She wasn’t, and no amount of pretending otherwise was going to change that.
Oh, she had been to a night club before, of course she had, and she had been a patron of Cul-de-sac once or twice for that matter. But that was before and now she knew the place was more than it looked at the first sight.
She wondered if Xan was more than he seemed on the surface as well, or it was her wishful thinking alone in play.
“This would be good, but I called dibs on red tonight.” Chloé threw a skimpy outfit aside, going through Cat’s wardrobe expertly. “Ooooh… try this!”
Catalina looked at the black material, remembering the deep V generously baring her cleavage. At least it wasn’t clingy, she thought.
“Fine, but it’s your one shot. After that we are leaving,” she announced, stripping off her current dress.
“Okay, but only because I greatly approve of your undergarments.”
“A very beautiful model advertising it convinced me to try this one.” She laughed because they both knew that Chloé was the face of this campaign. “Do you still wake up some days thinking how much your life has changed?” Cat glanced at her while stepping into the dress.
It hit her mid thigh and refused to reach any further.
The low-cut wasn’t overly exuberant, but it was definitely more than her every day choice, Catalina decided.
“That would feel like regret and I have none. I did everything and then some more to be where I am today,” Chloé said.
“Nobody is denying that, but I meant something entirely different. More in the letter of appreciating what you’d achieved,” Cat corrected.
“Ah well, then every day.” Chloé agreed. “Now Kitty-Cat, this is what I am talking about. The guy is a goner and he doesn’t even know it.” She smiled brightly. “Add this and we are set.” Chloé handed her over a thin, gold necklace.
“Thank you.” She obediently put it on and smiled when the cool pendant touched her skin, disappearing in her cleavage.
“Let’s take one car, unless you have… other plans for the night? But then we would still need one car I suppose.” Chloé wiggled her eyebrows.
“I don’t and one car works fine in any case, thank you very much.”
“I think it’s time you live a little and that is all I am going to say about it.”
“Oh? Are you sure that’s all?” Cat made a face at her.
“It costs me, but yes, however, I reserve a right to add something later.” Chloé prompted.
“Talking like a lawyer, are you sure you chose your occupation correctly? It’s never too late for a change you know.” Catalina smiled sweetly at her.
“Sarcasm doesn’t suit you.”
“On the contrary, I think it is a good color on me. Let’s go.”
“I hope the club is going to prove entertaining tonight; it’s not even the weekend yet,” Chloé noticed when they took seats in her red Corvette Stingray.
“Cul-de-sac gathers a crowd no matter the night,” Cat told her.
“So why exactly are we going there and not to see his fight? I would love to see one.”
“He is not fighting tonight.” And probably not any other night in the nearest time, she thought but kept the knowledge to herself.
It was not her place to discuss it with anyone, and as much as it was the truth, she wondered how it was possible he inspired such loyalty in her, surpassing the one she felt toward a friend of many years.
There was nothing logical in her reaction to Xan from the beginning, Catalina decided, and it was not a heartening thought.
“You still didn’t give me any details on your dinner, but since we are on our way to meet up with him I assume it went well?” Chloé’s voice interrupted Cat’s musings as they sped through streets of Santa Monica.
“Yes,” she said. “He is… different than anybody else I know.”
“Of course he is, and every good girl needs her fair share of a bad boy.” Chloé laughed.
“Do you think that’s all there is to it?” She kept pondering this one herself.
Was her interest anything other than some kind of a belated rebellious phase she didn’t go through as a teenager? It was logical and possible; she couldn’t rule out the most obvious because sometimes the prominent was exactly where answers could be found.
“What more could there possibly be?” Chloé glanced at her switching gears.
“That’s what I’m hoping to find out,” she admitted honestly.
“Well then, let’s find out.” Chloé parked the car checking her make-up in the mirror.
Judging by the line formed outside the club, it was a busy night at Cul-de-sac but as Catalina noticed before, it wasn’t a rare occurrence.
She wondered how many people gathered here tonight realized there was another part of the establishment and how many participated in not-so-legal entertainment from time to time themselves.
“We are so not waiting in line,” Chloé muttered, heading straight for the entrance.
Cat admired the way she was able to keep her balance in the studded caged sandals from Alexander McQueen.
She approached the bouncer and Cat wondered if it was her business card or the hundred dollar bill she slipped into his pocket. No matter which one it was, it apparently worked because a minute later they were inside.
“I was just going to text Xan and let him know we are here, but I guess your method was faster.” Catalina commented and Chloé made a face at her.
“In that case, I see no reason why you shouldn’t pay for our drinks.”
“I can do that… if someone doesn’t beat me to it.” Wouldn’t be the first time, Catalina thought.
“Let’s give them five minutes, then you can text your fighter.” Chloé decided, choosing a spot at the bar.
It took about three minutes before the first man approached them, devouring Chloé with his dark gaze. His friend sat next to Catalina, not bothering to look her in the eye, all his focus directing at her legs exposed by the short dress. Perhaps she should have taken it as a compliment, she mused, but her reaction couldn’t be further from it.
