by J Grayland
“No, he told me about Saturday night, I'm just choosing not to go.”
“What? Nope, not happening girl, you are coming, I need you there to keep me company.” Her expression changed and she gave me a sideways look. “Hold on, what do you mean he told you?”
“Just that, he told me I was going because he needed to keep an eye on his security problem.”
“What an ass,” she says, slowly shaking her head in disgust, then her face suddenly brightens and she gives me a very wicked smile. “Then all the better to go. We will find you a knockout dress and show him just how much of a security problem you really are,” she says making little quotation marks in the air with her fingers emphasizing the word “problem”. I was just about to cut off her bright idea when I remembered Nate’s lousy behavior today. Why should I miss out because he has a problem with me being friends with Jax? “You’re right?” I tell Lynda.
“I am?”
“Yes, Saturday night I will be busting out of the Penthouse prison and having some fun, so eat up, I need to find something to wear.”
“Now you’re talking my language girl,” Lynda laughed.
The day was long and tiring and so much fun I haven't done a girls day out for years, in fact, I don't think I have ever done a girly day shopping for clothes… ever. Going up to my room I hang my dress in the closet and place the rest of my bags on the bed. Lynda dragged me into a lingerie shop called Lapurla and I purchased an expensive strapless body suit in black lace, with some thigh high black stockings. I needed something to keep all my curvy bits together under the body-hugging black strappy dress that she also talked me into buying. “Oh, Casey it will go great with your skin tone and blonde hair.” Add to that a silver pair of 4-inch heels and a small matching purse, she pretty much fitted me out for the night, and now looking at the dress hanging up I'm glad I had Lynda there to make the decisions for me, she did a great job.
Around eight o'clock that night there was a knock at my bedroom door. Opening it up Nate stood there, looking striking with his black ruffled hair and unshaven jaw, wearing a black t-shirt that molded to every crease and line on his chest and clung around those huge biceps, together with a pair of low slung jeans and bare feet. I think I can feel my mouth watering. “I bought some pizza, it's in the kitchen,” he motioned behind him with his thumb.
“Oh thanks, it’s ok, I'm not really hungry.” I went to close the door but he stopped it by placing a hand against it.
“Hey, you need to eat.”
“I'm good, really, I think I'll just crash early, I'm pretty done in after all the shopping with Lynda today.”
Nodding his head he said, “You didn't leave your door open last night?”
“No, I didn't want to get in your way,” I said and he raised an eyebrow at my comment.
“Please just leave it open, I know it makes you feel safe, and I promise not to bother you”. And with that, he went back down the stairs to the kitchen.
That night I left my door slightly ajar.
Chapter Twenty-two
Nate
The week went from bad to worse. First, there was the meeting with Peterson. That smug bastard made me feel like I was going to combust in his office. Then the scene walking in on Casey sitting on the couch huddled next to Jax. I saw the look on her face, she was laughing and happy with him, and that made my anger level go up another notch. I hated the fact that he had made her look that way and not me. Then later she wondered why I was pissed at her. Is she fucking kidding me? Holy shit, I thought we were starting to break through that barrier. Yes I know she keeps fighting me and she’s clearly told me that there is no chance of anything happening between us, but that came from her mouth, and her body is telling me something different, or is it? Fuck I have definitely let my guard down with this woman. To make her feel comfortable, I have compromised my own personality and toned down my penchant for being an asshole, and Jax walks in and accomplishes in what five, ten minutes? what I haven't been able to in weeks, and damn, she's right, it is a blow to my ego. Hell, she might as well have just kicked me right in the balls because seeing them together, so comfortable with each other, that's exactly what it felt like. So no more pussyfooting around I now get the message, loud and clear, if she wants me to back off then that's what's going to happen, Just get this shit cleared up with Peterson, then bye bye Ms. Tyler.
