Finally Us (Next Generation Book 5)

by J. M. Walker

  My stomach twisted, unsure as to what that was about but at the moment, I didn’t care. “Listen, I’ll be back later. I just need to go find someone.” I hooked an arm around Mason’s shoulders and stretched my other arm out.

  Rory sighed but came toward us.

  Wrapping my arms around both of them, the three of us shared a hug.

  “You’re doing a shot with us, fucker. And an extra shot for being an ass,” Mason mumbled.

  “Yeah, yeah.” I released them and punched Mason in the shoulder. “I’ll see you in a bit. Go mingle. Have fun.” I rushed off before they could stop me again but not before I caught that same look in Tenise’s eyes. Something was going on, but I had no idea what it was. Either way, I was sure I would find out whether I wanted to or not.

  Gigi

  I hadn’t seen Vince all evening. Not because I hadn’t tried but every time I attempted to go up to him, someone or something called me away. It was getting old and fast.

  “Gigi.”

  I let out a soft sigh when a warm body stepped up behind me.

  “You’re a hard person to find.” Gentle fingers pushed the hair off my nape. “Have you been avoiding me?” A warm mouth pressed against my ear. “I think you have. Maybe I should punish you.”

  My core clenched at the thought. “I haven’t been avoiding you.”

  Vince fisted my hair, tugging my head back.

  My body burned at the rough hold he had on me. Under normal circumstances, I probably should have looked to see if anyone was watching this exchange, but this would never be normal, and I also didn’t care who saw. What we had. What we shared. The things we did. The things we craved.

  “Are you lying to me?” Vince asked, pushing me into a dark corner. But I knew that even he didn’t care if someone saw us. No, because then that meant they would know that I belonged to him.

  “I’ve been busy. You know how I get when I plan parties,” I reminded him. It wasn’t like this was my first party, but I was a perfectionist. I needed to make sure that everyone was having a good time and taken care of.

  Once we reached the darkest corner, he released my hair and turned me around. Pinching my chin, he tilted my head and brushed his mouth over mine.

  I sighed, snaking my arms around his neck.

  “I just wanted this.” His hands trailed down my sides, his fingers hitting the hem of my dress that fell just above my knees. It was classy but tight and red because that had been his favorite color. “You look beautiful tonight.” He leaned his forehead against mine.

  “Thank you. You look handsome.” Hot as hell was more like it. He was wearing a navy-blue dress shirt tucked into black dress pants. The dark colors brought out the natural tan in his skin and made his chocolate brown eyes, pop.

  “I have a confession.”

  Vince leaned back but kept his hand on my hip. I realized then that he always touched me, no matter who was around. Even if it was something small, his hand was still on me.

  “I kind of wish I never planned this party,” I murmured.

  “I figured.” His fingers brushed over my knee before sliding up my inner thigh. “I don’t want that stripper.”

  My stomach sunk. I had forgotten about that. “It’s tradition,” I heard myself say.

  He stared at me, his fingers dancing higher along my skin. “You want me to have some other woman dancing all over me, Gigi?”

  My stomach twisted at the thought of another woman touching him. “No,” I whispered.

  Vince’s fingers reached the crotch of my panties. “Tell me you want someone else dancing for me.”

  “The thought of another woman dancing for you, makes me want to commit murder.” I hooked a leg around his waist and placed my hands on his chest, letting them roam down the length of his torso. In a quick move, I cupped him over his pants. “This is mine.”

  He smirked, placing a soft peck on my forehead and slipping a finger into my thong. “You bet your sweet ass it’s yours.” He slid his finger into me. “And remember who this cunt belongs to.”

  I grabbed onto his dress shirt, pulling him down to meet the impact of my mouth.

  He groaned, sliding his tongue between my lips when he began pumping his hand between my legs. “Fucking hell, baby, you’re soaked.”

  Circling my arms around his shoulders, I deepened the kiss, silencing his dirty words as I rocked my hips against his hand.

  Before we could take it any further, our names were being called out.

