I wanted to enjoy my baby since I was due today, lol. But instead, I'm going to let you guys enjoy this baby ;)
Thanks for all the reviews on the first chapter! I really appreciate each and every one of you!
xo
Chapter 2.
As soon as the lead singer gets on stage, I watch the stranger cheer and whistle as she pumps her empty fist in the air. Her other hand nurses a drink, but I can't tell what it is just yet. It's dark and has ice, so it can be anything from a soft drink to a cocktail.
She probably knows the band, her friend does as well, judging by the way they're cheering and singing along. All the guys are born and raised in Portland, and they all study law, apparently. I guess the brunette runs in the same circles, then. Beauty and brains.
"Get in there, dude. Come on, let's introduce ourselves," Laurent says. He tugs my sleeve and walks us in the girls' direction. It's a little more crowded here at the front, a little warmer, and I tug at the neck of my white T-shirt. The air is a bit humid.
"What's the name of the band? You guys know?" I ask the strawberry-blonde, one hand on the shoulder of her long-sleeved mini dress. It looks like corduroy, but it's buttery smooth, so fucking soft. Yeah, I ask the friend of the girl I'm interested in. That's the trick. Make her make a move first.
"Lawfully Yours," she shouts into my ear. The red spotlight makes her shiny hair appear pink, blue eyes sparkling as she looks at me and Laurent. I almost snort at the dumb name the band chose. Her hand is on my collar bone as she speaks to me, and soft hair caresses my hand when she whips her head around and looks at her friend, then back to me with a wicked grin that makes her light eyes sparkle.
"I'm Tanya," she says. "You are?"
"This is Laurent, my best friend. I'm Edward," I reply, my eyes on the gorgeous brunette. She's swaying to the music when she catches me looking at her.
"My grandpa's name is Edward." Tanya giggles. Her breath smells like cranberry, as does the glass in her hand—although it's tainted with alcohol.
"Gee, how drunk are you?" The brunette speaks for the first time, words tumbling from glossy, perfectly pouty lips as she rolls dark, heavily-lined eyes. "Excuse her, she just broke up with a third generation douche."
I chuckle at her words, eye her friend and finally notice that yes, she is a tad intoxicated. I widen my eyes at Laurent, giving him his cue. He moves in on Tanya—throwing an arm around her shoulder while he asks her what she'd like to drink. I shake my head. How can he be hot for drunk women?
"Old-fashioned," Stranger says, her head cocked to the side and angled up to look me in the eyes. Her dark brown eyes burn, flecks of gold swimming in their depths.
"Yeah... I know. Guess mom wasn't in her right mind when I was born." I laugh. She frowns a little before she lets out a heartfelt laugh, her dark tresses dancing to its cadence. She's got a silver ring around her thumb, which sparkles with tiny little stones all around as her finger strokes the condensation off her glass.
"What are you talking about?" She chuckles, fire flickering in her eyes, licking the droplet of water off her thumb. I swallow thickly, and I think she notices.
"My name's old-fashioned, right?" I ask her, leaning down close to her ear. I can smell her perfume. It's floral, but heavy. A heady scent that makes her even more alluring.
"I was telling you my drink, sweetheart..." She laughs, and I feel my cheeks heat up.
"Fuck, I'm stupid." I chuckle.
"No, you're hot... and you're buying me that drink, right? Isn't that why you came up to us?" She narrows her eyes, looking like pure sin when she puts her hand on her hip, forefinger playing with one of her belt loops. Forward. I like it.
"I came here to ask you for your name, honestly."
"Bella. I'm Bella." She holds out her hand as if she wants to shake mine, but I huff and kiss her knuckles instead, slender fingers in mine as I linger on her soft skin.
"Let me get you that drink, Bella," I tell her, giving her my best smile along with a wink. I see her eyes grow wide and cloudy, so fucking sexy.
I leave her by herself while Laurent stands in the back, draped over the other girl. As Jasper prepares Bella's drink, I watch her hips sway from side to side, in tune with the music. I'm in awe of her beauty, with the way she gazes at me over her shoulder and her tongue darts out to wet her full, bottom lip.
"Hey, Ed, we need to settle your bill tonight, dude. It's been a few weeks, and next week is a new month. My bookkeeper is on my ass about clients who've got a tab running for a while."
I nod at Jasper, determined not to let my worries ruin my night. It's gonna be fine.
"Yeah, I'll come pay for everything before I leave. Promise," I tell him. He just nods and towel-dries some glassware.
"Here you go." I slide my arm around Bella's waist. Her bare skin is so soft and warm. I'm afraid I'm being too forward, but she leans in, playing with the strap of leather that dangles from my jacket sleeve.
She looks at the full glass I brought her, and back at her own before she downs it. I arch a brow, but she laughs. "No worries, just a cherry coke on ice. If I'm with Tanya, I like to keep a clear head. Don't tell her mom, but her princess has been to rehab once too many—telling mommy dearest she's off to Barbados."
I don't quite know how to respond to that, but I have a vice-grip on the empty glass she handed me that's only growing tighter as I watch her drink through the little straw. Then she looks at me, brown eyes boring into mine as she sucks up the liquid and licks her lips when she's done tormenting me.
"I need a smoke," I mutter. "I'll be right back."
"No, I'll come with you." Bella smiles. "Lead the way, I've never been here before."
Instead of taking her out the front door like a normal person, I snag her hand and tug her behind me when I walk up front, around the stage and behind the black curtains Jasper hung up for the night.
"Are we allowed to go back here?" She asks, worry lacing her voice. I chuckle as I push the back door, holding it open for her.
"Sure we are, gorgeous."
"Gorgeous, huh?"
