by Alexa Keith
I rushed out, “I’ll see you both soon. Tell Mom I love her.”
“I will,” Aunt Sally promised.
“Love you,” I said.
“Love you.” Then, she disconnected.
I sat there for a minute, running my finger over the stitched pattern on the duvet, as I reflected on how much my life had changed in the past few weeks. I’d gone from day-to-day repetition and dealing with loneliness to every day now bringing me a new adventure. I’d went from, nine years of no sex to sexual experiences, living with a guy to living alone, love to a broken heart, feeling popular to humiliation. Sometimes, I felt like I was living my early twenties all in a few weeks of time.
I thought back to some of the friends I had made in culinary school. They had always gone out, partying or jetting off to some island for spring break, and I had to just sit back and watch, or listen to them talk about all the fun they had had. It used to make me sick. There had been those few times when I’d had to listen to some of the girls cry over a guy. I’d hated those times. It’d made me so envious. I would have given anything then to have a man in my life. I would be a good friend and listen, but all the while, I would wish that I had the same problems. Unfortunately, my problems had consisted of middle school math and English while trying to feed two growing boys and myself on a food budget of a hundred dollars a week.
Now, here I was, going through it now. Being twenty-nine, I would have assumed that it would be easier, but it was not. When I looked in the mirror, I could see the devastation from losing a guy just as I had seen in the girls I went to school with. Now, I wished I had a girlfriend I could confide in. I never pictured a two-hundred-and-seventy-pound, six-foot-four powerhouse of a black man to be my confidant but, he was. Bull knew everything about me. It sucked that he hadn’t been able to come to Vegas with the gang and me. His mother was having some health issues, and he needed to stay back and help her.
I sure do miss him.
I pulled myself up from the pity party I was having, and I decided that the best way to overcome it was to go shopping. Here in the hotel, they had one of the most popular nightclubs in Vegas, and that was our destination tonight. Mentally running through the clothes that I’d packed, nothing screamed Vegas nightclub wear.
“I’m going downstairs for a little while!” I yelled to the spacious suite.
Hunter’s voice echoed from the patio. “Want me or one of the girls to go with you?”
“No,” I snapped a little too quickly. “I’m just going to look around. I’ll be fine,” I said, covering up my previously hasty voice.
“Okay!” Hunter shouted back.
I heard them all laughing and having a good time. The little green-eyed monster reared her head, wishing I could forget all that had crowded my head, so I could have a good time, too.
Once I made my way downstairs and into the area that held all the little clothing boutiques, I found myself gazing at a mannequin through a glass window. She wore fitted black leather pants that sat low on her waist with a belt that consisted of three strands of silver circle hoops that came together at the front with one thick silver ring. The top was a sleeveless black silk with a plunging deep V, and the edging of the V was done in tiny sparkly silver rhinestones. This stunning outfit was paired with silver crosshatch heels. I’d been practically drooling as I admired the sexy ensemble.
“Girl, if you wore that, you would cause every man within a mile radius severe whiplash,” the flamboyant male said as he stood to my right. I didn’t look to the man until he said, “Not to mention, you’d make every girl green with envy.”
It was then I regarded him. His blond hair fell into one bright green eye, and his lips held a slight glossiness to them. He smiled, showing perfect white teeth.
“I want it,” I said, expressionless.
His smile got bigger. “Then, let’s get you in it.” He took my hand and hauled me into the store with him. “I’m Gerald by the way. The assistant manager.”
“Kayden. The baker.” I returned, and Gerald chuckled.
An hour later, Gerald had me walking out the door with a new and very expensive outfit. The one thing he had done for me even though I had fought him on it was attach a small snap to the deep V-neck. I wasn’t one to go braless, and that was how the top would have had to be worn. He’d offered to tape me into it, but I’d adamantly declined. So, a very unhappy Gerald had sewn a snap right into the middle of the V, covering it with one chunky red gem.
