by Paige Hill
Taking a healthy sip of my beer, I can feel my self-control crumbling. She’s chipping away at it with every passing second and she doesn’t even know it.
My eyes drift toward the dance floor for the thousandth time in the last hour. Her dress shimmers under the dim lighting, a stark contrast to the dark skin on her sexy-as-fuck legs. I pull my eyes up her body because, apparently, I enjoy torturing myself—and my eyes meet hers. She’s moving her hips to the beat of the music when she pulls her painted bottom lip between her teeth.
And that’s it. The last nugget of self-control I have just broke free and plummeted into the abyss.
I down the remainder of my drink and keep my eyes on her as I maneuver the dance floor. I’ve long since discarded my jacket and tie, preferring to roll my sleeves up my forearms and loosening the buttons at my neck. It felt stifling.
The bass of the music pounds through my chest with every step I take. I’m halfway across the room when the song changes and Dangerous Woman by Ariana Grande pumps through the speakers. As the beginning chords play, her eyes jump to mine and I see the same hunger reflected there. It’s taken everything in me not to run off every man that’s come within two feet of her—and that’s just about all of them.
Stepping behind her, I begin to move with her. My hands move down her ribcage as we sway. She brings her hands up to my neck, holding on and never missing a beat of the music. This woman moves unlike any other and I can’t seem to get enough. The lyrics sink through the fog in my brain and I couldn’t agree more.
She is a dangerous woman and I want to do all kinds of things I shouldn’t.
When she leans her head back, resting it against my chest, I lean in. “I want you,” I whisper against her ear. She looks at me over her shoulder and licks her lips.
I can think of nothing but how her mouth tastes as she slowly nods her head. If I risk leaving here with her, I know we will both talk ourselves out of this. Regardless of how fucking explosive I know it will be. If I can’t have her completely, I’ll take the next best thing.
My mouth falls to her neck and I run my teeth across her skin before placing open mouth kisses as she opens up to me. Her skin has a sheen of sweat from dancing and the taste spurs me on. Walking us backwards, I stop when we make it to a dimly lit section of wall. Pressing her back up against it, I give her my weight, letting her feel exactly how much I want her. My hands travel the column of her neck and come to rest at the base of her jaw. Tilting her face so that I can look her in the eyes, I rest my forehead to hers and breathe deeply.
“Aiden,” she whispers against my lips and I can no longer deny her. Shielding her with my body, I run my fingers up her inner thigh until I reach the nearly non-existent material covering her pussy.
“Fuck, baby,” I exhale, finding them soaked.
Moving my mouth back to the supple skin on her neck, I move the soaked material to the side and dip two fingers into her deep. She moans into my ear and I involuntarily thrust my erection against her stomach, searching for relief.
She rides my fingers, not at all caring that we are in a crowded bar. I can feel her wetness start to drip down her bare legs. My little pyro has an adventurous side, I think, smiling mischievously, if only to myself.
Pulling my head back to watch her face, I memorize every expression of ecstasy. Her eyes meet mine again and never pull away as she comes hard, her muscles clenching down on my fingers.
Pulling out of her, I help her straighten herself before dipping both digits into my mouth and sucking them clean. I’ve never tasted anything quite like her and it’s addicting.
She stares at me for a few seconds, her breath coming out in pants. “I need to clean up,” she whispers.
Running my nose up her neck, I breathe in. When I get to her ear, I bite the lobe gently and say, “Midnight, that mouth of yours is mine.”
Pulling away, I catch her eyes, making sure she heard me. She nods her head and I can see her throat flex as she swallows. Satisfied with her acknowledgment, I pull away from the wall, giving her just enough room to get by.
CELESTE
What the hell just happened?
Aiden just finger fucked you in a room full of people and it was incredible, my thighs remind me as I make my way to the bathroom. The image of his thick, tattooed forearms wrapped around me is seared into my brain. The expensive gold watch on his left wrist was the only reminder that he is in fact a man and not a beast hell bent on devouring me.
A man’s touch has never been quite that explosive. Every thump of the bass vibrated through my core as he tasted my skin. I know the feeling is more novelty than real, but it just made my top ten greatest memories.
I finish cleaning myself up and exit the stall, bumping into a tall, gorgeous blonde.
“Oh, sorry,” I apologize, trying to step around her. She doesn’t move however, just stares at me. Her expression isn’t necessarily hateful, but she’s certainly no welcoming committee.
“Excuse me,” I say, stumbling aside, not at all in the mood for some drunken catfight.
As I wash my hands, my eyes meet hers in the mirror and she sneers before turning to leave the bathroom. The clacking of her red-soled heels fades as she gets lost in the crowd.
What the hell was that?
Watching her exit, I weep internally. That bitch doesn’t deserve those shoes. Those are what wet dreams are made of.
Turning back to the mirror, I wet a paper towel and pat my neck, cooling my still over-heated skin. I did find one thing kind of strange. He kissed my neck and had his fingers inside of me, but he never kissed my mouth.
“Midnight, that mouth of yours is mine.”
Pulling out my phone, I check the time.
“Shit, I have less than two minutes,” I mumble to myself.
