“Normally, women have to pay extra to come on stage. You got a freebie tonight,” he says, giving me a wink.
Instead of saying what I’m thinking — that I would happily pay for that experience — I narrow my eyes at him and make a face to let him know he’s being cocky. But wasn’t my not wanting to have sex with someone who was taking money for it the way I got into all of this? I was so against the idea, and now I’m ready to throw cash at these men just like everyone else in this place.
I’m about to invite the two dancers to come over when Garrett surprises me by saying, “We were going to Autumn’s place. Do you guys want to come?”
Trevor and Adrian exchange a quick look before Adrian tells Garrett they will.
“We just need to grab our stuff. Meet you in the lobby,” Trevor says before he and Adrian exit backstage.
Brittany is still behind the front desk when Garrett and I go out. She’s focused on a laptop screen until she hears us. “I thought everyone had gone,” she says.
“We’re the stragglers,” I say. “Actually, we’re waiting for Trevor and Adrian.”
“Sounds good.” She returns to whatever she was working on, and the two of us take a seat on a bench. A couple of the other performers pass by on their way out, and then Trevor and Adrian appear. As we get up to leave, Duke walks in from outside. He’s headed to Brittany’s desk, but stops short when he sees the four of us together.
“I didn’t think I saw you leave yet,” Duke says, looking directly at me with a gaze that seems intended to undress me.
I’m starting to feel like a cat in heat. What in the world is wrong with me?
Actually, looking around, I realize it’s no wonder I’m feeling so turned on; I’m surrounded by a group of the most attractive men I’ve ever met — Duke included. What girl wouldn’t be feeling hot and bothered right now?
Blocking the door with his massive body, his eyes still focused solely on me, Duke says, “You should call me if you ever want to be with a grown man instead of these boys.”
“Fuck off, Duke. You’re just jealous,” Trevor says. Again, the vibe between the two men seems more joking than serious, and I remember Brittany telling us that Trevor and Adrian live with Duke. If they’re related, I’d have thought Trevor would have mentioned that when he introduced us.
“What’s up with you and Duke?” I ask Trevor when the guard moves aside and the four of us are outside.
“Eh, just ignore him,” Trevor says. “He’s just messing around.”
“No, I mean how do you know him? Brittany said you live with him?”
“He’s an old family friend,” Trevor explains as we walk to our cars. “He was always around when I was little, and as I got older, I went to him for advice. You know, stuff you can’t talk to your parents about. He actually helped me avoid a lot of trouble when I was younger.”
“And now?”
“Adrian and I were hanging around with a bad crowd several years ago. Money was tight, and we were living with a couple of guys that were into a lot of shady stuff. Duke found out and made us move in with him,” Trevor says.
“We like to say he made us move in,” Adrian says, joining the conversation, “but actually he saved our asses.”
“He did,” Trevor says, sounding grateful. “He also helped us get jobs here.”
“Do you like living with him?” I ask.
“He’s a great guy. We just like to give each other a hard time.”
I wonder if Duke flirting with me is just part of him giving the guys a hard time, but then I remember he was flirty before he even saw me with Trevor. Maybe he hits on every woman who comes to the club.
* * *
No one ishome at my house, and I’m grateful as always that my roommates like to go out so much. I wish I had a front door camera, though, so I’d know when they’re about to come in. Even so, I’m not going to get caught off guard like last night.
There will be no orgasms on the couch for me tonight.
I take drink orders, and Trevor goes with me to the kitchen while Garrett and Adrian stay in the living room to talk.
“You good with Adrian being here too?” Trevor asks. When I tell him I am, he says, “I saw how you were looking at him.”
“What?” I feign innocence.