He pulls his car keys out of his pant pocket. “Leave that up to me,” he says with a grin, then leads me towards the elevator.
44.
Iclose my eyes and move my body to the pounding drumbeats booming throughout the club. The local rock band playing live here tonight is really good, and the vocalist’s voice, paired with the lyrics of the songs he’s performing, are helping me let loose after the stress of seeing my mom earlier. The nap I’d taken hadn’t done shit for me, but this music – it’s fucking working.
The thump of feet jumping around me joins the electric tunes of the guitar being played, and the smell of deodorant, mixed with body odor, fills the packed space. It’s not exactly my ideal place to indulge in, but tonight, I need it – need the sweat that’s coating my skin, the dizziness that comes with dancing without reserve. I feel alive; almost weightless against the overpowering music.
My feet are aching already, but it’s only because of the nude stilettos I’ve got on, that work so damn perfectly with my red, thigh-length cocktail dress and beige clutch that I just couldn’t resist the urge of putting them on.
I step away from the group of people around me and look at the bar area to my left. There, with a drink in hand and two of his friends beside him, is Colton. I’d caught his eye the second I’d enteredAurea Vistaa few minutes ago, and despite him having checked me out more than once in that short period of time, he hasn’t acted on it, or even approached me yet.
I suck in a surprised breath when a pair of demanding hands cup my waist, seconds before I’m pushed further into the thick crowd. My back presses against a hard chest, and then, I feel the warmth of his breath on my neck.
“My, my, Little Swan; what’s gotten into you tonight?” he all but purrs. “Dancing with strangers like this, giving them a show of what’smine.” He drags the tip of his nose over the shell of my ear. “Inadmissible, don’t you think?” His hands move higher, and he flicks the top of my dress down to cup my breasts, making me gasp.
“Dorran, there arepeoplearou–”
“You didn’t think much about that when you were shaking your pretty little ass in their midst,” he says. His tone sounds casual rather than accusatory, which sets me at ease.
I glance around, and realize that no one is actually noticing us. They’re too busy dancing or making out or singing along with the band.
“Is this your way of staking your claim – by grabbing my tits in a full-house club?”
He chuckles. “Oh, sweetheart, I don’thaveto stake my claim on you anymore. You belong to me, plain and fucking simple.” He pushes me back against him further, then kneads my breasts between his fingers.
I swallow and relax into him, and when he starts kissing my neck and shoulder, I exhale shakily and say, “Colton is here.”
He stops what he’s doing. “I know.”
“He’s checked me out a few times but hasn’t made a move yet.”
He hums. “Has he, now?” He discreetly fixes my dress, and when I turn around to look at him, I have to hold in a breath as I give him a once over.
Dorran’s wearing a white vest, a black leather jacket, and his signature faded jeans and dark boots. His hair is a ruffled mess of curls, and the angles of his face are edged out against the bold lights in the club.
“Wow,” I whisper, then clear my throat and repeat myself. “Wow.”
He laughs. “So easily pleased.”
“Only because it’syou, dumbass.”
He laughs again. “Andrefined.”
I roll my eyes and look away from him, only to find Colton excusing his friends’ company to head to the bathroom.
“Dor–”
“Follow him,” Dorran orders. “Distract him. I’ll get the crew and join you in a minute.”
I nod, and make to leave, but he grabs me by the wrist and pulls me to him again. “Also, you look unholy as fuck in this red dress, Cignette.” He gives me a chaste kiss. “Just thought I’d tell you that.”
I smile and kiss him back, then step away from him. “I can’t wait for you to take it off me later,” I tell him.
He grins. “I’ll make a show of it for you,” he muses.
I chuckle and shake my head, then turn around and push through the crowd in order to make it to the bathroom.
45.
