Once his breath laced the skin beside my ear, I giggled. Thoughts of how he licked my pussy until I could no longer breathe replayed. I hurried to store his number, hoping to spin the block again. Noah walked away, and I fanned myself before I reconnected with Tracy.
“Houstonnnnn, Let’s Go,”I quoted as Icey’s EP played in the background.
For thirty minutes, the DJ played back-to-back hits, leaving me no other choice but to dance. Lights flashed by the door, drawing my attention, but I couldn’t see who entered. Tracy and I had migrated to the back of the venue to catch our breath. This party was a complete vibe.
A finger tapped my shoulder. I turned to find Alex smiling at me. I quickly extended my arms, pulling her into a hug, squeezing her tight. She left at the end of my second year at Midwest Records.
“Hey, sandwich girl,” I whispered in her ear, and we burst into laughter.
“Shout out to Marquise. Bring that chip back to L.A.,” the DJ announced as he lowered the music, and my body stiffened.
Alex’s eyes narrowed as she read the panicked expression on my face. I opened our thread and texted.
Me
You cannot be serious right now.
When he didn’t answer, I scanned the bar and front door.
“I’m big serious. Let’s go,” Marquise whispered into my ear from behind.
Peeking over my shoulder, I found his anger-filled eyes. I faced him, scanning his attire. He dressed the part with a gold grill and rope chain to match. Something about the bold but flashy parts of him sent my heartbeat into overdrive. He nodded his head toward the door, but I remained frozen in place.
“You can walk out the door or I’ll carry you. As always, the choice is yours,” he said with his hands on my waist.
My mouth parted, but no words exited until Marquise kneeled, and I blurted, “okay!”
He tangled our hands, moved us through the crowd, and out the front door.
Sitting on the passenger side of his hellcat, I seethed with anger. He drove in silence as he shifted gears back to the condo. Atthe speed he drove, we made it back to the parking garage in a matter of minutes. He parked, but he wouldn’t unlock the doors. Marquise slid his hand under my thigh and pulled me to him, leaving no space between us. The assertiveness sent a tingling sensation to the wrong part of my body, my pussy.
The heat from his mouth landed on my ear as I stared in the opposite direction.
“I’m over here, Erin.”
I shifted my gaze to him, finding his intense brown eyes and full lips.
“Bestie, let’s not have this conversation again,” he warned.
I tried moving away, but he stopped my motion, placing his arm around my midsection.
“Erin.”
Marquise placed the tip of his nose behind my ear. He stroked the side of my waist with his thumb, sparking a fire between us. The more I inhaled his bold but spicy cologne, my heart thumped against my chest. Shifting my gaze, I focused on the remaining cars in the empty parking places.
“Erin, I want your attention.”
His words brushed the side of my face. I squirmed away after avoiding his lips grazing my skin. Marquise’s hand traveled up my body, cupping my chin, reverting my attention back to him. Our eyes locked in on each other, leaving me no escape.
“I was at work connecting with people.”
“You got time for everyone else, but not for me? Erin, I know what happens at those parties. Did you drink anything?” he asked.
“I know better than to drink. This is not my first time at an industry party,” I defended.
Working around music producers and artists, I learned how to take care of myself. I’d witnessed people lace drinks and there were times I’d saved young women from predators. Midwestthreatened to let me go but I didn’t care. Someone needed to look out for those women.
“Don’t go to another one unless I’m with you,” he said.
