Chapter 29
Alyse
“I think I’m ready to go home,” Livia announces loudly, trying to be heard over the thrum of the music. We have a reserved booth toward the back of this upscale dance club, courtesy of Kamryn, who seems to have connections all over town from what I’ve heard, but it’s still very loud.
“Oh hell no! It’s only ten o’clock,” Addy quips, throwing back another shot of tequila. Kamryn said she nearly single-handedly keeps Patron in business. I’m not sure I disagree at this point. I’ve never seen a woman drink as much as Addy and not be falling-down drunk. “This is your bachelorette party, babe. You’re staying out until the bars close.”
“I’m pregnant, Addy. With twins.”
“Yes. You’re pregnant, not dead. And you’re not even waddling yet.”
“Ugh. I can’t even drink.”
Addy reaches across the table, grabbing Livia’s hand. “But you can dance and spend quality time with your friends and sister, which, by the way, you don’t do anymore because you’re too damn busy getting laid every single night. And I’m not begrudging you for it, because if I had a Gray I’d do the same thing, but damn girl…give your vajay-jay a break. Besides, Gray is out at his bachelor party tonight too, so it’s not like he’s waiting for you to mount him the second you step in the door.”
“Jesus, Addy,” Livia retorts.
I laugh hysterically. Addy is one of the funniest, most fiery people I’ve ever met. I swear she doesn’t give a rip what anyone thinks. I love it. The more time I spend with her, the more I like her. She is witty without alcohol, but with alcohol…watch the hell out. She’s off the rails. It will take a very strong man to tame her and I wish him luck. He’ll need it.
“Please,” Addy whines, sticking out her lower lip so far you could set a drink on it.
“Fine. Midnight. That’s it.”
“I’ll take it!” Addy beams like she’s won the lottery. “So, babe, how are you liking the city so far?” she turns, asking me.
“I love it.” I smile, genuinely meaning it. I absolutely love this vibrant city that’s so different from Detroit. Everyone I love is here. I’m beginning to stress about going back to Detroit after I’m done with the audit, because I can’t fathom being separated from Asher all week, week after week. After yesterday, I know I’m getting close to finding the culprit, so I may be done with the audit by mid-January at this rate. Sadness tries to settle around me, but a question lobbed my way pulls me back.
“Anyone special showing you around?” Kamryn asks.
Without meaning to, I look at Livia before answering and see the glitter in her eyes. She picks up her water, trying to smother the tugging smile. Of course, Addy latches onto that like a dog with a damn bone.
“Oh my God, there is, isn’t there? Who? Who?” She bounces up and down like a five-year-old who’s about to be handed a brand spanking new Barbie doll.
“I’m not sure I should say. I don’t even know where it’s going.” It’s not really a lie. I know exactly where I want this to go. Asher’s made it very clear he’s taking this seriously, even hinting at marriage for heaven’s sake, but he doesn’t know everything about me yet. I’m still doing the protect-the-heart dance, trying to convince myself not to get fully invested before all of my secrets are out in the open. I’ve failed at that task miserably.
“Is it someone at CFC? I mean, you probably don’t know many other people and Livia says you’re working yourself into the ground with that audit.”
Yep, dog with a bone.
“Addy, really, I don’t want to jinx it.”
“Asher runs CFC, right?” Addy looks to Livia for confirmation. She nods, not even trying to hide her smile this time. I throw her a sisterly glare that she’s all too familiar with. “Have you met him yet? He’s smoking hot, like every other Colloway. Daaauumm, I don’t know what their parents did to make such perfect masculine specimens, but I need to get me some of that.”
At the mention of Asher’s name, my poker face must fail me miserably, which doesn’t go unnoticed by the woman to my left who could easily make a living as an FBI or CIA agent.
“Fuck me. It’s Asher isn’t it? Oh. My. God. You have a Colloway brother too?” she screeches.
“Addy…”
“Holy hell, this calls for a celebratory shot.” Addy grabs the bottle of Patron that she insisted the waitress leave at our table and pours three glasses. My head is already buzzing from the one shot I’ve had and the three glasses of wine I consumed during our painting class in Addy’s studio earlier, which is how we started the night. I’m now the proud owner of a beautiful hand-painted canvas featuring water lilies in a pond. It’s actually pretty damn good if I say so myself.
“To hotness. May we each get a slice,” she announces before we throw our drinks back.