He’d said, “You’re running the blouse. Girl, if you got ’em, flaunt ’em. And, good God, girl, that’s why they make double-sided tape.”
When he had finished altering the top, it looked excellent. It still held the sexy-as-all-hell look, and even Gerald had begrudgingly agreed. Then, he’d brought me into an elegant sitting room in the back of the boutique. He’d pulled out a large velvet case, which held a number of stunning jewelry.
“This is usually complimentary for the VIPs, but, girl, I like you. Tonight, you are my VIP,” Gerald had said as he pulled a ruby heart-shaped pendant from the box.
“Gerald, I can’t,” I had said while he slipped it onto a simple silver chain.
He’d come around me and placed it on my neck, holding it in place. “This, my dear, you must wear with that sexy man-killer outfit,” Gerald had whispered.
I’d whispered back, touching the pendant with my fingers, “I can’t.”
“You can,” Gerald had said, “and you will.”
He’d put the pendant into a small purple velvet box. Then, he had gone over a paper I had to sign, saying I would return the necklace by noon the next day or I would have to pay the ticketed price. My mind had definitely been focused on how amazing I was going to look tonight. If it hadn’t been, I would have never signed that paper. And I didn’t even know what the ticketed price was, but I could only imagine.
When I returned to the room, I noticed Spencer passed out on a lounge chair on the patio. I found a sleeping naked Libby draped over a sleeping naked Hunter in one of the bedrooms. Thankfully, she was covering his male parts with her thigh.
Tonya was cuddled on the S-shaped leather couch in the sitting room. Ideas of what might have gone on while I had been gone made me cringe. Just a naked Libby was enough to make me wince.
So, I decided to take a hot bath and also pass out in the comforts of my own elegant room.
“Come on, Kay. Get your ass moving!” Spencer yelled from behind my closed door.
I opened the door and looked down at my shoes, making sure they were buckled. “I’m coming.” Then, I ran into an immobile Spencer.
“Holy fucking shit,” Spencer breathed.
Hunter came down the hall and stopped. “What the fuck?”
Then, Libby and Tonya appeared behind him with stunned looks on their faces. Apparently, they were all taking in my new outfit. I’d figured the best do to go with the sexy clothes was blown-out crazy, wild, and wavy hair. I’d kept my makeup somewhat simple with soft brown eye shadow, heavy mascara, and pale pink blush, but I’d done up my lips in a shimmery crimson lipstick, which looked awesome with the ruby pendant laying on my neck and the red gem stitched to the top.
“You look…look…” Spencer stumbled.
Hunter finished for him, “Fucking hot.”
“No kidding,” Tonya chimed in.
At that time, Libby’s whiny voice caused everyone’s head to turn, “She looks okay.”
“Are you fucking crazy?” Hunter asked her. “She’s like a sister to me, but even I can admit that she looks smoking fucking hot.” He twisted to face me, and demanded. “Go change.”
It was time to break up the Kayden inspection as Spencer was now rounding me to check out my ass.
Under his breath, he muttered, “Nice.”
“No,” I spit back. I sauntered my hot ass down the hall, passing all the ogling eyes as I went. And I’m proud to say, I never stumbled once in the heels.
We entered the busy nightclub, and I had lost
count on how many looks and second glances I received from men and women. I wasn’t going to lie. I loved the stares. It was absolutely building my confidence. I was, without question, going to have to put Gerald on my Christmas card list and buy him chocolates—and not the cheap ones either.
We were escorted to one of the tables that bordered the dance floor. We found out from the waiter that these tables were reserved for people who held suites in the hotel. I then noted that I would also put the landlord I was meeting tomorrow on my list, too, because he rocked.
Once I gave my drink order, I let my eyes wander the silver-and-black sleek room. The music was pumping, people were mingling, and the party vibe was off the charts. I took in the crowded dance floor, guessing it would most likely take me two drinks before I would get out there.
An unusual cold shiver ran up my spine, causing me to shiver.
