by Gephart, T
“I’m Ash and this is Megs. We should be listed there somewhere,” I bluffed, wondering if we got caught out whether he was going to make us go to the end of the line.
He consulted his clipboard before raising his eyebrow in question. “Ashley Brookes?”
“Yep. That’s me and this is my plus one,” I lied, silently hoping karma wasn’t going to bite me on the ass and the real Ashley Brookes didn’t arrive in the next five seconds.
“Says here your guest is supposed to be your husband, Keith Brookes.”
“He’s not feeling well tonight, so I decided to drag out my best friend instead. You know how men can be when they get the sniffles. I left him tucked up in bed.” I smiled sweetly wondering where this new bravado had come from. I guess I had committed so it was best just to see it all the way through.
“Well okay then, show Mack your IDs on the way in. Have a nice night.” He pointed to the other bouncer, sporting the number thirty-four, whose job it seemed was solely checking IDs. I guess there was a pecking order even with security guards.
Mack grunted as we held up our IDs for inspection, barely taking the time to check if they were authentic before waving us over to the line that required no payment of cover charge. Score.
“That was amazing, Ash. I can’t believe we bypassed the line.” Megs’s face beamed with excitement as we walked into the belly of the club and were hit by a wall of flashing lights and deafening noise.
“So now what?” I screamed over the loud music pumping through the space. The wild strobes that were sweeping through the room seemed to have no sequence or rhythm.
“Drinks. Lots and lots of drinks. You, my friend, are going to have a good time tonight. Forget your grand plan, forget the interview, and forget everything else. For one night, you need to just BE,” Megs screamed back, her voice barely audible over the thumping bass.
“Is that some new-aged therapy shit?” I laughed as we waded through the crowd toward the bar, feeling more comfortable taking my chances with the friendly bottles of alcohol rather than the dance floor.
“You don’t need a therapist, Ash, you need to relax. Stop putting so much pressure on yourself.” Megs put her arm around my shoulders and hugged me. She was right. One night wasn’t going to kill me.
“I’m trying.” I shrugged, wondering when was the last time I had honestly loosened the reins. While most kids had been partying through high school I had been studying my ass off for my SATs. When I hit college, I continued to keep my head down, not willing to throw away the opportunity to achieve my dreams for some keg beer and Sorority parties. Besides, when I wasn’t studying I was helping out my parents, hiding out in the kitchen until I hit twenty-one, and then behind the bar.
“Well, try harder. We’ve been in this place for fifteen minutes and we haven’t had our first drink yet.” Megs squeezed her body close to mine. Her gorgeous face had started to bead with a thin sheen of perspiration.
“Okay, okay.” We made our way to the bar in order to rectify the no-drink situation. Knowing how obnoxious it was when some jackass waved or hollered in your face, I waited until the bartender made his way over to our side of the bar before attempting to place our order.
“What can I get you?” The bartender leaned into us, grinning appreciatively at Megs’s barely there dress. Out of the two of us she was the one who usually got the attention. She was not only extremely intelligent but she was also classically beautiful. Her blonde hair and blue-green eyes complemented her delicate features. Add to that her pint-sized figure, she was most men’s dream girl. If she wasn’t my best friend I would have had to hate her.
“I’ll have a Long Island Iced Tea.” Megs smiled, thankfully not ordering anything that required a cocktail umbrella and embarrassing us.
“And I’ll have a Dirty Martini, but can you make it fifty-fifty Noilly Prat and Tanquary 10, lots of brine with three olives.” I leaned over the bar in an effort to make myself heard.
“She’ll have a Dirty Martini, make it how you want to make it.” Megs waved me off. “You’re not working tonight, remember? Let the man do his job. After a few of those suckers you aren’t going to care how they are made.”
“It’s no problem, sweetheart. You’re paying for it so I’ll make it anyway you like.” He smiled. I wasn’t sure who sweetheart was directed at but either way I was happy to see he was making my drink as per my prescription.
