“Yeah, I am,” he admits, and my heart plummets into my stomach. I don’t know why I’m upset by his words. We’re at a strip club. Did I really expect him not to get turned on by the beautiful naked women? “But not by her,” he clarifies. “I can practically smell your arousal from here. Watching you watch her has me hard as fuck.”
Ethan takes my hand and runs it over the top of his pants, showing me how hard he is. “I wonder how wet you would be if she came over here and danced for you.”
My eyes widen in shock. “She does that?” I don’t know if the idea of her dancing for me scares me or turns me on. I glance back over at her and watch as she twirls around the pole, her voluptuous breasts on display. Her hands come up and rub across her nipples, hardening them, before she brings her attention back to the pole. Her toned thighs grip the metal and she does some sexy move, making her look more like a professional dancer than a stripper.
“Is that what you want, Angel? You want her to come over here and dance just for you?”
I swallow thickly, imagining her dancing close to me. Would she touch me? The thought sends a shiver down my spine. “Maybe,”I whisper.
The show ends and the woman disappears behind the curtain. I notice for the first time my blueberry martini is here, so I take a large sip of it. Blaire and Victor and Ethan talk about the club and how Ethan has been friends with the owner, Benjamin, for years. When Naomi comes over to refill everyone’s drinks, Ethan says something to her I can’t hear. She nods and walks away.
“I can’t believe you’re here, Nevaeh,” Blaire says. “Have you checked off any other items on your list?”
“Ethan taught me how to play cards,” I tell her through a smile as I remember our time at the casino, in the surveillance room, where he gave me an earth-shattering orgasm.
The thought must make me outwardly blush, because Blaire laughs and says, “I have a feeling that’s not the only thing he’s taught you.”
Ethan laughs, and I blush harder.
Before I can confirm or deny, a new song starts up and the lights dim down lower. I turn my attention to the stage, but quickly realize the dancer—Christy—isn’t on the stage, but standing right in front of me.
She’s wearing black, lacy shorty-shorts and heels, and is topless, with glittery stars covering her nipples. She smiles at me, and I swallow thickly, wondering what Ethan has done.
I don’t have to wait long to find out, though. Christy raises her arms and seductively sways her hips from side to side. Blaire giggles from her seat, while I watch her dance with rapt attention, my eyes never straying from her. I wonder why I’m so attracted to her. I’ve never felt a pull toward a woman before. But then I realize it’s notthat I’m attracted to a woman per se. I’m attracted to how graceful and seductive she is. She drips sensuality and confidence. She’s a gorgeous woman who is comfortable in her own skin and I want that for myself. I want to be comfortable with my body, with my life, with myself.
When she uses the arm of the love seat to support her and her legs straddle my own, I glance over at Ethan, who isn’t looking at the dancer, but at me. His eyes are blazing with want—for me—and I squirm in my seat, wanting him more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.
Ethan chuckles, then, turning my face to him, claims my mouth. His tongue slips through my parted lips, and I moan against his mouth. His hands cup the sides of my face, as he deepens the kiss. Forgetting about the woman dancing for me, I focus all my attention on Ethan. And before I know what I’m doing, I’m scrambling into his lap, my legs straddling either side of him. My fingers thread into his hair as I kiss him passionately. My center rubs friction against the bulge in his pants, and we both groan into each other’s mouths at the same time. The dancer is long forgotten as Ethan breaks our kiss and, gripping my hips tightly, licks up my throat.
“Hold on,” he growls, lifting me as he stands. I have no clue where he’s taking me, and I don’t pay attention. Instead I pepper kisses all over his stubbled jaw, nibble on his earlobe, and suckle on the side of his neck.
He sets me down on a counter, and when I look around I realize we’re in the bathroom. It’s as beautiful and upscale as the rest of the club. Ethan pulls my pants and underwear down my thighs and spreads my legs as far as they can go. He licks up my center a coupletimes before he devours my pussy—eating me until I’m screaming his name as my climax racks my entire body.
