“Don’t you know it.”
As Xander followed him, Ares hoped his brother’s record still held.If anything ever happened to Josie, throwing a man off the cliff would look like child’s play to the length he’d go to destroy those responsible.
24 JOSIE
“Youlookstunningtonight.I love how that corset shows off your breasts.I got the measurements just right, didn’t I?”Ares slid his hands down her satin-covered bodice, sending a shiver down Josie’s spine.
She had on a jacket over her corset and skirt but still shivered, and it wasn’t because of the cold.It was from anticipation.They had just pulled into the parking lot of Club Bandit, the gates black and iron just like the ones to the Montague mansion, but they felt friendlier somehow.Maybe it was because of the line of cars ahead of them.
The ironic thing was, only two hours ago, in Cecilia’s condo, she had felt beautiful.She loved how the skirt sat on her hips…it was the shortest garment she had ever owned.She loved how Maisy had lined her eyes with navy blue eyeliner.Her curls stayed still because of the amount of product Cecilia had insisted on.
Her friends had told her she looked gorgeous, and she believed it because, after surveying herself in Cecilia’s long mirror, she felt beautiful.But now steps away from those black doors at the top of those stairs, her throat grew dry.
“What can I do to make you feel more comfortable?”Ares wrapped an arm around her shoulders.“If this is too much, we can go back to my place.”
“I want to play here tonight.It’s something I’ve never done and I want to scene with you,” she blushed as she said the words.“But I need my cane.”
Ares’s face relaxed, showing his dimples.“Is that all?For a moment there, I thought you were going to tell me you didn’t want to be here with me.”
Ares opened the door, grabbed her cane, and pressed it gently into her hand.
Ares thinking she didn’t want to go through those doors with him was so outlandish, she barked out a laugh.
“We all have our insecurities.”Ares dropped a kiss on her lips and took Josie’s free hand.
She didn’t feel very sexy with her cane, but after a week of long days; she needed it.
By the time Josie made it up those stairs and inside, she felt sapped of energy.Inside Club Bandit, they stood in line to be checked in.The woman in front of her wore an elf costume.Two men were in Santa hats.
The festive mood eased Josie’s nervousness and seeing her friend Ella lit her up.
“Josie, welcome!”Her friend Ella Riddell came around the desk and gave her a hug.“It’s so nice to see you come out to the party!And Ares, you look dashing as always, but I think I can make a suggestion.”
“Oh?”Ares asked, looking up from the form on an iPad he was filling out.
“You need a hat,” Ella reached into a basket by her side and plucked out a Santa Claus hat.
“Why not?”Ares took the hat and put it on, then handed the iPad back to the man behind the desk.
“Perfect”, Josie said
“Josie, that red suits your complexion so nicely.Ares was right about the sizes, but I see it’s a little big on the shoulders.I’m happy to alter it for you later.”
“I love it, Ella,” Josie said.She’d suspected the corset was one of Ella’s creations.
“And I love those powdery soft cookies Avery sent over!Have a good time, Josie.You look after her, Ares.”
“Of course,” Ares said.He took her hand in his and together they moved further into the club, toward the beat of the music.
“Changing rooms are down here.I’ll check our coats,” Ares said.
“I’ve been here for a class before.Never to a play party.”
“We’re going to have a good time.”The touch of his soft lips against hers filled her with heat.“Be back in a second.”
She stayed on the outside watching couples in Santa hats come in and a tall woman with sparkly red boots leading a man on a leash.
“Ready,” Ares offered her his arm.She took it and he led her into the main part of the club, where scenes were in progress around the room.