“And where exactly will you be looking for this slice of hotness?” a dark baritone voice drawls behind me, causing me to sputter.
I immediately recognize the owner.
I didn’t spend a lot of time talking to Luke, but his sexy drawl is definitely not something you forget. Ever. I may be in love with Asher, but I still appreciate male beauty, and Luke is its walking poster child. Just…wow.
When I turn around, I’m not surprised to see Gray, Asher, Conn, and a few other gorgeous men I don’t recognize walking toward us. What I am surprised at, however, is the heat that’s now volleying back and forth between Luke and Addy. He hasn’t taken his molten eyes from her for a single second. When I turn back to look at Addy, she’s gazing at him with the same fire in hers.
Huh.
“Addy,” he greets.
“Luke,” she replies a little breathlessly. Guess they know each other. I wonder how well?
He briefly looks at the nearly empty bottle on the table before his eyes snap back to hers. “How much have you had to drink?”
“Not really any of your business, hun.”
He steps around to the front of the booth, grabbing the bottle quicker than Addy can react. Laughing, he holds it out of reach while Addy yells and tries to pop up over the table to retrieve it.
“I think you’ve had enough.”
Oooohhhh. The sparks flying between these two are so hot I’m worried the booth we’re sitting in may catch fire. Asher and his brothers arrive at the table just in time to catch the good part of the show. I’m sitting on one end of the booth and Livia on the other, with Kamryn and Addy in the middle, so Asher and Gray have positioned themselves by us, respectively. Conn and the others stand back, talking to the waitress, presumably putting in an order.
“I paid for that, asshole. Put it back.”
“Not on your life, sweetheart.” Luke hands the bottle off to a man I don’t recognize, but is someone they walked in with. He then reaches in his front pocket and peels five twenties from a wad of cash, throwing them on the table. “Compensation.”
I glance over to see Livia and Gray watching the exchange with rapt fascination. Livia’s eyes are wide with surprise, but Gray’s are glittering with mirth, his lip curled into a smirk.
“Who the hell do you think you are? You do realize there’s more booze here, right? I mean, we are in a fucking bar. And who appointed you my keeper tonight anyway? Why are you guys even h—”
Addy continues to rant, unable to get out, while Luke watches on, pretending to be unaffected, except I’m not sure how Addy can miss the fire blazing higher and hotter in Luke’s eyes with each scathing word.
Like a good tennis match, I volley back and forth between the two. I think the tamer may have just arrived, complete with his bullwhip and chair. Except instead of a fancy tailcoat and top hat, this one brandishes worn black boots, a leather bomber, and faded jeans that mold to his body like they were made just for him.
Hmmm. Interesting.
“Dance with me,” Asher rumbles in my ear. I hear the beginnings of the sultry Rhianna singing “Skin” playing in the background. I want to stay and see how this little play is going to turn out, but as I look up into the blue eyes of the man who has brought me back to life again, I don’t hesitate to take the hand he’s offering, letting him lead me to the dance floor.
They say you can tell a man’s skill in the bedroom by how he dances. I don’t know who “they” are, and I don’t necessarily believe that’s true, because I’ve danced with some guys who the phrase “white man dancing” was coined after and they were good in bed.
Okay, good may be stretching it. Decent. They were decent.
But Asher? Holy balls. I can absolutely say that phrase is true…and not the “white man dancing” one. He dances like he fucks.
With intent.
With finesse.
With rhythm.
With all-consuming seduction.
As he grinds the length of his body into mine from behind, one hand firmly on my hips, the other running the length of my torso, he has me completely submerged in the sensual spell he’s expertly woven.
“You look so damn sexy, baby.” His soft lips brush the shell of my ear. His voice is gritty. Wicked. Full of longing.
I place a hand on his roaming one, moving it around to my lower stomach, right above the waistband of my dark jeans riding low on my hips. His hand slips under the hem of my sparkly brown halter-top, caressing my bare skin, before the tips of his fingers slide south underneath the denim.
Heat blooms between my legs and I moan, my head relaxing against his shoulder. People surround us, moving their bodies seductively to Rhianna’s suggestive words about stripping your clothes and liking it rough. I’m quite sure the dance floor is very visible from our booth, but I can’t find it within myself to give a damn who may be watching. I’ll be embarrassed later, I’m sure. But I’ll worry about that then.
“Christ, I want you, Alyse. Right here. Right now.”