  Vince broke the kiss, giving me a lopsided grin. “We should make an appearance before people come looking for us.” He pulled his hand from between my legs and brushed the finger that had just been inside my body, over my upper lip. The heady scent of my arousal made me lightheaded and ache for him more.

  He smirked, lowering his mouth to mine and licking along my lip. “Hmm…fucking delicious.”

  A breathless laugh escaped me. “Such a tease.”

  “Until later, Queenie.” He helped me smooth down my dress, adjusted himself, and held out his hand. “Don’t disappear on me again, okay?”

  I stood on tiptoes and kissed him softly on the mouth and took his hand. “Let’s go mingle together.”

  “I like that idea.”

  I gave him a small smile.

  “Actually, I want you to do something for me first.” His hot breath sent a shiver down my spine. “Take off your panties.”

  Moving back to the dark corner, I reached under my dress and pulled my thong down my legs. Bunching it in my palm, I sidled up to Vince. “A present. For you,” I said, stuffing the thin fabric into his pocket and making sure my fingers brushed along the length of his cock for added effect.

  “Fuck me,” he groaned.

  I laughed, stepped away from him, and blew him a kiss.

  “You’re going to pay for that, babe.”

  “I look forward to it.” I walked away from him, sashaying my hips. A newfound awareness rushed over me now that I wasn’t wearing any panties.

  As much as I enjoyed this little game Vince and I were playing, I really needed to talk to Ashton and cancel that stripper.

  “Gigi.” A warm mouth kissed the side of my neck.

  I smiled up at Vince, wishing that we were alone. “I need to talk to Ashton.”

  Vince opened his mouth to argue when his friends came up to us. The guys had gone to a few of my parties with Vince. But I never met the woman who was currently eye-fucking the man who only just a minute ago, had his finger deep inside me.

  The hackles on the back of my neck tingled as her eyes roamed down the length of him.

  “Vin, are you having a good time?” she asked, her voice dripping with sweetness. She stepped up to him but still kept her hand locked in her boyfriend’s grip. While he talked to another guy, this woman was staring at Vince like he was a piece of meat.

  “I am,” he told her. “Thank you for coming.”

  “Of course.” She licked her full mouth, not giving a shit that it was my hand he was holding. “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.”

  I rolled my eyes. I needed to go find Ashton and cancel that stripper and also get away from this chick before I caused a scene and punched the shit out of her.

  I went to pull away from Vince when his grip tightened. I caught his gaze.

  “Where are you going?” he asked, his thumb brushing along the edge of my hand.

  “I’m going to grab us drinks.” The lie slipped from my lips before I could stop myself. Truth was, I wanted to go to Ashton, cancel the stripper and surprise Vince with a little dance of my own. I knew it wouldn’t get very far but it didn’t matter.

  Vince raised an eyebrow, but he didn’t argue with me. He only nodded and let me go.

  As I searched the main part of the club, I half expected Ashton to be holed up in some corner with a woman. The guy liked to get around. I couldn’t wait for the day that a woman told him no, just to see what his reaction would be.

  After about fifteen
minutes of looking for him, I finally saw him coming from the hallway. He was adjusting his shirt. He looked up, his eyes landing on me. He gave me a small wave when a woman came up from behind him. She gave him a wink and disappeared into the crowd of people.

  “Really? You couldn’t have waited?” I asked him.

  He only smirked, popping the collar of his dress shirt. “Jealous?”

  I snorted. “Ew.”

  Ashton stopped suddenly, the smile falling from his face. “Ew?”

  I laughed, patting his chest. “I’m sure you’re amazing but you don’t do it for me. And you’re like a brother to me.”

  “Trust me, babe. I do it for everyone. Just ask your sister.” When he went to walk past me, I grabbed his arm.

  “Don’t be a dick.” I released his arm, dropping my hand to my side. “I need you to cancel the stripper.”

  “That’s a good one,” Ashton said while checking his phone.

  “I’m not kidding,” I told him.

  His head snapped up, his sapphire eyes landing on mine. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

  “Of course, I’m serious. Why wouldn’t I be?” I lifted my chin, not backing down.

