“You got a reputation, bro. It comes with the territory.”
“We all got reputations now, so what makes me special?”
“You were the first,” Dick cut in with a dry tone. “You blew their minds before these other dumb shits even learned what their second heads were for. Now you’re a legend, like it or not.”
Dave huffed.
“Are you denying it?” Dick stared Dave down.
“Did I say anything?” Dave threw up his hands.
Dick prolonged his scowl before going back to his computer.
“Whatever.” Colton took a step toward the door. “Regardless, we’ve been over this. I made it very clear. I’m cool with a date. I’ll be an escort, an ear for a lonely heart—whatever. But a firm hug is my limit. It’s not working, so I’m out.”
“Kid, I’m trying to vet them, but women are after the thunder between their thighs.” Dick jabbed a finger at him, giving the keyboard a break. “That’s you. What can I do?”
“It sounds filthy when you say it,” Dave said with a straight face.
“Why else do you think they call him Thunder?” Dick demanded.
“I know why he’s nicknamed Thunder. They know my boy swings a giant cock and hits the ladies just right. My point is, it sounds dirty when you say it.”
“Haven’t you got somewhere to be?” Dick asked, turning back to his computer.
“Yeah. Here. Catching up with you.” Elbow resting on the counter, Dave leaned his chin on his fist, staring at Dick. “So how was your day?”
“It was going great until you came along and started sweating all over my counter.”
“Uh huh. And how does that make you feel?”
“Like poisoning your protein shakes, that’s how it makes me feel.”
“Have you seen anyone for your rage issues?”
“Yeah. The gun dealer around the corner.”
Dave tsked. “That is not a PC joke. You’ll get voted off the island with that one.”
Dick shook his head. “You need to be drowned in a bathtub.”
Colton couldn’t help laughing. The absolute crap these guys came up with was awe-inspiring. He checked his watch. “Hey, I have to get out of here.”
“Wait a minute,” Dick said. “Let’s talk about this.”
“I meant what I said. I’m out,” Colton repeated, now halfway to the door.
“How big is his wait list at this point?” Dave asked.
“He’s got forty-six women waiting in line,” Dick replied. “They don’t want a substitute—I offered. They want the real thing, and they are offering more than asking price. I really wish he had a twin just sprung from prison who would want to take care of a woman a day. That would make it rain, boys. We’d be set for life.”
“You’re pissed about me sharing my experiences, but you talk about throwing inmates at our clientele?” Dave straightened up, flaring his arms out, probably still tingling from the workout. “I worry about you, Dick. I really do.”
Dick shrugged. “I’m just looking at what’s best for the business.”
“An inmate imposter is best for the business?”
“It is if it makes it rain.”
“Stop saying that. It doesn’t sound cool when you say it.”
Dick shrugged again.
“So those women are all waiting for Colton to reverse his ban on sex?” Dave asked.
“Yup. They want action.” Dick looked up as someone walked out, an older man with sweat drenching the back of his shirt. The man had pushed through the doors before Dick resumed speaking. “Most of them list their house as the destination. They don’t want to be taken anywhere.”
“Hear that, bro?” Dave flashed his money-maker, which wasn’t his body or his good looks, but the quirky grin that showed off his boyish charm.
Growing up, Colton had watched countless times as Dave flashed that thing around, turning a frown or a refusal into something he wanted, whether it be a candy bar or getting between a woman’s thighs. The ladies were after Dave as much for his charm as for his prowess. His jokes and fun as much as how he left them, panting and sweaty, at the end of the night. Colton wished he could be in his buddy’s place. Mutual respect was a helluva lot better on the ego than being a fuck toy for wealthy women.
“Why don’t you just take a couple a month or something?” Dave asked. “You can hack it for a night every couple weeks. Make them pay double. Or triple. Some of them would. Only go for an hour and then vamoose.”
