Chapter 1
Peace. Preparation. Soothe the nerves before the work begins.
Cheryl
Our plan to attend an 80s night at Club Chaos came to a screeching halt, when I left my best friend in the capable hands of a super-hot, super-sexy club owner and made my way down the stairs. Maddie was prone to anxiety attacks, I guess being in line, even armed with her fake I.D. had sent her spiraling the closer we moved to the front. Maddie fainted, and the super-sexy owner, Langden Ross, caught her before she crumpled to the pavement.
I was being escorted downstairs and into the club by an enforcer. Well, doorman, I suppose, but, I knew body language, and this six-foot-five mass was no doorman. I admired the dressshirt that stretched across his broad back, barely containing the rippling muscles.
Swoon.
The music, “Like a Virgin”, was pounding out, and I squealed with excitement as I hit the last stair separating me from the exciting hub of retro 80s fans. I loved Madonna’s early hits, and the dedication nights the club had just started hosting helped to make Club Chaos a roaring success.
I was surprised when Captain Hunky led me away from the pounding music and down a hallway in the wrong direction.
“Wait, I think you’re going the wrong way, big man. I’m sure the action is that way,” I said, pointing back the way we’d come.
Big man turned and gave me a hungry look. “I think you’re wrong, naughty girl. I’m sure the best action is this way.” Fine, I’d bite and followed himinto a small office.
My host filled the space with his bulk and height and sat down behind a small desk. I took a seat in the only other chair the room offered. I casually pulled a can of mace out of my purse. “This room is way too small for anything I find interesting to happen.” I held up my can with my finger on the trigger. “Now you have five seconds to tell me what the hell is going on before I zap your eyes, pervert.”
He regarded me with a piercing gaze that shot to the junction at my thighs. He was dangerous, dark, and oh so tantalizing. And just when I was about to spray, he laughed, great guffawing laughter. I was so shocked, my finger froze on the can’s trigger.
“I love your sass, naughty girl. You’re something special, and you’re also underage.”
That’s it, not a question, just a statement? I turned on the attitude that I usually reserved for servers who didn’t follow my instructions. “Clearly, you misread my ID.” I stood up and made to leave.
“Sit down, naughty girl.” Oh god. The fact that he’d caught me fled my mind. All I could think about was how his soft command did all kinds of crazy things to my libido. But I wouldn’t let him know that.
“Why the hell should I? Who are you?”
His eyes shifted from hard, glittering obsidian to something like regret. “I can’t tell you that... but I can say you need to sit and listen.”
“Fine!” I flung myself dramatically back onto the rickety chair and prayed it wouldn’t break.
“As I was saying, you are underage. Your fake ID is of good quality, but if I can tell it’s fake, so can others. My boss asked me to escort you out the back door.”
I blew my blonde bangs out of my eyes. “So why didn’t you?”
He looked slightly sheepish. “Because you have the finest ass I’ve ever seen, you’re beautiful, and I didn’t want to miss telling you that.”
This was so weird; he couldn’t be serious. “I’ll tell you what, big guy, you let me in the club, and I’ll let you see this fine ass naked. What do you say?”
His eyes glittered dangerously. “Is that all you’re worth? You’re willing to show a complete stranger, who has at least a hundred pounds on you, your naked ass, and you think you’re safe? I think you need a lesson.” He tapped his earpiece. “George, I have an underage girl in my office. I caught her trying to sneak in the back.”
“You bastard!” I rose from my chair to flee as fast as my heels would allow.
“No, don’t call the cops.” He continued talking while staring at me. “I’ll deal with her.” His dark eyes, an unidentifiable color in the dim lighting, regarded me like a wolf would his dinner.
“Oh, I assure you, I am not a bastard.” He rose from behind the desk, and my eyes followed his great height until I wascraning my neck to see his face. I gulped as an overwhelming feeling of intimidation washed over me. And heat. He was so smoking hot, in a primal kinda way.
“But you are a very naughty brat, aren’t you, Cheryl.” He repeated it like a statement, leaving me speechless for a moment as I questioned the wisdom of using my real name on my fake ID.
“Yeah, I am, and I like who I am, so goodbye.” I moved toward the door, but before I could yank it open, he’d stepped around his desk and grabbed my arm.
“Cheryl,” he growled. “You have a mouth on you. Do you ever use it for anything but lashing out?” Finally, a question I could answer.
“Yes, I—” His lips closed over mine. Holy hell, his kiss was better than I could have imagined. His tongue pushed past the seam of my lips, delving into my mouth, nipping and sucking. An image of him doing the same to my clit soaked my G-string, and an involuntary moan escaped into his mouth.
