So was it about Erin that managed to break the damn he’d built inside himself? Was she some sort of enchantress, a witch who’d cast a love spell? Whatever or whoever she was, she was special.
I couldn’t deny that I was pretty smitten with her already too. Downstairs in the club, I’d stood nearby as she asked Grey about the Underground, drawn to her by the sound of her voice. Then she’d turned around and my heart stuttered in my chest. Erin was so beautiful and desirable and inquisitive and I couldn’t help but look forward to tomorrow night.
Eventually, I looked over at Caleb. He leaned against his desk, sipping his drink, also lost in thought.
“What should we tell her when she comes back?” I asked, my voice cutting through the silence.
Another honest-to-God smile illuminated Caleb’s face. “Well, she did say she wasn’t Mother Teresa.”
“True,” I chuckled.
“And she didn’t run screaming after we both kissed her.”
“Also true.”
“Honestly, I think she can take it. She didn’t know anything when she walked into this office, yet she stayed,” Caleb mused. “She stayed and she listened. She seemed intrigued.” He looked up at me. “We should tell her everything.”
It was getting late so Caleb and I parted ways soon after our conversation. I was so happy to see that spark back in his eye, that look of excitement. I’d hoped Erin was the thing that would finally snap Caleb out of his funk.
But for as much as I liked her, I wasn’t going to expose Caleb to someone toxic, not when he was so fragile. I couldn’t risk it.
Though Caleb already gave her a card, I’d tell the bartenders not to let her downstairs and get the bouncers to show her out if she didn’t check out. I wouldn’t like it and Caleb might get pissed, but I’d do it to protect him.
When I got home, I sat on the couch and called an old contact of mine. Mike was in the marines with me and now worked as a private investigator.
“Do you know what time it is, Jackson?” Mike said without greeting. “I woke up at four for a stakeout and just got home.”
“Hello to you too,” I said, laughing.
A little antsy, a little stressed, a lot exasperated, Mike was always like this.
“Yeah, yeah,” he replied, though I knew he was smiling. “Hate to be rude, but why are you calling so late?”
“I’d wait until morning if it wasn’t important.” I needed info on Erin ASAP.
“Yeah, I know,” he replied. “So what have you gotten yourself messed up in?”
“Nothing yet. And I hope you’re able to reassure me that there won’t be a mess.”
“Alright, what can I do?” he asked.
“I need you to look into someone for me,” I began, giving him all the information I had on Erin. “And if you could get it done by tomorrow afternoon, I’ll send you a big fat check.”
Mike laughed. “Normally, I’d give you the friend discount, but now that you’re one of those high flying rich assholes, I’ll gladly take your money. Tell Caleb hi for me.”
When I got off the phone, I went to my bedroom and undressed. Lying in bed, I tried to get the feel of Erin’s body against mine and the way her lips felt when I kissed her out of my head, but it was futile. My cock was hard and throbbing and would probably stay that way until I did something about it.
I slid my boxers down my legs and grabbed the bottle of lube and I kept in the drawer of my nightstand. Picturing Erin’s face after I kissed her, I drizzled a bit of lube on my hand and coated my cock with it.
My hand slid up and down, my thumb swiping of the head of my cock each time it was close enough to.
Thinking of Erin’s long legs, of the way her breasts pressed against the front of her dress, of the way her hips felt between my hands, it didn’t take long before I felt that telltale tightening. I came moments later, catching my cum in with my other hand. Grabbing some tissues from the nightstand, I cleaned myself up.
My mind was quiet now, or at least quieter, and I was finally able to drift off to sleep.
Try as I might, I was unable to sleep in until my alarm the next morning. Through my blinds, I could tell it was still dark out. This late in October, the air was no doubt still cool.
Groaning and rolling over to bury my face in my pillow, I thought back on all the mornings I’d had like this lately. Mornings I just couldn’t remain asleep because I just had so much on my mind. Despite our success, the business was still brand new and required a lot of work. Not to mention the fact that we lived in Vegas. Everyone wanted a slice of the revenue tourists brought in. That meant we really had to stay on top of our game. We couldn’t lose focus.