"You are, yeah," I throw back at her. My lighter clicks, warming my palm, and I watch as Bella shivers slightly. "Here," I say, cigarette dangling from my mouth, shrugging off my heavy jacket and handing it to her. She eyes it, hesitating before taking it from me. I watch as the leather swallows her whole, her tits rising as she arches her back to get her hair out of the collar.
"Thanks," she says quietly, walking closer. "Aren't you cold now?"
"Nah, I'm fine. I'm wearing more clothes than you are," I say, smugly letting my eyes wander over her form.
"Too bad," she mutters under her breath. She wraps one arm around my bicep and pushes her little body into my side. I feel everything, my arm in between her tits, her heart thumping in her chest, the warm skin of her stomach before her jeans steals it away from me.
I'm taken aback by her, by the way she acts and how open—how forward—she is, so I'm not ready when she steals my cigarette and takes a drag. She coughs the first time before she composes herself, sighing after the smoke leaves between her luscious lips.
"Fuck, it's been too long since I've had some nicotine," she says.
I turn her around, press her back against the door softly before I tell her to keep it. Her mouth drops open slightly as she holds the half-smoked cigarette. My hands slide under my leather jacket, thumbs stroking her toned stomach as the rest of my fingers rest onto her side and back.
She bites her lip, taking another drag. When I lean down, reading her body language, she puts the cig in between my lips. I take a drag and release, leaning my head back before I toss it in a puddle.
"Tell me if I'm going too far," I whisper against her lips. She wets them again, eyes flickering from my eyes to my lips, her breathing hitching when I hold onto her more firmly.
"Fucking try me," she replies, arms slinging around my neck before she buries her fingers in my hair. She tugs me closer, lips locking, and I hear her whimper quietly when I kiss her.
She tastes like sunshine, that first—nice—day in the spring, when everything comes alive again. One hand leaves my hair and trails lower, fingers gliding over the chain around my neck before she fists my shirt.
I've got goosebumps all over, but it's not from the cold. Not one bit. Bella's tongue licks my bottom lip before she nips it with her teeth, making me groan, and press the length of my body into her. She gasps into our kiss when she feels the cold metal of my tongue piercing tease her, my hands wandering, feeling her hard nipple as I cup her right tit through her thin little top. I wonder what kind of magic bra she's wearing since she's walking around in a backless number, and I can clearly tell she's not going braless.
"Fuck," I gasp as she pulls away to catch her breath.
"Please," she whines desperately.
"What, has that been a while, too?" I joke, stroking my thumb over her pouty lips.
Her eyes twinkle when she smiles up at me. "You have no idea." She rolls her eyes. "Can we get out of here? Or did you drive here with your friend?"
"He's a big guy, he can take care of himself."
"Tanya will take care of him, I'm sure. She's a ruthless whore," she jokes. "Plus, her driver is waiting around the block. They'll be fine."
"Wow, she's got a driver?" I let my hands slide down her back, over her ass. Damn, I'd been waiting for this; soft and pliant, yet firm and perky in my hands.
"Mhm," she mumbles as she fingers my necklace. It's old, and holds my mother's most prized possession. The only thing she didn't sell to buy herself drugs or booze: the ring that used to hold a promise to her. The one my father gave her way back when they were good—in love. It's a reminder for myself not to fall, not to succumb to the world of drugs and alcohol. Because it ruins everything. It ruins life and everything in it. "You didn't answer my question," she continues, kissing me above the collar of my V-neck, swirling her tongue around the pulse point in my neck. She's on her tiptoes, stretching all the way up, and I grab her by the ass and lift her higher. Light as a fucking feather.
I assault her mouth again, hearing her groan as her head meets the brick wall with a thud. I pull back, but she won't allow it, leaning forward to kiss me back harder, rougher, wetter. She's a genius with that mouth… fuck. Her hips grind into mine as I push against her, my cock screaming from behind my zipper.
"Jesus, what are you?" I mutter, leaning my forehead against her, heart hammering in my chest.
"Horny, and you need to fucking fix it."
I let her down, grab her hand and speed through the bar. Jasper yells for me just when I'm composing a text to Laurent, telling him he's on his own.
"Shit, just a sec." I leave Bella by the front door, pulling my canvas wallet from my back pocket. There's a fifty in there—my last one, and a brand-new credit card I told myself I wasn't going to use unless it's an emergency. The boner inside my pants tells me it is, so I hand Jasper my new Visa card and watch him swipe it.
"Won't happen again, Jas. Thanks!" I say, giving him a thumbs-up for the service as I hurry backward to the door.
He shakes his head, having watched me taking home my fair share of girls.
Once we're outside, I look for a taxi, but she takes my hand and pulls me flush behind her, my dick pressing against her jean-clad ass.
"I have a driver, too," she admits meekly.
I know how this'll end. We'll take our clothes off, maybe not even everything, and we'll fuck. She's gonna hang around, ask questions about the bare as fuck studio I live in or she'll sneak out when I'm in the shower. Maybe she'll join me in the shower. Or, maybe we'll go to her place and I get to pretend I live as lavishly as she does. I can tell she's rich. Her denim is soft and thin, molds to her curves perfectly.
The tiny embroidered label on her top means it set her back three hundred dollars. At least. And the shoes, the red-bottomed fuck-me Mary Jane's that make her five inches taller make me want to rail her against the wall as the studs dig into my ass.
"Your place or mine?" I ask her, deciding not to care about the driver. I can tell she doesn't like to brag, and I don't comment on it. Maybe it's a sensitive subject.
"I don't care. As long as I get to fuck you. All night long," she whispers, leading me to the sleek, white Rolls Royce.