I spin in his arms, drawing his dirty mouth to mine on a groan. “Yes,” I mumble against his wet lips, dragging his lower lip between my teeth before kissing him hard. He tastes like whiskey and mint. And sin. This is why I’ve never tried drugs. I have kind of an obsessive personality. Now that I’ve had a taste of Asher, he’s the drug I will never, ever give up.
Roughly palming my face, he angles my head just where he wants it and deepens the kiss. It’s brimming with urgency and dominance. I willingly acquiesce. Placing my hands on his waist, I press our bodies tightly together as he takes what he needs. Pulling back, he searches my eyes as if needing assurance and when I silently give it, he presses one last hard kiss to my lips before taking my hand, leading me through the sweaty, grinding bodies toward the back of the club.
Spotting a door halfway down the first hallway that says “Employees Only,” he pushes it open, pulling me inside behind him. I see him take a quick perusal before shoving me against the flimsy wood.
Alcohol and desire-glazed eyes holding mine, he makes short work of the stiff fabric that’s the only barrier to our mutual pleasure and seconds later, with my legs wrapped around his waist, he’s pushing roughly inside me.
“Fuuuck. I want to live inside your pussy,” he pants, pounding furiously, quickly chasing the heady rush we’ve both come to crave that can only be quenched with each other.
“Then do,” I counter, my breath whooshing out with each hard drive.
“This is mine.”
“I know.”
“Pinch your nipples, sweet Alyse.”
I comply with his demand. Pulling up my shirt and my bra cups down, I pinch and twist and knead, watching his dark pools grow darker, hungrier with each tweak.
“Hell yes. So hot.” Our eyes lock as he puts his thumb in his mouth, then reaches a hand between us, circling my clit with his wet digit. My eyes want to float closed, but I don’t want to shut the doors to my soul that only open for him. “I’m never letting you go. God I love you, Alyse. So fucking much.”
“I love you,” I pant, so close to the finish line I’m stretching to reach it.
“That’s it, baby. Come on me. I need to feel it.”
An intense climax hits me hard and fast, the euphoria of it firing through my bloodstream like a rocket fueled with nitrogen. I’m unable to keep my eyes from drifting shut or containing the broken wail that escapes as my pussy contracts around his stiff shaft. I know by the swell of his cock and pace of his hips he’s close behind.
“Ahhhh, baby…” He stiffens, his harsh cry chasing mine as he releases inside of me, the hot wash of his seed setting off another orgasm on the heels of the first. His body deliciously shudders against mine and I feel my walls pulsing, milking him dry.
“Alyse, Alyse, Alyse,” he pants repeatedly while we’re floating down from our sex-induced high. His forehead is pressed against mine, our ragged breaths mingling. My limbs feel warm and liquidy, my heart full and happy.
“I concur,” I chuckle.
“I’ll never get enough of you.”
“You may change your mind.”
“Never. You’re all I think about. I’m obsessed with you.”
“I like your form of obsession.”
Chuckling, he presses a soft, lingering kiss to my lips before withdrawing and tucking his still-impressive, semi-stiff arousal back into his jeans. Then he helps me up with mine. I would definitely need to make a bathroom stop.
“Why aren’t you guys at the strip club?” I tease, pushing his hands out of the way so I can finish putting myself back together. I had no idea what they were doing tonight and didn’t ask because I didn’t want to seem like the clingy, jealous girlfriend already. Deep inside I hoped it wasn’t that. No woman wants to know her man is getting an intimate lap dance by another beautiful naked woman, although they will almost certainly tell you she was a dog. Oh, and that she wasn’t completely naked.
Laughing, he grips my waist, pulling me to him. “Jealous?”
No need to deny it.
“No.”
But, no need to feed his big ego either.
“Yes, you are. Your eyes are a little green, right around the iris.”
I smirk, plucking at an imaginary fuzz ball on his fitted navy sweater. “Don’t transfer your jealously issues to me. I couldn’t care less if you have some classless whore rubbing her disease-ridden crotch on your lap.”
His entire body shakes with laughter. “Oh, Alyse. That mouth of yours.”
“You love it.”
His smoldering eyes hold mine as he leans down, a hairsbreadth from my kiss-swollen lips. “Yes. It’s very talented.”
I close the scant distance, showing him just how right he is.
______________
After cleaning up, I splash water on my face and skate over my disheveled appearance in the mirror, willing the just-fucked look away before I have to go back to join the group, who, no doubt knows what we slunk off to do.
