“I’m sure you’d look lovely, now where did you say Sue was now?” he asked, his patience wearing thin as the music started again.
“She said she was going upstairs to get another pair of shoes, but I guess she’s not back yet. You really should hang around, I bet the line is even longer this time,” Blondie encouraged, smiling sweetly.
“I’m sure there is a very long line of men waiting to get their hands on her,” Marcus drawled darkly. “Unfortunately for her, I’m first.”
“Oh,” Blondie gasped, backing up a step as her hand came to her chest. “I thought you were a friend of Sue’s?”
“Sue and I are very…intimate friends,” Marcus replied. “In fact I adore her, but this is just unbelievable.”
“It was all in good fun, Mister.”
“I thought you said nothing would surprise you,” John said, tapping Marcus on the shoulder and yelling in his ear.
“I was mistaken. I see you found her,” Marcus smiled as he turned and saw John with an intoxicated Erica over his shoulder.
“I did, but we need to get out of here if it’s at all possible. Where’s Susan?”
“She should be making an appearance soon,” Marcus replied. “Thank you Blondie, you’ve been a big help,” he said, turning to the girl.
“You’re welcome, I think,” she said hesitantly. “You’re not gonna hurt Susan are you?”
“No, I’m going to bare her little ass and spank her until she howls for mercy,” Marcus said smiling. “Any problem with that?”
Blondie blushed to the roots of her dyed hair as her hand dropped to her tummy. Her mouth formed a silent ‘Oh’ and she shook her head as Marcus winked and turned away.
“I take it Erica had a good time?”
“Apparently,” John replied grimly. “I found her at one of the back booths giving lap dances. When I plucked her up the little brat took a swing at me. Said she’d do what she damn well pleases. I think her exact words were ‘You’re not the boss of me’.”
Marcus laughed as they wove their way through the crowd to the entrance. Susan was arguing with the doorman that she had already paid once and she was not going to pay again.
When Marcus wrapped his hand around her upper arm, she peered at him over her shoulder and sighed.
“Guess I don’t need to get back in anyway,” she murmured.
“I guess you don’t,” Marcus agreed as he spun her around and began leading her down the hall.
“Is Erica all right?” she asked. “We kind of got separated.”
“She’s fine,” he replied, looking at John for verification. “Apparently, you all got separated tonight. I thought the plan was to stay together, you know, safety in numbers and all that.”
“That’s for children,” Sue snorted, giving a tentative pull on her arm to see if he would release her. He wouldn’t.
“Oh, yes, that’s right and you’ve all acted so mature tonight haven’t you? Lap dancing, bar games, groping nearly naked men, and of course let’s not forget poor Kelsey who a short time ago was as pure as the driven snow, riding on some man’s shoulders.”
Susan dug in her heels as she began to swear. Marcus released her arm and slung her over his hip like a sack of potatoes, his arm securely around her waist as she sputtered her fury.
“Is that better, Red?” he inquired as he strode down the hall.
“No!”
“Then behave yourself,” he demanded, setting her back on her feet and resuming his previous method of escort. Reaching the elevator, he pulled her inside and hit the button to close the door as soon as John entered with Erica. “I’d be willing to make a wager with you John,” he drawled smiling.
“Oh, and what’s that?” John asked calmly, as he adjusted Erica’s dress to cover her bottom better.
“I’ll bet you a grand that not one of these women can sit down at the wedding tomorrow, baring Erica of course, as she is unconscious.”
“You’d lose,” John replied as the door slid open on their floor. “She’s bound to wake up sometime before tomorrow afternoon and I’ll be there when she does. Goodnight Marcus, Susan,” he said, turning toward his suite. “Sweet dreams.”