“I told you. I’m done with that.” Colton shook his head and squared his body, showing them he was serious. “I’m out. This is just going to keep happening, and I don’t want to deal with it. I’ve made enough to get my thing going. Thanks for hooking me up ’n’ all, but it’s time for curtains.”
“Whoa, wait.” Dick held up a hand.
The smile fell off Dave’s face. “You sure, bro? Things are just starting to get good. We’re rolling in bank right now. Why not just hold out for a little longer until you have a bigger safety net?”
“We can get around this,” Dick said, attacking his keyboard again. “We can find an alternative.”
“We tried to find an alternative with the last one,” Colton said, checking the time. “It didn’t work. The women climb on me like I’m a jungle gym. It’s gotten weird, bro. I’m out.”
“Wait. Here.” Dick pointed at the screen. “Here, look. We got a reservation for Sam. That’ll work. We’ll sub you in.”
“Sam?” Dave scrunched up his face and leaned over the counter. “He’s long gone. Why is he still on the website?
“Would you get off the counter?” Dick shooed him away. “You have a sweating problem.”
“Because I work out. You should try it, chubby.” With the towel, Dave wiped off a droplet of sweat before wiping his face and then his arms.
“Big is the new beautiful,” Dick said, not fazed. “It shows character.”
“I’m big.” Dave flexed, widening the eyes of a middle-aged woman entering the gym.
“Yeah, big and dumb.” Dick reached for the woman’s keycard. “I leave Sam up just for kicks.”
After the woman made her way around the partition, Dave said, “He’s scrawny.”
“He’s normal. Stop the ’roids, and you’ll remember what normal looks like.”
Dave rolled his eyes.
Interest piqued, Colton slid closer to the others, trying to get a peek at the screen.
“What kind of woman would pick Sam over the lineup we offer?” Dave asked. “Is she old?”
“What does age have to do with picking Sam?” Colton said.
Dave shrugged. “I don’t know. Sometimes old people have weird taste.”
“You’re an idiot.”
“She’s twenty-seven,” Dick said. “And don’t discount Sam.” Dick pounded the keyboard. The ancient printer behind him shook as it roared to life. “He was working just as much as you guys when he was here.”
“Then why don’t you get more hits on him now?” Dave countered.
“He doesn’t have a stupid nickname, that’s why. But it looks like someone isn’t into all the muscle and waxed eyebrows.” Dick eased himself off his chair and snatched up the paper. His eyes roamed the details of the reservation. “She needs a date to a wedding. She wants her guy personable, able to carry on a conversation even if he has to fake interest, and someone she doesn’t have to babysit.”
“Did she really say that?” Dave leaned over the counter so he could get a better look.
Despite the time crunch, Colton couldn’t help lingering. “She knows the guy won’t care about her conversation, but she’s cool with that as long as he fakes it?” Chuckles bubbled up out of his middle. “When have you ever heard someone say that?”
“When have you ever heard someone say they don’t want to babysit their date?” Dave asked.
“My sister has said that before.” Colton watched Dick scan the sheet. “Hell, we’ve all felt that way. We just forget
because this entire gig is centered around babysitting.”
“Sure, it’s a valid point.” Dave tossed the used towel into the bin against the back wall. “But who says something like that when they’re booking hired help?”
“A jaded realist.” Colton laughed again.
Dick pointed at the line he was reading, a smile crossing his face. “Under dress code, she put ‘something a high-powered professional with a decent income would wear to a wedding.’ Her lack of specification is funny.”
“No way. All women care what their dates are wearing to an important event. You’re making this up.” Dave reached for the paper.
Dick jerked it away. “She says she’ll pick up the ‘employee’ wherever he would like, but he’ll need to drive when in view of the wedding guests.” Dick’s brow furrowed, his smile slipping. He lowered the paper. “Why would she offer to pick the guy up, but then make him drive her car?”
“Maybe she thinks we don’t have cars.” Dave scratched his head.
“What kind of car does she have?” Colton asked, checking his watch. If he left now, he’d only be five minutes late. He shifted toward the door, but for some reason he felt compelled to hear the answer.
