Jenna
I'd emptied my closet out by the time Grace showed up at my doorstep. The small apartment I lived in down in the center of the city was one of the many buildings owned by my family. Where they didn't pay for my rent, I wasn't charged a penny for taking up a tiny space on the third floor either. It was a good way to let them feel like they were doing something and yet I didn't have to feel like I was getting a handout.
The knock at my front door had to be Grace. Soft rapping that didn't stop until I jerked the door open.
"You know I hate it when you do that." I gave her a warning look.
"Yep, but you knew it was me, didn't you. That's all that matters. New York is dangerous, especially the city." She walked in and pulled off her thin navy cardigan. The thick wool sweater she had on underneath left her looking bulky, swollen and as unattractive as I'd ever seen her. She was the only person I knew who wore multiple layers, and none of them matched.
"What the fuck is that?" I pressed my fingers to my lips as I used my free hand to close and lock the door.
"What? This?" She twirled around in circles, her dark hair flying behind her.
"The only thing you're allowed to wear from that outfit is the tights you have on, and even those might have to go." I squinted and moved in for a closer inspection. "Grace Adams. Dear baby Jesus, please tell me that those aren't cats on your tights."
"Yeah. They're cute, right?"
"You're twenty-one. Cute is not the look you're going for." I stopped in front of her and put my hands on my hips. "Take it off. All of it."
"What? No. It's good. I saw someone on a London catwalk wearing this last week." Her shoulders rolled in as she let out a sad sounding sigh.
"Off. Now."
"Can I at least keep the shoes? I love flats."
"No. You can wear those dark brown boots of mine that you love. You're not wearing those flats. They have little bows on them. What are you, twelve again?"
"You're such a hater." She pulled her sweater over her head and tossed it on my couch before kicking her shoes at me.
I glanced over toward the couch and laughed. "Someone is going to think we skinned a cat. God that thing is so ugly. How much did you pay for it?"
"Don't ask." She pulled her tights off and walked toward my room, her little black g-string tucked into the perfect curve of her ass.
"Tell me and make me feel better." I walked behind her as I reached up to pull my long hair into a high ponytail. I needed to go for playful more than sexy for the night. With both Thomas being there for sure, and Nate possibly showing up, I didn't need to look anything near sexy, even though it was a hard look for me to pull off in the first place.
"Why would me telling you that I got it at Ross for ten dollars make you feel better?" She turned to face me, her expression still tight with angst. Her breasts rose high above the black lace bra she wore, and her tanned skin stretched across her perfect curves, leaving me to feel frumpy, fat, ugly.
"Because. I have to stand next to you all night." I walked past her and bumped her shoulder softly. "You're lucky I didn't just leave you in your mauled kitten costume. It would have made me look better."
"You're stupid." She moved into the closet beside me. "You're the hottest girl in the whole damn city and the richest."
"No telling anyone that." I pulled down a tight black dress. "Here. Wear this."
"You sure? This is one of your favorites." She leaned over to work it over her hips and I walked back to the bathroom.
"Yeah, you'll look great in it." I leaned over my bathroom counter and grabbed a tube of dark pink lipstick. "So I think Nate is going to be there tonight."
"The hot guy from the coffee shop?"
"Yep." I pursed my lips and moved back. "And if he is... I'm going home with him. We should take separate cars."
"And what if I plan on going home with Erik? Isn't that his name? The bad boy from the library the other day?"
"Erik Bertinelli isn't going to be at Kadia." I snorted and gave her an approving look. "Hot. Two thumbs up."
"Thanks." She grabbed my lipstick and scowled at it before finding something darker, smokier. "And why wouldn't he be at Kadia?"
"Because it's filled with college kids and hookers, Grace. He's a hitman. Why would he be interested in any of those people?"
"Here's for hoping." She bumped her hip against mine and we shared a laugh. If nothing else, it would feel good to hang out with her for the night. It had been a long time since we got to let our hair down and have fun.
"Thomas has us covered if we get a little toasted?"
"Yep. Just stick close to me."
"Why is that?" I glanced her way.
"Because you get horny when you get drunk. The last thing we need is for you to fuck my brother again."
I shrugged. "It was three years ago, Grace, and it was an accident. Big deal."
"Agreed, but he's been in love with you since. You're going to have to show me some of your moves."
