I could get where I wanted on my own merits.
“What do you want to start with?” Ami asked as she waved down a waitress.
“You choose,” I mumbled, not feeling festive. Elliot should be here too.
“No, nuh-uh, you choose.” She glared at me. Davies was staring at me too, waiting for an answer.
I doubted water would be an appropriate one.
I sighed. “Flamin’ Beaver.”
She grinned back. “Starting with the hard stuff, I see.” Ami ordered two rounds for the table.
“You’re a fucking beast,” Davies said to me, leaning forward so I could hear him over the noise that was picking up around us. The music sped up the beat, the floor shaking from the bass. The air was filled with magic and frankly, it was already making me feel a little intoxicated. That helped. That helped a lot.
My shoulders loosened a fraction as I replied to Davies. “I know.”
“Oh!” Davies said and chuckled. “Gotta love your confidence.”
We chatted and when the shots came, we took them quickly, back to back. I could feel their magical effects get right to work, loosening me up. The magic worked faster on Davies since he was human. It took a lot of magic infused alcohol to get him feeling it.
Davies ordered the next round of shots, something with a little extra kick to it. I pushed back my fears and worry and focused on the moment. Before I knew it, we were dancing.
First couple of songs, I danced with Ami. This was how we did it. We took control of the dance floor, showing off our moves. And then we would split apart to enjoy the company of men.
At first, we were content with brushing up against each other, giggling, and just being plain silly. We put on a show for the men around us, some of the men slack-jawed. That only spurred us to become even more risqué as we danced, our hands running over each other.
Finally, a brave soul came and whisked us away. One of the meatheads I rarely interacted with took Ami away while Davies swept me away. I cocked an eyebrow, and he grinned and moved to the beat, his hands resting respectfully on my hips. The man knew how to move.
I reached up and ran my hands along his broad chest and then up his neck to bury my fingers into his hair. His shaggy blond locks felt as good as they looked, the gentle waves slipping right through my fingers.
I swayed my hips as he pulled me closer to him. His eyes darkened with lust and the woman in me cheered at being able to gain his attention. We danced two songs together, him leading beautifully and me happy to let him do so. His confidence in himself only made him a better partner. The man knew how to move on the dance floor.
By the end, I was pressed up against him from head to toe, my skin slightly damp with sweat and my lungs drawing in deeper breaths as it thudded to the beat of the music.
Davies took a step back with a smile as a hand landed on my arm in a gentle grip, the feel of the energy jumping from their skin to mine. I knew exactly who it was.
Mr. Lombardi. The Big Boss. Black Dog. Dwight.
He wanted to dance with me. I turned to face him, and he smiled as he pulled me close. He leaned in, his scent intoxicated me. My eyes fluttered, nearly closing.
“You’re the real star tonight, Laila,” he said, his voice deeper and doing delicious things to my body.
He spun me around so my back was to his chest, his hands resting on my stomach as we moved, grinding into me a little but not vulgarly. Some men felt like they were trying to fuck me through my clothes. He just pressed against me so I knew he was there.
His lips were by my ear as he continued to talk.
“You’ve gone far beyond my expectations. You didn’t just impress me, but also Shanton. You impressed a dragon. Not many can do that. You better prepare yourself.”
“For what?” I could barely follow what he was saying, my brain clouded with his presence so close to me.
“You won’t be able to hide in your lab anymore, not after showing us what you’re truly capable of.” His lips pressed against the soft spot of my neck, and I sighed into the touch, into how he made me feel. I hadn’t felt like this for so long, not since I was sixteen.
The emotions scared and excited me.
He turned me to face him, and his eyes focused on my face, flickering between my eyes and my lips. I licked my lips, and he followed the movement, hunger clear in his expression.
Oh Goddess, I never expected Big Boss to be interested in me, a lowly labbie. Never in a million years.
Seeing my excitement, his lips curled into a smile. His hand lifted up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, his touch gentle and slow. My skin craved his touch, and I pushed against his hand. He cupped my jaw, lifting my head up a little. And then his lips claimed mine.
In the middle of a club.
Surrounded by his employees.
I moaned and pressed against him, my skin on fire with his touch, my brain fizzling out. I couldn’t think, not with his lips on mine. He was pure magic, a heady spell doing crazy things to me.
My stomach warmed, and I wanted more. So much more in that moment. I wanted to wrap around him, to push him down and take more, take everything. I needed him, filling me, making me scream. I wanted him on a deeper level than I wanted anyone.