Dick brought the paper back up, skimming the bottom. He shook his head. “Doesn’t say.”
“If she was going to a wedding out of obligation, I could see all of that stuff except making the guy drive. This just doesn’t make sense. No wonder she was after Sam.” Dave checked his phone. “She’s probably a serial killer and picked the weakest one.”
Grinning, Colton took another step toward the door. “Anything else?”
Dave glanced up, a quizzical expression on his face, but Colton barely noticed. He couldn’t help wondering if the woman had any other strange idiosyncrasies.
“Yes.” Dick squinted at the paper. “In the comments section, she wants to know if Sam—she put the name in quotes—is his real name, because she has to put someone’s name on the gift, and wants to know if he’d prefer real credit or fake-name credit.”
A couple of giggling women came through the door. Early twenties and cute, they quieted when they saw the small huddle near the check-in desk.
“Hi, Dave,” one of them said, her blond hair and striking blue eyes giving her an all-American vibe.
Dave glanced up, then went back to his phone. “Hey, Anna.”
The friend looked Colton’s way before flicking her loose curls over her shoulder, a style choice hinting that she wasn’t at the gym for a solid workout. She didn’t give a salutation, but her gaze was hot and inviting.
Colton had finished his walk to the door before he realized it, slipping by the girls without a word. His sense went on hiatus as well. “Respond to that girl,” he said to Dick. “Tell her Sam is definitely a made-up name. The employee’s name is Colton, and he wants real-name credit for that gift.”
Three
“How do I look?” Madison strolled into the living room, walking around the boxes Frank had dropped off the week before. Half of the crap was stuff she neither needed nor wanted, but apparently the new girlfriend couldn’t have anything around that Madison had once touched. Judging by how everything was dumped into the cardboard containers, Frank had packed them himself and with very little care.
Janie turned around at the island. There was a drink in her hand and a fresh one sitting next to her, presumably for Madison. Her face lit up—always a good sign. “Girl, you look like a super-hottie rock star. You are going to blow them away. I have a lady boner, that’s how hot you look right now.”
Madison smoothed the rose-pink silk dress down her thighs. “Is this dress too much?”
“Too much?” Janie rolled her eyes. “Woman, you are rocking that dress. You make it look good, not the other way around. It’s perfect.”
Madison threaded through the boxes so she could look in the full-length mirror slanting against the living room wall, one of the items from her old place that she could actually use. A strip of material circled the tops of her shoulders and the base of her neck. From that, the soft yet shiny fabric draped down over her breasts, leaving her arms bare. The dress parted down the center of her chest, revealing a hint of cleavage and showing skin all the way down to her somewhat toned abs. The back gaped down to just above her butt, before it all pulled together into a flowy skirt that cascaded over her legs like a luxurious waterfall.
“Am I exposing too much?” Madison turned to view her backside.
“It’s okay to show back. And you’ve got most of your boobs covered. It is hopelessly sexy while also super classy. It’s a perfect choice. The pink makes it non-confrontational. Red, and maybe you’d have a problem, but pink? You’re good. You will stun everyone, I guarantee it. James will rue the day he called you an ugly, freckle-faced geek.”
“He was such as ass that day,” Madison mumbled, tearing her eyes away from the fashion draping her body. A quick makeup check, and then a glance at her hair, and she turned toward the cocktail awaiting her.
“He was trying to show off for his friends.” Janie held out the drink.
“He didn’t see you coming, though.” Madison clinked her glass with Janie’s. “Cheers. Thanks for getting suspended on my behalf.”
Janie smirked and took a seat. “He deserved getting his ass kicked that day. And by a girl, no less. It took the wind out of his sails. I wish I’d done it before he’d opened his big mouth.”
“Yeah, well.” Madison gulped half of the drink down. “Hopefully after this evening I can put it all behind me.”
“Yes. When is the big dick supposed to arrive?”