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear any of that." I turned and walked out of the bathroom as a smile spread across my face. I'd been with a few men in my time, but none of them were what I would consider a good lay. Hell, I wasn't even sure what that would look like.
If I had to guess... it would look a lot like Nate.
****
"Move it on through. Move." The voice at the front of the line was familiar. Too familiar.
I kept my head down and moved behind the large crowd of people trying to get into Kadia. I was far more worried about stumbling and busting my ass than seeing who was checking I.D.'s at the front door. I'd be there soon enough.
"Oh, nice." Grace turned and glanced over her shoulder. "It's your man, and he looks fucking hot."
"What?" I lifted to my toes and my suspicions were confirmed. Nate was taking tickets at the front door and checking I.D.'s. "Oh hell. It's Nate."
Grace said something, but I couldn't hear her over the pounding of my heart in my chest. I reached into the top of my dress and pulled my breasts up, hoping like hell that I looked better than I felt like I did. Next to Grace I just didn't measure up. She was exotic and thin, I was the girl next door with big boobs and hips that I hated.
"Jenna," Nate spoke, his eyes filled with something I couldn't quite place.
Grace slipped into the open door and someone in the back of the crowd pushed forward, causing me to stumble toward the handsome bastard.
I pressed my hands to his thick chest and glanced up as the air rushed from my lungs. Everything about the moment was perfect except for the fact that I wasn't nearly ballsy enough to press my lips to his.
"Hey. Sorry about that." I turned and barked at the crowd. "Back the fuck up."
"No problem. I've been watching for you all night." His eyes moved down the front of my dress as I pulled my hands from his chest and started to search for my I.D.
"You have? I had this damn I.D. somewhere just a few-"
"Don't worry about it. I'm sure you're legal." He winked and grabbed my arm, pulling me toward the door. "Bartender's name is Mark. Tell him you and your dark-haired friend can have drinks on me. Save me a dance."
"You dance?" I walked into the club, turning around to get one more glimpse of him before someone grabbed me by the waist and toted me down the stairs toward a large group of my friends.
"There you are." Thomas set me down and spun me around. "Wow." His eyes ran down my body and back up to my face. "You're so fucking hot, but you knew that, didn't you?"
"Not a chance, handsome." I playfully popped him in the face and turned to walk toward the bar where Grace was already perched on a stool.
"You can't wait for anyone? Shit." I took the seat next to her and let out a soft sigh.
"Sorry. I figured it would be better to get out of the way. Your guy at the door has to be one of the best looking men I've seen around here."
"Better than Erik?" I glanced toward the bartender as she flashed me a toothy smile. "Bud Light please?"
"Anything for you, beauty." He turned to Grace. "How about you, angel?"
"Same." She smiled and turned to face me. "Hell, no, not better than Erik. Can you imagine the two of them together though? One buried deep in your ass and the other-"
"Hey. I'm good." I lifted my hand as my pulse spiked. I'd never been with two men, nor had I let one have his way with me. Maybe that's the reason my sex life was so incredibly dull. I only lived the fun stuff in my head.
"Oh. Sorry." She blushed and fiddled with the front of her dress.
"No, I'm sorry. I was just kidding." I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. "You been fantasizing about Erik at the library?"
"Yeah. I can't help it. He's so sexy, Jenna. So dangerous looking."
"I would tell you to fuck him, but he's dangerous, Grace. He's not the average guy you're looking for when you want a one-night stand. He's vile. Nasty. Dark. Deadly."
"You talking about me again?" Nate moved up beside me and pressed his forearms to the bar as the bartender returned with our drinks.
"Here you go, ladies. ‘Sup, Nathaniel. You need a drink, brother?"
Nate shook his head and glanced down at me. "No, but these girls can drink for free tonight. Put it on my tab."
"No. You don't have to-" I lifted my hand. I had plenty of money. I didn't need him or anyone else buying my shit.
He grabbed my hand and lifted it to his face before brushing his nose along the palm of my hand and biting at the flesh. "I want to. Hush or I'll put you over my knee and spank your fine ass right here in front of your bestie and the stiff prick hoping to fuck you tonight."
I glanced over to Grace to apologize, but the look of lust on her face told me I didn't need to bother. Not many people could talk shit about her brother, Thomas, but it would seem that Nate was one of them.