“Fuck.” I head to the bar and wave down the bartender, asking for a bottle of water. He can’t hide the admiration in his eyes as he returns with what I asked for, but I’m so wrapped up in how Holden made me feel that I don't engage with him. Not getting any interest in return, he walks away to serve someone else.
“Holy shit!” Hope flings herself at me, coming out of nowhere. I haven’t seen her for a while, having lost her to her own dance partner while I was wrapped up in Holden. “I feel like I need a change of panties just from watching the two of you. I almost had a visual orgasm,” she babbles, a huge grin on her face as she fans her hand against it. I roll my eyes at her, but she's not wrong, and it leaves me even more conflicted and confused. Not to mention severely determined to ignore that my new friend just saw her bestie’s hand playing up my skirt.
I’m supposed to be going to Hawaii with Kai this weekend, and I’m pretty sure it’s not a brother/sister bonding experience. I wonder how he would feel if he knew his brother just brought me to orgasm on the dance floor. Hope must see the anxiety in my eyes because she steps close and pokes a finger into my chest.
“Now you listen here, missy. I can just see by the look on your face that you’re conflicted by what happened. Seriously, just Elsa it.”
“Huh?” I’m not sure if it’s me or the tequila or both, but I definitely am not following.
“You know, let it go.” Oh, of course, a Disney reference.
“I told you this before. You don't know that any of them would be upset about the others. If they shared a relationship with one woman, that woman would have the attention of six men, someone always able to make up for whenever another is missing or fucks up or is an asshole. With these boys, all of the above isguaranteedto happen. Harlow, this could be a fucking fantastic thing, and I don’t know if it’s the shots or if it’s just that you already seem like such an amazing person to me. Okay, it’s probably both, but Holden and any or all of the rest of those boys would besolucky to have you! Everyone else would let them get away with their shit, and that’s not doing anyone any good.”
I shake my head, all of this getting a tiny bit too real right now. “I don’t…” She holds her hand up to my face, it waving slightly but finally managing to cover my lips.
“Nope, just think about it, okay? If it was me with the opportunity to have a harem, I’d be all over that like bees on honey. If I got the opportunity to see…” She trails off, looking wistful, likes she thinking of somebody or maybe a few somebodies in her past, but then she sways and shakes her head before returning her focus to me. “Never mind.” She jumps slightly and pulls her phone out of her bra. “Oh hey, your ride is here.”
“Okay. I got to pee and clean up first, then I’m out of here. What about you? Are you coming with?”
“Oh no, I’m going to find that couple I was dancing with and see if I can convince them to take me home for the night.” I raise my eyebrows and laugh as she waggles her tongue at me.
“Well, okay then, have fun.” I lean in and give her a hug and a kiss on the cheek before I reach directly into her bra. Her eyes widen at my move, a harsh swallow following next. Not able to hold in my laughter, I pull my coat check ticket out and wave it at her, sending her into an almost startled giggle.
Taking my bottle of water with me, I make my way to the back of the club in search of the bathrooms. I pass a booth on the way, and Holden is there surrounded by the band, the group having an intense conversation. As I walk by he lifts his head, so I wave and mouthI’m going. Frowning, he nods before continuing his conversation.
By the time I make it out of the bathroom and get my stuff from the coat check, I’m feeling bad for the driver. The poor man’s probably already worried that I skipped out on him, so I hurry away from the coat check girl, a smile on my lips as I head outside, thinking of the appreciation she graced me with again. It’s a balmy warm night, and the limousine parked in front has Neighpalm on the number plate. I make my way over to the driver who is standing by the back door.
“Miss Harlow?” the guy asks, and he opens the door to the back seat with my answering nod. I slide in, and he’s about to close it behind me when I hear a voice call after me.
“Wait up!”
Turning to look back, I can see Holden running toward the vehicle. “Thanks, Dan. I was going to stay in town, but if you’re taking Harlow home, I might as well catch a ride.”
“No problem, Mr. Summers.”
Holden slides into the car next to me, and I move over slightly to make room as the driver closes the door and makes his way to the front. The privacy screen is up between us, leaving Holden and me in a little space that belongs only to us. Closing my eyes, partly from exhaustion and partly to escape the residual sexual tension that’s still floating between us, I lean my head back against the seat. Unfortunately, it doesn’t help much since I can still feel his eyes on me.
“Are you okay, Mistress?” Holden asks quietly, and a smile crosses my mouth. “Was… all of that, back on the dance floor, okay?”
“Yeah,” I reply quietly, opening my eyes and finding his intense gaze on me like I expected. Leaning forward, I pull down the hidden zipper on my boots and slide them off my feet, a happy sigh leaving my mouth. Then I pull the wig off my head, groaning as I run my fingers through my own strands. “I’m tired and my feet are sore, but they’re better now,” I explain, leaning back again. I am totally OK with not discussing the dance floor right now. I won’t hide from it forever, but right now, I want to just bask in some post-orgasm bliss and enjoy having these damn boots off.
He reaches down and grabs a foot, shuffling me so that he can put it into his lap. His thumb presses into the arch, pushing hard, and a moan slips from my mouth.
“Oh God.”
“No, just Holden, even Den if you want. No need to call me God.” His fingers continue to massage my tired and aching foot, and my eyes drift closed once more, reveling in the strength of his warm grip.
“Did you sign your band?” I ask, genuinely interested and enjoying this moment of peace. “They were really good.”
“Yeah, I did.” He sounds pleased with himself, but it doesn’t cross that line into cockiness. Instead, it’s a calm satisfaction at getting what he wanted. “They had interest from other labels but decided to go with us. They’re coming in on Thursday to sign the contract.”
“Hey, that's awesome. Congratulations.” I open my eyes to look at him again, our gazes briefly meeting before one of his hands moves to my calf, massaging it. Another moan slips from my mouth, and I can’t seem to tear my eyes away from him.
“What have you got planned for the rest of the week?” he asks softly.
“Mmm.” I can’t help the sigh that slips out before I answer him. “Well, tomorrow, I’m going riding with Dad.” His face lights up when I tell him this, and that sheer happiness is a new look for him, a good look for him. Averygood look.
“Dad couldn't stop talking about it at dinner last night. He was so excited about you having lunch with him too.” I cringe at the thought of Jacinta and how she must have reacted. He must know what I’m thinking because he immediately shakes his head. “She didn't come down. Nana took something to her room. Apparently, the muse is riding her hard at the moment. I guess there’s nothing like the threat of being replaced to make someone work harder.”
