by Chiah Wilder
As if sensing his stare, the woman ran her hands over her bare arms then glanced over. Shadow whistled softly through his teeth as his gaze met hers. Fuck, she’s stunning. The look on her face was rebellious and dangerous and beautiful all at once. Her gaze didn’t waver from his and he liked that. There was something about her that captivated and held him.
“You came, dude. I thought you were going to be MIA.” Eli’s hand clasped his shoulder and Shadow dragged his eyes away from the blonde.
“Yeah. I’ve been here for a bit.” He glanced over Eli’s shoulder and saw the woman still looking at him, a small smile twitching on her full lips. I gotta find out who she is.
“You actually wore a jacket and tie—I’m impressed.” Eli chuckled.
“You better be—I don’t wear this pansy shit just for anyone.” Shadow replaced his empty flute with a full one from another waiter’s tray.
“I know, dude, that’s why I’m feeling honored as fuck. Mom and Dad are here. They’d love to see you.” Eli craned his neck as he looked around the room.
“I’d like to see them too—it’s been a while.”
Shadow owed a lot to Eli’s parents: They opened their home to him after his mother’s murder. Social Services wanted to send him to a foster home, but Patricia and Robert wouldn’t hear of it, so he stayed with them for the next few years. After graduation, he made a beeline to the Insurgents and he never looked back. Eli’s parents always extended an invitation to him for holidays and Sunday suppers, but as the years went by Shadow saw less and less of them, preferring to spend his time with his real family—the Insurgents.
“Brooke!” Eli yelled, and a pretty brunette in a short poufy dress turned around and then walked toward them.
That’s her name. Shadow lifted his chin at her. “Hey … nice party.” He took a sip of the bubbly stuff.
“Thanks.” Her eyes skimmed over him. “I never would’ve recognized you.” She gave him a toothy smile.
He didn’t answer and his gaze darted again toward the blonde who was now walking to the patio doors.
“Did you get any hors d’oeuvres?” Brooke asked.
“Not yet. I think I’ll get another drink.”
Brooke’s eyes slid from the full flute back to Shadow’s face. “You don’t like champagne?”
“It’s fine, but I’m more of a whiskey guy.” He finished his drink and tipped his head at her and said, “I almost forgot to congratulate the both of you.” Then Shadow clasped Eli’s arm. “I’ll catch up with you later.” He set the empty glass on a table and walked toward the patio.
She stood by a tree, staring out at the pond in the distance. The flush on her cheeks was berry pink, and the sunlight filtering through the branches made her hair glisten like pale gold. All at once, she turned toward him and he was blown away again by her loveliness. So damn sexy. I’d like to bury myself inside her. The tight fit of her dress accentuated her perfectly rounded breasts, and his gaze lingered on them before slowly trailing up to her face and falling on her lips. Plump. Pouty. Hot. Perfect for wrapping around his cock.
For a brief moment their eyes locked, and then she looked down, smiling slightly. Shadow shoved one of his hands in the front pocket of his pants and kept his gaze fixed on her. The woman looked back up at him from beneath her lashes, the tip of her tongue skimming the top of her lip.
Fuck. Shadow handed his glass to a passing waiter and started toward her. She turned away, her gaze returning to the distant pond and trees.
“Can I get you a drink?” he asked as he stood next to her.
“Excuse me?” She whirled around, feigning surprise.
Yeah, baby, I’ll play the game. “I asked if you wanted a drink.” He moved in closer, and the scent of spiced vanilla swirled around him.
“Yes, thanks.”
“Yo,” Shadow said, motioning a waiter over. “We need a couple of drinks here. A Jack for me.” He cut his gaze to her. “What can I get you?”
“A vodka cran,” she said to the waiter.
Her voice was soft, warm, and a little deeper than he expected. Sexy and damn arousing. He stepped closer until her bare arm brushed against his suit jacket. He tilted his head down, and her gaze flew up and met his as the corners of his mouth tugged up slightly.
