“To the man, for finally coming home!” Chace raised his beer.
I looked around the room. Ashley and Sarah were on my lap. Jaxson, Matt, and blonde chicks number one, two, and three were in the hot tub. Some brunette was making her way to Chace. The lights were dimmed, the music was loud, and the drinks were never half empty.
“To the man!” Everyone cheered.
“Yeah, yeah,” I said. “Just remember, those who work for me, better not be calling in sick come Monday morning.”
Several groaned while the rest laughed.
“None of them work for you, asshole,” Chace said.
I smiled. There was a reason for that.
The party was officially underway. Sarah bent down and drew Ashley’s nipple into her mouth. My dick twitched.
I watched as Chace artistically drew a line of coke across some blonde’s pelvis before snorting it and then nuzzling his face in her pussy. Yes, this was how they partied. I ran my hand through my hair before removing Ashley and Sarah off me and heading to the kitchen.
“Here we are,” Isabella said as our cab pulled up outside the condo.
My mind had started in on freak-out mode. What the hell was I doing? This wasn’t me. This wasn’t what I wore. To get out of your comfort zone, there should be baby steps. You shouldn’t have to jump right in. “You know, I think I’m not feeling too well.” I nervously looked at Isabella, who was reapplying her lipstick.
Without missing a beat, she paid the driver, grabbed my arm, and led me out of the cab. “You’re doing this. We didn’t come all the way here for you to back out now. At least give it an hour. If you don’t like it, we can go, okay?” She squeezed my hand in reassurance, which didn’t help, since I knew my odds of owning a penguin were greater than the odds of her not ditching me as soon as we walked into that room.
I glanced at her and then my eyes darted back up at the building before shifting to watch our cab drive away. “Okay. I’ll give it an hour.”
“Atta girl.”
A doorman greeted us. “Name and destination please.”
“Isabella Rhodes plus one for Chace. Number 20.”
“Ah, yes. Here you are. The elevator is to your left, have a great night.”
As soon as the elevator doors closed, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. What was I doing? But what’s one night of partying? Well, it’s one night where I probably could’ve worked an extra shift. I reminded myself of the words I lived by: never take anything for granted. I also told myself it was okay to have a little fun.
We finally reached the twentieth floor. Goodness. The twentieth floor! Yeah, no big deal. Is that a bouncer? Is this a club or an apartment?
We approached the overly muscular, tall man. He had a mic in his ear and a tablet. If his goal was to look intimidating, well, he nailed it.
I looked over at Isabella, who kept her stride up as if this was just another day for her. For her, maybe it was.
“Name?” The big guy spoke. Goodness, that was a deep voice.
“Isabella Rhodes plus one.” The big guy checked his tablet, placed his hand over his mouth, and said something into the mic.
I glanced around nervously. Isabella was checking out her nails. She really was calm as hell.
“Your name, ma’am?” I stared up at the guy and swallowed.
“Ross. It’s Emmalin Ross.” He typed my name on the keypad. I shifted nervously. Isabella was starting to look bored.
“Thank you, ladies. It appears to be a masquerade theme tonight. Here are your masks, you may enter.” He reached into a black chest, grabbing two masks and handing them to us.
Taking the mask, I muttered “Thanks” and peeked over at Isabella, who was already putting on her mask and adjusting it, so I followed suit.
I was stunned as we entered. Holy hell. Was this someone’s apartment? This was basically a nightclub with a fog machine, strobe lights, and servers with an endless tray of drinks. It just went on and on.
I was pouring myself another bourbon when Chace walked in. “You’re still with this crowd, Chace?” I asked him. “Still doing this same shit? I thought we talked about this?”
He glared at me. “Don’t fuck with me, Grayson. Not tonight. Tonight you said you wouldn’t. We can discuss my well-being another night. Just one. Two lines tops. Scouts honor.”
I wanted to punch the shit out of him. He went back to pouring himself another drink, ignoring the issues like always. His phone chirped signaling new arrivals.
“We got some fresh meat man, an Isabella. I met her at your party. That girl has legs for days.” I nodded. “Well, look here, she also brought a friend.”
I downed my bourbon and reached for another.
“Her name is Emmalin Ross, or something.”
Chace was still looking at his phone, so he didn’t notice me pause midpour. I cleared my throat. “Did you say Emmalin Ross?”
“That I did.” Chace stared at me and cocked his head. “You know them or something?”
“Or something,” I muttered while downing my drink. Why the hell was she here? She didn’t need to be in a place like this.
I followed Chace out into the main area. Whose fucking idea was it to have everyone wear masks? I searched around for Chace. He seemed to be talking to some girl. Isabella, I assumed. Okay then, where was Emmalin?