I hear the door open. A look in the reflective glass shows me that Addy just walked in, or more like wobbled in, her high heels now becoming a dangerous weapon in her drunkenness. When she spots me, she winks and a shit-eating grin takes up the space where her beautiful mouth usually is.
Sauntering on unsteady legs, she meets me at the sink. I notice her eyes are unfocused. I wonder if she’s managed to get her hands on more liquor in the short time I’ve been gone or if it’s just the half-dozen shots that have finally caught up to her.
“So, you look…satisfied.”
I think I could deny it and she’d never remember, but what the hell. I am. Why deny it? “Very,” I retort. We both dissolve into a fit of giggles, reminiscent of my high school days.
“I like you, Alyse,” Addy slurs a bit.
“Feeling’s mutual, Addy. You all right?”
“I’m good.”
“Feeling no pain?”
Sadness briefly flashes across Addy’s face before she pastes on her happy one again. “Almost.” She turns and heads to a stall before I can say anything else. I decide to wait for her to make sure she’s okay.
Stepping outside the crowded ladies room, I walk a few steps back toward the club and lean against the wall, closing my eyes. Between the drinks and the sex, I’m suddenly feeling very tired and ready for bed, even though it can’t be even eleven yet.
A male voice calls my name and I open my eyes to see Cooper standing in front of me.
“Hi,” I say, surprised to see him here, hoping I don’t look like I just had a quickie. Damn he looks good in his khakis and blue flannel that’s rolled at the sleeves, hanging open over a fitted grey T-shirt. Every time I lay eyes on him, I travel back to almost eight years ago and it takes me a minute to catch my bearings.
“Hi yourself. What are you doing here?” He takes up position next to me, but keeps a respectable distance.
“I could ask you the same thing. Stalking me?”
He laughs. “If you weren’t already taken, I would most definitely be stalking.”
“Good to know you’re a criminal in training. Maybe I should cut ties with you right now.”
Hand over his heart, he says, “I promise I’m harmless. So, you here with your boyfriend?”
“Um, sort of. Bachelorette party for my sister, but the guys showed up a bit ago. I’m waiting on a friend in the bathroom who’s a little drunk. You?”
“Just another Saturday night on the prowl.”
Now it’s my turn to laugh. “Lucky her.”
“I hope so,” he chuckles and winks. “You free for lunch Monday? I can bring the contract. Promise I won’t forget this time.”
I think about my schedule and chance it. I can always cancel if Heather has meetings scheduled. “Yeah, that should work. Same time and place?”
“You got it. Say, I’m here with my cousin. The one I own the studio with. I’m sure he’d love to meet you. Do you have a couple of minutes?”
“Uh…” I’m saved from answering when two things happen simultaneously. I look up to see Asher striding at a clipped pace down the hallway toward me and when his eyes flick to Cooper standing beside me, he does not look happy.
I shake my head and grin, which appears to piss him off further.
At the same time Addy stumbles out of the bathroom, nearly falling when her heel catches and she loses her footing. Luckily Cooper is there to catch her before she face plants.
“Thank you,” Addy mumbles against Cooper’s chest.
Asher stops beside me as this whole scene unfolds, placing a possessive palm on my neck, yanking me close. “What’s taking you so long? I was worried about you,” he breathes against my cheek, eyeing Cooper the entire time.
“I was worried about Addy. She’s pretty drunk, so I waited for her to finish in the bathroom.”
“You smell good,” Addy tells Cooper loudly, her head hanging back as she loops her arms around his neck.
Cooper looks at me with a smirk, his eyes skipping to Asher briefly before landing back on mine. “Your friend?”
“I’m more than her friend, asshole,” Asher corrects gruffly, his grip tightening.
“For the love of Christ, he’s talking about Addy. Behave,” I hiss. “Yes,” I answer Cooper, while elbowing Asher. “Cooper, this is my boyfriend, Asher Colloway. Asher this is Cooper Jensen. He’s the photographer I hired for Gray and Livia’s wedding next weekend.”
“Nice to meet you, man. I’d shake your hand, but…they’re kind of full.”
“Yes, I see that. Nice to meet you, too.” Asher actually sounds sincere and I breathe a sigh of relief that this won’t turn into some knock-out brawl instigated by my irrationally jealous lover.
