The women chatted and, soon enough, a waiter had brought over the drinks. I sat back, merely observing for a while, listening to the Caribbean songs that were blasting through the speakers. That night just so happened to be Caribbean night at the club. Soon, Tori and Gabby were up dancing to the rhythm.
“I’m gonna go down and find a honey dip to dance up on,” Jamal commented, standing and giving Jay and me some dap before leaving.
I noticed Chanel stand up and join Tori and Gaby dancing.
“Babe, we’re going down to dance on the floor,” Tori told Jason.
“Not without me, you ain’t,” he grunted. “That ass only shakes for me,” he told her, pulling his wife to him.
“Then let me shake this ass for you on the dance floor,” Tori purred, pulling Jason behind her.
“Shit, I’m not staying here while y’all shake your asses. I came to dance too,” Gabby began, behind Tori and Jason.
Chanel made a move to follow her friend, but I stepped in between them.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey?” I scoffed. “I thought you had other plans tonight.” Chanel didn’t owe me an explanation. I wasn’t her man or anything, but damn. I didn’t even know why I was pressing her so hard. Normally, if a woman I’d asked out told me she was busy and I ended up seeing her out somewhere else, I would’ve cut my losses. For some reason, it hadn’t occurred to me to do that here.
“Class was canceled. The instructor got sick, so Gabby suggested coming here. I agreed.”
Her explanation sounded plausible enough, but the fact she hadn’t thought of me when her class was canceled pissed me off. I peered down at her, looking into her eyes for the truth. Stepping closer, so that her back was against the railing, I wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her into me.
“When you gonna quit playing games?” I asked, low in her ear. I was satisfied when I noticed goosebumps rise on her skin. The skin I wanted to lick right there and then.
“I’m not playing any games. That’s the truth.”
“You have my number. You could’ve called me when your plans changed.”
“I figured you had made plans by then.”
“But you didn’t call to verify. And then showed up at my club to dance on some other niggas.”
She sighed, pushing hair behind her ear, but remained silent.
“Since you came to dance, let’s dance,” I insisted, pulling back, but grabbing her hand to make sure she didn’t dip off somewhere. I felt a little resistance as we made it down the stairs where the rest of the patrons were, sweaty and dancing hard to the sounds of Rihanna’s “Work.” I pulled Chanel in front of me to my chest. I gripped her hips from behind. “Show me what you got,” I teased.
“Xavier,” her voice was breathless.
“Nah, don’t chicken out now. You came to dance and I ain’t letting none of these other clowns up in here dance on you. Show me what’s up.”
I could feel her resistance withering as her hips started making tiny circles. Eventually, the music must have gotten to her, because soon enough, she started winin’ that thang like a pro. When she tilted her head to look back at me, I knew she’d begun feeling herself. Shit, I even found myself a little off-balance as she threw it back, but I’d be damned if I was about to look like Drake’s ass, unable to keep up with a wine. I gripped her hips, rubbing up on her backside even when she sped up the pace as the music morphed into Rihanna’s “Pour it Up.” By now she was feeling it, raising one arm to my neck to anchor herself to me. I happily obliged, letting her show me her skills.
I don’t know how many songs we danced to, but I kept her close to me throughout the night. I meant what I said about not letting anyone else touch her.
“Goddamn, you two are hot as hell to watch,” I heard shouted over the music, and looked up from Chanel’s vibrating ass to see Gabby grinning at us.
I laughed.
“Yo, Chanel, I’m about to head out,” she gestured behind her where a tall dude was standing.
Chanel’s eyebrows rose. “You sure? Wait, you drove. How am I gonna get home?”
“Xavier—?”
“I got you,” I told Gabby before she could even ask me to give Chanel a ride home.
“Great.” She winked at Chanel, who I’m sure was giving her the stink-eye. I couldn’t see because her hair had fallen over the side of her face. “Later, girl.” Gabby turned and grabbed the dude’s hand, leaving us.