“What is your chosen poison?” He asked and she was curious how many women were accosted by him tonight in a similar way.
“I haven’t made up my mind yet,” was her answer, and she glanced at her friend but she was busy flirting.
“Why don’t I decide for you then? I promise you won’t regret it.” He flashed his pearly whites at her, but his smile felt too tacky to reassure her.
She took out her cell phone, ready to call Xan, not even caring could it be viewed as rudeness since the stranger apparently didn’t have corresponding objections regarding his own behavior.
“I’m sorry but I am actually waiting for someone.”
“What kind of a jerk would make a woman like you wait?” The guy leaned in closer and breathed the question at her.
“I would be the jerk.” Xan’s voice sounded behind her and she nearly fell off her stool when she felt his hand on her waist and his lips on her neck in an intimate kiss.
Catalina glanced at the guy and he seemed paler than before, which made her wonder whether it was due to Xan’s reputation or his charming personality did the trick.
“Beat it,” he told the other male when he failed to move fast enough.
“I’m sorry man; I didn’t know she was yours.”
Definitely his reputation, Cat decided when her admirer left them in haste. Not that his character or looks couldn’t ensure the same result.
Xan wore a grey shirt and his jaw wasn’t shadowed by the ugly bruise any longer, but stubble instead. His hand was still bandaged but she noticed he changed the dressing, probably himself from the looks of it.
He seemed broody and unsafe, but she still would have taken his company over the other guy’s any day of the week, she admitted.
She wasn’t sure she liked being addressed as ‘his’ but decided to leave it out for now.
“Well, that was
subtle,” Catalina commented.
“But effective.” He shrugged, unrepentant. “You look amazing Kitten.” His gaze slid over her body and returned to her face lazily.
His look felt like a caress while a similar expression in the eyes of the stranger gave her the creeps before and felt nearly offensive.
“Thank you. How is your hand?” She wanted to know.
“It’s fine.” He put her worry off.
“I was about to call you.” Cat smiled at him.
“Were you now?” His eyes were scanning the crowd but a moment later his focus was back on her. “You seemed pretty preoccupied.”
“That’s not how it looked from my perspective.” She shook her head and the movement drew out glimmers from the pendant nestled between her breasts.
He allowed his fingers to capture it, using the opportunity to skim his knuckles over the delicate skin underneath it and saw the sexy vein at the base of her neck picking up the pace in response again. It fanned his own need and he wondered why he didn’t choose a more secluded place for their date.
Catalina’s hand rested on his wrist and he looked up in her eyes again wondering, was she going to stop him?
Her continual distance and constant resistance should have felt irritating to someone like him who wasn’t used to it and was set on winning at all costs on top of it. Perhaps on some level it had, but it also didn’t fail to spike his interest, demanding him to learn her better.
“What is it, Kitten?” He asked almost absently.
“Umm… this is my friend, Chloé.” She cleared her throat and he already knew it was something she did whenever she felt flustered.
“Don’t mind me,” her friend said and he forced himself to take his eyes off Catalina and focus on the other woman instead.
“Nice to meet you Chloé. I am Xan.”
“Likewise and I had no doubts you are.” There was laughter in her voice and he found his own lips quirking at the corners.
“Do I know you? And no, this is not a pick-up line.” He smirked.
The dark, gypsy hair and eyes felt familiar for some reason, plucking at his memory. She was stunning in the obvious kind of way that forces men to take notice, whether she was actually their type or not.
She was exactly the kind of women he was used to himself, but when his eyes landed on Catalina again he couldn’t remember why that was, because it was Cat who was absorbing his attention without even asking for it.
“You could have seen her face on billboards.” Cat prompted and that refreshed his memory.
“Ah, you are The Insinuation Girl,” he recalled.
“It’s just one of the campaigns I am a part of.” She pursed her lips and he wondered if she was as conceited as every other model that had ever passed through his life and… bed.
“I am sure of it,” he said only, closing off the subject. “Can you walk in these shoes, Cat?” He looked at the sexy heels imagining her wearing them… and not much more.
“Walk!” She scoffed. “I can even dance,” she informed him.
“Prove it!” Xan demanded offering his hand to her.
She took it without the slightest hesitation and let him lead her to the dance floor, just when music changed its rhythm into something slow and suggestive.
CHAPTER 19
Catalina sent Chloé a questioning look, but her friend just waved her worry away, letting her know she would be fine.
Cat wondered if she could say the same about herself.
Being in Xan’s arms didn’t feel like the safest place for her to be in, considering he was as far from innocuous himself as one could get.
Not to mention the effect he had on her.
He was acting as if they had known each other for a long time, as if they were together, while the reality was nowhere close to reaching this point, and she didn’t think that was his ultimate goal anyway.
He enveloped her in his arms, drawing her so close she could feel the steady beat of his heart. But she didn’t mind allowing herself the luxury of being held and the illusion of the meaning behind it.
She wasn’t used to people encroaching on her private territory without asking for permission first, while Xan didn’t strike her like the kind of a person caring a big deal for assent as a concept in general.