“I’m surprised they’re not laughingstocks with that company name. It’s a lot to live up to, and women do like to poke fun. Pun not intended.” Madison checked the time on her phone. “Any moment.”
“The escort I heard about lived up to his name, supposedly. And the hype.”
“I thought you said they didn’t have sex?”
“One time they didn’t, no. And then the other time she went for it. Apparently he was legendary. Like…yee-haw, that incredible price tag was worth it.”
“Gross. Man whores aren’t my thing.”
“Except when you need one for a wedding.”
“Right, exactly.”
The doorbell rang, making Madison jump. The liquid sloshed out of her glass and dotted her expensive dress in two places. “Oh shit! Oh shit, oh no! No, not today.” She fanned her arms, which was not at all helpful. “Hurry, help me!”
Janie jumped up and ran into the kitchen. “Stay calm. This isn’t a problem. Nothing in that drink will stain. Let’s just blot it really quickly and it will dry into invisibility.”
“I suck!” Madison slid out of her seat, looking down at the two dark stains staring back at her. “Oh man.”
A knock sounded at the door.
“Stop panicking,” Janie instructed. “I’m just waiting for the water to warm up a little. Get the door. It’ll be fine, I swear.”
Madison obediently crossed to the front door, pushing down the panic. She hadn’t stopped the staring contest with those spots by the time she flipped the lock and yanked the door open. A quick glance told her the visitor was a man in a suit—the big dick. Right on time.
“Come in. I’m in a state of crisis,” she mumbled, resuming her staring contest and heading toward the kitchen. “Janie, it’s two big drops.”
“It’s fine. Here.” Janie came around the island and quickly bent over Madison’s dress, holding a damp cloth. “Just stay still so I don’t wet the whole thing.”
“Is that water?”
“Yes, it’s water. What else would it be, acid? Stop moving! Let go of it.” Janie slapped Madison’s hands away before applying the cloth. After a moment, she straightened up. “It looks a little worse now, but it will go away, I promise. Do you want me to blow-dry it?”
The fabric swirled around Madison’s legs, two big, dark marks waving as it settled. “Crap. Yes, the blow dryer, beca
use if it doesn’t go away, I have to change.”
“You’re overreacting. Holy shit—”
Madison glanced up to see what the exclamation was about. Her worry over the drops disappeared for a moment, and her mouth actually fell open.
Standing near the door with a furrowed brow and a little grin was not the man Madison had reserved, code name: Sam.
It was a freaking god of a man.
His eyes, a Caribbean blue wrapped in dense black lashes, set off an inhumanly striking face. With high cheekbones and a square jaw, the man was made for the big screen. His level of masculinity would melt the panties off every woman in the audience. The way he wore that suit, and the width of those incredibly strong shoulders, the dark hair and that broad chest… Holy crap, he was hot.
Why was he here?
“Who are you?” she asked, her hands splayed out like that would miraculously help her dress dry faster.
“Thunder,” Janie said in a wispy voice, her tone low and sultry. Her arms limp at her sides. “I’d heard he was impossible to get.”
Madison could see why. He had a presence about him that dried up the saliva in her mouth and set her lady parts to tingling. The confident way he held himself, paired with his direct and intense stare, gave her goosebumps in the most pleasant of ways.
So, so incredibly hot.
The man’s face dropped before smoothing over into a blank mask. His large body tensed, proving that if a man’s muscles were large enough, they’d show through a suit jacket gloriously.
Despite his profession, he was clearly uncomfortable with the attention, something Madison could understand. She’d been gawked at a time or two at work, and it was a horrible feeling.
“Go,” Madison said, shaking herself out of the handsome-inspired stupor and pushing Janie. “You’re being dumb.”
“Takes one to know one,” Janie muttered, still staring. She shook her head and looked back at Madison with sparkling eyes. “Lucky bitch,” she mouthed before grinning and hurrying on.
Focus was what Madison thrived on in dire situations. How was being horribly distracted tonight a good thing?
Thunder (Big D Escort Service Book 1) Page 3