I leaned back into my chair and rubbed my eyes. Maybe I just needed to get laid. I'd been working too hard lately between my software program and being a lifeguard. I'd considered dropping that lifeguard gig. Not like I needed the money. But it was a fun side thing to do especially when I got to experience the inventive ways women (and sometimes men) decided to approach me. Still, all work and no play made a dull boy out of Logan. Perhaps I just needed a willing pair of spread legs to get between so I could, you know, release all this pent up frustration. Maybe someone that looked like Alyssa—
Damn. No. Someone that definitely did not look like Alyssa.
My cellphone rang. I didn't recognize the number, but I did recognize the voice.
"Hey, Logan," said Cassie, her voice extra flirty. "Wanna come to a party tonight?"
Cassie. Someone that definitely did not look like Alyssa.
I smiled. "Yeah, sounds good."
3: Alyssa
"Stop fiddling already. You look awkward."
I made a face at Melanie as I tugged some more on the skirt of my teal mini-dress. We were waiting for Cassie to show up while Jared parked the car.
"It's because I am awkward. This dress is tight and short. It rides up!"
"You bet," said a guy behind us, grinning at my legs.
Melanie curled her lip at him before turning back to me. "So why'd you wear it then? Not that I'm complaining. You look killer."
I shrugged. "I dunno. Seemed appropriate for the venue of choice."
That was a half-truth. When Cassie had invited me to the party not only had she said it was being hosted at a high-end club, she'd also mentioned Logan attending the party too. I had other classy-sexy outfits, but this teal dress with its short hemline and figure-hugging material turned heads, and try as I might to deny it, I'd worn it with the hope of catching Logan's attention.
A waste of time, I knew. Logan wanted nothing to do with me, least of all in any non-stepbrotherly way. But despite my best efforts, that tiny, sputtering flame of hope that he'd reciprocate what I felt for him just never died. As we waited for Cassie outside of the line, I felt incredibly foolish and I regretted wearing the dress. I regretted coming to the party. I even regretted coming on this summer vacation trip with my friends. I should have stayed home with mom and Harry and settled for a quiet summer before my last year of college. I wouldn't have had to be close to and pine away for a man I couldn't and shouldn't have.
"Hey guys!" This was Cassie as she approached us. She wore an even tighter, shorter black mini-dress than mine, and combined with her blonde hair poised on the top of her head in a sexy updo and her long, tanned legs on display, Cassie looked gorgeous. Nobody could take their eyes off her, including Logan who walked alongside her holding her hand, dressed in a stylish charcoal grey blazer, white button down shirt, and dark jeans. It was like looking at an ultra hot celebrity couple. No couple looked more perfect together.
Jealousy never tasted so bitter.
"Wow, Cass," said Melanie, "Between you and Lyss, I feel like an old lady in this getup." Then she glanced at Logan. "Hi, Logan."
"Hello, ladies," he greeted, barely looking my way. I was crushed.
"Come on, come on," said Cassie. "Let's go get our drink on!"
We were admitted via the VIP entrance, not because of my brother and his fame, but due to Cassie's aunt's girlfriend who was friends with the club's owner. Inside, the music was at full blast and most of the people were already dancing. We sat in the VIP lounge on the first floor landing above the club, enjoying the complimentary drinks—except Logan.
"I'm driving, remember?" he said when Cassie waved her drink in his face. Soon, Jared returned from finding parking and I became the obvious fifth wheel.
"We need to find you a man tonight, Lyss," laughed Cassie and I laughed drily in return before taking another long swig of my drink. I tried to be more interested in the shouted conversation going on and not in the way Cassie's hands touched Logan constantly. With each sip of alcohol, that task became easier. Once or twice, my gaze met Logan's but I always looked away first. What the eyes don't see, the heart doesn't grieve over—or some such phrase I'd heard long ago.
After two shots and one and a half bottles of fruit-flavoured vodka, I was tipsy and in a considerably better mood. I got to my feet.
"Let's dance!" I shouted to Melanie and Jared over the loud music. Cassie and Logan could go take a hike for all I care. But once Melanie, Jared and I were down on the ground floor, I noticed Cassie and Logan had followed us. Just as I was about to dance, the music died and the lights of the club were suddenly turned off.
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen," said the DJ into his mic, allaying any worries that the club's electricity had suddenly been shut off. "We're changing shit up tonight." Music pounded into the club once more, with a heavier bass and a sexy saxophonic underlay. Cheers and laughter erupted as people resumed their dancing. "Fellas, you better hold onto your ladies before they get stolen away because we'll be dancing in the dark!"
Strobes of light cut through the darkness intermittently as the music throbbed through the writhing mass of bodies on the dance floor. I danced, unable to see anything but feel and hear as other people moved around me. I heard Melanie's familiar laughter and I swayed in her direction until I felt arms surround my waist and haul me back against a firm body. I laughed. Had the vodka not loosened my inhibitions, I would have shoved this stranger off of me. Instead, I danced with him, swaying my hips and grinding my ass against his front. He moved with me, matching my rhythm effortlessly.
The music seemed to feed us, give us energy and bolstered our courage. His hands slid down to touch my naked thighs before sliding back up to cup my breasts. Then one of his hands splayed against my belly while the other settled on my hip, holding me against him in a possessive embrace that made me warm with arousal. I should feel ashamed, I knew, to allow myself to be felt up on the dance floor, but I didn't care. Didn't want to care. Only to enjoy the feel of his hard cock pressing against my ass, his lips as they grazed my earlobe and my neck, his hands as they roved my body as we danced, and the intoxicating scent of his cologne as he held me.
Panties wet, I decided I'd fuck him. I turned to see his face. But the place was still too dark. By the time the
strobe light flashed in our direction, he had relinquished me and melded back into the crowd.
***
We danced the night away until around two in the morning. Outside, the cool evening breeze from earlier had become chilly and my skimpy outfit offered little protection against the cold.
"Why didn't you carry a throwover or something?" asked Logan in irritation as he removed his blazer and handed it to me. I frowned, ready to open my fat mouth and foolishly reject his offer, but a particularly cold breeze brushed past us and shut me up fast. I took the blazer with a mumbled thank you.
"Hey, what about me?" teased Cassie.
Logan smiled at her. "Don't you worry, sweetheart. You'll be warmed up soon enough."
Ugh! Cassie giggled and I rolled my eyes and made a gagging gesture. Melanie snorted at this.
"Maybe if you went and got the car we'd all be warm right now," I said in snippy tones as I threw on the blazer. It engulfed me and still held the warmth from Logan's body.
Logan glared at me before stalking off with Jared in tow.
"Brr," said Melanie, shivering when another cold breeze blew around us as we waited for the guys to bring the cars around.
"Guys, I think tonight's the night," said Cassie, her blue eyes gleaming with excitement.
There was no ambiguity about what she meant, but instead of responding, my attention was caught up elsewhere. The unknown man who'd felt me up earlier was nearby! I could smell him. Well, his cologne, rather. I looked around the area in the hopes of spotting him, but beside the two girls heading toward their car, it was just me and my friends.
"…sure you don't scream too loud for poor Lyss to hear," Melanie was saying, and she and Cassie laughed, but I ignored them. I inhaled deeply, and it was as though I was enveloped in his scent. Like if I—