Tommy glanced at him. “What has?”
“Never mind.” Shane didn’t know why he had said it.
Tommy read Shane’s expression and body language. His mouth dropped. “What’re you, celibate now? Is that some kinda rehab thing? Dean’s not gonna like that step if he hears about it.” He laughed in the hope that Shane would relax.
Shane’s face heated up. “More like trying to avoid more mistakes. I don’t really have good taste in women.”
“Give yourself a break. You were just a kid.” Tommy felt bad he brought it up. “One day you’ll find the right one.” He doubted the “one” existed for him.
The floor below filled up quickly. A few patrons tried to sit at the free tables behind the barrier, but Rick stopped them. The volume rose when the lights dimmed. The stage was soon lit up, and the opening band began to play.
“Definitely not him,” Shane said in Tommy’s ear after the third song.
Tommy nodded, with a frown. He had watched the bassist and felt the same. He was unsure of himself and stayed close to the drum kit, as if he didn’t want to be seen.
The bassist of the next band was lively and had his own microphone. He sang some background and talked to the crowd once in a while. However, he was too rowdy and jumped all over as he played. He wouldn’t fit in with the rest of Silverblade. Nor could he sing while he ran around.
When the last band took the stage, Tommy had hope. Their bassist seemed confident, but not overly so. He smiled a lot. The girls liked him. Best of all, he could play well.
Shane noticed that as well. He wasn’t so sure, though. The guy was maybe 21. Silverblade had been around for a while. They were all in their mid-30s. Could that work?
The illusion fell when the bassist sang a line alone. His voice was sub-par at best. That was a deal-breaker. Shane sighed. “I’m never gonna find anyone.”
Tommy patted his shoulder. “Give it time. We can find the right guy. I just know it.” He stood up. “I gotta take a leak. I’ll be back.”
Rick on his heels, Tommy wove through the crowd to the men’s room. That hallway was jammed as well. With just the dim lights, not many even glanced at him. Before he opened the door to the restroom, his eyes laid on a brunette several feet away. She talked with several men but didn’t seem interested in what they said. He couldn’t tear his eyes away. Only Crystal had ever invoked such interest.
With her tight-fitting top, short skirt and fuck-me boots, he could see why the others wanted to be near her. She couldn’t have been more than five feet tall, since even with heels, she wasn’t remotely as tall as him. His cock reacted rapidly. Inside, though, he felt something he didn’t understand. It was as if she drew him toward her somehow but not physically. He shook his head and tried to let the foreign emotions go. I must be going insane.
After he had relieved his bladder and washed his hands, Tommy walked into the hallway. He hoped to find the brunette again. She was gone. Rick nudged him toward the exit, but he shook his head. He had no idea why, but he needed to find her. To see over the people milling about, he jumped up a few times. He hoped to catch a glimpse, but she was nowhere.
Like the cocky guy he was, Tommy pushed open the ladies’ room door a bit and peeked inside. No one. He opened it wider, rushed inside and crashed into someone, who try to leave… her.
“Asshole,” Hailey shouted. “Watch it!”
Then she looked up. Wow. It’s him. She had noticed him before he went into the men’s room. While she waited to see what direction he went in, she decided to quickly check her makeup. She had planned to rope him into being the one-nighter she searched for. His obvious confidence curbed that quickly.
“Cocky and conceited maybe, but I’m never an asshole.” Tommy slid a hand over her back and winked.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” She had no clue who he was. “Don’t fucking touch me.” Dominant in most aspects of her life, she liked control in all things. She tried not to notice how handsome and well-dressed he was. It became close to impossible, though.
He rolled his eyes. “Wow. Playing hard to get? OK. I can play.”
“What the hell’re you talking about?” She shoved him. Hot or not, she never let guys get the upper hand anymore. She followed as he stumbled back into the hallway. Then she pushed again, with less strength.
Rick quickly intervened and tried to grab the woman, who assaulted his charge. “Hands off!”
“Don’t.” Tommy got in the way. “I’m sorry. We started out on the wrong foot.” He was positive she didn’t know who he was. “I’m Tommy.”
