“Heaven’s boyfriend. Now, go away,” Axel’s demand is the sexiest thing I’ve seen, so far.
“If I don’t?” Curtis spits. He puffs out his chest, trying to appear unimpressed with Axel’s size.
“Then I will tell you like I told your daughter and her fiancé last night, I’m tired of you all fucking with her and my vacation. It’s really starting to piss me off. You don’t want to go there with me. I’m the last person you want as an enemy.”
Axeldidsay something to them. My heart rate increases. That’s so fucking hot.
“Is that a threat?” Curtis challenges with his hands on his hips.
Axel snarls at him with his blue eyes blazing. “No, it’s a dare, motherfucker.” He gets into Curtis’ face. “Please try me and find out what happens.”
No, THAT is the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. I wiggle in my seat and Latoya gives me a knowing look. Keri’s head swivels from side to side like she’s watching the best tennis match ever.
Bodhi appears before Curtis can respond. “Sir, if I may interject, please don’t let your pride be your downfall. I see it happen in movies all the time. Please take what he says at face value.” He places a hand on Curtis’ arm. “Let me take you back to your party. I’ve known him long enough to know he means it.”
Curtis turns the Bodhi. “You would let some brute attack me in your hotel?”
Bodhi shook his head. “Sir, he never planned to hit you, but if you get on his bad side, you will wish he had.”
Axel
The bar is teeming with patrons, everyone was excited to celebrate their Friday night. I’ve been here a few times only due to its proximity to my favorite resort and one of my friends. I’m well aware that this is one of those tourist spots the locals try to avoid. I’m in the middle. I’m not a native, and I’m not a tourist. I’d lived here for a few years when I was building my surfing business. I had a native girlfriend and bonded with the local surfers. Bodhi is one of them. It’s been his dream to climb up the hotel industry. He overdoes the ‘Mr. Behr’ stuff when I visit. It was a joke at first, then he’d just gotten used to saying it. I’ve even threatened to start ordering an Airbnb or buy a home in Hawaii just to avoid him, but we both know, I like the convenience of staying at the resort.
I push my way through the crowd beelining to Mara. She’s the head bartender and owner ofAloha,and I know my drinks will be good and strong. I grip Heaven’s hand to keep her from getting lost in the crowd. She’s clutching Latoya’s hand and Latoya has Keri’s. We chain our way to some reserved seats.
“Ax! You sonofabitch!” she greets me. “I thought that was your extra-tall ass coming this way.” She moves all 5’3” of her body around the bar and jumps me in a bear hug. She’s surprisingly strong for her size.
Mara pushes an inky bang out of her eye as she assesses the train of linked hands behind me. “Well, well, AX...you never was a ladies’ man, so how did you manage this?”
I wave her off. “Mara, this is Heaven. Yes, you heard me right.” I laugh at her big eyes. “This is Heaven and her best friends Latoya and Keri. It’s their last night here, and I’d promised to take them to the best bar in town.”
I watch as the ladies take turns greeting each other.
“Alright, Mara, in honor of their last night here, we need double shots of your best stuff,” I yell over the music.
“Alright, big spender. Coming up. Have a seat.”
We take our places in front of the most sought-after area of the bar. Mara slides us our drinks. Our glasses clink together when we tap them in ‘cheers.’ I kick back my drink; the brown liquor warms my insides and calms some of my raw nerves. Hearing that asshat threaten Heaven rattled me more than it should’ve. I have only known her a few days, yet my protectiveness extends far beyond ‘pretend boyfriend.’ I wanted to strangle him so bad that it took the rest of dinner, the short walk to the bar, and the shot to return me to my normal demeanor.
It’s not something I want to explore right now. No, right now, I just want to be wrapped up in Heaven’s presence and drool over how sexy she is in her outfit. I’d strongly contemplated dragging her back upstairs the moment my eyes landed on her. The second-skin ripped jeans, exposed belly, and hella cleavage is a visual overload. I want her naked. I need her naked.
The feeling is overwhelming, and I must dosomething. Mara gives us a single, and I knock it back.
“Time for karaoke,” I announce like I run the evening. I am by no means a singer, but it doesn’t make it any less fun. Besides, most of the crowd is already drunk. I put my name and song on the list because I’m feeling sentimental andserenadey.
The DJ calls my name the moment I hit ‘submit.’ I guess no one has signed up to brave the stage yet. I pop up on the stage and take the mic. The girls giggle as they push their way to the front, wielding recording cell phones.
“This is a song for my girlfriend, Heaven,” I say pointing at Heaven. I grin when her face reddens.
Bazzi’sMinestarts to play. Hey, why not? If I’m going to be a fake boyfriend I’m going to be the best damn fake boyfriend of all time. I use the explicit lyrics because I can. I’m pulling her on stage, by the time I hit the chorus because I want to touch her body while I sing about it. She giggles in my arms while the other two record their lives away. With my luck, it will be on TMZ by the time I wake up, but I don’t care. I overly sell the second verse by kneeling in front of her before I walk around and hug her from behind.
Heaven is a good sport and grooves with me the rest of the song. I’m rounding the last sentence when I notice that the wedding party has arrived and is now filling the once empty reserved section to the right of the stage. Ashely sneers as usual, and I pray she doesn’t start shit and fuck up my night. I will eliminate all of them if that happens.
I dip her in a dramatic movie kiss when the song ends. The drunkards cheer and start to chant Heaven’s name. I pass her the mic. She shakes her head at me, but a smile plays on her lips. She whispers a song to the DJ and shortly after Fefe Dobson’sJoybegins to play.
I raise a brow at her. She likes rock music. Good to know. She’s pretty good, better than average, but not a superstar. Now, I’m cheesing because this song is mushy as hell. Not to mention all the talk about taking pleasure in my body. I plan on giving her all the pleasure she craves tonight. Her stage presence is amazing. She has the crowd singing along and clapping with her as if they paid to see her in concert. I catch Ashley’s movements in my peripheral. She’s saying something to the DJ as we leave the stage. I know for a fact she’s about to start some shit.
We get back to the bar where Mara has fresh drinks waiting. It’s her own secret tropical concoction; it’s delicious. She won’t share the ingredients with me, but I’m positive there’s fresh-juiced pineapple in it.