When we parted, I wanted to whimper, but instead, we just stared at each other, eyes wide in realization.
Shit, we were attracted to each other. Not a subtle attraction either. Fireworks should have been going off, the world should have stopped spinning, and we should have been doused in fire with how attracted we were to each other.
That scared me. It scared me a lot. I didn’t do attachments.
Lombardi sensed the distance I mentally took and respected it, nodding at my unspoken fear. “When you’re ready, Laila. I’ll be here.”
With that, he walked away, and I stood there dumbfounded. I didn’t know how to feel, how to react, I just felt numb. He confused me, tore down all my defenses in one single kiss.
“Holy shit, did I really just witness that?” Ami asked, coming over to me with Venni and Davies at her side.
“I... I don’t know,” I said, feeling a little lame with my response.
For some reason, I couldn’t look at Davies or Venni. I could feel them. Davies was hurt and confused. Venni was... curious. That confused me.
I had a strong compulsion to apologize, but I didn’t know why. Before I could open my mouth, not really knowing what I would say, Alijah was there and then he was pulling me away to dance.
I stared at him, surprised.
“What?” he asked. “Didn’t think I knew how to dance?”
His eyes were amused as he stared at me. I frowned, still trying to pull my thoughts together. My mind felt foggy and couldn’t keep up with everything. Alijah didn’t push me to respond as we danced, keeping it simple. He wasn’t the best dancer, but he knew how to own what he did do, and he made it fun, which surprised me. I saw Alijah as a serious guy, a strong, silent ally. He never did anything he didn’t want to do and once he supported someone, he gave them a hundred percent in his support.
We danced, not saying anything, not needing too. Silence had never been awkward with him. When the song ended and before I turned to go to the bar to get a drink, he put his hands on my hip and tightened his grip to keep me from walking away.
“Don’t let anyone tell you you’re wrong,” he said. I frowned and he smiled. “You’re a strong woman, and when you want something, you go for it. Don’t let others’ opinions change that, Laila.”
After his little prophetic advice, he walked away, leaving me behind to stare after him as he disappeared into the writhing crowd of dancers.
What the hell was I supposed to do with that advice?
I finally got my feet moving and went to the bar for a much needed drink. Lombardi didn’t lie when he said everything was on him tonight. I did not want to see that bill when the night was over.
I ordered a simple cocktail and then turned to look into the crowd. Am
i had found another man to dance with, probably in heaven with so many men around to have fun with. Davies and Venni were over at our table, sipping on beers as they talked. Davies didn’t look happy, Venni looked annoyed with him.
I frowned as I watched them, and when I was going to approach them, Venni looked up as if sensing me. Our eyes met, and he shook his head to warn me to stay away.
So I stayed away. I didn’t need drama, especially when I didn’t understand why it was there. I had enough on my mind as it was. My emotions told me to go to them, to make Davies feel better, but I pushed it to the side and went back to dancing, enjoying the night.
After this, I was going to camp out in Elliot’s room and catch up on some sleep, and just forget about confusing men and warring emotions.
Author’s Note
I love you. Why? Because if you’re reading this, that means you read my entire story, and for that, I love you. Don’t worry, Laila’s journey is far from over. Please keep in mind that this a slow burn reverse harem. It’ll happen, just not right away.
I do have to ask that you take the time to leave a review if you can. Let me know if you liked it or not. As a self-published author, those reviews are important to me. They’ll help me as a writer and help other readers determine if the book is something they’d be interested in. Let them know about your thoughts. That’ll mean the world to me.
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Coming Soon
Magical Temptations (Fall 2018)
Biomystic Security Book Two
Dr. Laila Porter has successfully kept Cyril Shanton alive. Now it’s time to learn that when a dragon wants something, they get it, and Shanton wants Laila. The dragon has uncovered an old cave system, and he needs Laila’s expertise to get through the dangerous traps safely because he wants what the traps protect.
With time running out, Laila, Davies, Rhett, and Venni have to traipse through the dangerous tunnels with Shanton and his team. While trying to stay alive, Laila learns about her origins, about who she is and where she came from. She’s gone over a million different scenarios of her past, but none of them came close to the truth. The guys will have to prove to Laila that they’re with her, no matter what, and no matter who her ancestors are.
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Magical Intentions Page 24