17. Isabella
Theglow of NeonWild bathed the Brooklyn street in flickers of pink and blue, a siren call for those seeking a reprieve from mundane days. My heartbeat echoed the thumping of the bass from inside the club, an electric excitement coursing through my veins.
Iadjusted the strap of my emerald-green dress, the silk material whispering softly against my skin, offering a luxurious comfort amidst the lively clamor around me. As the slit of the dress revealed my thigh with each step, a chill reminder of vulnerability brushed against me, akin to the nagging voice that whispered of fleeting youth.
Thevibrant buzz of NewYorkCity nightlife as I stepped out of the cab was a familiar siren call, yet it carried a bittersweet echo of days when such outings weren’t tinged with self-consciousness. “Still got it,” I murmured to myself, a half-hearted attempt to quash the small, insidious doubts that crept in at the edge of my excitement.
Steppingthrough the club doors brought me back to my days clubbing with Nat. The smell was always the same: a nauseating blend of perfumes and colognes mixed with the sticky stench of spilled cocktails.
Iheaded toward the group as I breezed past the bouncer, who hadn’t even needed to see my ID. I spotted the birthday girl, Jules, shimmering under neon lights, her “26” tiara sparkling amid the kaleidoscopic glow.
Herlaughter, pure and unfettered, sliced through the techno beats as she threw her arms around me. “I’m sooooo glad you made it!” Jules screamed in my ear as she hugged me.
“I wouldn’t miss it.” I screamed back, “Happy birthday!”
Juleshimmied away from me, grabbing a shot of pink liquid off a tray before downing it in one gulp. I made my way through the crowd over to the couple of high-top tables reserved for our group.
Isqueezed Nat in a huge hug, both of us giggling at the fact we were in a dance club on a Monday evening. It looked like everyone from work was here, well, except for Max. I subtly scanned the club for his face as I smiled across the table at Emma and Jessie.
Liamand Emma were practically connected at the hip, his eyes never leaving her face as she talked about all the changes she was excited to make at Mirage. Her design agency had rushed their project through so it could open it on time. It turned out Jessie was responsible for crafting that beautiful cellar I had seen yesterday. They all acted like their own small family, dropping anything to help out the other. I hoped I wouldn’t always feel like an outside in their group.
“The striped fabric for the tent was amazing,” I said, leaning over toward Emma. “It makes it feel circus-y without it being cheesy. And the vintage doorknobs? Where did you find those?”
Jessieturned toward us, speaking up, “I have secret vintage shops around the city where I find my treasures.” She steepled her hands together like a madwoman who would never reveal her sources.
“Well, they’re amazing. You all crushed it,” I said.
Anotherwoman, whom I had never met, joined their table. She waltzed in like Barbie in a tight light pink dress and hugged Dominic tightly before squeezing Jessie and giving her a light kiss.
Jessiebeamed and turned to me. “Iz, this is Reagan.”
“Hi, it’s great to meet you!” I had to yell across the table as the techno beats blared around them. Jules had already made it to the dance floor, dragging Maureen with her. I made another sweep of the club, looking for Max.
It’snot that Ineeded him here, I just thought since everyone from work had been summoned here that, he’d already be here. Plus, the idea of seeing nerdy Max let loose in a place like this put a grin on my face. There was something about having him around that calmed me. He brought security and excitement all at the same time, and I didn’t quite know what to do with those feelings.
“Looking for me?” Max’s voice, a silky whisper, melted into my senses, his words laced with a teasing undertone. My shoulders softened knowing he was here.
Aplayful grin stretched across my face, a flutter of anticipation lighting my eyes. Without turning, I responded, “Took you long enough.”
Heslid a cold, perspiring glass into my hand, his fingers lingering near mine a moment too long. “I’m sorry, dear,” he murmured in my ear. “WhenI walked in, I saw you over here without a drink, so I stopped by the bar first to grab you one.”
