Come on Will! Pick up your damn phone. Please, please. Just answer me.
It was my third attempt at calling him today. After begging Elise to give me his number, she finally relented after I lied and told her he was a long lost, very distant cousin of a friend of mine. She snuck off to Daniel and fed him another lie until he gave her his cell. So many lies, both big and small. They were piling up in my life now.
But there was one thing that was for certain – I wanted him.
After coming home from the last shoot in tears, sobbing my heart out, I knew my feelings were true. This wasn’t just because he was a great fuck or that it felt so wrong to be with him that it turned me on just thinking of it. It was because I started remembering the man behind the tattoos and large cock. I remembered the brother who saved me from a slap when my stepfather became angry or the teenager who would take me to the candy store after class and spend his tiny paycheck on treating me. He was the guy who let me ride on the back of his bicycle, my arms wrapped around his waist and my legs circled tight around his thighs.
I knew then, at fifteen, that I had feelings for him more powerful than a brother and sister should be. I watched him grow into a man with such fascination. I could remember myself studying his body as he bulked up, especially how his arms seemed to rip with new muscles and his jaw squared out against the skin. When he brought girls over thinking I was sleeping, which was frequent, I watched them from behind the living room door. He’d kiss them with such ferocity that I would run off, not sure if I wanted to see the rest or ashamed that I longed to be on the other side. Now I know which way I really felt.
I was wrong for hating him for so many years. Whatever he did to want or need to run was beyond this. He was the one person in my life I could count on, could trust. And I let that amazing relationship go because I believed whatever my parents said.
I had a few old photos from him in one of my boxes from home. I'd left them sitting there for so long they were collecting dust and tattering around the edges. I grabbed some tape and stuck them up against the side of my bed so I could steal glances at them at night. I didn’t want him to be buried in the past anymore. I wanted to resurrect the William I knew. And I wanted so badly to be with the Wilder I had experienced.
Lana was growing suspicious, though. She had walked on me several times making calls and cursing at the phone when he didn’t answer. On Friday, she slipped in behind me and grabbed the phone from my hand. She looked down at the name of the person I was trying to reach and pouted, “Girl, you know the first rule in getting a guy back is to not be the one calling – it’s to be unreachable.”
I scoffed. “It’s not like that. It’s just that we – “ How could I make her understand that there was more to this than a little fight or some crossed signals? What happened between us was beyond her scope of boy-conquering. I stammered, “We had a huge fight over something I said. I need to make it right, but he won’t call me back.”
She walked towards her closet and reached towards the back where her more risqué work clothes sat. She threw me a black dress with the hanger still attached. “Here. Put it on. We’re going out tonight.”
I was completely taken aback. Despite being friends and roommates for nearly three years, she had yet to really invite me out on one of her weekend trips. Outside of a few parties she had dragged me along to, I had been disconnected from Lana’s weekend world. I eyed her suspiciously. “What? Don’t you have to work? And plus, what will going out do?”
“First of all, I don’t have to work. I took this weekend off to get my share of the group project done.” She rolled her eyes at me and placed her finger to her head, imitating a gun firing. “Secondly, going out to a club isn’t going to do anything to get him to call you back. But it's going to get your mind off of him for a few hours. Maybe even get you drunk enough to find someone better who answers his damn phone when his girlfriend is clearly desperate.”
I couldn’t argue with her. I was pathetically desperate, at least enough to make Lana have pity on me. But still, I wasn’t one to do the club scene. Working at one was enough for me to hate it with a passion. The extravagant expense, the long lines, the people all grinding up on one another… it wasn’t my scene. I tossed the dress back to my roommate and sat on the bed across from her. “I can’t, Lana. I don’t have the money, and I have a ton of work to do on this project.”
“Come on. The project will still be there tomorrow, and I can get us in for free. I know a guy. Plus, the rest of the study group is going with us so I won’t leave you alone to fend for yourself.” She watched as I shook my head. With one grasp of my arm, she pulled me back on my feet and pushed the dress back towards me. “Get dressed Kylie, we’re going out.”