I didn't see much of her for the rest of the week. I managed to avoid talking to her at all apart from letting her know that I brought pizza back one night and that she could keep her door open. I knew it made her feel safe and I know I'm a prick, but I do want her to feel safe in my home. On Saturday afternoon I let her know that Paxton and Lynda would be picking her up around seven because I had to be at the club early and I would see her there. Just for a split second, I thought I saw a look of disappointment on her face when she knew I wouldn’t be accompanying them, but it was just as quickly gone.
Nick dropped me off out the front of what looked like a huge red and white circus tent. There were colored lights and loud music, and entertainers dressed like evil looking clowns. There were scantily dressed women in tight fitting corsets and feathers, it looked like a circus gone bad, but I guess that's why it was called “The Bazaar,” because it was meant to be a bizarre place to be in, It was a mixture of a B&D club, burlesque, and a circus, all rolled into one, and by the looks of the queue to get into this place, I could see this was going to be a long evening, ending in a huge headache.
The lines of people waiting outside to get in were crazy. I walked into the huge doorway where one of my security guys let me into a dark corridor with flashing lights on the floor, that made a path to yet another ornate gold door. Pushing it open, I was blasted by a pounding beat. The building was circular in shape, which kept with the circus theme inside. Around the outside was a bar that ran around the whole room. Booths and tables with chairs followed the same pattern, then a few stairs down, took you to a huge arena and a dance floor.
At different areas throughout the club, there were mini stages which each held some type of activity on them. One had a huge gold birdcage on it and inside sitting on a bird swing, swinging was a blonde woman wearing only a gold swimsuit. On another, a scantily dressed male and female were embraced in each other’s arms moving provocatively against each other to the music. On another mini stage further towards the back, was a blonde woman dressed from head to toe in tight black leather. From her pointy thigh-high boots, all the way up to a pair of huge breasts spilling out of a leather bra decorated with silver studs, she was sitting on what looked like a red throne, where she kept changing into different sexual poses. The waiters and waitresses were all in various dress from full leather suits to burlesque- type corsets with different length skirts. There were also different performers walking around juggling everything from glow in the dark crystal balls, to daggers and glass pins, and one guy exhibiting his fire-breathing talent. This place surely did mirror its name.
Walking up to the bar, I signal the barman for a water and perched myself on a stool at the end near the back wall where I have a perfect view of almost the whole room, to sit and supervise and, fingers crossed, hope that everything runs smoothly tonight.
Watching the crowd starting to expand on the arena dance floor, I watched as a tall solidly built Alonzo Reed the club owner starts making his way through the crowd towards me. “Mr. King, I'm glad you’re here, it looks like it's going to be a great opening night.”
“Yes, it seems so,” I nod at the crowd of people still spilling in the door.
“I see you didn't bring a date?” he asks.
“No, but I have some family members joining me soon.”
“Good, well enjoy the night and we'll meet tomorrow and revise whether we need to make any changes to the security.” I give him a smile and a nod and when he walks back into the crowd I go back to scanning the room and over towards the door. Looking down at my watch, I see it's just past 7 pm. Moving my eyes back to the doo
r, I notice Paxton entering holding Lynda's hand. As they make their way through the crowd following Lynda is Jax, who is holding the hand of a leggy blonde, her head bent, she appears to be concentrating on where she’s walking. They’re moving through the crowd like a snake, making their way up to the bar towards me, and when the blonde finally looks up, I am sure the floor just crumbled beneath my feet. This stunning woman heading in my direction, her blonde hair in soft waves falling around her shoulders, her body encased in a snug fitting black dress that is clinging to her every curve, my eyes follow down a pair of beautiful long legs that finish up in a pair of the sexiest high heels I have ever seen on a woman, is no other than the Doc, and she's holding tightly onto Jax’s hand.
Standing to greet them, I motion for them to move to a booth that has been reserved in one of the corners and they all slide in. “Wow!” Paxton exclaims, “This place is freaky.”
