Chapter Three
The club is crowded, but we have our own little section reserved for our group. I was right about all the bridesmaids being completely different than I am and all of them seem hell bent on making sure everyone on social media knows what we’re doing. I’ve dodged most of the pictures, but my sister did manage to get a couple before we started dancing.
Alcohol is coming to us in an endless cycle and I’ve not missed a single rotation. My reservations about tonight have slipped away with each drink and I’m now smack in the middle of the dance floor, not caring about a single person around me.
I feel a hard body invade the space behind me, grinding on my ass as I’m pulled flush against him. A strong arm comes around and brushes over the front of my dress. We continue to move with the music while his hand begins to get lower and this is when I get smart enough to put a stop to it. I feel his face next to mine, so I turn to see the man with the moves.
“Mr. Darkness. I should’ve known.” I turn fully around and put a gap between us on the dance floor just as Max comes to my rescue. I hold a hand up and then speak into Max’s ear.
“I’ll dance with him. Just watch and make sure he doesn’t get out of control.”
I attempt to move freely… with at least a foot of space between the two of us, only to have him pull me against his body again, surrounding me with his scent.
“You aren’t where you said you’d be.” He speaks against my face just as the song changes to a slow one.
“Yeah, so sue me.” I pull my head back, purposely putting some space between us again.
“Are you always this defiant?” He leans over me, taking away the gap I just attempted to create.
“Who says I’m being defiant? In case you haven’t noticed, I answer to no one.” His smile is as if he’s challenging my words. There’s no doubt he’s not used to anyone talking back to him.
“So you call me Mr. Darkness?”
“Yes. I don’t know your real name.”
“Why don’t you just ask me?”
“I’m not interested.” His laughter surprises me. He has a sexy laugh… or I’m drunk and imagining things, either is a possibility at this point.
“Right. Neither am I.” He swings me around in some fancy dance move; I have no choice but to let him lead with his strength.
“I can tell. Are you the one emailing me too?”
“Possibly. Are you Camille Richards?” He twirls me once again, l land against his chest with an awkward thud.
“Yes.”
“I like how you called a job prospect from a phone I gave you.”
“I like how you have multiple numbers like a criminal.”
“When you work in the crazy industry I do, you like to have options. Sometimes I want my privacy and no distractions.” That’s something I can respect. I would want to have a phone I carry that only the important people knew about. Not that I should be in that category for him.
“What makes you think I’m the one you want for this project?” That damn smirk again. I swear he’s doing it on purpose.
“Call it a hunch.” I barely hear his response when I see my sister and her friends dancing just over his shoulder. They’re out of it even more than I am, swaying around like they’re in some drug induced high. “Let me buy you a drink.”
“Is this what you ask all the women just before you put them on a leash?” His deep chested laughter vibrates against my hardened nipples, making them even more sensitive.
“Are you bothered by the leash, Camille?”
“Yes.”
“What if I told you it’s one of her fantasies and I just helped her play it out?”
“Then I’d tell you she’s fucked up.” He simply nods with a small smile and looks at me even closer, like he’s trying to see through me.
“What’s one of your fantasies, Camille?”
“I don’t have any.”
“That’s a shame.” He slides a finger across my jawline. “I could take you places you’ve never imagined.”
“What makes you think it wouldn’t be me taking you places?”
“Fair enough. I’d love to find out.” He moves us around the dance floor. His playful dips and moves are almost a bit too much with this much alcohol.
“Is this how it’ll be working with you if I take the job?”
“No. I’m very serious when it comes to work. You’ve caught me on my day off.” The song changes to a sultry, sexy song and the mood shifts on the entire dance floor. His dancing becomes more of a grinding, our sweaty bodies move as one while he wraps me up in his arms, making me forget that I’m supposed to be pushing him away.
I don’t ask him what he’s doing? I don’t try to leave him standing here. I let him move against me and put pressure on places that haven’t been touched in a very long time.
His eyes are pulled from mine just before he stands me on my own and walks away in a hurry. I adjust my focus and see a commotion on the dance floor just where my sister was a bit ago. People crowding the area makes it nearly impossible for me to get through, but when I do I see Max and Mr. Darkness in a mix of at least four other men, all of them throwing punches. I scan the area for my sister and her friends, finding them huddled up and upset.
“What’s going on?”
“Those guys pinned us in and wouldn’t back off. Max had to step in.” I turn back and see security pulling Max off two of the other guys, while Mr. Darkness stands over the others sprawled out across a broken table. “Holy shit. This is bad.” My sister tucks her arm under mine and quickly sobers up. “We should get out of here. We can wait in the limo.”
“Yes, go. I’ll make sure Max doesn’t catch any shit for helping you girls. I’ll meet you out there as soon as I can.”
I’m surprised when Mr. Darkness starts barking orders to everyone around. “Ban them from all of my establishments. Get the lawyers to nail them for the damages.” He’s adjusting his cuffs again, pulling my attention to his hands. Was that a bit of ink on his arm that I just saw? I’ve never noticed how sexy a well-dressed man can be until him. “Get this man here a towel and make sure the women involved all make it to their car.” He points to Max and people begin to rush to his aid.
Mr. Dark and Mysterious now has my full attention as I watch him control the situation and bark orders like he owns the place. He’s angry and the second his eyes meet mine; he begins to prowl toward me.
“You alright?” He asks me as if I’m the one who just came out of a six-man fight.
“Yes, but shouldn’t I be the one asking you?”
“I’m fine. I’m taking you home. Let’s go.” He grabs my hand and starts to walk away, but I stop him.
“I have a ride, thank you.”
“Camille, I need to get out of here. I can’t deal with all these fucking people around us. Can you please just let me take you home so I can rest knowing you made it home safely.” He looks more than frustrated and I can tell by his face that he’s about to lose his shit here.
“The limo will take me home. If you feel like you need to make sure I’m safe, you can follow.” I yank my wrist out of his grip and lead the way outside. I’m not leaving with a stranger. No matter how much he’s made me question my own standards all day.
He’s on my heels and opens the limo door before I have the chance to. We’re welcomed with drunk screaming and slurs only making all of this more awkward. “I’ll follow you home.” I slide in the limo and he closes the door behind me.
“Holy fuck, Sis. Who was that?”
“I think he’s the owner of the club.” I leave it simple. I already know the questions are coming just from the way we acted on the dance floor. But luckily, Carli gives me my space and doesn’t attack me with anything… yet, but I know it’s coming.
“Well, I’m glad he jumped in to help Max. Those guys were terrible.” I look out the window and see Max and Mr. Darkness talking before he begins to drive us. I’m very thankful that I’m the first stop and I hate myself for smiling when I look behind us and see that we’re being followed.
I’m twisted and fucked up, but what he did tonight to help Max, may have just made me want to think twice about his advances.
It only takes us a few minutes to get to my door. Max opens the door and I look behind the car expecting to see someone there, but instead his car catches my eye as he drives past the entrance to my apartment. I shouldn’t feel disappointed, but I do.
I’m in my room, pulling off my heels when Mr. Darkness sends a text to his own phone.
Mr. Darkness: Lock your door.
Me: I already did.
Mr. Darkness: Goodnight, Camille.
Me: Night… whoever you are.