She glared at him for a few seconds. “Fine. Hailey.” She huffed. “Now that that’s over with, get outta my face.” She tried to step around him, but Rick blocked that exit. “Move.”
“Come sit with me upstairs. Then decide if I’m worth hanging out with.” He gave her his best smile to show off his dimples.
That did her in. She had a thing for dimples. “You got 20 minutes.”
Hailey glared at him to show him who was boss. Because she was shorter than even most women she knew, she had a bit of a complex. She didn't dwell on it. Instead, she decided to learn how to control people without much effort. It usually worked. Men fell at her feet. He was an exception and a curiosity.
* * *
The band set up for their next song. Shane heard movement behind him and turned. He stood when he noticed Tommy had led a woman to their side of the balcony. He looked her over and smiled. Not too thin, short, dark hair, which also made her breasts look bigger. Right up Tommy’s alley. “Hey.”
“Uh, hey.” Hailey cocked an eyebrow. “You came here with a guy?”
Tommy laughed loudly. “Fuck. You have no idea. Do you even listen to rock music?”
“Yes.” She put her hands on her hips. She thought he made fun of her. “What do you think? I’m here for the hot chicks?” She winked but was unsure she should tell him she was bisexual. “I love this music. Just don’t always have time for concerts and such.”
Shane glanced at Tommy. “She don’t know you.” He stifled a laugh, sure Tommy would be insulted by that.
“Why should I know you?” She looked both men over and didn’t recognize either from another club. Then she checked out their surroundings. People stared at them and no one was allowed to come near them. “Are you famous or something?”
“Something like that.” Tommy waved her to a chair and sat next to her. “We can talk about that later.”
First, he had to ditch Rick. Then he planned to make her scream his name. Strangely, he was glad she didn’t know him. That meant they might be able to have a real conversation before or after sex. He preferred before, so he could go to sleep afterward.
Shane put out a hand. “Shane Martin.” Not a hint of recognition.
She smiled and looked him over. “Hailey DeCort, lawyer to the tri-state area’s spoiled brats.” She smirked as she thought that they were most likely juvenile delinquents in their youth. Since she had grown up in a poor Brooklyn neighborhood, she had known many. She became a criminal defense attorney because it was something familiar in a way. As she turned to Tommy, her eyebrows rose. “OK. So, Tommy who?”
“Damn,” Shane muttered. A blow to the ego.
Tommy took a deep breath and tried to ignore her mocking tone. “Fischer.” He licked his lips. “A lawyer, huh? I’m thinkin’ about breakin’ the law so I can call you.”
“Wow.” She rolled her eyes and glanced at Shane. “Is he always this corny?”
Shane couldn’t help but crack up. He almost fell off the chair, he laughed so hard. Hailey started to laugh with him, while Tommy scowled at them both. She leaned on Shane when she couldn’t catch her breath.
“Thanks.” Tommy sat back and pouted. “Glad to amuse you.” Things didn’t go as he expected. “Fuck you guys.”
Hailey took in a breath and blurted out, “You wish!” Then she laid her head on Shane’s shoulder with another round of giggles. After she caught her
breath again, she realized she had hurt Tommy’s feelings. That had not been her intention. Is there more to him than I thought? “Hey, I was only kidding.” She sat up and put a hand on his thigh. “You kinda sounded like the kids I represent, though. I get hit on all day long. Teenagers must think all older women are cougars.”
“I bet.” Tommy chuckled. “Do you dress like that in court? I’d let you win.”
She gave him the finger. “You couldn’t take me in court or anywhere else.”
“Wanna bet?”
Shane listened to them argue for a while then shook his head. He couldn’t believe it. Tommy had never had a true conversation with a woman in his presence before. It was more like, “Wanna fuck?” “OK.” “Good. Bend over, bitch.” Then their debate over which one of them could get someone else to fuck faster, made him interrupt.
“Not letting you guys do that.” Shane grabbed Hailey’s hand when she stood up.
She yanked away. “Why not? There’s like 10 guys I’m sure will throw me up against the wall right here, if I told them to.”