When I’ve come down from my high, I glance down at Ethan, whose eyes are glossed over with lust. “My turn,” I say, reaching for his dick. He laughs, but doesn’t stop me, as I jump off the counter and kneel in front of him, pleasuring him the same way he just pleasured me. When he’s ready to come, he warns me, but unlike last time, I don’t stop, instead taking everything he has to give. And my God, does he give…
Once we’re both satiated, we clean up and head back out to the main area. Blaire gives me a knowing look, and my cheeks heat up, but thankfully, she doesn’t say or ask anything. I’m sure she’s saving it for our girls’ day, where she’ll be grilling me like crazy.
After watching another couple dances and drinking a few more drinks, we say goodbye to Christy and Naomi, then head out. Blaire gives me a warm hug, making me promise, now that she knows where I am and who I’m with, not to keep her in the dark. With the promise to call her soon, we part ways, and Ethan and I head home.
Home…the thought fills my chest with butterflies. What it would feel like to live with Ethan. To wake up next to him every morning. To sit at the table and drink coffee and have breakfast with him before we both leave for work. To come home at the end of the day and have dinner with him. To go to bed at night and make love to him.
I glance over at him and think about what he said to me earlier when he asked me to move in: I know him better than anyone. Why did I tell him no to living together? Because I don’t know enough about him? Do you ever really fully know someone? And isn’t thatthe point of living with someone, to share your life with them? Get to know more about them every day.
My thoughts go back to Stephen. I thought I knew everything about him and never knew he had a gambling addiction. I’ve known my mom my entire life and never knew she was keeping secrets. What I do know, though, is that life is too short and I promised Stephen I would live hard and love harder, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
“I’ll move in with you.” Ethan glances over at me before looking back out at the dark road ahead. “When I’m safe and it’s time to leave the beach house, I’ll move in with you.”
His lips curl into a beautiful grin, and he takes my hand in his, bringing it up to his mouth. “Thank you,” he murmurs, kissing the tops of my knuckles. “You have no idea how happy you’ve just made me.”
But I think I know, because for the first time in my life, I realize I’m no longer just surviving, getting through each day, but instead actually living. My heart feels full and content—I feel happy.
Over the next month,Ethan and I settle into a comfortable routine. During the day, we spend a lot of time together. Some days, it’s as simple as lounging around the house with his mom and dad, and others, he surprises me with trips. He makes it a point to get several items from my list checked off. We visit the local aquarium and swim with dolphins, go to the shooting range, where he teaches me how to shoot a gun, and one night after coming home from the club, he brings home a joint. It only takes a couplehits for me to get high and turn into a giggling mess. Ethan cracks up, thinking I’m hilariously entertaining, and tells me he may have to bring home another joint in the future so he can be entertained again.
At night, he goes to the club. Sometimes I go with him, but more often than not, I stay home. My headaches tend to be worse at night, so I use the time he’s at work to rest. By 2:00 a.m. he crawls into bed. Most nights when he gets home, I’ll wake up and we’ll talk. I think it’s Ethan’s way of us getting to know each other. He’ll ask me questions and tell me about himself. Talking almost always leads to kissing and fooling around, but Ethan never lets it go too far, always stopping things before we cross that imaginary line. Sometimes I argue, other times I pout, but no matter what, he never gives in. He tells me I’ll regret it and then holds me close while I lay my head on his chest and fall asleep, listening to his heartbeat.
Blaire and Victor have come over on several occasions to barbeque and go swimming. She’s officially moved out of the condo and is planning their wedding. Since I’ve agreed to move in with Ethan, he had the stuff I need brought here, and what I don’t need, brought to his place. I haven’t been to his home yet, but I think he’s waiting to bring me once I’m safe and we’re able to move in.
My mom and I haven’t spoken at all. She’s called me and left messages, but I’m not ready to deal with her yet. I know when I do decide to talk to her, I’m going to demand she explain what Stephen said to me, and no matter which way she goes, whether she tells the truth or lies, my life—our life—will be forever changed.
