Grabbing a bottle of waterfrom my locker, I took a deep breath, letting the exhaustion of the final number set in. I was shot, and it wasn’t simply from not sleeping, or from dancing on stage for nearly three hours straight.
It had more to do with the inability to focus on anything but the sexy-as-fuck lap dance I’d given earlier. And the man in the chair who’d loved every minute of it. I couldn’t help but wonder if he’dbe outside waiting for me.
Even though no one used them, there were a few shower stalls at the back of the locker room. Most of the guys toweled off, sprayed on some God-awful cologne and went out for the night. Drinks. More women. Whatever they felt like doing I guessed. And the town ate it up. I’d gone once or twice, mainly because Gavin had begged me to go out and live a little.
Live a little.As if that were possible.
After pulling out the shower supplies I kept in my locker for those just-in-case occasions, I headed toward the showers. No one had been thrown up on, or slathered themselves in chocolate syrup or honey, so I knew the showers would be empty.
Not wanting to miss out on meeting up with Noah, I showered as quickly as possible. I knew there was no way on earth I would beable to focus with the scent of about fifty women assaulting my senses. Recently, showers had become the only time where I could let go of the pressure of my life. It was where I lost myself to the fantasy of sex—usually with some nameless man, someone I walked past at the store, or at the gas station. I’d let these scenarios unfold in my head, letting my hands roam over my hot, soapy skin. Imaginingit was someone else’s hand massaging my cock to life, I’d be hard almost instantly. Sadly, it never took me more than a few minutes to get the deed done.
My sex life was the same as my real life: pathetic.
Knowing they wouldn’t do me any good tonight, I pushed those thoughts out of my head and opted for a far more optimistic point of view. Before wrapping it around my hips, I swiped the towelacross the mirror hanging above the sink. A stupid-looking grin greeted me, making me laugh at myself. “You’re gonna get laid,” I said to my reflection. Literally talking to myself made me laugh. After calling myself an idiot, I brushed my teeth. When I turned off the water, I heard noises coming from the office, which was off to the side of the locker room.
As I made my way closer toward theoffice, the one in which Gavin and I auditioned close to a month ago, the sounds grew louder and louder. Then they were accompanied by a few screams, echoed by the loud banging of what sounded like fists on the desktop.
A wild banshee-like noise came right before a low growl, sounding more like a deep bellow than anything else. “Gav—”
Without needing to hear whatever the rest of that sentencewas about to be, I ran back into the locker room. Not wanting any part of seeing Stacey in whatever compromising position she was in on the other side of the door, I got dressed as fast as fucking possible and bolted out the door.
The humid air filled my lungs, making it difficult for me to breathe. At least that was part of the reason I couldn’t get enough air into my lungs. The other had everythingto do with what I was about to do. As I slid my phone out of my gym bag, my nerves skyrocketed when I saw that I had two unread texts. Without even looking, I knew one was from my brother, letting me know he’d gotten home from work safely. The other, from a number I didn’t recognize, promised something much more than peace of mind.
My eyes raced over the words,I’ll be outside. Black limo.Noname. Nocan’t wait to see youorbefore was amazing.The short simplicity of what he did have to say made my dick harder than it had ever been before.
Without saying much of anything to anyone, even Gavin, I shoved my stuff into my bag and rushed out the door.
Where I saw nothing.
No limo.
No sexy man leaning up against a door.
No hope of a one-night stand I’d never forget.
“Fucking servesme right,” I cursed to myself. I hated that I felt disappointed more than I hated the actual disappointment.This isn’t your kind of thing, anyway,I said in my head. But as I walked toward my beat-up, shit-heap of a car, lights flashed on in the distance. Hope sparked to life in my chest.
And need hardened my cock.
Without waiting for more of a sign, I walked toward the blazing lights, figuringit had to be Mr. Lap Dance Man, calling to me.
The door opened as I walked toward the limo, but no one exited the car. Either I was walking toward the hot man from before, or some weird stalker slash kidnapper.
Remembering how hot his body felt against mine, I figured I would take my chances.
Sliding into the limo, I was not disappointed. “Chase,” he greeted. “Is that your real name, or—”
“Real,” I cut him off. “Why would I lie?”
He shrugged, saying, “Could’ve just been the name you chose for the night.” His eyes crinkled in the corners as he smiled. “Isn’t that protocol, or something like that? To change your name every night?”
“Protocol?” I asked, genuinely confused about where he was going with this.
A nervous sound from his mouth and he searched the floor as if he was actuallygoing to find it there, rolling around between the seats. “Look, I’ve never been with a… a… uh….”
A loud roar of laughter fell from my mouth. “You think I’m some kind of male hooker, don’t you?”
His cheeks heated, turning a bright shade of red. I’m sure if pressed about it, he would chalk it up to the booze. Quickly, he downed the rest of his drink, avoiding eye contact. “Can you blame me?”