“Thank you.” I watched as he grabbed the liquor bottles off the shelves and started mixing the drinks. There was something poetic about watching the liquid spill from the measure pourer and into a Boston glass.
I tried not to stare as he shook my Martini, giving me a wink as he poured it into the chilled glass resting on the bar. He then turned his attention to building Megs’s Long Island in the high ball in front of us, garnishing it with a lemon spiral. I had to hand it to him, he took pride in his craft.
“Keep them coming.” Megs handed over her black Amex that he happily exchanged for a bar token.
“Megs, you don’t really want to do that. Remember, I grew up in a bar.” The delicious icy gin-vermouth sensation complemented by the saltiness of the brine exploded across my tongue as I took a sip.
“Yeah, I actually do. Last time you were drunk was New Years Eve when we were doing shots of Jose Cuervo in my apartment. I think you’re due.” Megs grinned, reminding me of the impromptu party we’d had after finishing our shift at Garro’s. Having not being able to participate in the revelry until after the bar had closed, we’d made our way to her apartment and did shots of silver tequila until we both passed out. New Year’s Day did not treat us kindly.
“Fine, it’s your money.” I took another sip from my glass.
Megs held her glass up with a mischievous grin. “I propose a toast. To great friends and great futures, and to wherever either of those takes us.”
“And to the questionable decisions we’re undoubtedly about to make,” I added before clinking my glass against hers.
Megs shimmied with excitement, her grin splitting wildly across her face. “Now you’re talking.”
“I’m telling you, I think we should have some input into who Lexi is hiring.” I threw back the Jack and Coke the waitress delivered, wanting to get my buzz sooner than later.
This wasn’t our usual hang out but I was in need of a change, bored with the same faces I’d been seeing at the other Manhattan clubs. The strobes flashed with an irregular cadence while the big-ass screens designed for our privacy shook under the thump of the bass. The gen pop part of the club was separated from us by a bunch of drapes and out-of-work linebackers.
I’d dragged Jase and Troy along for the ride with neither of them giving me much resistance. It’s not like either of them had plans, and with Jase having recently broken up with his off-on, long-distance girl, Erin, I decided it was time to go on the prowl, and for me and my brothers to enjoy being single in the greatest city on earth.
“Why the fuck do you care who she hires? This isn’t the whole Sydney thing again, is it?” Troy stood and grabbed the two beers off her tray and handed one to Jason.
“Thanks, Beth. Give us twenty and then bring another round.” He slid a fifty onto her tray giving her the all clear to leave. She gave him a pretty smile before she turned to walk away. He didn’t even look at her ass as he sat back down on the couch. Troy had always been so fucking smooth; why he wasn’t banging a different broad every night still perplexed me.
“No, it’s got nothing to with her.” I put my tumbler onto the table in front of us. “Fuck, you boys gossip more than a bunch of old ladies. Who even told you about her and me?” Syd and I had only happened one time but everyone seemed to know about it. I assumed she must have talked; after all, it had probably been a while since anyone had made her come like I had. I wore the scratches she tore into my back for a fucking week. Who knew she was that wild in the sack.
“You did, numbnuts.” Jason laughed, bumping my shoulder with his fist.
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br /> “Okay, so maybe I did. Who remembers?” I couldn’t recall spilling but honestly it was months ago, it’s probably for the best, I didn’t like hiding shit from my brothers. “Anyway, it’s got nothing to do with Sydney. Shit wouldn’t have worked out with us. She’s English.”
“You make it sound like she has an extra head or something.” Troy laughed as he nursed his beer. He and Jase hated clubs, preferring shit-hole bars with pool tables, dartboards, and draft beer. He didn’t bitch about it though, which was cool, proving what a team player he was by tagging along.
“Not you, too. I explained it to Stone this morning.” I failed to understand why this concept was so fucking hard. Didn’t we all study this shit in school? No wonder there is an outcry over the state of the education system.
“Is this the Declaration of Independence thing or the zee versus zed thing?” Troy piped in giving me faith the bastard had been paying attention.