Iturned to face him, my expression an enticing mixture of amusement and intrigue. His eyes, dark and full of depth, cradled a secret jest, inviting me into a private joke only we understood.
Themoment lingered, intimate and charged, amidst the tumultuous celebration around us. It was as if everyone around us had blurred out, their chatter muffled and dim.
Maxleaned in. “IfI told you to take off your panties and hand them to me, would you listen.” His words, a repeat of what he’d asked me in the cellar, laced through the fog in my brain and made my eyes widen.
Myheart skipped, and for a moment, the blaring music, the pulsating lights, and the crowded room faded into a distant reality. It was just us enclosed in a bubble where time seemed to pause.
“What? Here?” I swallowed, darting my eyes around the table. No one was paying us an ounce of attention. All eyes were on Jules and Maureen on the dance floor, the older woman absolutely cutting it up out there.
Maxstood at my side, shadowing my body with his large frame. He placed his hand at my elbow and leaned in again, “Slide your panties down and give them to me.” His voice was a gentle command. One he wouldn’t hold me to if Itruly didn’t want to, but the fluttering in my belly told me that maybe I did.
Iglanced around again before snaking one hand up my dress through the slit at my thigh. My fingers wrapped around the thin strap of my lace thong, and I tugged. The movement was awkward and slow, but Max kept me hidden with the angle of my body. I kept one hand on my glass for balance, and finally, the fabric was nearly to my knees.
Withone final look, I bent over, pretending to fix the strap of my heels as I subtly lifted each foot off the ground to step out of the fabric, bunched it up in my hands, and pushed it into Max’s hands. His large palm swallowed my panties in an instant as he slid them into his pocket.
“That’s my good girl,” Max whispered in my ear, my hair blowing slightly as he spoke.
Fuck. Tonight was going to be interesting.
“Okay! Everyone out on the dance floor!” Jules came screaming up to their tables. “And no excuses, it’s my birthday. You’re legally obligated to dance.”
Shegripped my hand and dragged me out with her. I felt a wave of panic, suddenly sure everyone could tell I wasn’t wearing any underwear. One glance back at the table, with pleading eyes, only resulted in Max raising his glass in the air to me and smiling.
Julesled a storm of energy, her very being seeming to emit beams of ecstasy that painted everyone around me with a vibrant euphoria. I, hand-in-hand with her, couldn’t help but be swept up in the wave of delight, my own laughter mingling with the joyous cacophony around us. The neon lights painted the dance floor in dynamic strokes of color, flickering in sync with the pulsating beats that guided our sways and shimmies.
Dancingamidst the jubilation, I felt a lightness I hadn’t in ages buoy my spirits, challenging the shadow of doubt that lingered from days spent wondering if I was too old for this. Each step, twirl, and playful push from Jules seemed to whisper, “Age is just a number,” but the whisper was a fighter, battling against the louder, harsher critique that often echoed in the quieter moments of my life. Here, in the whirlwind of music and laughter, I let the free and spirited Izzy take center stage, if only for the night, pushing the nagging voice to the backseat.
Julesspun around me, tiara glittering, and I couldn’t contain a burst of playful energy. I danced with abandon, arms flailing melodically to the thud of the bass, body swaying in harmony with the music. We were in a world of our own, where everything that sat on our to-do lists or running through our over-anxious minds could simmer.
Lookingback at our tables, I caught Max’s eye. I crooked my finger and beckoned him over. I raised an eyebrow when he didn’t get up. HereI was, no panties, on the dance floor. The least he could do was join me. He downed his glass and made his way through the crowd.
Ithrew my head back and laughed as he shimmied his way through the other dancers, his hips moving to the beat. He was in a dark t-shirt and jeans tonight, and I desperately wanted to run my hands down his forearms. I glanced at his waist, remembering what we’d done not long ago.
Leaningin, my voice barely audible above the beats, I teased, “Thought you’d be too mature for a dance floor, Boss.”
