When she was sufficiently clean, she toweled off, wrapped her robe around herself like a suit of armor, and exited the bathroom prepared to sprint to her room. No luck, however. When she opened the door, Max was leaning up against the wall adjacent to the bathroom with his arms crossed over his muscular chest, waiting for his turn. Yummy. Damn, she was such a loser. Ugh.
“It’s all yours,” she called on her way down the hall. No way was she going to turn around to face him.
With the dresser now covered in cosmetics and hair products, she set about the task of transforming herself. She was a single gal now, after all. She could do whatever, or whomever, she wanted to. It was a liberating feeling. She wondered what it would be like to do Max Fear. Sloane quickly pushed that idea aside, giggling to herself. She was halfway through applying her makeup when Max called to her from the other side of the door.
“Um…hey, I’ve got something to do, so Foster and Bella will be here to get you in less than a half hour.”
“Oh…okay.” She tried not to sound disappointed. Why the hell should she care? She shouldn’t. She did.
“I won’t be long. I gotta pick up a friend and I’ll be there right after you guys.”
He had to pick up a date. Wonder if he remembered his handcuffs. What would it be like to be handcuffed and left to his mercy? Not that she cared. Stupid man. With renewed resolve, she finished applying her eye shadow. The dark smoky eyes looked hot even to her.
After her makeup was done, she slipped on her black tube dress. She’d purchased it a few months ago. Sadly, she hadn’t yet had a chance to wear it. Her breasts were a little too large to go completely braless, but a strapless did the trick without ruining the look. The red three-inch heels helped along her five-foot, five-inch frame. It didn’t hurt that they made her legs look fantastic. Which was a definite plus considering how much of them were exposed.
Stepping onto the back porch, she did a slow turn for Mirabella and Foster as they waited in his Tahoe. It was a lot tighter and shorter than anything that she had ever worn before. She was actually nervous about wearing it. Bella squealed in delight while Foster gave appreciative catcalls. She was smiling in a way she hadn’t in days—hell, in months. She needed this more than she’d realized. Carefully, she made her way down the steps and folded herself inside Foster’s SUV and off they went.
The club wasn’t packed yet, but there was a decent enough crowd. Sloane glanced around, taking everything in. The bar itself took up a large portion of the room. Placed in the middle of the large space, it was definitely the focal point of the room. Tables spread out all around the room with multiple booths hugging the dark walls. A loud whistle caught her attention. She didn’t recognize the trio of men there, but apparently Foster did. He waved to them as he headed in their direction. Bella and Sloane let him lead the way.
“Guys, this is my fiancée, Mirabella, and this is her cousin, Sloane.”
The girls shook hands with the guys as Foster finished introducing them, giving their real names before informing they preferred nicknames. Paxton, or “Tank,” was just that—a huge man whose hand swallowed Sloane’s with room to spare. The shaved head only added to the magnitude of him. He wore a loud orange button-down shirt that couldn’t hide all of his tattoos, with black jeans and motorcycle boots. His large brown eyes swept the room, constantly alert. As if constantly looking for some presumed threat. She knew she wouldn’t want to be on the other end of that stare.
Morty “Mother” must have been half of Tank’s size, with what she could only describe as hipster black-framed glasses covering his gray eyes. His t-shirt matched his eyes almost perfectly. She almost laughed out loud after spying his white sneakers poking out beneath his blue jeans. He looked like the kind of guy who was more comfortable hanging out in local coffee houses for hours on end in front of a laptop or with a book in his hand.
When Sloane got to Kasper, more affectionately known as “Gutter Mouth,” the name alone made her laugh. Blue eyes sparkled right back at her, and a cocky smirk crossed his face. His blond hair ended just above his chin; it looked so soft she almost asked to touch it. A crimson shirt pulled taut across his shoulders showcased a lean, muscled body underneath. Unlike Mother, his wasn’t tucked into his dark-wash jeans. He was hot, to say the least.
“Sloane, I’ve gotta say it. You look fuckin’ hot in that dress. Dayum.”