“It’s the Declaration thing but seriously, who even says zed?” I shrugged.
“You do realize the language we speak is English so they are probably right,” Jason added smugly, the fucker probably thinking that because he had a college degree he knew better.
“Screw zed. As far as I’m concerned, that fancy piece of paper our forefathers signed means I get to say zee.” How this was even up for discussion was beyond me, Ben Franklin would be turning in his grave with this completely unpatriotic banter.
Troy placed his longneck on the table, stretching his hands behind his head. “I’m sure that’s exactly what old Thomas Jefferson was thinking when he dipped his quill in ink.”
“I assure you, Tom J would have definitely been a zee man.” I‘d have put my nuts on it.
“How did we get from talking about Lexi’s new assistant to Thomas Jefferson?” Jason grinned as he took another swig of his beer.
“Who knows, but I now could totally go a Philly Cheese Steak.” Troy laughed, scooping his beer back off the table and taking a mouthful.
Jason leaned back into the couch. “So, Dan…enlighten us as to why you are so passionate about this cause.”
“I was just thinking, seeing as whoever it is will be working with us, we should probably get a say. Technically we’re like the boss, aren’t we?” I scratched my head wondering why I hadn’t thought of it before.
Troy’s face lit up with a big shit-eating grin. “Wow, can you please call Lexi and tell her we’re the boss, that shit would make my week.” Bastard knew there was no way I’d call Lexi and poke the bear. I’d rather keep my balls attached, thanks.
“Whatever, nutsack.” I gave him a friendly punch in the arm. “I was there this morning while Lexi was interviewing and I saw some potential.” I couldn’t help but think of the smokin’ redhead I’d caught staring at Stone’s ass.
“So who’s the girl?” Jason chimed in, guessing correctly it had been a skirt that had got me interested.
“Here’s the thing, she was totally into me. She didn’t say she was but I could tell. You know when you can just tell?” I figured maybe if we did a recap I could work out what got her panties in a twist. All I had done was point out Alex was off the market, why she got all ate up was still a fucking mystery.
“So she shot you down, huh?” Troy cupped my neck, giving me a shake.
I shrugged him off not wanting his fucking sympathy. “She said I offended her.”
“Go figure.” Jason laughed, the wiseass not adding anything helpful to the conversation.
“I was just being myself but she got all defensive.” I pushed my hands through my hair, honestly confused as to why she had been so pissed.
“Was this before or after you opened your mouth?” Jason chimed in.
“Shut up, asshole. I was just introducing myself ’cause she seemed like a fan, but then we started talking about her tits,” I tried to explain, replaying the conversation in my head, unable to stop my grin at the thought of Ashlyn.
“Only you can go from hello to tits in zero point three seconds.” Troy chuckled like a fucking schoolgirl, getting all up in my grill. It’s not like they didn’t think about tits all the time. I was just more honest about it. Girls should be thanking me.
“I’m choosing to ignore you right now ’cause you’re shitting on my parade.” I pushed my palm into Troy’s face and shoved him out of the way. “She had some bullshit business shirt and jacket on, but hiding underneath there were these amazing perky tits. Now, you guys know I generally like porn-star big but seriously, all I could think about was licking them. I’m getting hard just thinking about it.”
“So did tits have a name? Or did you scream out your own when you jerked off.” Troy knew full well that an image like that would have sent even the strongest man to go have a stroke. I don’t know why anyone fights the urge to masturbate; it’s in our nature.
“Yeah, her name is Ashlyn.” Just saying her name sent a shiver down the length of my cock, and I may or may not have screamed it out when I jacked off into my hand earlier. Granted it would sound even hotter if I was calling it out while I was balls deep inside her, but that was a whole other story.
“I need to get her out of my head or I’m going to need to jerk off again.” I shifted in my seat as my pants started to get tight around my crotch, just thinking about her was giving me a wicked hard-on. “I’m going to go check out the talent. There are a couple of girls over in the corner who look keen.”