“Are you friends with Brooke or Eli?” Shadow asked.
“Brooke—we went to college together. What about you?”
He made a mental note that she didn’t move away from him.
“Eli. We’ve been buddies since high school. What’s your name?”
“Scarlett. You?”
“Shadow.”
Her forehead crinkled a little. “That’s an unusual name.”
“It’s a nickname.”
“A whiskey for you,” the waiter said as he handed Shadow his drink, “and a vodka cranberry for the lady.”
Shadow handed Scarlett the glass and his fingers purposely touched hers. He enjoyed the look of surprise that quickly crossed her face and he chuckled before taking a sip of his drink.
“Nothing like a shot of whiskey,” he said.
“That’s my father’s favorite vice—drinking too much whiskey.” She wrapped her lips around the tiny straw and held his gaze.
His jaw tightened and he cleared his throat as he ran a hand through his hair. This chick is something else.
“I needed this,” Scarlett said as she stirred her drink, the ice cubes clinking against the glass.
He leaned in so close that his lips brushed against her ear. “Did you?” The scent of her perfume filled his lungs. He wanted nothing more than to bury his face in her neck and bite her sweet, soft flesh all the way down to her impressive tits.
Without moving an inch, she turned toward him. “Yes,” she whispered. “It’s hotter than hell out here.”
“You’re hotter than hell.” Her skin was soft under his fingers as he trailed them up her bare arm and over her shoulder. A streak of satisfaction rode up Shadow’s spine when he felt her flesh pebble beneath his touch and he looked to meet her gaze.
“Let’s go inside,” she said before wrapping those luscious lips around her straw again and draining the glass.
The coolness of the room was a welcomed relief from the stifling heat outside.
“I see you met Scarlett,” Eli said as he approached them.
“Yeah … I did.” Shadow smiled at her and a light pink flush crept up her neck.
“Jessica is looking for you,” Brooke said to Scarlett.
Shadow turned his back and leaned in close to Eli. “Why the fuck didn’t you ever mention this chick to me?”
Eli laughed. “You’re so out of her league, dude.”
“Not for a hookup.” From the corner of his eye, he saw her watching him. “She’s hot as shit.”
“Take my advice, stick with the club girls.” Eli popped a shrimp in his mouth.
Shadow chuckled, but he knew before he left the party that his cock would be buried in the sweet piece who was giving off all kinds of fuck-me signals.
“Are you having a good time?” Brooke said to him.
He darted his gaze to Scarlett then back to Brooke. “Sure am.”
“The buffet is open if you want to eat. The music’s going to start. Do you like to dance?”
“Yeah, if it’s with the right woman.” Again he glanced over and met Scarlett’s green gaze.
The faint line across Brooke’s forehead deepened as she cut her eyes to Scarlett. “You better go and find Jessica.” Annoyance laced her voice.
Scarlett turned toward her friend. “That’s right. See you around,” she said to Eli. With a lingering look, she licked her lips. “Bye, Shadow.”
He gave her a chin lift and watched her walk away; the sultry sway of her hips made his dick twitch and dirty thoughts flashed through his mind.
“Come with us and get something to eat.” Brooke grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the buffet table.
After eating and chatting with Eli’s
parents, Shadow stood up from the table and roamed around the room, hoping to run into Scarlett again. The dancefloor in front of the makeshift deejay booth was packed with people gyrating to the beats of Jennifer Lopez’s “On the Floor.” The music was pounding in his ears and he was just about ready to walk away when he saw Scarlett, swaying those sexy hips, the slit in her dress parting all the way to reveal a few spectacular inches of her thigh. Shadow hissed through his teeth and threw back the rest of his drink.
Scarlett’s head titled back, her eyes were closed, and her body moved so damn seductively to the music that before he could think about what he was doing, Shadow pushed through the crowd and crossed over to her. He stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her small waist and yanked her back against him.
“Keep dancing, baby,” he said into her ear.
