A tingle ran up my spine, and I whispered back, “Okay.”
Cort laced our fingers together, raised our hands over our heads, and began to swivel his hips, flexing them, rocking them back and forth into mine. My cheeks heated, not only because it was obvious his movements simulated sex, but because for the second time that day, this man turned me on like nothing ever had. And from the knowing tilt of his lips, he knew. He fucking knew, and I was helpless to do anything about it.
My hips found his rhythm, my dick stiffened, and the brush of his hard-muscled body against mine wasn’t enough. When he placed his hands on my shoulders and ground against me, I fought back a moan even as I shifted closer. His dick nudged my stomach, and I ran my hands over his slick, heavy shoulders, wondering what it would feel like to be under him in bed. I imagined him pushing me down, covering me with his heat, and a rush overcame me, leaving me so weak in its aftermath that I swayed in his arms. Cort pulled me closer, making it impossible for either of us not to feel how hard the other was.
“Fuck. What’re you doin’ to me?” Cort murmured.
Once again this evening, I found myself short of breath, but this time, from pure desire. Cort’s eyes bore into mine. Their blue depths burned with a fire that singed the edges of my brain. His lips hovered over my mouth, our breath mingling. The sounds of the women shouting at us to kiss faded in the background. My fingers dug into his back. I smelled his lust.
He wanted me. And fuck. I wanted him too.
Chapter Five
CORT
Shit. If Ididn’t stop now, I’d lose it right here in the club. Watching Harlan let go of that reserve, feeling him come alive as we danced, was beautiful. He might be confused or uncertain, but his body sure as hell knew what it wanted.
And then I smelled it—the beer on his breath—and all my thoughts of maybe getting naked and sweaty with him later on faded as rage choked me.Goddamn him. I pushed him away to the disappointed cries of the ladies in the group.
“Aw, no. We want more. Kiss him.” The bride grabbed my arm.
“Wish I could, darlin’, but house rules. No playin’ footsie with the staff.” I gave her my best smile and set my hat on her head, knowing she’d love that. “I’d rather dance for you and your pretty ladies.” With a wiggle of my hips, I began to dance again, flashing my assless chaps.
That worked, and soon I was back in the thick of it, bumping and grinding her and her friends, all the while keeping an eye on Harlan, who was now back at the bar, getting an earful from José. I knew the bartender would give him no slack, and I wondered how Harlan had managed to even sneak any alcohol past José’s eagle eyes.
By one a.m., I was beat. It felt like I’d danced my ass off, and my tips proved it when I went to the bar to collect my money and get a drink. The other guys were there, already waiting.
“That bridal table was a bonanza for you.” Morgan handed me a beer from the bar. James always made sure we had cold ones along with a snack of fruit and cheese if we wanted them before going home.
“Thanks.” I took a long pull of the beer and gave a gusty sigh. “Yeah. They were busy hollerin’ and makin’ a fuss—but pretty tame.”
“That’s a relief. Nothing worse than a gaggle of sloppy drunks.” Tristan set his empty bottle on the bar. He’d changed out of his black cape and spandex shorts to dark jeans and a gray T-shirt, but his sharp eyes still penetrated right through me. I wondered if he was gay, straight, or even human sometimes. If I didn’t know him, I wouldn’t want to meet him in a dark alley.
“Well, I don’t mind,” Juno said. “If they spend their money on me, they can drink all they want.”
“Cheers, my man.” Morgan and Juno clinked bottles. “I had a group of guys who were half in the bag, but that didn’t stop them from slipping me a couple of hundreds to let them slap my ass in the back room. Bring it on, I say.”
“That’s all fine until it isn’t, and the slaps turn to something else. Think about it.” With that parting wisdom, Tristan walked away, his long, dark hair swinging over his shoulders.
“What’s his problem?” I heard Juno mumble to Morgan.
“When you find out, let the rest of us know.”
“Good work tonight, gentlemen.” James joined us, a slight smile on his normally reserved face. “You’re all getting quite the following, and that’s spreading some excellent word of mouth.”
“Frankie told me he’s been workin’ hard to get people from Sparks to come uptown.” I wanted James to know how seriously Frankie took his new job. I missed him like nobody’s business, but I was so damn proud of him living his life and finding his happiness. We talked on the phone every few days, and he, Austin, and I were due for another guys’ day out soon.
“Frankie’s doing an excellent job, and he’s come up with some ideas I plan to implement in the coming months. I have no complaints about him or any of you. I’m not sure you’re aware, but the lines to get into Man Up are growing daily, and I attribute that to all of you. At this rate, I may have to give you all a raise.”
“The crowd tonight was pretty tame.” I popped a strawberry into my mouth, wondering if Harlan was off somewhere sneaking a drink.
“I was telling Juno that,” Morgan said. “He and I were comparing notes on the different clubs we’ve danced at. We’re also planning some new routines we’re going to work on, so we’ll catch you tomorrow.” Holding hands, he and Juno walked out of the club, and watching them together, I wondered if they were hooking up. Wouldn’t surprise me, what with the flirty eyes they’d been making at each other all night. They danced beautifully together, and when Morgan wound himself around Juno, the contrast of Morgan’s pale body against Juno’s ebony skin sent the crowd into a frenzy.
“I hope they’re careful.”
James’s statement surprised me. “Juno and Morgan? They seem to be pretty levelheaded.”
“Everything goes out the window when lust and sex get involved. The most intelligent people I know turn into the biggest fools when they want to get fucked.”