Max’slips quirked into that signature half-smile, a glint of playful defiance lighting his eyes. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Isabella,” he murmured, his words a melodic whisper that somehow found my ears amidst the chaos.
“Hmmm, I think that’s probably true,” I said.
Max’smovements were fluid, a seamless transition from motion to motion that mirrored the tranquility that emanated from him. He spun me out, my world expanding into an orbit of lights and sounds, and then pulled my back, anchoring me once more. In the neon glow, boundaries blurred, and for a fleeting moment, everything was possible.
Asmore people joined the dance floor, bodies squeezed closer. Everyone seemed to be in their own world. Which is why I didn’t mind when Max brought me close to his chest and kept me there. It’s why I didn’t turn away when I felt his hardness press against my backside. And it’s the only excuse I had for why I didn’t flinch when I felt his large hand find my thigh through the slit of my dress.
Underthe cover of the dim dance floor, Max trailed his fingers up, and up, and up. I heard him hiss in my ear as his fingers grazed the wetness waiting for him.
“Fuck, Isabella, what am I going to do about you?” he asked. I hoped his question was rhetorical.
Heslid his fingers up and down my middle, coating the tips of them with my arousal. Our bodies kept swaying to the music, and our eyes focused in order to maintain our cover. Max held me up with one arm, letting me lean on him as we danced, but the other hand kept up its dirty work between my legs.
Iwasn’t sure there was an end goal in mind here, especially as Max kept lazily tracing my middle and softly circling my clit. It was as though he couldn’t not touch me. My breath became heavy, my chest warming.
Andjust as I considered saying fuck it and pulling Max back down the dark hallway, he trailed his fingers down my inner thigh and removed his hand from under my dress. I turned as he slid two of his fingers into his mouth, and I thought I just might die right there on the dance floor.
Wedanced through more songs, and I somehow let Jules convince me to do lemon drop shots with the group. Nat and I squealed as songs from our prep school days blared through the speakers and we threw our hands in the air wildly as we bounced around the floor. Sweat was making my hair stick to my temples and my feet were aching, but I hadn’t had this much fun in ages.
Beforelong, our group started to break up, Nat shouting her goodbye from the other side of the dance floor, waving wildly. Nat gave me a look that I knew to mean you good?I smiled reassuringly and hoped Nat hadn’t caught any of Max’s dance floor shenanigans from earlier.
Atone point, Max left the dance floor and huddled up with Dom and Liam, while the rest of the crew kept at it on the dance floor. AfterMaureen, Jessie, and Reagan all called it quits, I started to feel the tightness in my hips.
Myfeet were sore, my hair a sweaty mess, and my ears pulsed with the beats of the music. I’d downed about three too many shots with the birthday girl, and now I was ready for the comfort of my bed.
Istumbled a bit as I let myself out of the girl’s bathroom, a damp paper towel pressed to my neck. I felt cold hands wrap around my waist, gripping my hips tightly as they tried to steer me back to the dance floor.
Iexpected to see Max or at least Dom, but I didn’t know who this was. “Come on, honey, let’s go dance.” The stranger’s voice was slow and thick, no doubt from the vodka in his hand.
Itried to push away. “No thanks, I’m going to head out.”
“Ah, come on! Just one dance. I’ve been watching you tonight, baby.” He leaned down to my ear, and I could smell cigarettes and booze on his skin.
“There you are, you ready to go, babe?” Max’s familiar voice called to me from the end of the hall. His eyes were locked on the man’s grip on my hips as he made his way to me. “You can take your hands off her now.”
“Ah, man, we were just gonna dance,” the man’s voice slurred.
“I said take your hands off her. Now.” Max’s voice was crystal clear in comparison to this stranger’s, and it shocked both of them. The man finally released me, raising his hands in defense. He muttered something under his breath about “crazy bitches” as he staggered away.