“Maybe give them a few minutes before you talk about their tits.” Troy snorted as he grabbed his beer off the table and took a swig.
I flipped him off as I walked over to the two gorgeous brunettes who were giggling nervously in the corner. While they might have been working the shy vibe, I was willing to bet there were a few Trojans tucked away in their tiny purses.
“Hi, are you Dan Evans?” The shorter one bit her cherry-red lip seductively, flicking her long hair over her shoulder.
“Sure am, sweetheart, and what would your name be?” I moved in closer, tilting my head to the side as I took them both in. They looked so similar they could be sisters, dark brown hair with large brown eyes. They looked like they’d had been poured into the tight, tiny dresses they were wearing, not that I was complaining. Both of them were sporting rather impressive racks.
“I’m Lili and this my friend Skyla.” She nodded to the cutie on her right. “I thought it was you but was too nervous to come over. Is that the rest of the band?”
“You don’t have to be shy, I don’t bite. Well, not unless you want me to.” I couldn’t help but smile. It wouldn’t be the first time a girl liked it rough and I would be happy to play it either way. “James and Alex aren’t here but those two losers over there are Jason and Troy.”
“Wow, we’ve never met famous people before.” Skyla stepped toward me, her pouty red mouth looked primed for a monumental blowjob.
“We’re just regular folks, babe.” I brushed some hair away from Skyla’s face as Lili slid up beside me. “You wanna come over and say hello?”
“Yes,” they chimed out enthusiastically in stereo. I was definitely getting lucky tonight and these two lovely ladies seemed more than willing to get onboard. Even if I struck out with one, I had the other ready to go. Like a boy scout, I was prepared.
I wrapped my arms around both of their waists, letting my hands drop down to skirt the top of their asses, and pulled them in close to my side. While I was happy to do intros, I wasn’t planning on sharing. The other two would have to find their own tail tonight.
We walked over to where the douchebags were sitting; Troy was busy running his mouth about some bullshit while Jason deep-throated a beer.
“Ladies, meet Troy and Jason. While I can confirm I’ve had all my shots, I make no promises on these two.”
“Ladies,” Troy tipped his chin hello, standing up to offer them the couch, no doubt hoping to get lucky with whichever one I struck out with.
“Hi, girls,” offered Jason, sizing them up as he drained the last of hi
s beer. Both of them were sadly mistaken if they thought they were going to get in on this action.
The girls both giggled nervously and introduced themselves, hugging each of the boys before returning to my side - as it should be. I pulled them onto the couch that Troy had vacated. My ass had barely made contact with the chair when Lili forgot all about her shyness and slid her hand up my thigh, her long red nails squeezing as they neared my balls. My grin widened as I leaned back into the couch spreading my arms across the back of the chair and inviting more. If this fine piece of ass wanted to jerk me off with an audience, I wasn’t about to stop her.
“Hey, I saw him first,” protested Skyla as she grabbed my chin and whipped my head around to face her. “I’m a big fan,” she breathed into my mouth. “I know you probably hear that all the time but I want the opportunity to show you.”
“Relax, ladies, there is plenty of me to go around and it would be very rude of me to not show my appreciation for such huge fans.” I tilted her chin and brought her lips closer to me. My cock jerked assuring me, in case there was any doubt that we were on the same page.
“You think you can handle us both?” Lili’s lips hit the skin on my neck as her hand moved from my thigh to my crotch, making me slightly nervous as she squeezed the denim separating her fingers from my cock. “’Cause there is no way I’m going to let Skyla have all the fun without me.”
If I wasn’t hard before, that situation had well and truly rectified itself as my dick struggled not to be choked out by my jeans. “Babe, no one is missing out tonight.” I moved from Skyla’s mouth to Lili’s, proving I wasn’t about to let anyone feel like the consolation prize.
As the girls moved around me, taking turns with my mouth, I shot a glance over to Troy who rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Dude, do what you want, but if it hits the papers tomorrow, it’s going to be a shit storm I want no part of. Keep it clean or find a room.”