4. Freddie
Freddie
“I mean it, Cole. I feel like I’ve been struck by fucking lightning.” My heart’s still pounding as I sit down and slide his drink over the table. “I’ve just met the woman of my dreams.”
“You’ve met the woman of your dreams in a sex club?” Cole says, giving me a look over the rim of his glasses before glancing at the bar.
“She’s stunning. Just stunning. And American . God, no wonder I’ve never found the right woman in London. I’ve been fishing in the wrong pond. I need an American .”
Cole merely frowns at me.
“You were at the bar for six minutes, Freddie.”
“I know, man. But when you know, you know.” I grin.
She glances over at us but pretends not to. My heart skips a beat just as my cock perks up. She’s got jet-black hair and that sexy black eyeliner going on, plus a full mouth that’s painted scarlet. The kind of lipstick that’s begging to be smeared. Her eyes are so pale blue they’re basically grey.
She looked so fucked off at my stupid line that I had to laugh. She’s clearly a woman who takes no shit and it only makes me want her more.
“You do realise how you sound right now?” Cole interrupts my reverie with his dry, mild tone.
“I know and I don’t care. She’s my dream girl.”
Cole sighs. He’s a saint to put up with me. We’ve been inseparable since we met, but there’s no getting away from the fact that we’re chalk and cheese. We couldn’t be more different. It’s what makes our friendship work. I bring all the fun and he brings the… being sensible bit.
I was positively giddy about coming to Salt tonight.
Ever since I found out that Luke had binned off the hedge fund life for this , I couldn’t get it out of my mind.
Though meeting my dream girl wasn’t exactly on my agenda for my first visit.
I wonder if she’s a regular in the playrooms. Shit, I wonder if she’s here all the time, with a different man every visit?
I give myself a mental shake. I know I can get fixated easily – it’s part of my ADHD – but I can’t help the feeling I was meant to meet her. And I’ve got to do everything I can to earn her name.
Thirty minutes later, Cole gets up to get our next round. There’s been some sort of acrobat on stage flinging herself around on long strips of fabric, but my attention keeps snagging back to the American.
She remains propped up against the bar, deep in conversation with the woman I now know is Jessie, the club’s manager.
The American looks up as Cole approaches, and I see them exchange a few words. She’s wearing a coy smile, and after a moment they both turn to look at me. I wink at her, and she cocks her head before returning her gaze to Cole.
Fuck, what if she likes him more than me?
Cole’s a lot taller, but I’m more muscled.
He’s also charming and intelligent, with that inherent sex appeal that all bisexual people seem to have about them.
What if he can offer her more than me? I can feel my heartbeat rising as I watch them chat and her laughter carries over to me across the bar.
I’m about seven seconds from bolting over there to join them when she gets off the barstool and follows Cole back towards our table.
Fuck! Be cool, Freddie . You’ve closed deals worth millions, you can handle one feisty American. One feisty American who’s approaching with swaying, wide hips, and a bottom lip I want to bite down on.
Within moments, she’s standing at the edge of the table while Cole slides into the booth next to me and passes me my drink.
“Your friend here insisted I come over,” she says, that cocked eyebrow remaining firmly in place while a slight smirk graces her beautiful mouth. Yes, Cole, you magnificent bastard.
“Would you like to join us?” I gesture to our booth. “We’ve got a great view.” Her lips twitch as my eyes rove every curve.
“Sure,” she replies, giving little away. I slide out to make room for her, then sandwich her between Cole and me. It’s completely unnecessary for her to sit between us, but she plays along.
“So, have you been a member here for long?” Cole asks from the other side of her.
“I joined not long after it opened,” she says, sipping her drink and casting her eyes up to the stage. It seems like another performance is due to begin.
“Nice,” he replies. “It’s our first time here.”
“Are you two together?” she replies, without dropping a beat.
“No!” I say instantly, as Cole rolls his eyes. “Best friends, nothing more.” I grin. “Though Cole does bat for both teams.”
The American turns to him, a real smile lighting her features. “Then you and I have something in common,” she murmurs to him. He inclines his head and they clink glasses together.
“What do you do?” I blurt out, kicking myself for my absolute lack of chill.
“I’m just finishing up a master’s in psychology,” she replies.
“Oh, are you just here to study?” I struggle to keep the disappointment from my voice.
“No, I live here. Dual citizen,” she says, and my heart calms down.
“Nice!” I say, like a moron.
“What do you do?” she offers back, tilting her head as she looks at me.
“I’m in the City,” I reply, giving a shorthand response, because honestly no one outside the City cares about what goes on within it. Hedge funds, stockbrokers, venture capitalists, etc – we’re all the same to everyone outside our world.
“And I’m a graphic designer,” Cole supplies from the other side, drawing her attention back to him.
“Oh, amazing,” she replies, giving him another warm smile. “You do give off a creative vibe.”
Fuck’s sake, Cole . He only looks creative because he’s wearing hipster glasses.
“Would you fancy dinner sometime?” I offer, sliding an arm around the back of the booth, not quite touching her, but testing the waters anyway.
“With just you?”
“Er, yes. With just me.” I frown, confused.
“Therein lies the problem, honey.”
“I don’t underst?—”
“I like group stuff.”
I frown. “Group stuff?”
“Yeah,” she nods, then leans in, crowding my space. “I like more than one person in my bed,” she elucidates, and my heart sputters in a staccato rhythm.
There’s a silence while I struggle to find the words. Cole doesn’t seem shocked at all. He’s just nodding like she’s informed him that she’s a vegetarian or a Capricorn.
“More than one…” I start, and frown. “You like threesomes?”
“Threesomes, foursomes, moresomes. You name it. And while you are pretty, Freddie Lane, I don’t get the sense you’re up for that. I’ve enjoyed our little chat, but I probably ought to get off soon. I promised my roommate I wouldn’t be late tonight.”
My brain full-on glitches.
“Not up for that?” I bite back. “How do you know I’m not into threesomes too?”
She gives me a patronising look.
“Well, are you?”
“I—”
“Darling, this is your first time setting foot in my world,” she says.
“I wouldn’t expect you to jump in at the deep end.
And Salt is the most welcoming place for newbies.
But I’m really upfront with what I want these days and what I want is multiple partners.
Ideally women, frankly. Most men can’t find their way to my g-spot with both hands and a map. ”
“Is that a challenge?” I grit out, some feral part of me rising to the fore. I’m throwing caution to the wind. She’s writing me off, and I simply can’t let that happen.
She chuckles. “Pretty boy, I’ve got to get off in five minutes and?—”
“I can get you off in two,” I fire back. You miss every shot you don’t take, right? “Do you dare me to try? Because I dare you to give me the chance.”
She pauses to consider, giving me a truly amused smile for the first time since we met.
“I accept your dare. I dare you to try.”
“Do I have your consent?”
“You do.”
“Oh, here we go,” mutters Cole. I ignore him as I slide off my seat and sink to my knees under the table. The timer starts now.