I avoid the shocked stares of the guys and sympathetic smiles of t
he girls. I shrug and ask, “Anyone need a fresh drink? I certainly do. ”
Before anyone can answer I walk over to the bar and order another cherry bomb. I’m stumbling slightly and feeling loose. I’m tipsy and it feels good.
I walk back to the booth. Trick and Ghost have left to do some work. Nat has gone to the bathroom. Nik pats his lap. I lower myself and sit sideways on him. He lifts my hair, puts his mouth to my ear and says, “I’m sorry for putting you on the spot, honey. If I knew it would make you uncomfortable I would never have asked that question. ”
I put a hand on his chest and with a smile say, “That’s okay Niki. It is what it is. I can’t deny it. ” I lift my drink to sip at it and miss my mouth completely. I may be a little more than tipsy. I spill my drink down the front of Nik’s shirt.
I trill, “Holy buckets! I’m so sorry, Nik. ” I use my hand to wipe the drink off his shirt but all I do is smear the bright orange liquid over even more of it. He takes my hands and I look up at him. He’s smiling hard at me, dimple and all. He says, “I keep a spare shirt in my office. I’ll go change. ”
I move off his lap and as he goes to move away I hold on to his hand. “I’ll go with you. ”
Nik smiles and pulls me closer to him. “C’mon, honey. ” He leads me into a hall behind the bar and opens the door.
Wow!
It opens opposite the ‘chill out’ room. I follow him to his office and he starts unbuttoning his shirt. I know I should look away but I’m a bit drunk and I want to see what he’s got hiding there. He has all the buttons down the front open and he’s working on the sleeves.
He asks, “Can you please get my other shirt from over there?” He nods to the clothes hanger in the corner. I grab the freshly laundered garment and take off the wrapper. Underneath is the silk lilac shirt he was wearing the day we met.
I state, “You were wearing this the day I met you. ”
He smirks and says softly, “I know. ”
Then he takes off his wet shirt.
Holy smokes!
Nik is even better looking without a shirt. His abs are clearly defined. He has a small smatter of chest hair. His arms are amazing! They’re muscular and have veins running up them. He has tattoos, too. His jeans fall low on his hips. On his right hip is a tattoo of a cross. On his right bicep is a large printed tattoo that looks like XAOC. I have no idea what that is. He’s removed his watch. His wrist has a tattoo on the inside. It says Ceecee.
Aww, I love Ceecee, too!
Behind his left ear is a tribal tattoo that comes down to his neck. Still shirtless, he turns and I think I gasp out loud. His entire back is tattooed. One big picture. It’s a bit scary actually. There are seven blank eyed angels up in the clouds holding swords of flame. They’re fighting off five devil-like creatures with horns on their heads and pointy tails that are reaching in to the clouds. It literally gives me shivers.
Nik breaks me out of my spell when he pulls the lilac shirt on. Once he’s buttoned up he holds out his hand, I take it and we exit his office. As we make our way down the hall Nik stops suddenly. He puts a finger to his mouth and I quiet myself. There are banging noises coming from the opposite end of the hall.
We tiptoe to the conference room and the noise get louder.
Bang-Clink-Moan-Thump-Groan
Nik smirks and puts his ear to the door. His body shakes with silent laughter and he motions for me to come closer.
Eyes wide, I put my ear to the door and listen.
A girl. “Oh my god. ” Thump-Clink-Bang.
A guy. “Fuck, you feel good. ” Moan-Groan.
The girl. “Oh God. You’re amazing!” Moan. “I still hate you. Ooooh. ” Thump-Clink-Bang.
The guy. “I hate you too, pretty girl. ” Groan. “Fuck me, do that again. ” Groan.
I know that voice.
It’s Nat.
I look up to Nik with a hand over my mouth. His eyes are dancing. He mouths, “Ghost. ”