Hunter leaned over and asked, “You all right?”
I replied, “Yeah. Weird…I just got a chill out of nowhere.”
He shrugged his shoulders and turned to Libby, who was trying to get his attention.
My scanning continued and brought my eyes to the second floor, which was where special VIP booths sat. I followed the silver railing. Some individuals danced, and some sat taking it all in. I noticed the groups that screamed money.
Then, my eyes brought me to the fourth booth and the man standing there. He had on untarnished black work boots and fitted black jeans. He wore a deep-purple button-down with the top three buttons undone. The sleeves were folded up, showing his tanned muscular inked forearms, while his strong hands gripped the railing.
The shiver returned, racking my body. It wasn’t until my eyes found his that I had my answer. The clear blue eyes that I never thought I would see again were intensely piercing into mine.
Steele…
Kayden
“Kay…Kay…” Hunter tapped my leg. “Hey, you okay? You don’t look so good.”
Hunter’s voice sounded muffled through my buzzing ears.
I couldn’t believe my eyes. Here I was, staring at the man who had changed my life.
My body was warm and tingly as it said, Oh, yay, it’s Steele.
While my mind shrieked, Oh shit, it’s Steele.
It’d been nine days, and I was just starting to get over some of the hurt—sort of. But just looking at him from across the crowded nightclub made it all came back.
“Kay…answer me,” Hunter sounded impatient.
My hands patted the bench between us. My voice laced with anxiety, I asked, “My purse…where’s my purse?”
Hunter gripped my knee. “Calm down. You didn’t bring one.”
I looked over to Hunter and then to Steele. His jaw was now clenched, and his face was hard as stone.
Hunter followed my gaze. “Oh, hey, it’s Steele,” he said, surprised.
“Hunter, there’s something you need to know,” I professed quietly.
He twisted to me with alarm etched on his face, and his harsh tone asked, “What?”
“I lied to you. Steele didn’t have to stay behind for business. I left.” I proceeded to tell him the truth. The uneasiness I felt from keeping this secret from Hunter diminished, and it had been like a weight lifting from my shoulders.
He put his arm around me and leaned in. “Why?” he quickly whispered, consoling me.
I looked back over to Steele. He pushed off the railing and began plowing through people in long strides.
Oh no, that’s not good.
Hunter asked through clenched teeth, “Did he hurt you?”
My eyes darted from Hunter’s to Steele, trying to keep up with his rapid steps.
“Yes.” I shook my head. “I mean, no…” I looked to Hunter.
He raised his brows in question.
“I did it to myself,” I told him and stood fast. “I’ll tell you another time. I just wanna go back to the room.”
“Kayden?”
“Please,” I pleaded. “I’ll be fine.”
Hunter reluctantly let me go. “If you need me, you call,” he said, holding up his phone.
I nodded my head and hurriedly started for the exit.
Steele
This afternoon, I believed my eyes had been playing fuckin’ tricks on me. I’d assumed I had seen Kayden’s doppelganger. There was no way it had been her.
What would she be doing in Vegas?
This wasn’t her scene. When I’d gotten up to the suite, I had even called my fuckin’ eye doctor and made an appointment. I’d sat there, thinking my mind was taking a shit on me and maybe it was time to go back into therapy. That was one motherfuckin’ place I never wanted to go to again.
But when my eyes had roamed the club, she had been escorted to a suite-allotted table. Not only had I taken her in, but so had all the other fuckin’ guys sitting in the club. They had been tripping over their tongues as she walked past them. Hell, I almost had been, too. She looked fuckin’ hot and sexy. It was then when I’d gone to the railing, dumbfounded, and gripped it for support.
Her sultry brown eyes had landed on mine, and my heart had taken off as if it were in a fuckin’ marathon. All those feelings I’d thought were just a glitch in my system came flooding back—the need, the want, the possessiveness, and of course, the love. When Hunter had put his hand on her knee, I had seen red. Then, the bastard had put his arm around her and leaned in.