Tommy rolled his eyes. “It’ll take me 60 seconds to get any chick’s panties off here.”
“I’m not staying up here alone.” Shane didn’t care about that. He just didn’t want them to make a mistake and not see where things went. They seemed perfect for each other. “You guys can fuck if you want. I’ll turn around.”
Hailey scoffed at that. “Hell no!” She stared at Tommy whose eyes were filled with lust. “Not happening.”
“We’ll see.” Tommy licked his lips, dying to taste her.
Chapter 18
When the last song had ended, Shane stood up. He could tell by the sexual tension that Tommy would try to take Hailey to a hotel or something. He didn’t want to stick around for that fight. “Next Saturday?”
“Yeah.” Tommy’s eyes stayed on Hailey as he added, “Down my way. A cool band playing in Atlantic City.” He growled under his breath when she bent to fix her boot. “You heading out?”
Shane couldn’t believe Tommy was smitten. It almost never happened. “Yeah. You guys go do your thing.” He had heard them talk about a bet they made.
“You’re goin’ down.” Hailey started to sing the Sick Puppies song “You’re Going Down” to Tommy. She had a decent voice and didn’t care what he thought of it.
Tommy’s eyes narrowed. “No fuckin’ way.”
A hint of a smile emerged. He wanted to lose. If he did, the punishment was to eat her out until she begged him to stop. The catch was he couldn’t fuck her unless she came. He loved that idea. Even if he won, he got something he wanted. She would ride him like a cowgirl. She had no idea who she was up against.
They had argued for only about 20 minutes until they both realized they were deeply attracted to the other, much more than for a normal one-night stand. The conversation had gone from notches in their bedposts (both admitted they were against relationships), to cars (both into them), to music (they had close to the same tastes there) and to work life (both very busy.) When they had found they had serious chemistry and most of their interests matched (which included competitiveness), they challenged each other to the race.
Once Shane was gone, Tommy walked Hailey to her car. Rick followed closely. He hoped she stuck to the plan. Normally, he didn’t trust women at all. She gave him a good feeling, although she was a pain in the ass as well. When she approached a black Honda Civic, he quickly looked it over. The SI on the back made him groan. She can drive a stick. That meant she would definitely give him a run for his money.
“I’ll meet you at Spring and Elizabeth.” She winked and unlocked her car.
Tommy and Rick hustled to the Challenger. After he dropped Rick off in Toms River, the plan was to race to Tommy’s place. He promised to pay for any speeding tickets. When he reached Elizabeth Street, he was surprised to see she waited for him. He waved at her as he pulled up next to her.
“Holland Tunnel to Garden State?” she shouted over the idling engines.
With a nod, Tommy grinned at her. “Yep. Meet you in Toms River.”
Most of the way to Rick’s apartment, Hailey followed closely. She didn’t know southern New Jersey well. Her GPS could get her to Tommy’s, if necessary. He had given her the address.
She was slightly nervous but not about the race. In the past 12 years, she had not been in a relationship that lasted more than a few weeks. She did not want a man to try to tell her what to do again, so she kept things strictly sex. Men provided orgasms and nothing more. What’s different about Tommy? She felt a pull with him. He was very much like her. So he understood the one-night thing.
Normally, she didn’t tell men it was casual, just snuck out while they were still asleep in the night. He made her want more. More of what she didn’t know, but she hoped to figure it out quickly. Maybe he’ll suck in bed, and I can just move on. She grinned as she watched him bang his head to music in the car ahead of her. He was himself and didn’t seem to care what anyone thought. That was what she liked most.
Tommy tried to concentrate on driving, but his engorged dick pressed uncomfortably against his zipper. His mind was on overdrive. Hailey had gotten under his skin. Girls didn’t do that. He didn’t let them. Well… except Crystal. Damn it! At least, this one isn’t in love with two other men. He was sure Crystal loved Chad as well as Giovanni. That was revealed when he watched her and Chad have sex without him. She never admitted to it, though. Damnit, woman! Get outta my head!