“You have beautiful lips,” Addy slurs, pressing hers against the curve of Cooper’s neck. “Kiss me,” I hear her mumble before Cooper laughs.
“Um, where should we take her?” Cooper asks, readjusting his grip on a slumping Addy. He looks amused and not one bit uncomfortable. But who would be with a stunningly beautiful woman in his arms, even if she doesn’t have all of her faculties about her at the moment.
“Kamryn’s driver bring you?” Asher asks me, kissing the tip of my nose.
“Yes.”
“Can you walk, Addy?” Asher leaves me, going to Addy’s side. He tries pulling her from Cooper’s arms, but even in her drunken state, or maybe because of it, she’s strong and clings to Cooper like she’d float away into space without him.
Cooper chuckles. “It’s okay, I’ve got her. Just show me the way.”
Asher nods, snaking an arm around my waist. Cooper and I exchange a knowing glance and wink before he follows us to our booth. About five feet away Luke notices what’s going on and jumps up to meet us. The look on his face is reminiscent of a jealous and possessive Asher.
“What the fuck,” he practically yells accusingly, taking Addy from Cooper’s arms. Cooper’s eyes shift between Addy and Luke, his jaw ticking furiously.
Uh oh. I smell testosterone.
“Just helping out. Maybe you shouldn’t let your girlfriend get falling-down drunk next time and go off to the bathroom by herself,” Cooper spits, his eyes flaring.
Uh oh. I smell a fight.
“He’s not my fucking boyfriend,” Addy tries saying, but it comes out more like, “Heeessss no me fuckn boooyfrn.” Addy then tries pushing out of Luke’s hold, reaching again for Cooper, but Luke hooks one hand under her knees and scoops her into his arms.
“Where’s her coat? I’m taking her home.” Luke’s hard glare never deviates from Cooper, just daring him to say another word. Cooper looks to me, calming slightly when I mouth, It’s okay.
Next thing I know Luke’s walking through the crowd, coat draped over Addy, who’s now snuggled into his chest, eyes shut.
“Well that was…interesting,” Cooper mumbles, his eyes following Luke’s back until he disappears around the corner.
Uh oh. I smell competition.
“So, Alyse, nice to see you. I need to get back to my cousin.” Cooper doesn’t wait for my reply before leaving. Nor does he wait for an introduction to the happy couple he’s going to be photographing for an entire day a week from now. And I’m secretly glad he doesn’t say anything about lunch before he makes his exit. There’s been enough drama tonight without adding to it by causing Asher to pound his chest, forbidding me to be alone in the presence of another man without a chaperone.
I take a seat in the booth, squeezing beside Libs and Asher. I casually watch Cooper retreat, stopping at a high-top table across the room, all the while thinking about the rightness of being with this wonderful man flush to me, arm slung around my shoulder, and how lucky I am to have found him again.
Watching Cooper talk to the man whose back is to me, but who I assume must be his cousin, I feel giddiness bubble inside at the thought that for the first time in years I’m hopeful to have a future that I didn’t think was ever possible.
I notice their heads close together and imagine Cooper’s probably giving him a play-by-play of the last ten minutes. I decide it’s finally time to come completely clean with Asher, shedding my armor, letting the ugly secrets of my past spill. While Asher’s managed to jackhammer much of my fortress, I want to demolish the rest myself. I’ll brace for the worst, but the truth is, I believe in Asher, so I’ll hope for the best.
As I absently watch Cooper, while I plan the right time to find all those damn keys so I can lay my soul bare to the man I’ve fallen in love with, I observe his cousin’s head slowly turn my way.
Our gaze violently collides.
My eyes narrow. My breath catches.
My entire world comes crashing to a screeching halt.
Everything I thought I knew to be true blows up like a nuclear bomb in my face, the fallout just as toxic and deadly.
Across a dark, crowded bar in Chicago, Illinois, almost eight years to the day, I lock eyes with the first man I loved, the man I gave my virginity to, the man I created life with.
The man I thought was dead.
Gears click soundly into place, the noise loud and deafening.
Doppelganger.
Cousins.
CB29 Studios.
Cooper. Beck.
Beck.
Time rewinds.
I hear the horrific sounds of metal crunching.
I feel the pain of broken bones and glass slicing open my fragile skin.
I sense warm blood running in rivulets down my face, into my eyes.
I hear screaming. Mine.
I hear silence. Beck’s.
Tightly woven memories blanket me until there is nothing but darkness.