  “Why?”

  “Why what?” I scowled. “Just cancel her. Please.”

  “And why the hell would I do that? That shit cost me a lot of cake, Gigi. I’m not canceling her.” He went to walk away when I grabbed his arm again.

  “How much?” I was desperate and was willing to pay anything.

  “Gigi.” He shook me off and took another step away when I rushed in front of him. “What gives, woman? You know Vince gets a stripper for his twenty-first birthday. It’s tradition. We all got one and he’s the last one of us guys to turn twenty-one.”

  “Yeah, I know. And he will have a stripper. But not the one you ordered for him.”

  Ashton frowned. “I don’t know what you mean. Who’s going to strip for him then if I cancel the stripper?”

  “Me.” I crossed my arms under my chest. “I’m going to strip for him.”

  Ashton laughed, bending over at the waist, his laughter booming through him the longer time wore on. When he calmed down, he wiped under his eyes. “You can’t be serious.”

  “What if I am?” I huffed. “You know I can dance.”

  “You do ballet,” he pointed out. “That’s far from stripping, Gigi.”

  “No, I did ballet. But now I actually dance everything. And all of these girls who work here? Who do you think taught them to move like they do?” I hadn’t danced ballet since my accident, but no one knew that. Not even my parents. “Please, Ashton. I don’t ask you for much. Do this for me and I’ll owe you.”

  “Gigi.” He shook his head. “One, I can’t get over the fact you just told me you teach strippers how to dance and two, Vince will cut off my balls if I make this happen.”

  “He won’t know anything. It’ll all be me.” He could punish me all he wanted. My body burned at the idea of him fucking me while he was angry.

  “Whatever you two have…” Something flashed in Ashton’s deep blue eyes. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter. I love you both, but I can’t do that.”

  “Yes, you can. I don’t want another woman dancing for him.” The mere idea of another female touching Vince made me want to throw up. “It can’t happen.”

  Ashton searched my face.

  “Please,” I pleaded, needing him to see that I meant what I said.

  “I still can’t cancel her.” He paused, scratching the scruff on his jaw. “She cost five hundred. That’s a lot of money wasted if I cancel her. There’s no refunds, babe.”

  I reached into my purse and pulled out my wallet. Counting the bills, I grabbed five of them and shoved them against Ashton’s chest. “Five hundred. Take it.” I didn’t normally carry that kind of money around in my purse, but I had just been paid by Candace, so I didn’t mind giving it to Ashton. Especially if it prevented the stripper from getting anywhere near Vince.

  “What?” Ashton’s eyes widened. “I can’t take this shit,” he said, trying to hand me back the money.

  “Yes.” I swatted his hand away. “You can. Keep the stripper and do whatever you want with her but she’s not dancing for Vince. I am. And I don’t care what you do with the money. But she better not get anywhere near him.”

  “What’s in this for you?” Ashton asked, hesitating, but eventually taking the money and shoving it into his pocket.

  “Everything.” I spun on my heel and rushed down the hall that led to the large room where the girls got ready.

  “Gigi.”

  I stopped suddenly, spinning on my heel and found my best friends coming toward me.

  “We saw you head this way,” Luna said. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yes. Actually, it’s better now. You girls can help me.” I stopped in front of the dressing room just as the door opened.

  Corbin Wane jumped, his chocolate brown eyes moving back and forth. “Gigi, sweetheart. Just making sure the room is good to go for you.”

  “Thank you but how did you know I was ready to use it?” I asked him, my heart warming at the thoughtful gesture.

  He smiled and tapped his temple. “I know everything that goes on in this club before and after it happens.” He winked. “Don’t ever forget that.”

  I laughed, standing on tiptoes and kissing his cheek. “Thank you.”

  “Always.” He stepped to the side so we could enter the large room. “I’ll go keep your man occupied.” And with that, he headed out into the hall and closed the door behind him.

  “Who was that?” Meadow asked, sitting in a nearby plush chair.