Ireleased my breath, thankful for Max’s presence.
“Are you okay?” He turned to me, eyes locked on my face.
Inodded. “Yeah, I’m fine, just ready to get out of here.”
“I brought your slippers,” Max said as he raised my Uggs in his hands. The ones I kept in my work locker to change into after a shift. “I went out to my car to grab them for you.”
Ithrew my head back and laughed, “Wow, you have, like, a whole different kind of obsession with my feet.”
“I do not,” Max said.
Myeyebrows lifted. “Whatever you say, Boss.”
Maxlet me lean on him as I slipped off one heel and slid on the Ugg. There was no way I was going to put my bare foot down on this sticky club floor. I teetered a bit as I tried to swap out my other shoe, but Max had a grip on my shoulders that kept me from falling.
Finally, I held my sweaty heels in one hand and stood three inches shorter in front of Max. MyUggs felt like heaven on my feet as I shuffled my way to the exit.
Maxtook my purse and heels from me as I struggled to hold on to everything and then followed him out, slippers on my feet and a smile on my face. My handbag looked tiny in his hands as he made his way through the crowd, parting it so I could walk through.
Thecool night air felt refreshing on my face as I walked through the doors of the club. My ears still rang as the music shut off behind us once the door snapped shut.
Max’scar was waiting for us at the curb, flashers on. I smiled up at him as he opened my door, and I slid inside. He was taking care of me. Again.
Maxopened his door but didn’t get in. Instead, he leaned in and said, “You need carbs. I’m going to grab us some pretzels. Stay right here.”
Igave him a salute. “Yes, Boss.”
Maxshook his head as he jogged across the street to the food cart parked outside. The lines of drunk people hadn’t gotten bad yet since bars were still open. That was a perk of leaving early, I guessed. Although, I’d stayed longer than everyone but Jules and Emma.
Icouldn’t hold back the moan that escaped my mouth as the smell of a warm, salty pretzel filled the car when Max slid back in. I tore into the warm bread as he drove us back to my parents’ house and parked on the curb so we could finish eating.
Maxheld out a container of cheese dip for me, his eyes reflecting the soft light from the car’s interior. AsI took a bite, we sat in comfortable silence, the car enveloping us in a cozy bubble amid the night’s chill.
“Thank you for rescuing me earlier,” I said between a bite of cheese-dipped pretzel. “And for the other thing.”
“You mean when I teased your pussy while we danced?” he asked.
Inearly choked on my pretzel. “Well, when you put it like that.”
“You know you can’t keep stealing my panties,” I said as I got back to chewing. “I’ll run out one day.”
Hiseyes had a glimmer in them as he watched me. “I’ll buy you more.”
“Oh,” I said excitedly, “I got to see inside the MirageGuild yesterday. The space is truly beautiful.”
“Is it true that you’re going to be running events there?” Max asked.
“Is it okay that I do?” I asked.
“I couldn’t think of a better place for you to be, Isabella,” he replied.
“And it is going to be fine? That we both work there? I mean, together?” I didn’t know what I was really asking behind all my questions. The alcohol was certainly making my thoughts swirl.
“We work together now and it’s fine,” he countered.
“Right, but now that . . . well, you know,” I said.
“Now that I always want to be inside you?” Max’s voice was low, and I had the strong urge to lean across the console and taste his lips. “I think we’ll be able to figure it out, Isabella.”
IfI had stopped drinking before the lemon drop shots, I might have felt more confident about asking Max to come inside, but for now, I needed a large glass of water and my bed. He must have seen the tiredness in my eyes because he came around the side of the car and helped me up the steps.
Thepretzel certainly helped me gain a more solid footing. Carbs were always a good idea.
“Are you okay to make it inside?” he asked.
“Yeah, I can, I’ve made this trip far drunker than now,” I said with a chuckle.
“Good night, Isabella,” Max said as I stepped inside the foyer.