“Graffiti Effect!” someone yelled out from the crowd of women. Before I knew it, some girl charged into me and threw her arms around me. “Oh my God! You’re here!”
“Hold on . . .” I said, grabbing ahold of her arms and removing them from around my neck. “Relax, sweetheart.”
Her hands flew to her chest. “I’m sorry! I’m just sooo excited to meet you.”
“I appreciate that. It’s just, you know . . .”
“I do. I’m sorry,” she apologized, taking a few steps back. “I swear I—”
I offered her a smile. “It’s cool. Glad you came out.”
She was getting ready to say something else, but I excused myself. I wasn’t interested in keeping company with the likes of ‘crazy’.
I looked around and spotted Bash. Ironically, he was right where he said he would be, with the bride-to-be. He was in deep conversation with her and her group of friends. I proceeded to move their way, but was stopped once again, by two fans. I didn’t pay much attention to what the women were talking about, but being there with them gave me the opportunity to observe from a distance.
“So, what you doin’ after you leave here?” one of the women asked.
“What’d you say?” I asked. I thought I heard her, but wasn’t quite sure.
“There’s two of us . . . there’s one of you,” she said, her eyes trailing to my dick. “We’re down for whate—”
I put my hand on her shoulder and smiled. “No thanks. You guys enjoy the rest of your night, though.”
“It could be real nice,” she offered, as a last-ditch effort.
And it could’ve been if either of them was my type. They weren’t. So, my time with them was up.
“I like your drive,” I said to her. “But, I’m good. Tryna give my dick a break.”
I walked away from them after that, and was finally on my way to my original destination.
I had been watching the soon-to-be-bride’s body language the whole time I was otherwise disposed. She seemed relaxed, her posture straight and confident. The closer I got, it still appeared to be the same. I stopped a few yards back, deciding not to fully enter their space. I scanned her from top to bottom as she sat on the arm of one of the lounge chairs. I took special note of how perky her breasts were, even without a bra. Interesting. The curve where her waist and her hip met, held my attention for more than a few seconds.
Something told me to stay away from her. I mean, why waste time with somebody else’s woman? But even with that knowledge, there was something about her that was drawing me to her.
-18-
KASSIDI
“Awww hellll naw!”
When those words flew out of Pilar’s mouth the moment we sat down in VIP. I knew that little dirty dance was going to be the talk of the evening and into the morning too.
“Girrrl!” Niecy exclaimed, damn near sitting on top of me.
I liked it better when their asses were too tipsy to notice. But it seemed that their high was on the way down. They had perked all the way up. It was like the dead had risen.
Shit.
“Uhh-huhh, girl,” Yolanda chimed, giving me the side eye and smacking her lips. “Saw it all!”
“Y’all are just so damn extra,” I commented, brushing off their implications.
“How are we extra when you’re the one that was dancing dirty, with Usher in the background, talkin’ about ‘Can you handle it?’”
They burst into laughter, guffawing loudly at my expense. I got off the arm of the lounge chair and sat in the seat. In my chair, I shifted nervously, and put my focus on Brianna who had her own thing going on with the fine specimen that was Wolverine. Funny how they were going in on me, yet, the very-married, Brianna was catching none of the flack. Where was the fairness in that?
“Up there with no damn panties and no damn bra! Just being all kinds of fast!”
“Oookay!” Pilar burst out. “The same chick that didn’t want to come to the strip club in the first place. I mean, turned her whole nose up at the idea!”
“Whatever!” I shouted, rolling my eyes at them. “I’m not listening to nothin’ y’all got to say!”
“That was not married woman behavior up there, young lady,” Niecy remarked.
“Shit, she ain’t married yet! That might be why it went down like that!” Pilar cosigned.
“Okay,” I said, feeling uncomfortable. “Y’all need to stop.”
“But why, though? I wanna talk. What did it feel like? What did he smell like? Did you feel safe up in the man’s arms? Did you feel a bulge?!”
“Niecyyy, shut the hell up!” I shot in frustration. She was really getting on my nerves. Hell, all of them were.
“Uhh-ohh, struck a nerve, I guess.”
“Y’all ain’t struck no damn nerve!” I snapped. “Y’all bitches were the ones that told the goddamn people that I was a bride-to-damn-be, and shit! I wouldn’t have been on a goddamn stage nowhere if it wasn’t for y’alls asses!”
“Girl, she is pressed!” Yolanda stated, before throwing her head back in amusement.
“And y’all are stupid.”
I stood up from my seat and stormed off. They were acting like some juveniles with nothing better to do. Bored asses! My dance on the stage was probably the most damn excitement they’d had in a long time. That’s why it was such a topic of discussion. Ugh! I was so irritated. They acted like what I’d done was such a big damn deal when they were the ones that made that shit happen in the first place.
Now, you know that it’s not them you’re pissed at, I heard myself say silently.
I ignored the voices and found myself at the bar inside the VIP lounge. I needed to get me something stronger than the Mai Tai I had last. Needed it bad for when I got back to them and all their jokes and shit.