He took her hand and kissed the top of it. With that simple move, he had the capacity to both put her on edge and at ease, all at the same time. She felt heat blossom in her cheeks. Foster and Bella laughed at something Tank said as they pulled up chairs next to where she stood.
“Come on, Darlin’, sit down next to me. Unless you’d rather sit in my lap?” Kasper waggled his eyebrows.
“Gutter Mouth, behave,” Foster pretended to chastise him. Everyone laughed. “Watch that one, Sloane. He’s trouble.”
“Foster, you wound me, man.” Kasper winked across the table.
Sloane sat there listening to the men tell stories of old times before Foster met Bella. Eventually she began to feel restless. The strawberry margaritas were fabulous. Every sweet, sugary sip pulled a little more of the tension she was feeling from her. They hadn’t been there long and she was already on her third one.
Evanescence boomed through the speaker, and the pulsing beat pulled on her. She was on her feet before she realized it, heading for the dance floor. Her hips swayed to the music that was breathing life back into her.
Sloane stayed near the edge of the dance floor; she didn’t want to have to fight her way through the crowd and this way Foster and Bella could see her at all times, per their agreement. She was enjoying the music, dancing with a muscle-bound, brown-haired man to her left and a tattoo-covered man with his head shaved clean to her right. Both men took her in, undressing her with their eyes, but neither of them touched her anywhere inappropriately. The way she was beginning to feel, she may have welcomed it.
Halfway through the song, warm hands encased her hips, moving in sync with her. She didn’t move them, allowing her new dance partner to press his body flush with hers. The rich musky scent of his cologne was nice—not overpowering like the kind a lot of men used. Kasper spun her around and wrapped his arms around her. His body pressed to hers tightly. The other two men forgotten, she smiled up at him. Feeling the eyes of everyone at their table, she risked a look over while never losing the rhythm they had created.
The only face she was able to make out was Max’s. Like a statue, he stood absolutely still, his eyes glued to the dance floor. No, not just the dance floor, but on her and Kasper specifically. She noticed a leggy redhead had her arm entwined with his.
She was pretty and it bugged the shit out of Sloane. Why couldn’t she have been wrong? Would it have hurt to have the girl look less like a model and more like say, a troll? Then again, this was Max. He was gorgeous. He could have any woman in the room.
Secretly, Sloane wished he wanted her. He knew Brody. She had to keep that in mind. God only knows what Brody told him about her. No doubt what a lousy sexual partner she was. Why would Max want to waste his time with someone like her?
Forget it, she berated herself. She was currently in the arms of a hot guy. A hot guy who definitely did want her, even if it was only for tonight. She was fine with that. More than fine. That’s what she wanted—some mindless fun, and she was going to enjoy every second of it. Sloane turned her attention back to Kasper, rolling her body down his.
Two more dance songs played before the DJ slowed it down. She was ready to sit down, and luckily it seemed Kasper had read her mind. A light sheen of sweat glistened on her skin. She couldn’t wait to get back to her frozen margarita. Kasper took her hand loosely, leading her back to the table. It was a sweet, yet possessive gesture.
“Max! Good to see you again, man. Who’s your friend?” Kasper slapped Max’s hand in lieu of a normal handshake.
“Charlie, this is Kasper and Sloane.”
“Hi
guys. You two make a really cute couple.” Charlie smiled. Kasper pulled Sloane off the chair she was sitting in and into his lap, ripping an unexpected squeal from her.
“We do, don’t we, Darlin’?” He winked at her. Sloane watched Charlie rub her hand down Max’s chest.
“Sure do, Cowboy,” Sloane answered as she wrapped her arms around Kasper’s neck.
***
Max
What. The. Fuck. Did he miss while picking up Charlie and why did he care so much? He knew why—because Sloane looked like a fucking goddess on the dance floor. That sad excuse for a dress clinging to every single curve on her mouthwatering body was like a second skin. Every unattached male in there had their eyes glued to her tits or her ass, neither of which were properly covered.
