We’re all going to get out of here and go there.”
“To his house? Do you think we should?”
“Oh, we should.” Julie shoved open the bathroom door, took a look at the line for the stalls. “Typical, and I really have to pee! I’ve got such a buzz! How’s your guy—does he kiss good? What’s his name again?”
“Ilya. Yes, he’s very good. I like him, very much, but I’m not sure we should go with them to Alex’s house.”
“Oh, loosen up, Liz. You can’t let me down now. I’m totally going to do it with Alex, and I can’t go over there with him alone—not on the first date. You don’t have to do it with Ilya if you’re all virginal.”
“Sex is a natural and necessary act, not only for procreation but, certainly in humans, for pleasure and the release of stress.”
“Get you.” Julie elbowed her. “So you don’t like think I’m a slut for doing it with Alex?”
“It’s an unfortunate by-product of a patriarchal society that women are deemed sluttish or cheap for engaging in sex for pleasure while men are considered vital. Virginity shouldn’t be a prize to be won, or withheld. The hymen has no rewarding properties, grants no powers. Women should—no, must—be allowed to pursue their own sexual gratification, whether or not procreation is the goal or the relationship a monogamous one, just as a man is free to do so.”
A lanky redhead fluffed her hair, then gave Elizabeth a dazzling smile as she walked by. “Sing it, sister.”
Elizabeth leaned close to Julie as the woman continued out. “Why would I sing?” she whispered.
“It’s just an expression. You know, Liz, I figured you for a cross your legs, no touching below the waist and only over the clothes sort.”
“A lack of experience doesn’t make me a prude.”
“Got it. You know I sort of thought I’d ditch you once we were in and I hooked up, but you’re fun—even if you talk like a teacher half the time. So, you know, sorry for sort of thinking it.”
“It’s all right. You didn’t. And I know I’m not like your friends.”
“Hey.” Julie wrapped an arm around Elizabeth’s shoulders for a squeeze. “You are my friend now, right?”
“I hope so. I’ve never—”
“Oh, thank God.” On that fervent call, Julie made a staggering dash as a stall opened. “So we’re going to Alex’s, right?”
Elizabeth looked around the crowded restroom. All the women freshening makeup and hair, waiting in line, laughing, talking. She was probably the only virgin in the room.
Virginity wasn’t a prize, she reminded herself. So it wasn’t a burden, either. It was hers to keep or lose. Her choice. Her life.
“Liz?”
“Yes.” On a steadying breath, Liz walked toward the next open stall. “Yes,” she said again. Closing the door, and her eyes. “We’ll go. Together.”
At the table, Ilya lifted his beer. “If these girls are twenty-one, I’m sixty.”
Alex only laughed, shrugged. “They’re close enough. And mine’s in heat, believe me.”
“She’s drunk, Alexi.”
“So what? I didn’t pour the drinks down her throat. I’m up for some fresh meat, and I’m fucking getting laid tonight. Don’t tell me you’re not planning to nail down the hot brunette, bro.”
“She’s sweet.” A smile tugged at Ilya’s mouth. “And just a little underripe. She’s not so drunk as yours. If she’s willing, I’ll take her to bed. I like her mind.”
Alex’s lips twisted. “Give me a fucking break.”
“No, I do. It adds something.” He glanced around. Too much the same, he thought of the women who passed by, too much predictable. “Refreshing—this is the word.”
“The blonde’s setting it up so we’ll go to my place. All of us. She said she won’t go unless her friend goes. You can have the spare room.”
“I prefer my own place.”
“Look, it’s both of them or neither. I didn’t put in over two hours getting her primed to have her walk her fine ass out of here because you can’t close the deal with the friend.”
Ilya’s eyes went hard over his beer. “I can close the deal,
“And which do you think will close it tight,
Ilya jerked a shoulder. “I prefer my simpler place, but all right. We’ll go to yours. No drugs, Alexi.”
“Oh, for Christ’s sake.”
“No drugs.” Ilya leaned forward, stabbed a finger on the table. “You keep it legal. We don’t know them, but mine, I think, would not approve. She says she wants to be FBI.”
“You’re shitting me.”
“No. No drugs, Alexi, or I don’t go—and you don’t get laid.”
“Fine. Here they come.”
“Stand up.” Ilya kicked Alex under the table. “Pretend you’re a gentleman.”
He rose, held out a hand to Liz.
“We’d love to get out of here,” Julie announced, wrapping herself around Alex. “We’d love to see your house.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do. Nothing beats a private party.”
“This is okay with you?” Ilya murmured as they started out.
“Yes. Julie really wants to, and we’re together, so—”
“No, I don’t ask what Julie wants. I ask if you want.”
She looked at him, felt a sigh and a tingle. It mattered to him, what she wanted. “Yes. I want to go with you.”
“This is good.” He took her hand, pressed it to his heart as they wove through the crowd. “I want to be with you. And you can tell me more about Liz. I want to know everything about you.”
“Julie said boys—men—only want to talk about themselves.”
He laughed, tucked his arm around her waist. “Then how do they learn about fascinating women?”
As they got to the door, a man in a suit came up, tapped Ilya on the shoulder.
“One moment,” Ilya said to Liz as he stepped aside.
She couldn’t hear much, and that was in Russian. But she could see by her glimpse of Ilya’s profile that he wasn’t pleased with what he heard.
But she was reasonably sure his snarled
“There’s something I must take care of. I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right. I understand.”
“Bullshit, Ilya, let somebody else handle it.”
“It’s work,” Ilya said shortly. “It shouldn’t take long—no more than an hour. You go, with Alexi and your friend. I’ll come as soon as I finish.”
“Oh, but—”
“Come on, Liz, it’ll be all right. You can wait for Ilya at Alex’s. He’s got all kinds of music—and a flat-screen TV.”
“You wait.” Ilya leaned down, kissed Elizabeth long and deep. “I’ll come soon. Drive carefully, Alexi. You have precious cargo.”
“So now I have two beautiful women.” Unwilling to lose the momentum, Alex took both girls by the arms. “Ilya takes everything seriously. I like to party. We’re too young to be serious.”
A dark SUV glided up to the curb. Alex signaled, then caught the keys the valet tossed him. He opened the door. Trapped by manners and obligation, Liz climbed in the back. She stared at the door of the club, craning her neck to keep it in view even when Alex drove away, with Julie singing along to the stereo.
It didn’t feel right. Without Ilya, the rush of excitement, anticipation, faded away, left everything flat and
