by Nana Malone
His phone vibrated on the side table, and they ignored it, his hips rising into her hands. "Do you have to get that?" she whispered.
He shook his head. "No...busy...later."
Serena popped one of his buttons on his shirt and kissed his neck, then she eased down the zipper, and he silently begged her with his rotating hips. But before she could reach inside to palm his hard, slick flesh, her phone rang. Unlike Tyson, she didn't have her phone on silent. She raised her head. "I—"
"Oh no you don't. Focus on the dick in your hands."
Her lips twitched. "What if it's important?"
"It's fine. One of the other girls can get it. I just need—" Both phones rattled. The one on the table making it sound like they had a jackhammer in the living room with them. Ty made a sound somewhere between a groan and a whimper. "Fuck." Snatching his phone off the coffee table, he growled, "Hello? This had better be a fucking emergency."
Tyson had the volume up, so she could hear right away who it was. Xavier. "Yo, what the fuck? Where you guys been? I know it's movie night."
Serena scooted back on the couch, prepared to let him talk to her brother.
But he shook his head and handed her the phone. She sighed and Ty thrust the phone in her direction.
The last thing she wanted to do was talk to X right now. He was her twin, and she loved him to death, but he had the uncanniest timing, and he was bound to know something was up. It's not like you can keep avoiding him. She took the phone. "Hey, baby brother."
X sighed. "By a minute."
"Still makes me older."
"What are you guys doing? How come neither one of you picked up the phone?"
She flushed. "It's movie night. We turned off our ringers."
There was a bit of silence, then he asked, "What are you guys watching?"
She panicked. She'd picked some romantic comedy that she hadn't been able to pay any attention to because Ty had been busy…doing things. "Reservoir Dogs for like the millionth time."
He seemed to accept that, the suspicion easing out of his voice. "Yeah. Good movie." As her brother prattled on about seeing her at Micha's wedding, Ty rubbed her feet. But before she knew it, his hands trailed up her calf, then her thighs. She couldn't suppress a smile. She knew what he was doing. Trying to distract her. Trying to make her crazy.
He crawled up her body as she tried to find the brain cells to give her brother appropriate answers like "uh-huh," and "yeah." Good thing for her that most of the time X was self-absorbed.
As she talked to him, Tyson lifted the hem of her T-shirt, and she shook her head vehemently. He only grinned and tugged higher. As he kissed up her rib cage, she tried to focus on her brother, concentrating hard on what he was saying, and not the way Ty was tugging down her bra cups and sucking her nipple into his mouth.
"Uh, X— I, uh— I have to..." She couldn't even finish what she was saying.
"Fine," her brother muttered. "Go watch your silly movie. But give me Ty for a second."
She handed Tyson his phone, and he eyed her warily but took it. He sat back, inviting her to come and lie on his chest. But as pretty as his abs were, she had a different plan.
She mimicked his motions, but instead of heading for his pecs, she found her quarry. His button was still unsnapped and the zipper was partway down.
Tyson narrowed his gaze at her and shook his head in warning. She merely grinned back. As she tugged on his zipper, she licked her lips and winked at him. His cocky smirk made way for panicked unease, and he scooted back. But there wasn't anywhere for him to go.
She pulled his cock free, and he hissed before muttering, "No, X. Nothing's wrong. Just thinking about my fantasy basketball stats."
Serena gently took hold of him at the base of his cock, then smoothed up over the length of him, repeating the motion over and over until his hips rose in conjunction with her hand. When she leaned close, she ran her tongue over the tip, gently sucking him into her mouth. With a deep breath, she took all of him into her mouth, to the back of her throat, relaxing her muscles, sucking deeper still.
Suddenly Ty growled into the phone, "X, I'll call you tomorrow." Without waiting for an answer, he hung up. His voice was low with a heated threat. "You like to play games?"
Serena grinned. "It depends on the rules."
"Oh, these rules are easy. You run, I catch you."