He’d wanted to drag her off the dance floor the moment he’d laid eyes on her. Those two strange men had been stealing touches wherever they could. They were nothing, however, compared to the way Gutter Mouth had been touching her. Now she was sitting there in his lap laughing like he was the funniest man alive. Why the hell was she calling him “Cowboy”? Now that he thought about it, he didn’t like him calling her “Darlin’” either.
Charlie cleared her throat beside him. No, he hadn’t forgotten her “cute couple” comment either. They did not look cute together. She was too…and he was too…They just weren’t cute together. This evening was not going the way he had envisioned. Here he thought he would spend a few hours watching out for Sloane before taking Charlie back to her house, where he would fuck her senseless before returning home himself.
Maybe if Sloane had kept dancing with the strangers it would’ve been different. If it hadn’t been Kasper’s hands sliding down her back, gripping her waist as he pushed himself against her, maybe it wouldn’t be affecting him this way. No, it didn’t matter who touched her. He didn’t like it. Not one single bit. She was his. She just didn’t know it yet.
“Max told me you ran into some trouble at work,” Charlie said to Sloane in between Kasper’s ever-witty jokes. His fingertips roved lazily across Sloane’s bare knee. Bastard.
“Yeah, I was in the right place at the wrong time. The guys have been worried about me ever since. And to make matters worse, my apartment was broken into.”
“Oh my God! How horrible. I couldn’t imagine going back to something like that. It makes my skin crawl just thinking about it.”
“It’s scary and I felt violated after seeing my apartment, that’s for sure. Now I’m on lockdown until he’s caught or the guys think I’m safe.”
“I’ll keep you safe, Darlin’.” If Gutter Mouth didn’t stop winking at Sloane that way, Max was going to lose his shit. He was already hanging on by a thread with the way he was touching her.
“Aww, how romantic. Like a white knight. How long have you two been dating?”
“We aren’t, actually. We just met tonight,” Sloane said, jabbing Kasper with a playful elbow to the side.
“Oh wow, really? I’m sorry. I just assumed.”
“See what happens when you assume?” Max growled.
“Anyway—” Charlie gave him a disapproving look. “—it at least helps to know guys like these are looking out for you, right?”
Sloane sighed. “It does, but I’ll be happy once it’s all over. I just want to get on with my life. I hate living out of a suitcase.”
“Have you been staying at a hotel?” Charlie asked.
“Um, actually I’ve been staying with Max.”
Charlie’s eyes widened for a fraction of a second; only someone studying her reaction would have noticed it. Max knew she’d want an explanation of some sort, but she wasn’t his girlfriend, and he didn’t want her to think she was by giving her one. She’d never been his girlfriend. She did, however, know his number one rule: No women at his home.
“Oh. Well I hope you’ll be okay.”
“I’ll be fine,” Sloane said. She lied almost as well as Bella, he thought.
The night went by slowly for Max. Every time Sloane and Kasper hit the dance floor, Max wanted to hit him. Charlie asked him to dance several times, but he couldn’t be bothered. In fact, he wished she would stop pawing all over him. He wasn’t a touchy feely in public kind of guy. Then again, he wasn’t a touchy feely guy in private either. Sure, he had no problem touching a woman. He could work Charlie with ease, but he wasn’t the kind of guy to cuddle with after or talk about feelings. Why the hell did he bring her here in the first place? Oh yeah, he wanted to get laid. What a joke.
Talk about a touchy feely man. Now Kasper had his hands just above the soft globes of her ass as the song ended. With each song his hands dropped lower. One or two songs more and he would have Sloane’s sweet ass in the palms of his grimy hands, literally. A slow pop song sang about love. It was the first slow song that they had danced to. Sloane put her head on Gutter Mouth’s shoulder, eliminating any space between them. Max saw red. Oh hell no, he wasn’t going to sit and watch this.
