Chapter Twelve
The music was even louder from the side of the stage. Jennifer watched as Riley made his way off the stage and winked at them. The money hung from his G-string, and she wondered if he was their star. With the number of big bills she saw, it was hard not to think that.
Someone talked loudly over the microphone as they introduced Tommy. The crowd went wild at his name, and she knew then that he was the main show.
Jennifer was zoning out when she heard the announcer say, “And this will be his final performance, ladies! What you’re witnessing here is club history!”
The crowd screamed.
Jennifer blinked. No wonder Tommy had been so insistent.
A steady beat thumped the whole time as the announcer spoke. When he said Tommy again, she watched as her friend made his way on stage.
Since she’d never been to a show like this, she was a bit surprised to see him walk on the stage fully clothed. He was wearing a Stetson, button-up shirt, and some very cowboy pants.
The announcer went quiet, and the lights focused on Tommy.
She turned to look at Eric, who seemed more annoyed by the whole thing. He slipped an arm around her and pulled her so she was standing in front of him. She could still feel his semi-hard cock and smiled at the thought that she had caused that.
Tommy started to move, and she watched intently. He was far more agile than she would have thought.
The Stetson was the first thing to go. She laughed when he tossed it their direction and Candice caught it.
The music stilled for a moment, and a hush fell over everyone in the club. Just like thunder, it came back and off went his shirt. The women in the front row went wild. She could see the little bride and her friends waving money his way.
He was a pro at working the crowds. Every part of the stage got used and when another wave of loud music came, he yanked off his pants. This time, instead of tossing them to the side, he rode them, pulling the material between his legs and grinding against it.
After dropping his knees, he moved over to the bride and jumped down from the stage. Her face heated as he bumped and ground against her. The women around them screamed for more.
Jennifer gasped when she felt her own body moving in time with the music. Eric tensed behind her, and she sighed when she felt his hard length press hard against her.
“Be good, or I’ll take you to the corner and fuck you,” he mumbled in her ear.
She stilled and turned slightly in his arms to look at him. His face was hard, and she believed he was totally serious. She turned her attention back to the stage as Tommy finished his set. Better to save that for later.
* * *
The whole sight was odd and not something Jennifer ever thought she’d experience. Her parents’ world didn’t have people like Tommy. Or even Eric for that matter. No, they had bankers, CEOs, and lawyers.
They all played like they were the better people, but in the end, everyone was just the same. They were all flawed in some way. It was just that people like Tommy weren’t afraid to admit it.
She glanced over to Eric as Tommy made his way off the stage with even more money than Riley dripping from his G-string.
Eric hadn’t said it, but everyone seemed to know him at the club. It would only make sense that he’d worked there at some point. Trying to picture him dancing like Tommy made her heart kick into gear, and she looked away quickly. After what they had done, it wasn’t a good idea to get too excited.
“What did you think?” Tommy asked them as he stepped behind the curtain. She could barely hear him above the screams from the crowd.
He nodded his head toward the stairs, and they followed.
“They sure love you,” Candice said with a grin.
Tommy stopped. His eyes fixed on her and the Stetson she wore. “But what did you think?”
It was rare that Jennifer saw her friend squirm under pressure, but Candice sure seemed to be feeling the weight of his stare.
“You know you were good,” she said quietly, and pushed through.
“I’m surprised you’d leave,” Jennifer said, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
They all filtered into the back room as the crowds up front began to filter out.
Candice took a seat on the couch, and Jennifer sat next to her. She watched as Eric stood back a bit. He was being too quiet, and she just wished she knew what was going on in his head.
Tommy grabbed a towel from the rack and used it to wipe the sweat from his glistening body.
“It’s good money,” he said, and tossed the towel into the hamper. “But I want more than just this.”
The glance he gave Candice didn’t go unnoticed. Jennifer couldn’t help but be annoyed. He had Crystal, and yet he was trying to get her friend. She knew he was a bit of a player, but it was something else when it might involve a friend.
“Look what Eric was able to do when he got out,” Tommy said, and tossed Eric a grin.
It was still strange to think of Eric doing what Tommy had just done. She looked over at the man, who was still a mystery to her, and again wondered what sort of dancer he made. Trying to picture him doing the come hither looks that Tommy did just didn’t seem to fit.
Eric was more than sexy enough, but not in the same way as Tommy. But then, maybe that was his draw. As she looked around the room at the other men, none of them were the same. If they each danced, then a woman was sure to see her type.
“That was a lifetime ago,” Eric said stiffly.
Tommy frowned as Eric stared him down.
The room grew uncomfortably quiet. Riley was the first to step forward.
“Yo, Eric. You’ve got to see my new ride.”
Eric looked over to her, and she felt her pulse kick up. Just looking at him was nearly enough to put her back at the edge of where they had been before.
He gave a short nod and followed Riley out the door.
Jennifer let out a sigh. It was exhausting being around someone so intense.
When Tommy went to take a shower, Candice turned to her.
“So…” She grinned. “Wanna tell me what you were up to out there?”
Jennifer blushed. She didn’t want to tell her. That would mean she’d have to admit to certain things.
“Tommy is a better dancer than I would have thought,” Jennifer said, and smiled.
Candice narrowed her eyes. “Oh, don’t think you’re getting out of this so easy,” she said. “Spill it.”
“We were just kissing,” Jennifer said, and turned her head. She wasn’t good at stretching the truth.
“Bullshit,” Candice said. “You two came in like you were doing the nasty out there.”
Jennifer gasped. “We didn’t go that far!”
Candice grinned. “But you did go further than kissing.”
Jennifer huffed and turned away from her friend. It was more than clear she wasn’t going to let this go.
