Chapter 14 #3
“Man, that was a good warm-up,” Lottie gasps. “Let’s order another. Waiter!”
“I’m not downing another one, Lottie. I want to taste it this time,” I grumble, still feeling the burn in the back of my throat.
“Whatever makes you happy, babe,” she answers me with a dismissive wave of her hand and proceeds to try and catch the eye of the waiter.
When the waiter doesn’t seem to take any notice of Lottie yelling and clicking her fingers at him, Spike calls him over with a quick wave of his hand.
“How the hell did you do that?”
“Lottie, babe, you don’t need to go all guns blazing just to get a drink.
Keep it cool, okay?” Spike chastises her gently and Lottie sits back in the seat, pushing out her bottom lip in a pretend sulk.
Her eyes are still twinkling though, so I know she secretly likes it when Spike shows his alpha side.
“We’ll have two dirty martinis, two Jack and Cokes and I think me and my girl here…
” he sits back with Lottie, wrapping his arm around her shoulders, “…are gonna have some fun with some flaming Sambuca chasers,” Spike states.
He kisses her hard and breaks away with a smile and rubs her nose with his.
These guys are just too cute. Spike’s cuteness balances out Lottie’s crazy which makes for a perfect match.
“Are you coming next Saturday, Ari?” Lottie asks.
“Coming where?”
“To the ball. Oh for goodness’ sake, D, you haven’t asked her?” she grumbles irritably.
“Asked me what? What ball?”
“Well, if your big-mouthed friend had given me half a chance I would have asked you to come with me to the Summer Charity Ball next Saturday evening.” He stares hard at Lottie and she shrinks into her seat, picking up the martini that has just been placed on the table.
“Eeek, sorry!” she squeaks out, looking toward Spike who affectionately shakes his head at her opening her big mouth.
“So will you come?” Denham asks tentatively.
I hear Lottie snort at his question and it’s my turn to dig her in the arm with my elbow. An opportunity to turn an innocent question into something rude never escapes her.
“OW! Well, come on, Ari, that’s kind of an open-ended question, don’t ya think?” she squeaks at me.
“Well, I kinda think the answer depends on how good you treat her, D man …” Spike teases. They both dissolve into fits of giggles and it’s hard to even pretend to berate them.
Denham has one elbow on the table and his head in the palm of his hand.
“It’s like having a couple of teenagers around with you guys. Arianna, I’m sorry about the two idiots sitting next to you, but I’d really like it if you would accompany me to the charity ball next Saturday.”
“I would love to come with you, but can we talk about this in the morning when I’ll remember all the details?”
“Sure thing, Stunner.”
“Ari!” Lottie jumps up. “This is our song!”
Low by Flo Rida is guaranteed to get us up and dancing wherever we are.
She motions to Spike to down his shot with her, so he flicks a match and lights the clear liquid and they down it at the same time.
Their faces scrunch up and I’m so pleased they didn’t insist on me doing that; it would be more than I can take.
“Come on!” she shrieks. She is out of her seat and grabbing my hands before I can blink, dragging me to the illuminated glass dance floor.
The lights flash in time with the music and it doesn’t take long for us to be swept away with the tunes and let loose.
After the champagne in the Limo and knocking back the dirty martini, I’m feeling fuzzy around the edges but not too drunk I can’t feel my feet.
There are happy vibes all around me and other than the bimbo waitress earlier, I don’t catch a sly look or nasty vibe anywhere.
Lottie and I dance for maybe five songs before I decide that I need a drink. The dance floor is starting to get crowded and there’s a small part of me that would like to go see my man.
My man? I don’t know where that thought comes from, it’s out of the blue. Or is it? Have I actually felt like that from the very second I crashed into his hard body and he flashed those wicked golden-flecked eyes at me?
Maybe I’m crazy, but I’m all right with it.
I also know that I need to revisit this thought when I’m fully sober and not under any influence.
Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines starts to play and Lottie mouths, “Oh my god.” I follow the direction of her eye line and the crowd starts to whoop and cheer as I see two very familiar bodies getting their groove on.
What’s sexier than Denham King?
Denham King dancing.
He moves as if it’s as easy as breathing, and it looks like he and Spike have a little routine going on.
“Is this a party trick they do?” I question Lottie,
“Every time we come here … they dance.” She sighs dreamily. “Ari, you’re in for a treat with Denham, girl. He can sing, dance, and by the sway of his hips right now, I’d say the dude can make sweeeeet music.”