He shook his head to rid his mind of Crystal’s image and smiled. He had a great time with Hailey that night, although they mostly argued. Angry sex was so hot. He hoped she was submissive in the bedroom or at least could pretend to be. Although, breaking her could be fun. He sighed as he imagined her naked body beneath his. Then he unconsciously fantasized a morning blowjob. Oh no! Not letting this one sleep over. She’ll wake up thinking she’s in love, and I’ll be screwed. Not in a good way, either!
About an hour after they left the club, Tommy and Hailey revved their engines. They stared at each other. Adrenaline flowed in their veins. They both wanted to win yet knew they would get something either way. Tommy put up a hand and counted down on his fingers. When he made a fist, they both took off.
Tommy’s radar went off just before Atlantic City, so he flashed his headlights. Hailey who was just ahead, slowed down. They drove past two state troopers after less than a mile. As soon as they were clear, the race was back on. It was close. Just before they got to his building, she hit the gas and rolled into the parking lot seconds before him.
At Tommy’s direction, Hailey parked in a guest spot. They met outside after Tommy had parked as well. He walked with her into the front door. “Take out your license.”
“Why?” Hailey was confused. “You want it so I can’t leave?”
He laughed quietly. “No. I live in a secure building. You can’t even go in with me, without being registered at the security desk the first time.” He hoped that didn’t scare her.
“Uh… Who the hell are you?” She slowed her pace. A bit of uncertainty entered her mind.
He exhaled loudly. “Told you I was famous.”
She tried to figure out who he was. Since she didn’t watch many movies, television shows or much on the internet either, nothing came to her. He could be an actor. That would explain the cocky attitude. She dug her ID out of her small purse and handed it to the smiling security guard, who nodded at Tommy.
Tommy led the way to his top floor condo. He wasn’t sure if he should give her a tour of the place, talk some first or just carry her to the bedroom and blow her mind. Hailey, you’re going down. It shocked him that he remembered her name. He normally didn’t get names.
“Wanna drink?” Tommy let her inside first as butterflies threatened to make him hurl.
Hailey turned as he locked the door behind them. “Yes. Please. Anything but beer.”
“Where do you live?” Tommy asked as he headed to the kitchen. He needed a drink to c
alm his nerves. Why the fuck am I nervous?
Hailey replied, “Manhattan. But I practice law in Jersey and Connecticut, too.” She had to take the bar in all three states, but she graduated very early from college. “Is this your only place?”
“Yeah.” Tommy debated on what type of alcohol would relax him.
She looked around the large living room. There was memorabilia from a few rock bands she had heard of, Slipknot, Disturbed, Korn, Brass Monkey, Silverblade and Gasoline. He was really into music. That didn’t help her figure him out. There weren’t any pictures of him with anyone else. Only one of him as he held a six-string blue bass guitar in what looked to be an office. I wonder if he can play that.
“Hope you like JD in your soda. I didn’t have any rum left.” Tommy strode into the room with two large glasses. He put three whiskey shots in his, only two in hers.
She took the glass offered. “It’s perfect.” He even drinks like me. This is too weird.
To force his hands not to shake, Tommy sucked half his drink down fast. The rush made him grab the couch back next to him. “Um, wanna see the rest of the place?”
Hailey didn’t trust herself to spend too much time in his presence. She felt way too comfortable with him. “Maybe later.” Not gonna happen. “Where’s your bedroom?” She closed her eyes while she drained her glass. Her throat burned just a bit. He liked his drinks heavy on the alcohol. She did as well.
His nerves somewhat gone, Tommy grinned at her mention of the bedroom. He always had confidence there. “This way.” He set their empty glasses on an end table. Then he walked down the hallway and opened his bedroom door. “This is where I do my best work.” He winked at her.
“Sure.” She rolled her eyes at him. “No way in hell are you gonna make me cum.” She was positive of that. After he worked at it for an hour or so, she planned to fuck him anyway, but just so she could get off and leave. “Where’s the bathroom? I’d like to wash up if you don’t mind.”
Evolving Urges (Gasoline Book 2) Page 13