The dress was tight. Super tight. I couldn’t imagine what Lana looked wearing it considering I was at least two sizes smaller than her and had absolutely no curves except for my breasts, which felt like they were going to slip through the gaping cutouts at any second. The heels she gave me were sky high, but after two porn shoots, I was getting much better at being on my feet and walking in a pair.
She covered my face in dark smoky makeup and told me to leave my hair in my signature ponytail. With a wink she reminded me, “Guys love to hold on to a girl’s hair.”
Oh I know, Lana.
Once we made it through the doors of the Paradise on the Strip, thanks to Lana’s connections with both of the security guys, I was instantly turned off. This wasn’t my scene. The music was thumping loud, making it impossible to hear. And the guys were just gawking at Lana as she passed by, weaving through the crowd to where the rest of our study group was standing near the velvet rope.
I heard Jackson yell towards us, “Lana! Kylie! Are you insane? How did you get us into the VIP bottle rooms? How much did you spend on this?”
Bottle service? I was totally taken aback. I didn’t agree to this. Lana placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, steadying me into place as she talked to the rest of the group in our huddle, “Don’t worry about it. I know a guy who, well, he owes me a favor.” She winked, sending Angelica and Daphne over the edge giggling.
I started to panic. There was no turning back now. I was in it for the night. As we passed through the velvet rope and headed towards the elevator for the upstairs lounges, I spotted a familiar face. It was Cal, the security guard from the Strip Top Bar. I ran to my post, throwing my arms around his neck. “Cal! Oh my gosh! I haven’t seen you in weeks. I didn’t even get to thank you for helping me out back at the bar the night that, well, I got let go.”
He was practically beaming as he held me around my waist. “I thought I never would see you again. What are you guys doing here?”
Before I could answer, Lana was at my side. She looked Cal up and down and passively asked, “How do I know you?”
“The Strip Top Bar. I’m a security guy there. We’ve worked together for two years, Lana.” He was annoyed, but slightly amused. In his line of work, I was sure he saw a ton of stuck up, bitchy waitresses and dancers.
“Oh that’s right. Anyway, we have a table. It’s under Lana Richardson.” She leaned down at his clipboard and pointed to a line where her name is. “Can you let us in?”
Cal pushed a code into the elevator’s mainframe and waited for it to arrive. Still, he didn’t break his stare. Obviously my borrowed dress and new look met his approval. As the doors closed, he turned and gave me a slight nod, and I was left to wonder what that was all about.
I didn’t have time to think about it any longer. Before we could even sit, a bottle was thrust in my hands and I was taking shots of vodka with the group. Drink after drink after drink went down as I raised each glass to make sure I got every last drop. I knew I should have been careful. I knew I should have paced myself, but my head was going loopy. And I was grateful that I can at least forget about Wilder. This was what being young, wild, and totally free was like!
The music was calling for me as I sunk another glass of super expensive champagne. I made my way down the stairs and towards the group of dancers. As soon as I stepped on the floor, a guy took my hand and pulled me into his body. He was sweaty, but the way his hands seemed to float to my hips kept me linked to him. He shouted something at me, something about me looking beautiful, and I blushed. No guy had ever called me beautiful before.
Another hand grabbed my ass, as I spun to face him. This guy was even better looking than the first. I held onto him tight as he stared at my chest, as if willing me to slip out of the long v-neck. I ran my hand through his long black hair and pulled him tighter to me. I just wanted to feel someone’s body tonight and this guy would do.
But before I could make my move, I saw Lana beckoning for me. I ran off, not even caring about the man I locked my arms around. She was holding another glass of champagne that I knocked back without a second thought. I turned to her excitedly and screamed over the music, “Is this what it’s always like?!”
“What?” She eyed me up and down before taking the empty glass out of my hand and putting it on the tray of a passing waitress.