She glanced up at him and a wide smile spread across her face as she pushed back and rubbed her ass against his crotch. Shadow moved his hands over her flat stomach, then brushed his fingers along the bottom of her tits. Scarlett ground against him, her hands reaching behind and settling on his narrow hips.
“Fuck, baby,” he said against her ear. “You’re killing me.”
Laughing, she wiggled her fine ass all over his hard-as-hell dick.
“You’re asking for some trouble.” He licked her earlobe.
“Maybe that’s what I want,” she answered then leaned back against him so her head rested against his shoulder.
“Then I’m all in, baby.”
They moved against each other, and he hadn’t wanted a woman like that in a long time.
“Just tell me when you wanna get out of here,” he said. His hands slid back down to her hips.
The song blended into another one, and Scarlett swiveled around in his arms until she faced him. They were so close that her ragged breath caressed his face. They held each other’s gaze as his hands dropped down to her rounded ass.
She licked her lips. “Let’s go,” she said.
Shadow dropped his hands from her ass and broke away, then grabbed her hand and pulled her behind him as he walked off the dance floor. He maneuvered them through the guests until they were out into the hallway. He glanced around until he found a closed door at the other end of the hall.
“Do you know this club?” he asked as they moved toward the room.
“Yes. I’m a member.”
“What’s behind the door?”
“Another ballroom.”
Hoping that another party wasn’t going on inside, Shadow pushed open the door revealing an empty space. Perfect. He pulled her inside then slammed her against the closed door. Shadow bent his head and pressed his lips against hers, teasing his tongue along her bottom lip until she parted them. When he plunged his tongue inside, Scarlett moaned deep in her throat and drew her body against him, her arms circling around his neck. Her fingers tangled in his hair and she yanked it hard.
“You like it rough, don’t you?” he said against her lips.
Instead of answering, she dug her nails into his scalp.
“I like it rough too,” he rasped as his hands cupped her tits. “I’ve been wanting to see these since I first laid eyes on you.” Shadow pulled her away from the wall and fumbled for the zipper at the back of her dress. She chuckled. “Where the hell is the damn thing? If I don’t find it, I’m gonna rip it off.”
“This dress cost over two thousand dollars,” she said as she reached behind her and guided his hands to the zipper.
Shadow tugged it down and she shimmied out of it. His gaze fixed on her tits, barely contained by the thin, lacey half-bra.
“Take it off,” he said.
She reached behind herself, and the wisp of fabric fell to the floor.
“Your tits are fuckin’ beautiful.” Desire burned and crackled inside him, a voracious wildfire blurring everything but his lust for this sexy woman. Her breasts were perfect: round pink tips that were hard and erect. He reached out and brushed them with his thumb and she gasped, arching her back and pushing them farther out. Shadow bent down and swiped his tongue across the hard buds before sucking them into his mouth.
“Fuck.” She moaned.
“You like that?” He nipped, licked, and sucked a bit harder.
She grabbed at his jacket, trying to pull it off. He shrugged out of it and let it pool on the floor beside her dress, her nipple still in his mouth. Shadow broke away as Scarlett loosened his tie then groped at the buttons on his shirt.
“I want to see you,” she whispered.
He quickly undid his shirt and tie, and she ran her nails up and down his bare chest.
“You’re magnificent. So hard. So sexy. You must work out all the time.” She leaned over and trailed soft kisses over his taut skin. “And your tattoos are so dangerous,” she murmured.
“Fuck, baby,” he growled, filling his hands with her tits.
Scarlett raised her head and her lips met his in a fiery, deep kiss. He picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he carried her over to a counter against the side wall. He kissed the side of her neck, his cock straining against the zipper in his pants.
“You taste so fuckin’ sweet.” He placed her ass down on the counter, then fished a condom out of the pocket of his trousers and set it on the counter next to her. Shadow slid his hands lower and his fingers looped around the elastic of her thong. His gaze met Scarlett’s as he slipped them down her legs. With his eyes still locked on hers, his finger climbed up her toned leg until he shoved it inside her heat.