I placed an order for a lemon drop and after the bartender went off to make it, I turned my attention to the packed room. My eyes landed on Brianna and I couldn’t help but smile. While the three amigos were still sitting in their spots observing, she was living what looked to be her best life. And with good company. I watched her in awe. I couldn’t believe how out-in-the-open she was with her flirting. My girl had not come to play! She was up in the place throwing all kinds of caution to the wind. Shit, maybe that’s what marriage made you do after a certain amount of time.
What am I going to have to do to get these thoughts away from me?! These burning, but unwelcomed questions. I want them gone!
“Hello, Kassidi. Did you enjoy the show?”
I jerked so hard, I almost hurt myself. All my friends were in plain view, so this voice was not one that I knew. My eyes quickly darted to the right of me, in her direction.
“Hi,” I responded confused as hell. “Do I . . . know you?”
The woman stuck her hand out to me. “I’m Cynthia. I own the club.”
“Here you are,” the bartender stated, handing me my drink.
I smiled and took possession of the lemon drop. “Thank you.”
“Hey Cyn,” the bartender said, before leaving to help the next patron.
I took a sip of my drink, sizing up the beautiful women before me. She seemed to be doing the same, but I didn’t think much of it because it was something that we, as women did all the time. She was pretty, though, standing about my height, svelte, with really pretty skin and nice hair.
“So, your club, huh? Nice,” I complimented, in earnest. “Must be nice to own something so lavish.”
“Yeah,” she said. “I can’t complain.”
“Shoot, I sure wouldn’t. You’re your own boss. That’s so awesome.”
“Thank you. A club is a lot of work, though. A lot of work. But I’m not here to talk about me,” she smiled. “I’m here to talk about you. I wanted to make it a point to meet you since your profile said that it was your first time attending a male review. Not just that, I saw that it was your first time coming to Las Vegas.”
I nodded, already knowing that a full dossier was
filled out on all of us before we went. That was one of the things that drew Yolanda to Cyn City, in the first place. Made her feel part of the upper echelon having to be vetted, before being granted access. I almost rolled my eyes thinking about it.
“Yep, definitely first time for both—Vegas and an all-male review. Just glad they didn’t go full nude. I don’t think I would’ve been ready for that!”
Cyn laughed out loud, her smile as beautiful as she was. “No, we don’t do that. But there are a few clubs that do. I can write them down for you if—”
“Uhh, no thank you, ma’am.”
We fell into hearty chuckles together. She had a welcoming aura, and it felt like I’d known her for a while. She was nice and laid back for a ‘Boss chick’.
“So, she’s a Vegas virgin, no more,” she kidded.
“Nope. Not anymore.”
“Clearly! After that dance with Marco, looks like you’re broken in nicely.”
“Excuse me?” I spat, not lost on the change in my own tone, from friendly to defensive.
She reached out to touch my shoulder, then said, “Oh, I’m sorry. It’s just a little club humor. I hope I didn’t offend you. It was totally harmless. He’s great, though, right?”
I shook off the defensiveness I’d built up. My reaction was wrong. She didn’t deserve that. My guard going up had nothing do with her, and everything to do with me.
“Yes, he’s very talented,” I confessed, loosening all the way up.
“Okay, well, I’ll let you finish enjoying your evening. I just wanted to welcome you, and to thank you for coming.”
“You’re so welcome, Cynthia. And I should be the thanking you for providing such a welcoming environment.” I looked around the crowded room, filled to the brim with excited women. “Changed my stuffy outlook on the whole exotic dance thing, that’s for sure.”
“That’s great to hear! It really is just sexy fun to be had by all. Live it up, girl! It’s what life is all about.”
I lifted my glass to the friendly stranger and smiled.
“Agreed.”
-19-
KASSIDI
I finished my drink and made my way back over to the girls. It was good to see that they were enjoying themselves and that the drinks were flowing. Maybe all I needed to do was leave the space for a bit. My absence did them good. There was a lot more laughter and a lot more fun than when I left a short while earlier. I quietly reclaimed my seat in the midst of it all, and it was like I never left.
Somehow, additional members of the Wolf Pack had made their way over to our small group. Looking around, it seemed that more men had occupied VIP, as well. I deduced that post-show, was when they flowed in. The more the merrier. Seemed to provide a nice balance.
“You’re the quiet one in the group, I see,” someone whispered into my ear.
I turned to the left and sitting on the arm of my seat, in a change of clothes and smelling deliciously good, was the Graffiti guy. I could still feel the hot air he left at my lobe, when he pulled back. It caused shivers to flow down my eardrum, down my shoulders, and to . . . areas it had no business. I tried my best to open my mouth to say something in response. The last thing I wanted to do was appear stuck-up or above acknowledging what he said.
“Oh, my bad. You wanna be left alone?” he asked.
I did the only thing that my body would allow in that moment—I shook my head—in slow motion. The man was really easy on the eyes. I mean, real nice. I was nervous sitting so close to him. It was a bit intimidating. The closeness we shared during our dance, was what had the tension as thick as it was. The intimacy of it. The song . . . my song. I would probably never say it out loud, but our encounter was probably the sexiest shit I had ever been involved in.