Oh, fuck no.
I’d stormed through the mob of people, taking the steps two at a time, and keeping my eyes on her. I’d taken off into a jog as soon as I landed on the first floor.
She was headed for the door. Just as she was about to exit, I snatched her around the waist, lifting her feet off the ground.
“Steele!” Kayden shrieked over the music.
I put my mouth to her ear. “Shut it, Princess.”
It was then the familiar scent of pumpkin hit my senses, and my cock began to rise for the first time in nine motherfuckin’ long days. She fought my grip as I held her tight to me.
Kayden’s body relaxed some. “Steele, please put me down,” she pleaded softly.
I ignored her plea, making my way to the dance floor. That night, I couldn’t wait to get out to Kayden and dance with her. Therefore, I wasn’t missing my chance now. That sweet leather-encased ass was mine to hold.
As soon as we hit the middle of the floor, I put her down, but I didn’t let her go. “You’re not running this time, baby,” I whispered into her ear. “You only get one run, and you used yours.”
Kayden
His breath caressed my neck, producing a nice shiver. My body remembered Steele as if he’d never left.
“Please…let me go,” I begged.
His voice held a firm tone. “You ignored me for fuckin’ days. Now, you can’t.”
His hand brushed my hair aside before he put it around my waist. His right hand gripped my left hip while his other held tight around my mid-section. He started to sway us to the beat of the music.
Steele’s lips grazed my neckline as his rough deep voice spoke, “God, I fuckin’ missed you.”
“Steele—”
“No, Princess…” he cut me off. “It’s my turn to talk.”
I gave into him, not wanting to make a scene. I moved in sync with his hard body, and put my hands on his. “Fine.”
I assumed if I gave him this one dance and his chance to say what he had to, then he would just go away. At least, that was what I was hoping. If I were honest with myself, I didn’t want him to leave, but I needed to stay strong and not get lost in him.
“I didn’t realize how much I missed you until I saw your sexy ass moving across the club,” he whispered below my ear.
My disloyal body trembled again with his confession. His fingers grazed the skin at my waist. My body hummed with need that only he could fill.
“Steele…please,” I beseeched. I knew I was losing the control that I’d tried to hold on to so firmly.
“No,” he said, deter
mined. “I need you, Kayden.”
God, please make him just stop talking.
He continued to whisper in my ear, “I never needed anyone—ever.” Steele’s mouth scraped the shell of my ear. “I want you.”
He kissed right below my ear, and I lost all control.
Shit…
Steele
Her body fell heavy against mine, and that was all the response I needed to know that she still felt something for me. I smiled beside her neck.
I couldn’t stop the words falling from my mouth, but deep down, I knew that they were true. I’d tried to put it all aside, but I knew that this was the girl for me, and I needed her to know that too. The entire fuckin’ bottle of Jack, the willing women, and my job weren’t going to wash away my emotions. I could run from them, which I had already done, but it was only a matter of time before they would catch up with me.
Now, they consumed me like a fuckin’ plague.
I began to nibble at her sweet-smelling neck. She moaned, and I moved my head back to see that she had closed her eyes. I ran my tongue along her jaw, causing her to whimper. We had to get out of here. I was two seconds away from throwing her down on the floor and fuckin’ her senseless.
“Come to my room?” I muttered into her ear.
She shook her head.
“Your room?” I asked, hopeful. I couldn’t make her do what she didn’t want to, but I was sure as hell going to keep fuckin’ trying.
“Okay,” she said cautiously.
It felt as if the room had stopped. I was going to get my Kayden—alone. Not wasting another minute, I grasped her hand and took fast steps toward the exit. I threw I’ll-kick-your-fuckin’-ass looks as we passed gawking men.
“What floor?” I asked when we got to the elevator.
She told me as we entered. We started our ascent in silence with just our fingers laced together. Off the elevator, she turned right and stopped in front of the first door. She punched at the numbers on the keypad, and the door opened.