“Oh, God!” she cried out, bucking against his digit.
“You’re so fuckin’ hot. So wet and tight.” He kneaded her breast with his other hand while he nipped the soft flesh of her neck. The scent of her arousal and the way she was panting and arching into his touch drove him so crazy with lust that he was afraid he was going to blow before he got a chance to sink into her.
Shadow broke away and reached for the condom, then he unbuckled his belt and dropped his boxers and pants. He smirked when Scarlett’s eyes widened as she took in his size, and he rubbed his thumb against the side of her hard nub. Her gaze snapped to his and her mouth fell open.
“You like that?” he asked.
She moaned her response as he continued to play with her clit. Their heavy breathing filled the room, and not able to hold out any longer, Shadow spread her legs wide and ran the head of his dick up and down her slick juices.
Scarlett placed one of her hands on his shoulders and the other grasped the edge of the counter.
“I need to be in you,” he rasped.
“I want it so bad,” she whispered.
As soon as he shoved inside her, hard and deep, groans escaped from both their mouths.
“Fuck, you feel good. So tight, baby.” He grunted as he pummeled in and out of her in quick, deep strokes. She rocked her hips into his thrusts, and he held her gaze as he fucked her hard and rough.
Shadow bent his head down and placed his mouth on one of her tits, sucking and biting at the delicate skin hard enough to leave a mark. For some reason, he wanted Scarlett to remember him and what they had done when she was alone later.
He flicked his index finger across her sweet spot and she cried out.
“You’re so fuckin good,” he ground out as he pounded into her. “You like that?”
“Uh-huh.” She panted as her hips kept beating against his with a demanding urgency. “I’m close … so close.” Scarlett’s nails raked his shoulder as his mouth found hers and their tongues intertwined.
His fingers picked up speed on her clit as the tension inside him rose to an all-time high.
“Oh, God. Yes!” she cried out as she came.
Shadow moved his hand away from her clit and gripped the back of her neck, pulling her into his thrusts as his balls retracted, and then the knot at the root of his cock dissolved in fire, melting.
A rumbling groan burst from deep in his chest. “Fuck.” He rested his head against her chest f
or a few seconds, waiting for his breath to return to normal, then he pulled away. Shadow tossed the used condom into a nearby trashcan, then pulled up his pants and tucked himself back in. He was well aware that Scarlett was watching him as he scooped up his jacket. He picked up her dress and handed it to her.
“You need me to help you with that?” he said as he folded his tie and pushed it into the pocket of his dress pants.
“That’d be helpful.” Scarlett avoided his eyes as she jumped down. She dressed in silence as he stood there checking his phone. “Zip me up, please.”
“Sure.”
Scarlett fluffed her hair and took out a tube of lipstick from a small evening bag and swiped the wand across her lips. “We shouldn’t go back into the party together.”
“Whatever,” he said as he started toward the door.
The light from the hallway spilled into the room as he walked out and headed back to the party. Two women he recognized from the gathering passed by, checking him out, and he winked at them and continued on his way. From behind him, he heard one of the women say, “Scarlett, where have you been? Warren came about fifteen minutes ago, and he’s been looking all over for you.”
“I was feeling kind of sick. It must’ve been something I ate. I didn’t think he’d make it.”
“Well he did, and Melody’s got her claws out for him. You better get back in there fast.”
The voices grew fainter when he entered the room and walked over to Eli.
“Where the hell have you been?” Eli asked.
“Club business,” he said knowing that would end all questioning. “I’m gonna grab one last drink and take off.”
Eli nodded. “I’m surprised you stayed as long as you did.”
“It’s a good party,” he said as he grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. “I can’t believe you’re gonna be hitched, dude.”
“I can’t believe how lucky I am to have found Brooke. It just happened. You’ll find out when the right woman comes into your life.”
Shadow drained his glass. “Not much chance of that happening. I like my life the way it is—uncomplicated. I can have all the chicks I want, so why settle for one?”