If it was anyone else who’d just said that I might have had to resist the urge to scratch her eyes out, but by the way she’s ogling Spike, I have no doubt that she only has eyes for one of them. Lottie makes no apologies for saying what she thinks, and in this instance, I think she’s right
I watch, mesmerized. Anyone would think I’ve never seem a man dance. I have. The main thing here is that I’ve never seen my man dance.
My man.
I can’t help it.
I like it.
I want it, him, so badly.
The song finishes and Denham and Spike bow to a crowd of excited onlookers. They high five each other, then move quickly toward us, trying to avoid the party goers that want to speak with them along the way.
Denham’s sexy smile finds me and I have to check that I’m not drooling over the flashing dance floor. His chest is glistening with a fine sheen of sweat after his rhythmic exertions and his shirt sticks to him a little. I have to resist the urge to peel it off him right here.
He slides his hands around my waist and nuzzles into my neck, burying his face into my hair and I feel him take a deep breath. “You smell like sunshine … or moonlight … I can’t decide which …”
“You sure gave Channing Tatum a run for his money up there,” I quip.
“Yeah, well, I taught him everything he knows.”
“Oh yeah?” I say, feeling sassy. “Wanna teach me? I’d love to see some of your moves.”
“Oh, you’re gonna. Every.” Kiss. “Single.” Kiss. “One.” Kiss.
I grin and kiss him softly on the lips, holding there, eyes closed, drinking him in.
I feel his lips twitch and his mouth open, letting his tongue snake out until it finds my bottom lip.
I groan as the touch of his wet tongue sends signals between my legs.
He sucks my lower lip as his hips grind against mine in time to the music and I slowly open my eyes and look up at him through a lust filled haze.
The blink of the lights and getting knocked by someone dancing vigorously behind us, prompts us to move from the dance floor.
I hold one of his hands with both of mine as we weave our way toward the bar, then he picks me up under my arms and places me on a high bar stool, pushing himself in between my legs.
“Are you trying to show everyone my underwear?” I ask, pulling at the sides of my dress to cover my legs somewhat.
“No one will be seeing your underwear, I’ll make sure of it.
I just want to be between your legs,” he says deadpan.
My eyes widen at his words. The alcohol has loosened his tongue too.
“Don’t be surprised, Ari. I’ve wanted to be between your legs for days now.
I’ve had more cold showers than I can count, and I’ve gotten very good at thinking of boring scenarios to get my mind off you. Nothing works.”
“Nothing?”
“Nothing,” he replies, shaking his head. “It’s a problem, I tell ya.”
“It sounds like it.”
“There’s only one solution.”
“Mmm hmm.” I humor him, pushing the conversation so he has to tell me exactly what he wants. I love how he’s waited until I’m ready, until he’s been able to prove to me that he’s a good guy. I also love this back and forth, the tease, the anticipation.
“I need to stop thinking and start doing.”
“Doing what?” My voice drops to a whisper as I play innocent.
“You, Ari, only you. All day, all night until you don’t see anything but me. Everywhere you go, everything you do, I want you to feel me and want me like I want you.”
My mouth drops open and I gasp to let more air into my lungs.
He grasps the back of my head and pulls me to him, kissing me hard. I try and deepen it, but he pulls away, replacing his lips with his forefinger.
“Save that thought, Arianna.” I don’t have time to reply before the bartender is in front of us ready to take our order. “Do I need to ask what you would like to drink?” Denham jokes.
I shake my head no. I’m still speechless. I hop off the stool while Denham is talking to the bartender. I need to pee and I need to straighten up. “I’m just going to the ladies,” I utter.
Denham gives me a gentle nod and I can feel his eyes follow me across the room.
After using the bathroom and washing my hands, I look into the mirror.
Miraculously, everything is still intact.
Makeup is still perfect, hair a little more messed up than before but knowing the reason is because Denham’s fingers have been tangled in it …
well, I can live with that. I smooth down my dress and I’m good to go.
I head back out into the thrum of the main club and notice a table of men.
I hadn’t noticed them before and the only reason I notice them now is because they’re all looking in my direction.
I watch as one of them makes a joke and they all start to laugh, but their gaze doesn’t leave me as I walk toward them.
I look around to find an alternative route to the bar, but there isn’t one.