“You can say that again,” I agree, trying not to stare at Casey sitting next to Jax. A waitress dressed in a black leather mini skirt and matching bra comes over to take everyone's drink orders. Paxton and Lynda opt for water, Jax orders a beer and Casey orders a beer as well. Giving her a questioning look, I ask “I thought you didn't drink Doc?”
“I don't normally but tonight I intend to enjoy myself,” she answers sheepishly. “That's my girl, you need to loosen up a little,” Jax tells her and I look at him with an eyebrow cocked in annoyance. "That's right Jax, see my face right now, it's saying don't push your luck buddy" and he gives me a grin "Yeah you know exactly what I'm thinking." “You going to sit with us?” he asks looking at me.
“No, I'll stay at the bar. I have a good view from there.”
“Suit yourself,” he says with a smile and I turn and walk back to my bar stool and continue to scan the crowd, watching and analyzing the crowd of people everywhere and thinking, do we have enough security to handle the crowd? Are there any dark zones? Why the fuck is she sitting so close to Jax? "Reel it in man you’re losing it." I find that every few minutes I am glancing back at the booth where I notice their table filling with empty glasses. I watch as Paxton and Lynda get up and move to the dance floor when the fast-paced music changes into a slow track, leaving Jax and Casey in the booth, sitting way too close, laughing and throwing back shots, and I feel blood starting to pump through my veins, my anger palpable. My sight of them is interrupted by a female figure standing in front of me in a snug fitting silky blue dress. Looking up my eyes rove over her ample breasts spilling from the top half of the dress and up to a pretty face with red lips, bright green eyes and long red hair cascading down her back.”Hi,” she says, “buy a girl a drink?” Taking another look at the booth, I signal for the barman. “A drink for the lady.”
“Stacey,” she introduced herself holding out her hand to me, and I take it “Nate”.
Over the next hour or so I learn that Stacey is single and she works as a secretary at a local law firm, and I can tell by her body language and how she has now moved from sitting on a bar stool next to me to standing in between my thighs, that she is looking for a warm body to share a bed with tonight. I glance over the top of her head and right into a pair of wide blue eyes staring back at me. "That's right baby you keep watching cos two can play at that game." I watch her face as I slip an arm around Stacey's waist pulling her closer into my body, those blue eyes widen more for a moment, then soften as she moves closer into Jax’s side and I see his arm move around her back and my jaw starts to twitch. My back teeth grind against each other in anger. Casey grins at my reaction and before I know it, my head has tilted down and my mouth is on Stacey’s lips. She moves her mouth against mine but there’s nothing, I feel nothing, it feels cold and detached and......all wrong. Pulling away from her and wiping my mouth across the back of my hand, I look up to the booth, and Jax and Casey are walking towards the dance floor. The music changes and I recognize the slow pulsating beat of Groove Armada's “Edge Hill” and I watch as Jax pulls Casey against his body and they start moving to the music, their bodies molding together, swaying, grinding, his hands moving up and down her back, and I suddenly have this urge to break my best friend’s legs. Breaking Stacey's hold, I excuse myself and move towards them, pushing through the crowd until I tap Jackson on the shoulder. “I think this dance belongs to me,” I growl at him. He says nothing, just gives me a lift of his chin and moves back and I pull her into my body, my hands sliding down to her lower back. She attempts to move away but I pull her firmly back against me. Leaning down close to her ear I say “If you’re going to grind that body on anyone tonight it will be mine no-one else, do you understand?” Her eyes widen in shock at my words but she gives me a slight nod of her head. Our bodies slowly move to the hypnotic slow beat of the music, her body is pressed hard against mine, and I stroke my hands up and down the smooth material against the skin of her back. Her hands are pressed against my chest and her head is nestled under my chin, and every time I breathe I smell the combination of vanilla and spices in her hair. Her hands slip down and into my jacket and slide around my waist, a move that brings us even closer together. We stay like this until the song finishes and turns into a heavier frantic beat that breaks our embrace. She drops her hands and tries to move away from me and stumbles until I grab hold of her tightly around her waist. “I think you may have had a little too much to drink Doc.” I guide her back over to the bar area. “Get your purse,” I tell her.