Her life was filled with meaningless and passing touches dictated by requirements of society and they always left her with a hollow feeling afterwards.
Her own grandmother had never touched her with any kind of affection either.
The only time Catalina knew warmth and tenderness was her childhood, but the time she had been allowed to spend with her parents was too short and the memories were no longer enough to sustain the feeling those emotions evoked in her.
His arms were offering her something she didn’t know how to name or how to reach for even.
“Relax,” Xan said but the knowledge he understood she was tense didn’t work in her favor, turning her body even more stiff.
“Come on, Kitten, you can do better than that.” He dipped his head, murmuring into her ear.
His hands glided up and down her spine because the need to touch her, to take her, seemed to evolve, morphing into something close to compulsion now. It felt entirely too good to hold her close but it was not enough, so he brushed his lips over the taut cords of her neck.
“I want you, Cat,” he said although he wouldn’t be able to hide it even if he wanted to, Xan thought.
The rigid contours of his cock were very insistent against her as his mind was filling with frantic images of their entangled bodies. She shuddered slightly but he didn’t think it equaled surrender on her part.
“I want to spend the night with you,” he added and this time she raised her head to look at him.
“Don’t push me Xan… please.” Catalina knew he didn’t mean anything more than a one-night stand and she didn’t think she was built for something like that, was quite convinced she wasn’t.
There was something in her eyes he couldn’t decipher. Pushing and insisting was exactly his way or he would have still remained where he was years ago, not daring to even look at something that at the time seemed completely out of his grasp.
But Catalina was probably used to much more refined males, not someone who was bluntly stating his wants, he told himself.
“Let’s enjoy the dance for now,” he said although tempering himself felt like an alien concept to him.
Yet this time he was willing to step down a notch and let her breathe for the moment.
The night was young; he could push later after all.
But they were not meant to enjoy the dance because barely an instant later, somebody patted him on the shoulder and he saw a scowling face of the Cul-de-sac’s bouncer.
“You are needed,” was all he said, but it was enough for Xan’s stomach to clench as if it sensed impending trouble.
He glanced at Cat and found her frowning at her cell phone.
“What happened?” He lowered his head to hers.
“Chloé just messaged me. I can’t believe she would leave me like that.” She shook her head.
“Cat, I have to go to the… other part of the club, but I don’t want to leave you alone here.”
Timing, he thought. Timing couldn’t have been worse.
“I will be fine, I can take a cab.” She smiled at him but he wasn’t ready to bid her goodnight yet.
“No, come with me. Whatever it is, it shouldn’t take long.” He took her hand in his, leading her to the back exit but instead of actually leaving the building, they entered the door with a ‘Personnel Only’ sign on it.
“I wish I had my camera with me,” she muttered and he chuckled.
“Is there any time at all you stop being a photographer?”
“No, not really,” she admitted sheepishly, and he wanted to kiss her right here and right now but the bad feeling in the pit of his stomach kept gnawing at him, making his thoughts focus elsewhere.
And it
was bad for a reason, he understood as soon as they entered the afterhours part of the club and his gaze swung to the ring.
Dragon took his place tonight but the other fighter was not the one with whom Xan was supposed to fight. For reasons known only to him, Tony switched players of the game pairing Noah with a man nearly twice his size.
And Dragon was getting his ass handed to him.
His left eye was swollen so much it was entirely closed now. It was obvious he was favoring his right side and from the looks of it one of his ribs or maybe several were cracked as well.
Yet he didn’t tap out, still standing no matter how wobbly his stance was, Xan thought.
“Stupid fuck!” Xan hissed out.
It was more and more apparent that Noah had a death wish, a wish that could come true sooner than anybody anticipated if he didn’t back down now.
But Xan knew he wouldn’t.
“Where the fuck is Tony?” He demanded from the bouncer who came to find him in the club.
“In his office.”
Xan had had enough. He pushed his way through the crowd and bounded up the stairs to Tony’s den. He didn’t bother with knocking at all this time, just shoved the door open and entered his boss’ domain.
“End it! Now!” He roared.
“You know that our customers demand a show, that’s what they pay us for. I can’t deprive them of it.” He smiled coldly.
“He is killing him there!”
“Well, Noah knows better how much he can take, doesn’t he?” Tony’s coolness was only increasing Xan’s fury.
“Bullshit! The guy is not even the one who was supposed to fight here tonight! And when did you change the rules? No eye gouging, remember? Go and take a good look what is going on there right now!”
“Well, I thought we could spice things up a bit.” Tony shrugged.
“If you want to spice things up, then you go into that ring and fight yourself. Oh right, I forgot you have no balls for it!” Xan smirked.
“Careful! Don’t say one word too many, Xan.”
“Hardly! End it now!” He demanded again.
“You should have thought about it when you put yourself out of the ring for a while. Someone had to take it over. This one is on you.” Tony informed him, and Xan’s nostrils flared.
CUL-DE-SAC (On The Edge Book 1) Page 15