” I murmur.
“As in… the real rain?” Ed asks, amused, clasping his fingers under his chin and peering at me like I'm a baby panda.
“Yes,” I say softly.
He tilts his lips into a sly smile, his eyes slipping smoothly below my chin.
I tug at my neckline and move it up.
James’ fist crashes onto the table, the ice cubes clinking in the glasses.
“Stay away from her, Ed, or I’ll chop your balls off,” he barks, only half-seriously before they share a peal of laughter.
Ed flicks his hand up.
“All right... All right,” he murmurs, still very much grinning.
“What do you like to do, Rain?” Lex asks.
I shift my eyes to him and go quiet for a moment, studying his features.
His lips part into a soft grin.
He narrows his eyes, observing me through his lashes while taking a swig of liquor.
“Are you going to college?” he asks, setting his drink on the table.
“I don’t know. Next year… Maybe.”
“What about this year?”
“I’m working on a book.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm… Interesting. So, besides books… What else do you like to do?”
“I like cars.”
“What kind of cars?”
“Power cars. Anything that moves fast.”
Silence grows around the table.
“Cars, huh? Fast and hard.”
“Edward,” James growls.
“What? We can give her a ride,” Ed insists, smirking.
Lex clasps the back of his neck, pulls him closer, and whispers something in his ear.
His expression changes, his eyes still on me.
“Got it. She’s cute, though.”
“You can get plenty downstairs,” James comments.
“I’m fine. That’s where I came from,” Ed says, flashing a cocky smile.
James’s phone rings, and silence hovers over the table while he takes the call.
“Yeah... Okay.”
He sets his phone down and looks at me.
“She’s outside, waiting for you,” he says, not moving.
“Thank you.”
I push to my feet, my top hemline sliding up, exposing my lower stomach. The fabric stretches across my full breasts, revealing their shape and hard tips.
Their eyes go to my chest, and much lower, below my waist, undressing me with hunger.
I feel completely naked.
Tipping his head back, Ed takes me in, grinning, while Lex runs his eyes over me way more discreetly.
Turning to my right, I catch James staring.
“I need to go,” I say, pulling them out of their reverie.
James slides out of the booth and raises his hand, stopping Lex and Ed from pushing out of their seats.
He wraps his fingers around my neck and motions to them, tilting his chin. On cue, they nod goodbye to me before watching us head to the exit.
Moments later, we stop near the door.
Sliding his hand down my back, James ignites an electric storm across my skin.
I turn to him.
“Take care, Rain…” he says softly. “It was nice meeting you.”
“Likewise,” I murmur, and without giving it a second thought, I push up onto my toes, take his face in my hands, and before giving him a chance to say something––or do anything––I press my lips against his.
He stifles his impulse to pull back and break away from me rather harshly, allowing me to kiss his lips instead.
I linger a moment longer, relishing the taste and scent of him before pulling away.
His fingers slide off my arm, his eyes harboring surprise as I push the door open and slip outside.
* * *
JAMES
The bouncers keep their mugs under control and look away as I swagger back to the table. They know better than getting canned over some stupid smirks.
I motion for another round of drinks.
“Well, well, well… What the hell happened to you, man?’ Lex asks, studying my face.
A grin tugs at his lips.
“Nothing.”
Ed chuckles.
“Nothing, my ass. What did she do to you?” Lex asks.
“Nothing. I told you. Stop asking me. Besides… It’s none of your damn business,” I murmur, barely suppressing a grin.
“What is wrong with him, man?” Ed asks Lex, pointing at me.
I slice my eyes at Lex.
He shrugs in response, flashing a knowing smile.
“Isn’t she the blonde we spotted on that bench by the old farm when we drove downtown?” Edward insists like the pest he is.
“Yeah. That’s her,” I admit, suddenly in a foul mood.
“You okay?” Lex asks, cocking an eyebrow at me.
“Mm-hmm.”
“Where did you find her?” Ed asks, looking at Lex first and then at me.
“She found us. She was in front of the club, looking for her sister.”
“And who is her sister?”
“Daria Morgan.”
“Fuck me.”
A smile lined with mischief glints in his eyes.
“Are you sure they’re sisters?”
“I have no reason to believe otherwise,” I say, cold as ice.
“I didn’t know there were two of them,” Ed comments.
“That’s because Rain has always been the little one, and no one paid attention to her. She’s never been out in the world,” Lex says.
The fucker knows every damn thing in this town.
“Damn, she’s no longer the little one,” Edward says, drawing an hourglass silhouette in the air with his hands, emphasizing Rain’s chest.
“She’s fucking hot,” he says, his eyes twinkling with lust.
“That, she is...” I grump.
“What’s your fucking problem, man? We can wait a week, a month, or whatever the fuck it takes.”
“We don’t need her. We have her sister.”
“Who wants mac and cheese when they can have the finest steak instead?”
“Not for that, Ed. It doesn’t matter.”
“I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about us.”
Lex’s hand goes to his shoulder.
“Take it easy, Ed. There is no us when it comes to her. She’s already gotten under his skin,” Lex teases, winking at me.
“What the fuck are you talking about? Nobody’s gotten under my skin,” I toss at him, annoyed. “It’s not about that,” I mutter. “She’s never been touched, and I don’t fuck virgins.”
Ed’s lips curl into a naughty smile.
“That makes her perfect,” he says.
My palms begin to itch.
I’m one poorly chosen word away from charging at him.
“Since when do you like virgins, Ed?” I ask in a strained voice. “They’re no fun.”
Slowly shaking his head, he flashes a wolfish smile.
“Not if they look like her. Besides, she looks like she can learn quickly.”
He groans, mimicking an orgasm to Lex’s amusement.
I wish I could smile, but I can’t.
I rub my hand over my face and massage my brow, trying to push away the headache that's been pummeling my brain for the past few minutes.
“I’m surprised she’s never been touched. Is she into girls?” Ed asks.
“Maybe as a side dish, but dick is the main course,” Lex says, a smile creasing his lips.
“How do you know she’s a virgin, then?”
“Don’t be an idiot, Ed. I know it, and you know it,” I say. “We rarely see it, and that’s another story, but you can tell.”
“She almost passed out in front of the club in James’ arms,” Lex comments. “She couldn’t breathe or speak. She was fucking melting. I bet her panties were wet too,” Lex adds as my blood pools between my legs, hardening my dick.
I make myself busy with a cigarette, trying to push her memory away.
I light it and toss the lighter on the table.
“Okay. So what are we talking about here?” Ed asks, unable to drop it.
“Nothing. Drink your scotch and forget about her,” I bark before sucking in a long drag and forcefully blowing the smoke to the side.
Lex studies me, serious this time.
“Is that final?” he asks.
I sense the bafflement in his voice.
“As I said… We don’t need her. We have no reason to mess with her life. Daria is a different story. She came looking for dick, and she got it, but I’m not pulling this girl into the mix.”
Ed tosses his drink back, shuddering as the alcohol hits his throat.
“So what did you tell her when she left?” he asks.
“Nothing.”
He tips his head to the side, grinning.
“Seriously? Nothing?”
I stay quiet.
“Did she say anything?”
They both look at me, waiting while I ponder whether to tell them or not.
A grin begins to tickle my lips.
“She kissed my lips… She fucking kissed my lips.”