Max was on his feet before common sense could stop him. He tapped Kasper on the shoulder, and without a word he stepped in, taking his place. Surprise washed over Sloane’s features before she could school her expression. What did she see when she looked at him? Did his eyes give him away? Did she know what she did to him or how hard he’d fought against her pull? Her arms slipped around his neck, but inches still separated their bodies. He couldn’t have that. He needed to erase Kasper from her body.
Max pulled her close enough that he knew she could feel his semi-erection press into her belly. He didn’t care; in this moment, he wanted her to know. Her breasts practically flattened between their bodies he held her so tightly. Like a lover’s caress, his hands never stopped moving. Sliding down her back, up her side, swirling circles on her hip. Her arms were wrapped around his shoulders. One hand played with the hair on the nape of his neck. Their eyes locked together, unwavering. It was breathtaking.
The song continued on as the rest of the room fell away. No one else existed. Sight, sound, smell—all of his senses were filled with only her. His hands threaded into her golden mane, pulling her head forward to meet his. Their bodies touched from their foreheads, chests, and hips. He could taste her breath on his lips as they swayed together. The sweet smell of the margaritas she had been drinking beckoned to him to take a taste.
He was just about to give in and take that taste when suddenly Sloane pulled away, her eyes wide with wonder. Max instantly missed the feel of her. Cold seeped into his skin all the while his blood burned for her. He wanted to grab her again and beg her not to let go this time.
“Song’s over,” she whispered like he cared.
“Just like that, it’s over…” Max didn’t know if he was making a statement or asking a question. Was he talking about the dance or the enchantment they had been under? That he was still under? She opened her mouth, an answer on the tip of her tongue. Max held his breath, waiting for her reply. Whatever she said could make or break this thing he could feel between them. Meanwhile, the DJ was taking his sweet time announcing the next song. Max wished she’d answer before the music drowned her out.
“Hey, Darlin’ get your sweet ass over here.” From the table Kasper’s loud call pulled her attention away from Max.
“Gutter Mouth, shut the fuck up.”
It was out of Max’s mouth before he could stifle it. He groaned internally, slowly closing his eyes in frustration. Way to lose your cool there, Maxwell. Sloane’s jaw dropped slightly. It might have been comical in any other situation. Risking a look behind him, Max took in the expressions on his friends’ faces. Disbelief, humor, self-righteousness, and—yup, right there to round it all out—rage. Charlie was one pissed off woman.
That pissed off woman was heading in his direction, a murderous look in her eye. Her confident stride quickly ate up the space between them. Briefly he wondered if he could hide behind Sloane. Nah, even in her incredibly sexy heels she was still a few inches shorter than him.
“You had to be he
re to protect her?” she accused, her hands waving around.
He wanted to say yes, that’s exactly why he was here, but he couldn’t get the words out. The whole drive to Charlie’s house he kept thinking of the way Sloane’s ass had looked under the robe she was wearing as she ran to her room. He should have known this night wouldn’t end well.
“Looks to me like Kasper had things under control just fine without you.”
“Charlie—”
“No. Just no, Max.”
***
Sloane
Sloane watched Charlie march back to their table to collect her purse. She eyed Sloane, shaking her head in disapproval. What the hell did she do now?
“Look, Charlie…” He tried to talk to her, but she wasn’t having it.
“Handcuffs, Max…Hope she’s worth it.”
For the second time in less than five minutes, Sloane was frozen with her mouth hanging open. Peering up at Max, she tried but couldn’t read his expression. What the hell just happened? One minute she’s having a great time flirting with Kasper and seriously thinking of letting him take her home, the next she’s lost in a moment so intense with Max, she forgot where she was.
Perhaps Charlie’s departure was a good time to call it a night. Max refused to meet her gaze, so she left him standing there on the edge of the dance floor. She tried to ignore the looks from everyone. She was just as confused to the cause of Max’s outburst as they were. She just shrugged her shoulders.
“It looks like the party is over tonight, Darlin’.”
“So it does.” Sloane put on the happiest face she could muster. It wasn’t much.
“So, you gonna let me call you?”
“Sure, I’d like that.”
Best Man For The Job (The Men of Fear Incorporated Book 1) Page 7