This place is packed with sexy dresses, cocktails, and hope for tomorrow. Fighting your way through a sea of bodies is difficult when you’re five-foot-nothing.
“Ten!” the crowd cheers.
No.
No.
No.
“Nine!”
This is not happening.
“Eight!”
My heart rate kicks up and my feet move faster.
“Seven!”
Standing on a chair, I search the crowd for the only person I want to see in this moment.
“Six!”
Finally! I jump from the chair, stumbling slightly before righting myself and heading his direction.
“Five!”
I apologize as I bump into people.
“Four!”
My stomach flutters.
“Three!”
There he is. Raw sex radiates from his being and I can feel it from a good ten feet away.
“Two!”
My stomach drops completely, and I freeze, forcing myself not to vomit. Bathroom Bitch is hanging off him like a cheap suit.
“One!”
The crowd erupts, glasses are clinked, and kisses are shared.
With everyone but me.
His eyes meet mine and I swear to God, the last shred of hope I had for the male species shatters. Along with the little that remained of my dignity.
Tears spill over my eyelids, blurring my vision, and for once, I’m thankful for the tears. I can’t look at him any longer. The crowd fades to white noise and I can hear nothing but the sound of my own heart.
Lub-dub. Lub-dub. Lub-dub.
What hurts the most? I didn’t expect to be his forever. I don’t want to be his girlfriend. I wanted to be his tonight. And he couldn’t even give me that. I’ve never been one to struggle with confidence, or be unhappy with who I am, but when a man can make me feel that good, that special, and I’m still not enough for him? It knocks the wind right out of me.
Turning on my heels, I do the only thing I can.
I run.
I want as far away from these people as I can get. I need to go somewhere and lick my wounds.
I can’t go home right now. If I wake Em
ily up, she is going to know something is wrong. I’m not ready to share what just happened. I couldn’t even bring myself to tell Teagan about everything that transpired.
I should have known better than to think getting a cab would be easy tonight. This might be a better neighborhood than the one where I grew up, but I’m not about to risk walking. Pulling out my phone again, I open the Uber app and request a car.
Hiding in the most shadowed section of the building, I lean against the rough exterior. It scrapes lightly against my bare back, but I can barely feel it. Everything feels numb.
The booming sound of the metal door swinging open causes me to jump. Everything has me on edge. I try to take a deep breath and shake my nerves, but the air is caught in my throat when I see who exits.
Her.
Her eyes lock with mine and rage I’ve never felt threatens to consume me. Her brightly painted upper lip curls as she strides right up to me, and gets so close, I have to take a step back. I guess I wasn’t as hidden as I thought. She’s much taller than I am, but I don’t back down. I don’t cower.
“Sweetie, you seem like a nice girl so I’m going to give you a little piece of advice. You aren’t his type. You aren’t his flavor,” She eyes me up and down like yesterday’s trash. “You’re too—” She pauses. “Ghetto.”
Did she just…?
I’m about to let her know just how ghetto I can be.
“Besides, he’s the kind of man that only ever loves one woman. And Sugar, he’s been in love with me since ninth grade.” Her voice is saccharin sweet and has the same southern accent as Aiden.
My blood feels like fire, burning me from the inside out. Her words cover me like gasoline. I will not stand here and let her belittle me. I don’t give a shit what her relationship with Aiden is.
“Listen here, Thundercunt. I’m going to ask you one time to back the fuck up.”
Hold my earrings.
“Or what? I already have your man—”
I warned her.
My hands flex, as I stretch my fingers. I ball my fist, draw my right elbow back, and throw my shoulder into the punch. She stumbles back on her heels before falling on her ass. She brings her hands up to her face and lets out a scream.
Damnit, that hurt.
“You bitch!”
Shaking my hand rapidly to try and quell the pain, I take a step toward her as I hear the heavy door close. What did he see in her? She’s a walking skeleton—bony and empty.
“I told you to step back, Calaca.”
“Celeste.” I look up at the sound of his deep voice bouncing off the brick exterior of the building.
Hot tears prick my eyes again, but this time I refuse to let him see them fall.
“This bitch hit me for no reason,” Thundercunt wails as Aiden helps her to her feet.
I involuntarily let out one of those snort/laugh sounds that bubble up when you can’t believe what was just said. “Only if you don’t consider harassment a reason, then sure.”
“Call the cops, baby. I’m pressing charges.”
“You know what, do whatever you want. Aiden knows my address well,” I sneer, turning on my heel. I need to get the hell out of here. I can’t get arrested again and I’m well versed in how police treat a woman like me.
Looking at my phone, I track the Uber that is supposed to be on its way.
Five minutes out. Crap!
I keep walking as fast as my heels allow and change the pickup address to the convenience store on the corner. No way in hell I’m waiting here.
In the short distance behind me, I hear her now nasally voice yell, “Where are you going?”
She sure as shit better not be talking to me.
Warm, thick fingers wrap around my arm and turn me, halting my escape.
“Get your hands off me!” I scream, jerking my arm away violently.
“Don’t go.” His voice is low and, if I didn’t know better, sounded hurt.
“Don’t touch me again.”