I searched around the room and spotted her in the corner looking out the window. Even with the mask on, I knew it was her. I stopped as all my blood went straight to my cock from seeing her in that red dress.
“There you are, sexy.” Intercepted. Fucking Ashley. She reached her hand around my neck and pulled me down toward her and proceeded to put her tongue in my mouth. “There are so many things I want to do to you right now,” she whispered against my mouth.
“Ashley, always nice to see you. Perhaps I can catch up with you later?” I peered over her shoulder and saw that Emmalin was still in the corner, but not by herself. She was talking to… Jaxson. Fucking Jaxson.
“How about catching up with me now?” She pressed closer. I really didn’t have time for this. “Ashley. Later, okay?” I moved her to the side and headed for Emmalin.
Approaching her from behind, I grabbed her arm, pulling her toward me while Jaxson was still in mid conversation, and hoisted her over my shoulder, taking her out onto the balcony. I heard her shriek in shock at the same time as Jaxson yelled out, “Come on, man, I saw her first!” The fuck he did. She’s mine.
“What are you doing? Put me down! Who the hell do you think you are?”
“What are you doing here?” That voice. I knew that voice. I froze. All I could do was stare.
Then he took his mask off. “I asked you a question.”
“How did you__”
“Emmalin, what are you doing here?” He stepped closer. Too close. Reaching up, he pulled my mask off.
I could smell him. The scent of rosewood. God, how I loved that smell. He took my breath away. “I was invited,” I answered in a whisper, looking anywhere but his eyes. His cerulean eyes.
“You shouldn’t be here.” He grabbed my chin, so I had to look at him. Why was I so nervous around him?
“Why don’t you let me decide that for myself?” I said, barely above a whisper. He stepped closer. I swore I could feel his heartbeat. My pulse raced in response. He was overwhelming. Intoxicating. I liked it.
“You’re too… neat for a place like this, love. You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.” He reached up and tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear. “I’ll take you home.” He began to turn. Wait. What?
“If you don’t want me here, just say so.”
He stopped and faced me. “I don’t want you here.”
Well, shit. Can’t get mad when he did exactly what you told him to do.
“Wait here,” he said. “I just have to grab something.”
I watched as he made his way inside, and I finally noticed what was around me. The guy in the corner was getting a blow job. Two women straddled some other guy. A girl was doing a line of blow off another guy’s dick. What the fuck?
Scanning the room, I found Isabella straddling some guy, giggling while she put her hand down his pants. I waited a few seconds before going back into the condo and headed straight to the front door. Passing the overly big bouncer-type guy, I jumped in the elevator and rode the twenty floors down. I’d have to make sure to give Isabella a call later.
Stopping at the entrance, I tried to get my bearings. Was there even a subway near here? Then I remembered how I was dressed. In this bandage dress, people would either think I looked expensive or like a cheap whore. But there was no choice. I headed the direction I thought the subway was.
“Ms. Ross, do you ever do what you’re told?”
“Oh, we’re back to being formal again?” I neither stopped walking, nor did I slow my pace.
“Definitely bratty.”
I spun around, no longer able to hold onto my anger.
“What is your problem? Who do you think you are to tell me that I don’t belong somewhere? What is it? Is it because I don’t walk around wearing the clothes that you all do or have the money that you all have? Well, please forgive me. I apologize for not having the same status, asshole! And who the hell do you think you are, telling me what to do? Fuck you!” I whirled back around and started walking again.
Next thing I knew, I was grabbed and thrust up against a brick wall. He was in my face. His lips smashed against mine, erection digging into my stomach. I didn’t fight him. I didn’t want to fight him, and I sure as hell didn’t care who saw us.
A groan escaped me. His lips traveled to my neck and back to my mouth. Running my hands through his hair, I drew him closer to me. I wanted him. I wanted all of him. When he pulled back, I wanted to protest at the separation. We were both breathing hard.
“I told you never to walk away from me.” I felt myself nod. I fucking nodded.
We just stared at each other, and I spotted the slight grin at the corner of his mouth. The mouth I wanted on me again. His eyes trailed me up and down slowly. He unbuttoned his coat and slid it around me. “I like your dress, but I’ll kill anyone who looks at you. My car is this way.” He placed his hand on the small of my back and guided me toward the car.
The ride was silent. Thirty minutes later, we pulled up to my apartment. I wanted to say something. I wanted him to say something. I unbuttoned his coat, took it off, and thanked him for the ride.
Before I could get out, he grabbed my arm. “I’ll see you later.”
My eyes locked with his. I loved his eyes. I still didn’t know his name. Maybe that was a good thing. “I doubt it,” I whispered before getting out of the car and not looking back.
That night, I lay in bed staring up at the ceiling. He kissed me. Well, wasn’t he an interesting son of a bitch.