  “Corbin Wane. He’s been a bouncer here for as long as the club has been opened,” I explained, stepping in front of a floor-length mirror.

  “He’s handsome,” Luna added, running her hand down a purple feather boa.

  “He is but unfortunately, no one here would ever do it for him.” I laughed.

  “What do you mean?” Piper asked softly.

  “Uh…apparently he has a sexual appetite that goes beyond these walls.” I shrugged. “I don’t know. That’s the rumor and that’s what he’s told me time and time again. But he sure does love hitting on the men.” I laughed to myself, remembering when Corbin hit on one of the Hell’s Harlem club members when they had stopped by.

  “Interesting.” Meadow tapped her chin.

  “You’re married,” I reminded her.

  She huffed. “I know that, but a girl can imagine things.”

  We all laughed.

  “Listen, I need help with what I should wear. I got Ashton to cancel the stripper for Vince,” I explained like it was no big deal, when really, it was a very big deal.

  “Are you two finally getting your heads out of your asses?” Luna asked, holding up a G-String. She raised an eyebrow, shook her head, and dropped it back on a nearby table.

  “What we’re doing is fun. He’s fun. I just…” I didn’t want to have this conversation with them. Even though they were my best friends, Vince deserved to hear how I felt first and foremost.

  “You want to talk to him first,” Piper finished for me, handing me a short black skirt.

  “Is it bad that I just want us to keep having fun and not actually talk about our feelings?” Now I was starting to sound like Ashton.

  “Now you sound like Ashton,” Meadow said, taking the thought right out of my head.

  Piper nodded. “It’s true.”

  “You can have all the fun you want,” Luna told me. “But just make sure that you’re only having fun with him.”

  “Trust me, there’s no one else in the picture.” The thought never even crossed my mind. “I know about Vince and his possessive ways.”

  “I don’t think you do.” Luna looked between all of us. “What? I’m serious. Gigi may have never seen it in action but I sure as hell have. How many guys have you heard ask us if she’s single only for them to disappear?”

  My eyes wide
ned.

  “She’s being dramatic.” Piper came up to my side. “What your future sister in-law is trying to say is that Vince has overheard guys asking us if you were single and he stopped it from going further than that.”

  “That’s not much better than what Luna just said.” I wasn’t sure if I should be pissed or flattered.

  “Yes, it is.” Meadow winked. “Besides, it’s hot as hell.”

  “You’d probably think fucking a pineapple would be hot.” I turned away from them and started rummaging through a pile of clothes that I could possibly wear for my little dance.

  “Probably,” she said just as the door opened.

  All of our heads whipped around, finding Vince leaning against the doorframe. “You know the party’s not in here, right?”

  “Did you see Corbin?” I asked, ignoring his question.

  “I did. First time meeting the guy and he told me that we’re now best friends.” Vince chuckled, shaking his head.

  “What’s this I hear that you stopped guys from asking me out?” I asked, casually picking up ripped fishnet stockings.

  “On that note, we should go.” Piper rounded up the girls, heading to the door.

  “Careful with her,” Meadow murmured, patting his arm. “She’s a firecracker.”

  He didn’t say anything but came farther into the room before kicking the door closed. “I happen to agree with your sister.”

  “What do you want? Shouldn’t you be mingling?” I turned away from him and reached for the pile of clothes when a dark shadow loomed over me.

  “What’s going on?” Vince asked gently, covering my hand and slipping his fingers between mine.

  “You stopped guys from asking me out.” I met his intense stare. “Didn’t you?”

  “Not exactly.”

  Crossing my arms under my chest, I leaned against the table and stared up at him. “Then tell me what happened.” I had always wondered why guys flirted but it had never amounted to anything more than that.

  “I overheard the girls talking about some guys wanting to ask you out. Random fuckers who went to your parties and shit.” Vince pinched my chin, brushing his thumb over my bottom lip. “The thought of another man taking you out, wining and dining you, possibly even kissing you or more, made me want to burn the mother fucking world down. But I never stopped it. I just spread some rumors.”