“Hey,” Candice said, and placed a hand on her shoulder. Jennifer turned back. “You know it’s okay to have some fun.” She smiled. “I just want to make sure that you know what you’re getting into.”
Jennifer nodded. She did. It was hard not to know what she was getting into. Eric was a good man. He had his moments, but overall he was good. She just knew it.
Candice opened her mouth to say something else but stopped, mouth still open.
Tommy stood in the doorway. Towel draped around his waist. Droplets of water slipped down his well-sculpted chest into the trail of hair that dipped below the towel.
He gave them both a knowing smile and picked up some clothes. “Are you coming to the party?”
The question was to both of them, but he was clearly focused on Candice.
“I don’t really think—” Jennifer began.
“Yes,” Candice said.
They spoke at the same time and looked to the other person. Tommy grinned.
“I’m taking Jennifer home,” Eric said from the door, and she shivered at the way he said it.
Tommy nodded and stared intently at Candice. “I’ll take her home.”
“You ready?” Eric asked her. She looked to Candice, who watched Tommy as he went back into the bathroom to change.
“Are you good?” Jennifer asked, ignoring the impatient man at the door.
Candice looked to her and gave a wink. “I’m a big girl. Go have fun.”
Jennifer blushed. She glanced over to Eric and just hoped she was making the right decision.
* * *
The bike had been quiet, almost too quiet despite the roar of the motor. Eric had given her his coat to wear and pulled out the extra helmet he kept. She wrapped her arms around his middle and Lord help him, it felt so damn good.
He just prayed that she wasn’t changing her mind. From the first moment he saw her, he could think of nothing else but what it would be like to sink into her. She filled his thoughts and consumed him.
When they’d stopped outside her apartment, he waited for her to tell him she’d changed her mind. When Jen turned her large green eyes to him and invited him upstairs, he’d nearly shouted his reply.
Now that he was here with her in the apartment, he didn’t know if this was the right decision. Everything in her place just told him how innocent she really was. It all screamed money and influence, something he would never have. But most of all, a normal life.
“Did your parents go back home?” Eric asked finally from her very green couch.
She was busy in the fridge getting him a bottle of water. He’d not had a drink all night and didn’t want to be loaded if something happened, but the urge to drink called to him.
Jen popped out of the kitchen with two bottles of water.
“They are still around for another day,” she said, and handed him one. “I’m just taking a little break.”
He chuckled. “They seemed pretty intense.”
“They can be,” she said, sitting next to him. “I think you both met under the wrong circumstances.”
Eric leaned forward. “Maybe they should have knocked.”
He watched as color spread to her pretty cheeks. She nervously played with her hair.
“Uh, well…” she stumbled.
He couldn’t help the smile that came. She was beautiful this way, with an innocence that he’d been missing.
Eric pulled her hand away from her face and ran his fingers through her soft thick hair. She looked at him with her big doe eyes, and he felt his cock harden.
More than anything, he wanted to be inside her, to have her make all the sweet noises from before as he thrust himself deeper inside her.
Eric moved forward and brushed his mouth across hers. She was soft and sweet this time. He groaned and lifted her up onto his lap. Her legs spread over his legs as her dress rode up. He’d wanted to take his time, but after waiting all night, their first time was going to be hot and hard.
He placed his hands on either side of her face and tilted her head. Their kiss deepened, and he moaned when she moved her hips slowly over his throbbing cock. He slipped down from her face and found the zipper of her dress. Slowly he slid it down and then found the hem of her dress. As he lifted it, she pulled back and stared at him. The tiny dress came off easily, and he was left staring at her near naked body. His gaze flicked to hers, and he stopped.
“What’s the matter?”
Jen was wrinkling her nose. “I smell like a strawberry margarita.” Eric grinned at her. “It’s a good thing I like strawberries.”
She pulled back farther and slipped off his lap. “Five minutes,” she said quietly. “I just need five minutes to wash it off.”
Eric groaned and then sighed. “Five minutes. Any longer, and I’m coming in for you.”
Jen grinned at him, and he could see that his threat had the effect he was hoping.
“Promises, promises,” she said, and hurried into the other room.
* * *
Jennifer tried to stay focused on the task of washing, but it was hard when every part of her tingled with excitement.
She’d tried to give him enough time to come into the shower but thought he must have decided against it. Maybe he didn’t want their first time to be in the shower.
Visions of him wet and naked only heated her more. She certainly wouldn’t mind if he wanted to take her there. Although at that moment, she wouldn’t really mind him taking her anywhere.
Jennifer shut off the water and stepped out.
Maybe it was best he hadn’t come in. She could use that time to decide just what she planned on doing. Sex was clearly top of her plans, but what would happen after?
She sighed and wiped off the mirror. Maybe what happened next wasn’t really in her control.
The sound of a door slamming echoed, and her heart kicked up a bit. Maybe her parents had decided to stop by. It wouldn’t be nearly as bad timing as before, but their presence would for sure put a damper on their plans.
Jennifer hurried to dress. Her stomach turned as she stared at the lacy black nightie. It wasn’t really the sort of thing she wanted her parents to see her in. She grabbed a thin satin robe from the back of the door. Not a ton better, but at least they wouldn’t be able to see her breasts through it.
She tied the black robe around her waist and checked herself in the mirror. Her appearance was as good as it was going to get.
Just as she opened the door, the front door shut loudly. Maybe they had decided to leave. It wouldn’t be ideal, but it would give them the time they needed. And boy did she need him.
“Who was here?” she asked as she rounded the corner to the living room.
“It’s nice to see you, Jennifer.”
Jennifer froze just inside the room.
Charles sat comfortably on the couch in the same spot she’d last seen Eric.
A bike revved its engine on the street, and she raced to the window. She watched as Eric sped down the street and out of sight.