With a squeak, she jumped up. It wasn't like she was going to run that fast, but she hated to lose.
She wasn't quick enough.
When he caught her, he backed her up against a window. "Where were you running to, Serena?"
She met his heated gaze with a defiant one. "I dunno, I figured I might be able to make it to the bedroom before you caught me."
He tsked softly. "No chance. Not when I'm this riled up."
Her back hit the cold glass, and she shivered. "What's my punishment, Ty?"
He didn't say anything, merely stripped off her shorts. "I'm not going to punish you, baby. I'm going to teach you not to run."
"Oh yeah, how's that?" She giggled.
"Before I answer, I need to know one thing."
"Hmm?" She arched her body into him, already needing him.
"Are you on the pill?"
She blinked. "I… Yes."
"Good."
He shoved his jeans and boxers down, and with one smooth stroke, he slid his cock over her clit before pushing inside her. Serena's eyes went wide as he stretched her. "Oh my...God."
Ty lifted her up so her back was braced against the glass, sinking deeper. "Open your eyes, Serena. Look at me. See me."
She dragged her eyes open and blinked at him, loving every inch of his handsome face. "I see you, Ty. I've always seen you."
With every measured stroke she held on tight, loving the feel of him as he gently worked into her and then withdrew. Making love to her even as he was fucking her. This was Tyson. Here. Himself. No pretense. Just raw and unfiltered. This was the man she loved.
Serena dug her hands into his hair and pulled him in for a kiss. He growled low as he timed the motions of his tongue with the rigid length inside of her.
He picked up his pace, and she didn't think she could take it anymore. The delicious sensations winding around her spine became a natural extension of herself, making her need things she didn't know about. Making her want so much more than this, than just his body. She wanted him as hers, permanently.
The pulsing quiver started deep inside, and she tried to hold it in. But she couldn't stop the inevitable. As her body tightened, then bowed and exploded into a million pieces, she fell further in love with Tyson Leigh.
Tyson held her close in the darkness of his bed. He'd fucked her without a condom. He'd done it deliberately. He wanted to mark her as his so that everyone would know. So that she would know. He'd never had unprotected sex before. Not once. Shit. This was getting out of control.
"Are you okay?" he whispered in the dark.
She curled into him. Well, more like sprawled naked across him. "Mmmm, delicious."
"Yes, yes you are," he agreed. She laughed, then poked him. "What? You are. Have you tasted you? You're incredible."
She snickered then kissed his nipple. His cock, now spent after another two rounds, one on the couch and another in the shower, tried to rally. It wasn't a half-bad effort, but he'd need more rest.
He didn't want any of this to be over, but he had to at least temporarily burst the bubble. They'd been living in a cocoon, enjoying life, but there was a real world, and a little of it had encroached upon them tonight.
"You know we have to tell him, right?"
She sighed and looked up at him. "Yeah, I know. It's time. We'll do it at the wedding in a few weeks."
"Okay. But we have to, Serena. I don't want to hide anymore."
She licked her lips, but she met his gaze directly. "Neither do I." He watched her closely as she worried her bottom lip with her teeth. She wanted to ask him something. A trickle of unease ghosted
over the back of his neck. "So, uh, what are you doing Friday night?"
"Besides spending as much time inside you as I can?"
"Yes, besides that?"
"Nothing. Why?" He kissed her temple. He couldn't believe how lucky he was. He'd wasted all that time worried about trying to be with her.
"I want you to come to a private show at the club. We're unveiling something different."
A show? "Not really my thing," he hedged.
"I know, but I want this to be a success. Please?"
"Fine. But I'm the only one giving you lap dances, okay?" he teased.
"You have a deal."
15
Ty's phone rang as he jogged into his office. He had a fitting in fifteen minutes that he was far from prepared for. The last week had been crazy.
