Hip hop music blared from every speaker in the house. Guests filled the dance floor which was placed strategically in what looked like it was used as the main living room. Bodies grooved and gyrated to the beat. Couples, singles, and groups…everyone who was anyone was there. Typical private house party, and she actually preferred this scene to the nightclubs in the city.

Zaira took another sip of her Cosmo and moved her hips in tune with the music, alongside her friend, Pam.

“Your man is fenced in over there,” Pam said, tilting her chin in the direction behind them.

“My man? You mean Trent?” Zaira turned, but the floor was so packed with people that she lost sight of most everything.

“Yeah, he’s a ladies man, isn’t he?

Zaira shook her head. “First of all, he’s not my man. We came here together, though.”

“As a date?” Pam giggled. “Come on, girl. We saw the way he looked at you at Drew’s house party the other night. You went home with him that night too. I know y’all did something.”

“Whatever. We did nothing.” Zaira shrugged. “Men look at women in that way. It’s in their nature.”

“You are such a liar! So, is it true?” Pam leaned in closer and whispered, “Does he fuck like a porn star?”

Zaira’s temperature escalated and she took another sip of her cocktail and exhaled. “You know what? I’m done talking about this. Let’s go see what Trinity is up to.”

Pam craned her neck again in the same direction as before and narrowed her eyes. “You might want to go get your man. He’s a fucking chick magnet and the hoes have already begun to swarm like flies.”

“I’m not worried about that.”

“You sure?”

“I’m sure, but hold my drink. I’ll catch up with you later.” Zaira handed Pam the cocktail, turned around and headed in Trent’s direction.

The women dancing in front of him, blatantly flaunting themselves didn’t see her coming, but Trent did. His back was flat against the wall and it seemed he was making no move to accept the dancing women’s invitation. He lifted the Heineken and took a long sip, catching Zaira’s gaze from over the bottle.

“Excuse me.” Zaira passed through the three women and said, “I’ll take over from here.”

They all looked confused and then pissed as they rolled their eyes and walked off.

Zaira smiled and slid her hand into his. “It looks like you’re done talking with your R.R. brother.”

“Yeah, I am. Sorry about that. It was about business affairs,” Trent said, pulling her against his chest.

“No apologies,” she said. “If you haven’t noticed, I’m not the clingy type.”

“I noticed.”

“Well we came to party, so are you just gonna stay posted up on the wall all night?” she teased.

“I’ll take your lead,” he replied.

The music pulsed through her body and she swayed her hips to the music. His eyes cast appreciative glances at her body.

“Come on. Dance with me,” she urged.

Trent grinned and pulled her in closer. “I’ve never been all that good of a dancer. You dance. I’ll watch.”

Zaira felt like Trent’s own private dancer as she moved her body against his in rhythm with the beat. He’d probably not let her forget this night. He seemed to have a knack for remembering their most intimate and deepest encounters. At this moment, she couldn’t help herself. Everything here tempted her to bring out this side of her. The words of the song. The company of all the people at the party. The warmth of the man in front of her.

His eyes burned through her like liquid passion. Her veins filled with hot desire. Her aggression was fueled by the hard-on he sported. His hard dick felt good against her ass as she ground up against it.

Trent grabbed her hip with his free hand, pulling her in a little closer. His lips brushed against her neck and he whispered, “Crossing the line a little, aren’t we?”

She turned around to face him. “Are we in a challenge now to see who will cross the line first?”

His gray eyes sparked and it reminded her of the light cast by the chandeliers hanging from the ceiling in the ballroom.

“I’d cross the line in a heartbeat, Zaira. All you have to do is say that one little word,” he said, moving her hair away from her neck and kissing her there. “Maybe we might make it to a bed and maybe we won’t.”

She gasped as Trent’s hand snaked up her thigh and under her skirt. “I—”

“Trent, my man. Is that you?”

They parted and turned to see a blond-headed male stranger walking up toward them.

“Aaron, hey,” Trent greeted him. “Long time no see, man.”

“Dude.” Aaron said, as they gave each other daps. “Weren’t you planning on moving back to Virginia with your Pops? Are you even still living in the city?”

“I’ve got ties to Atlanta too believe it or not, so yeah, I’m still here.” Trent cleared his throat and pressed his palm lightly to her back. “This is Zaira.”

“Nice to meet you.” Aaron grinned and his gaze shifted quickly over her and then back to Trent. “New girlfriend?”

“We—”

“—We’re friends,” Zaira said. “Nice to meet you.”

“Well, then…” Aaron replied. “There’s a poker game going on in the basement. The prize pool is pretty big right now. I was headed back that way before I saw you. You down?”

“Ah…” Trent shifted from foot to foot next to her and ran his hands through his hair. “I haven’t played for money like that in forever.”

“Come on, just like old times,” Aaron urged. “Zaira, you play any?”

Zaira was caught off guard when Trent’s friend turned the question on her. “Um, well a little. I’m not an expert. Not like you and Trent anyway.”

Aaron chuckled. “Have you ever seen this guy in action on the card table?”

“I…um…” Zaira met Trent’s gaze. “Trent has taught me a few tricks of the game. Of course, we were just playing. Never anything serious.”

“Honey, you oughta see him. You don’t know the real Trent Stone unless you’ve seen him doing what he does best,” Aaron replied.

Trent chuckled nervously. “Don’t try to flatter me. If you haven’t noticed, I was a bit busy.”

Aaron nodded. “Yeah, I bet you were.”

“You know what…” Zaira replied. “Don’t let me keep you from the card game.”

“Zaira?” Trent replied indifferently.

“No, let’s go.” She took his hand in hers. “I want to watch.”

Trent smiled and they maneuvered the crowds to get down to the basement level.

Zaira had to admit that she missed them hanging out together like this. Trent was always especially happy when he was doing what he loved the most. She knew that to be a fact.