He moved to leave and that’s when I found my voice.
“There’s too many people around here for me to be alone,” I managed, and could’ve kicked myself for the response. “What I mean is, I totally don’t mind you sitting and talking . . .” Shut up, Kass! I silently chided. This is ridiculous, woman up! “Nice . . . uhh . . . performance.”
He produced a smile and slid into the empty seat to the side of me. I immediately felt a light nudge in my side that I just knew had to be Niecy. She was sitting the closest to me. I ignored her as best I could, making sure not to turn her way.
“Glad you enjoyed it.”
“Yeah, I did . . . enjoy it.”
Damn, was that subliminal? Inviting?
“What was your favorite part?” he asked.
“Umm. It was all amazing.”
“All what? The Alphas? Me? Me and you?”
Oh, my damn. Please stop looking at me like that!
I chuckled nervously. He was trying to corner me where I couldn’t get out. Or did I just feel trapped because I wanted to say so much more—yet shouldn’t have wanted to say anything?
“Oh, I know. Just as I thought. It was me that made your fave’s list?”
Cocky-ass. And not that I would say it to him, but he could definitely afford to be.
“I mean, it was . . . all good. Y’all were all good,” I said, timidly.
“He wants to hear you say that he did it best!” one of the other guys shouted, playfully. “He swears he’s the main reason the women show up!”
“Nah, I don’t swear. I was taught not to do that. But it is what it is.” He started laughing along with the guy that made the comment. “Wanna go around the room and fact-check?”
“Nah, dude! I’m good!”
The more everyone got involved in the laughter and the conversation, the more obligated I felt to get some more liquor in me so that I could lose the stiffness that kept creeping up. I had no idea what number I was on, just that I didn’t feel any type of buzz. That was my permission to keep going. Besides, I needed to level-up on my energy. Pronto!
“Can I order a double shot of Patron?” I asked the hostess that appeared out of nowhere. I was grateful that she showed up at the right time.
“Of course. Would you like a chaser with that? Lime?”
“Straight is fine, thank you.”
“Trying to get the edge off?” Graffiti asked, all up in my business. “I can’t blame you,” he said without waiting for me to respond. “You do seem a little uptight.”
“I’m not . . . uptight,” I charged, without missing a beat. “Not at all.”
“Oh okay, just making sure. You’re gonna have a serious buzz when you get that Patron in your system.” He looked at me with those nice eyes and winked. “I’m just sayin’.”
“Here you go,” the girl said when she came back in record time with my drink. As soon as it was in my hands, I took it down.
“Marco, you want anything?” she asked, softly, clearly crushing on the main attraction.
“Nah, I’m good, Mink. Thanks, though.”
After the flirty hostess sauntered off, I chuckled to myself. But it was clearly heard by him.
“What’s funny?” he asked, slightly tilting his head to the side.
“Oh. You heard that?”
“Yep, I heard it. What’s funny?”
I hunched my shoulders and smiled. The effects of the Patron were clear and present, making its way from my thighs and up to my chest, then to my brain where all my bravado lived.
“I just don’t think workplace romances are good for the soul.”
He started to laugh. “That alcohol has you spitting out fake news. There’s no workplace romance between me, and anybody.”
“That’s not what it seemed like with you and . . . what was her name again? Mink? Yeah, her.” He looked at me intently for a few seconds and then the sides of his mouth turned up into a crooked smile. “What’s that smile for?” I asked him.
“Why does it matter to you? If I was having a workplace ro—”
“It don’t matter.”
“Seems like it does, though.”
“But it doesn’t. I don’t even know you enough to care. I was just making
an observation.”
“Off a two-second interaction. Hmmm. Sounds like the stuff jealousy is made of, if you ask me.”
“Jealousy?!” I guffawed. “Yeah, I doubt it.”
He bit down on the corner of his lip, then gave me a slow, lingering once-over.
“Yeah, that couldn’t be, right? You are somebody’s fiancé, after all.”
I suddenly felt exposed. Like, I’d done something dirty and I hadn’t. At least I didn’t think so.
“Okay. I won’t make any more comments, or ask you anymore questions,” I told him, feeling that was my only way out of a mess that was knocking at my door, aggressively.
He stood up from where he sat, bringing his full body into view once again. He was just all kinds of fine.
He leaned down close to my ear and whispered, “You’re pretty as fuck. You could’ve asked me all the questions you wanted. I just wanted you to admit that you were jealous.” He stood back up and pinched his thumb and fore finger together. “. . . just a little,” he mouthed.
With that, he walked off leaving me speechless. Speechless, as in no words. I might’ve even been panting . . . just a little.
-20-
CYN
“Girl! Why didn’t you call me?!”
“That’s way too much energy right now,” Cyn stated, rolling her eyes in the air. “You didn’t even give me a chance to get in here and pour me some wine.”
“Okay, well, I’ll hold on while you do that; because we need to talk.”
Cyn sighed under her breath. She hadn’t meant to even answer the phone! Her plan was to not answer any calls until tomorrow and now she was stuck.
The Graffiti Effect Page 9