His first group project for school had kicked off, and squeezing in meeting time was cutting into work and Serena time. He hadn't seen her in nearly a week. She had the thing at the club tonight. Part of him needed to skip it. But he’d promised, so he was going, even though he really didn't have time for it. “Yeah, hello?”
“Is this Tyson?”
“Yeah, who's this?” he muttered with a distracted growl.
“This is Dr. Blankenship, your father's oncologist.”
Tyson's blood ran cold. He hadn't checked in on the old man this week. He'd run out of time. “Uh, what can I help you with? Dad okay?” He sent up a silent prayer as panic seeped into every cell.
“To tell you the truth, I'm not sure. A month ago we did blood work, and the results were abnormal. We scheduled him for a follow-up, but he didn't show. And subsequent attempts to get in touch with him have been unsuccessful. Since you have clearance to assist with his medical wishes, I thought you could bring him in.”
Fuck. The bottom dropped out from his stomach. “I had no idea. I’ll make sure he comes in first thing in the morning on Monday.” This was why he needed to control shit. The moment he let go, everything went to hell.
“Thank you. We probably have nothing to worry about, but it's better to be sure.”
As soon as he hung up with the doctor, he called his father and got voicemail. “Dad. You need to call me back. Right now.”
He sank into his seat and cradled his head. Something had to give, or he was going to lose it.
Serena paced back and forth in the little dressing room. What in the world was she about to do? This was madness. To get up in front of a bunch of people and show off what she'd learned? That was crazy. You’re crazy. Get your shit and go home.
Cara bounded up to her. "Are you excited?"
"You're kidding, right? Right about now, I'm ready to throw up. I can't do this. I don't want to do this. I work with people outside that door. People will recognize me, and no one will take me seriously. And—"
Cara put a hand over Serena’s mouth to shut her up. "Stop. We talked about this. These are just nerves."
Serena licked Cara’s hand in response, and her friend squealed. "Eww."
"You gotta be careful where you put your hands. I have a brother, remember? He's a pain in the ass. I learned that from him." She rolled her shoulders. "Are you sure I can do this?"
"Licking hands notwithstanding, you're going to be fine. There are no professionals out there. The only reason we're having the showcase here is because the studio needed renos. So no one even knows about this. This is a family-and-friends thing. No one from the outside will be watching, so relax."
Okay, that was true. This was a friendly crowd. This was not real clientele, and she was not a stripper. "This is for me. Not for anyone else." It didn't matter who saw her. She said she wanted Ty to notice her and she’d made that happen. She said she wanted to dance again and she’d made that happen. All she was doing was combining those things. No more hiding in her shell. And she'd have a mask. She’d borrowed the idea from Olivia. This was more burlesque than a strip show, and none of them would be taking their clothes off.
But Tyson is out there.
So yeah, that part was concerning. He was out there. She'd already texted to make sure. She’d also had security confirm for her. He thought she'd be joining him for a special burlesque presentation. He wasn't overly thrilled, but he said he'd support her.
Little did he know how he'd be supporting her.
"You're right, I can do this. Besides, it's not like I'm naked."
"Exactly." Cara grinned and handed her the mask. "And let's face it, you've got on more clothing than half the college coeds heading out for a girls’ night."
Serena glanced down. With her hot pants and sequined bra top, she was covered. And was wearing more clothes than several reality TV show stars so there was that. Cara slipped on her own mask.
"And remember, I'll be right up there with you. So will the whole class. I wouldn't leave you guys to jump into this stuff on your own."
The group had a song to do then they'd break out into their audience groups, dancing in the crowd. That was the part she was most nervous about. Dancing for Tyson. How would he react? Would he laugh? Would he hate it?
Between her nerves and the heels, she was pretty sure she was going to kill herself.
You can do this.
Cara winked at her. "Show time?"
"Show time." The butterflies in her belly were busy looking for an escape route. They didn't want to be a part of this when it went horribly wrong. I feel you guys. But she'd made the commitment, and she wasn't backing out. She just wasn't sure what Ty was going to think. There was only one way to find out.