“Why?” she asks giving me a weary look.
“Because I am taking you home.”
“Somehow I don't think we’ll get any flights to Sydney at this time of night, do you?” she chuckles.
“My home,” I tell her firmly and she pulls her arm from my grasp.
“And what if I'm not ready to go yet?” she says now with her chin lifted defiantly. “Oh, you’re ready.” I reach out to grab her arm again but she takes a half step, half stumble, backward then pulls herself upright. Smoothing down her dress and tucking her purse under her arm. she brushes a stray lock of hair away from her face, and those beautiful eyes of hers are now narrowed and angry. “Look. I'm pretty sure I am old enough to decide when I need to go home. ok? Besides I'm not into threesomes.” She sneered.
“What?”
“It's ok Nate, you take the redhead home for some bump and grind, I’m sure I can find something to occupy me, I’ll just grab a cab back later.”
“Bump and grind?” I laughed, but stop when I see the look of scorn on her face.
“Well, I can assure you that you will not be looking for something or someone to occupy your time because I have no intentions of doing anything with the redhead.” I say more seriously now.
“Didn't look like that before when you had your tongue down her throat.” she bites out.
I looked down at the floor and push my hands into my pockets. “That was a mistake.”
“What? Sorry, I don't think I heard you then, it's pretty loud in here,” she said putting a hand to her ear to emphasize her point.
Walking closer to her I said. “That was a mistake, I wasn't thinking straight.”
“You looked like you knew what you were doing to me.” She said quirking a brow.
“Well I didn't, ok?”
“So why Nate?” she asks her face set into an angry yet slightly hurt look.
Blowing out a large breath of air in defeat, I say, “Because… I was watching you and Jax and it pissed me off okay?”
Looking at me, she shook her head, “You’re an idiot” she said then turned and walked back over to the booth where Paxton and Lynda sat. I followed her and stood while she said goodnight to them both then headed for the door.
“Everything ok?” Paxton asked, brow raised.
I rubbed a hand down my face. “Yeah, I'm just going to take her back to the Penthouse. She drank way above her limit. Are you two ok?” Paxton nodded. “Yep, you go man, we'll be leaving soon anyway. It all seems to be running smoothly and Lynda's getting tired.”
“Ok, drive
home safe and we'll talk tomorrow.” I leaned down and gave Lynda a kiss on the cheek then headed out to try and catch Casey before I lost her in the crowd outside.
Chapter Twenty-three
Casey
Grabbing my purse off the table of the booth, while saying a quick goodnight to everyone, made me look rude, I know but all I wanted to do was get out of this place and as far away from Nate as possible. The uncomfortable feeling of anger that was building in the middle of my chest felt like a large air bubble was about to pop and that combined with my rather large alcohol consumption tonight, made my brain and my mouth very unpredictable. Pushing through the doors I moved to lean against the outside wall and try to contain my rapid breathing before hailing a taxi from the other side of the road. As the taxi pulled at the curb, I reached to open the door, when I felt a hand grab my arm and I am turned to face Nate’s solid chest. “I’m parked down here.” He said tucking me against the side of his body and walking towards his black SUV, he pulled out the keys and with a click the doors are unlocked and he pulls open the passenger side door. “Get in,” he growled. Crossing my arms across my chest as an act of defiance, I hear him take in a deep breath before he says, “Get in the fucking car now or I will pick you up and throw you in.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” I challenged.
“Try me,” he said tilting his head.
Looking up at his face, his lips pressed so tightly together it makes the muscle in his jaw throb, with his eyes now narrowed their grey color looked more like steel. With an exasperated breath, I slide into the passenger seat, slamming the door. He moved quickly around to the driver’s side, got in and started the engine shifting the SUV into gear and pulling out into the traffic. Turning to look out of the side window, I watch as the lights melt into each other as we drive towards the Penthouse at a swift speed.