“Will you just give me a chance to explain?” he pleads. I don’t dare give him the chance. Mostly because I don’t trust myself and I’m barely holding onto my self-worth as it is.
“You don’t owe me an explanation, Aiden. I don’t want a relationship from you. I just wanted a night.” I finally meet his eyes and the anger overrides the hurt when she yells his name. “I just didn’t realize I had to share the night.”
His eyes widen, and he opens his mouth to talk, but I cut him off.
“Your skinny vanilla latte is waiting.” I take a dig at her previous words. They sting, and I force myself to swallow back the bitterness.
I turn my back on him again, but this time he doesn’t follow, and I don’t know if that makes me feel relieved, or heartbroken.
Chapter Nineteen
Aiden
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
When is this woman going to stop ruining my goddamn life? I want to follow Celeste more than I want my next breath, but I know that’s not what she needs so I let her go.
Still standing in the street, I watch her until she turns the corner. Facing Gwen, I close the distance between us, forcing her back against the rough brick siding. The disgusting grin on her blood-stained face tells me she grossly misread my expression. She thinks she won.
“What the fuck were you thinking in there?” I snap, my chest rising and falling as I pace like a caged animal.
“Baby, come on. I saw ya’ll in there. I know you were just having fun, but I needed to get your attention. You were never alone until she went to the bathroom. I saw her coming, so I did what I had to.” She purrs, rubbing her hands up my chest.
How could I have ever loved her?
I grasp her wrists, forcing them from my chest. I can’t stand her touch.
“What did you say to her?” I growl. I need to know what kind of damage needs undoing.
“Nothing she shouldn’t already know.”
I’ve never raised my voice, but right now I couldn’t control it if I wanted to. The sound builds in my chest and I yell with enough intensity to make her jump. “What the fuck did you say?”
She stares at me for a couple of seconds, stunned by my outburst. “I just told her that you were having a good time with her and that she wasn’t your type.”
“You don’t know shit about me or what I like. You had no business talking to her.”
“Well, the Aiden I know would never slum with someone like her.” She juts her chin out.
“The Aiden you know died six years ago. You made sure of that. And for the record, Celeste isn’t slumming. She’s the goddamn Holy Grail; something every man spends his life searching for, but very few deserve.”
She rolls her eyes, “Aiden, please. She’s just a—”
Pinning both of her hands against the wall at her sides, I lean in close. I need to make sure she understands me loud and fucking clear.
“Get the fuck out of my life. I don’t want you here, and if you ever so much as look in Celeste’s direction again, I will ruin you.”
“But I need you,” she starts to tear up.
“Too bad. I needed you six years ago but you left and took my life with you.”
Pushing off the wall, I look at her one last time and deliver a blow I know will hurt more than the punch itself.
“By the way, your nose is broken.”
“What did you do?” Teagan glares at me, tapping her foot on the shiny tile. I came to her salon first thing this morning, knowing it was my best option to find—and maybe corner Celeste—to talk to me. Seeing the wall of pissed off people glaring at me, I realize this might have been a bad idea.
“Will you just tell me where I can find her?” I glare back, losing my patience. I came to the salon hoping to catch Celeste where she couldn’t run away from me. This is a conversation that needs to happen in person. I stopped by her house, but Emily wouldn’t tell me anything, and now Teagan won’t either.
“Not until you tell us what’s wrong with her. She j
ust up and left the party with no explanation at all,” Taylor snaps at me, her face curling into a sneer.
It stings that everyone assumes I’m the reason for her retreat, but I guess I can’t blame them. I’ve never given anyone a reason to believe otherwise. And facts are facts—I fucked up.
“If she didn’t tell you, it’s not my place to.” Hurt reflects in her face at my words, but I can’t bring myself to say anything if Celeste doesn’t want her to know. “I’m trying to make things right. I just need a moment to explain.”
“Aiden, you know I love you, but I can’t tell you that for the same reason you can’t tell me why she’s upset. She needs time. I do believe that you never meant to hurt her, but that doesn’t negate the fact that you did. Some things need time to forgive.”
By then I might be too late.
A sinking feeling takes over my gut and I run a hand through my hair in frustration.
“I know,” I exhale, suddenly feeling exhausted. “I’m sorry I asked.”
“Don’t make that face. Damnit,” she clears the space between us and hugs me tightly. “Declan was right.”
“About what?” I ask, confused.
“You’re fucked.” She pulls back and gives me a megawatt smile.
And that’s my cue.
Waving goodbye to everyone, I stalk to my car trying to figure out what the hell I’m going to do. Opening my car door, I hear a male voice from behind me.
“Wait,” Bennie jogs over. “Look, I don’t know what happened and I don’t need to… Yet. But I just want what’s best for Sweets.”
“Sweets?” I question, confused as hell.
“Celeste, baby. Try to keep up.” He pats me on the shoulder. “I want her to be happy and as much as I know she loves this place, she needs a life outside of here. I’m not telling you I think this is some romance novel and you’re going to ride off into the sunset together. I just feel like it’s not fair to anyone if you aren’t given the opportunity to apologize. I don’t want her to waste her time wondering ‘what if’.”