“You know, you have sex with a guy and then, all of a sudden, everyone wants you? Is this how it works, ‘cause if it does, I'm totally getting laid tonight!”
Frankly, I didn’t have to try. By the way the room of guys was staring at me, I knew I had my pick of just about any of them. They were nothing compared to Wilder, but a warm body and someone who thought I was someone I wasn’t was enough to get me through.
Before I could even pick out the guy, a large hand grabbed me. It was Cal. He was wearing a new shirt and his little earpiece was gone. I jumped into his arms as he led me out to the dance floor. He surprised me by his moves. He was sleek with how he slid his hands down my body and pressed his hips against my backside. A hand shot up to my breast, grabbing a handful as I continued to follow his body’s lead.
As he pulled back my ponytail and whispered an invitation in my ear, I stopped. I saw a familiar face, a face I wasn’t sure I would ever see again. He was walking towards me, practically stomping before he grabbed me away.
“What the fuck are you doing, Kylie?” Wilder was pissed. His phone was in his hand. “Are you drunk?”
“How are you here?” I looked at him in amazement. I didn’t tell him where I was or what I was doing. I didn’t even have my phone on me. Lana took it the moment we walked in the club so I wouldn’t be tempted to reach him.
“Who the hell is this?” Cal was all security guard, stepping in between Wilder and I. I tried to protest but he was screaming at Wilder to leave.
“He’s my stepbrother, Cal. It’s okay!” I tried to diffuse the situation, but I could tell by the way Wilder was staring at me, digging icy glares in my direction that he wasn’t letting me just walk away.
I pushed Wilder away, out towards the edges of the dance floor. “You can’t just do this, Wilder! You can’t just show up and protect me.”
“What am I supposed to do, Kylie? You’re the one who wanted me. And now I’m here. Is this who you are? Those guys are no good for you. But you’re dressed like you’re back on set. I don’t blame them for thinking you’d go for them.”
I stepped back as I tried to steady my awkward steps. I was still drunk, but I knew I should be insulted. “What the fuck, Wilder! I’ve been calling and calling for days and you just show up? And not only that, you insult me, too! I’m just trying to have a good time, to get you off my mind! Isn’t that what you want me to do? You made it very clear we’re not going to be together anymore.”
My stepbrother wasn’t going anywhere. Whatever I just said made him more resolved, more determined to get me going. I saw Cal coming back towards us as I ducked a bit. Cal was up in his face, ordering him to leave, but Wilder was at least four inches taller than him and much, much stronger. The two went toe-to-toe as each one refused to move. I watched helplessly as Wilder raised an arm and struck, punching Cal in the face, landing a blow right to his jaw. He had done this before to the boys on the block that picked on me as a child.
I stared at the man on the floor, unsure of what I could do or how I was supposed to react. Before I could say anything, he was dragging me out of the club by my arm. Lana was shouting after us, unsure what to do. He hailed a black taxi, throwing me inside. I wanted to scream and resist, but I wasn’t sure what I could do. I just sat there, hoping my breath would eventually catch up with me. He gave the driver directions back to the university before turning to face me. His eyes were burning as he stared at my dress, the way I’m grabbing on to the seat for support.
I couldn’t ask him what I needed to ask him or give him another apology. As I opened my mouth, he made his move, leaping over the seat towards me, lunging at my body. He kissed me deeply, hard. Our lips smacked one another as we struggled to steady ourselves. Both of us were unsure of what to do, how to be now that the secret was revealed. But it was clear that I wasn’t alone. He wanted me as bad as I wanted him.
Our hands wrestled with one another as I could feel his cock through his pants stiffen. Before I could reach down, he yanked my hands away and turned towards the driver. “Let me out here. This is my stop.” He slid out the door, handing the driver money and giving him instructions to not let me out until we reached my dorm building. I watched him disappear against the shadows of the Las Vegas strip.