The stage was pitch-dark. The only way they were able to see their individual poles was because the spotlight lit the top quarter of the stage. Now or never, Serena, grow a pair.
Serena swallowed hard as she took her position just left of center. Cara was in the middle so some of the less-experienced dancers could see her if they got lost. This is it. No running away now.
The one thought she had before the music cue came on was that Tyson was out there. She couldn't see him of course. For all she knew no one was watching. But she could feel him, her skin itchy and her senses hyperaware.
The low seductive R&B beat of Bando Jonez came on. They waited the eight count, and then it was a go. The spotlight lit her and Cara, and they twirled in time, doing the first of their tricks as Bando asked if anyone had sexed them lately. They did a synchronized twirl into a dragonfly spin, then they landed and performed their eight count. The spotlight broadened to encompass two more girls.
They all danced the next eight count together, but then when it was time for a spin, those girls did the dragonfly as she and Cara performed a pike spin.
For years, she'd watched girls dance on the pole with little thought to how much work it was. How strong they had to be. How their cores had to be steel. And oh yeah, they were pretty much fearless because dangling upside down on a pole held up by nothing more than the skin on the back of their knees required a special kind of trust in their bodies.
Every eight count, the spot light would add two more until all eight of the girls were illuminated. Then they danced in unison, performing the similar stunt spins together.
And then it was time. Out the corner of her eyes, she saw Cara smooth her hands down her body into a deep plié. Like the rest of them, she wore the hot pants and bra, but her bra wasn’t sequined.
All of them were completely in sync for their next sixteen count. Then the lighting tech brought the house lights up just enough for them to see for positioning. But she didn't need any direction. She knew exactly where she would be going. Not only because she'd specified seating for Tyson, but also because she could feel him. Feel his burning gaze on her.
Cara did her solo eight count, which included twerking. She was really sexy, all eyes pinned on her. All except Tyson’s. He watched Serena. If she had tried to twerk, she would have looked like an epileptic duck.
Cara finished her count, then danced down the stairs into the crowd. As Cara picked her unsuspecting victim, Seren
a started her eight count. She used her flexibility to her advantage, kicking her leg up into a full split to rest on the pole, then twirling around, finally finishing the combo with a slinky jazz walk, double count spin into a split on the floor and a head whip. She looked directly at Tyson, and his eyes were glued to her writhing form. His lips were slightly parted, and he sat forward. Did he know it was her? Did he suspect? He knew her body well enough.
Like it or not, he'd know soon. This is what you wanted, wasn't it? For him to see you?
She performed her body roll complete with another spin, then slid directly off the stage as the next girl began her eight count. Sashaying right over to Tyson, she sucked in a deep breath as she started her routine.
16
Holy fuck. Ty tried to swallow around the sawdust in his mouth. She was so hot. He'd been unable to take his eyes off her the moment the music started. Serena. His fucking Serena. A riot of emotions coursed through his body.
Anger. She'd lied to him, or hadn't told him the whole story.
Confusion. Was she stripping now? Could he handle that? Her naked in front of strangers. No. Fuck no. He had enough shit to deal with right now, he didn't need this too. But he couldn't drag his attention away.
This wasn't her, she wasn't a dancer. No. She was a dancer, but not that kind of dancer. Protectiveness. He knew for a fact there were other men in here. Were they looking at her? Who was he kidding, of course they were. He didn't like it. Fuck, he hated it. Really hated it. She was his. And the last emotion, the strongest, was lust. Raw and potent. His cock throbbed in his jeans as she leaned over him.
His hands twitched with the need to touch her, to pull her into his lap. Never mind anyone who was watching. He could have her now. Right here.
Beautiful but untouchable was not his thing. And he wasn't into sharing. But hell, she was so damn hot. So hot. Serena leaned into him, and her scent whispered over him, powerful and demanding. His body knew just how to answer her mating call. You are in public, you cannot do that.