playing?”
“Yeah,” the other agrees. “You should play professionally or something.”
Never being one who enjoyed being hit on, especially by women who have absolutely no idea of what is going on outside of their own little pick-me bubble, I politely give them the brush-off, thanking them for their empty compliments and continuing on my way until I am pressed up against Alexis.
“I want you,” I whisper into her ear.
“Really?” she whispers back. “Are you sure you just don’t want anyone else to want me?” her icy response somewhat sulky.
Confused as to what she is implying—because yes, I sure as hell ‘don’t want anyone else to want her’—I ask her what’s wrong. “Want to tell me why you sound pissed off?”
She tries to shrug out of my arms—which are still firmly wrapped around her waist—I tighten my grip, she isn’t going anywhere.
“The only reason you kissed me before in front of everyone was because you didn’t want people accidently seeing a little bit of my skin. And just for your information, I’m wearing Hollywood Fashion Tape, so my ‘tits’ will remain within my dress.”
Not allowing her to dwell on her ridiculousness any further, I spin her around and get right up into her beautiful face. “Let’s get one thing straight. I kiss you because I want to fucking kiss you, because I like it and because you taste good. So don’t think for one second that I have an ulterior motive,” I growl on a whisper, as I lean in and get just that bit closer to taste the lips that are warranting this explanation in the first place. “And, as for your tits, yes, I want them to remain in that dress of yours. They are for my eyes only, Hunny...unless...you have a problem with that?”
Her expression softens, and I feel from within my hold—as her body becomes less rigid—that her resolve is melting away. Leaning in, I remove that final torturous centimetre between us and press my lips to hers, kissing her with as much passion as I’m capable of and holding her head to mine while dipping her in my arms.
When Alexis is secured to me, wrapped around me, completely encompassing everything I possess and breathe, I feel nothing but total satisfaction—she absolutely fulfills me.
“Will you two just get a room,” someone complains, that someone sounding a bit like Lil. “You have many rooms; hotels full of rooms in fact, go and use one of those for God’s sake.”
“Shut up, Lil. Leave them alone. They are getting married soon. Plus, watching them is hot!”
Alexis giggles against my mouth at Jade’s argument with Lil then locks eyes with me and smiles. “They are right,” she says a little louder. “We should get a room. Actually, we should get one now.” She pulls away from me and straightens her dress before threading her fingers through mine. “Okay, ladies, thanks for everything. We are calling it a night.”
“Oh no you’re not,” Carly interjects with determination not to be argued with. She storms over to Alexis and prises her hand from mine.
Now, if I really wanted to, I could foil her attempts. The thing is, I have a little something up my sleeve, and his name is Joey. So allowing Alexis to go with her friends is no longer an issue. I know he will protect her and report to me as often as I want him to.
“Fine! Fine! I’m coming,” she groans before turning back and giving me one last kiss. “Be good.”
I shoot her a half-grin as she’s tugged away. “I’m always good.”
“Where are you taking me?” Alexis complains to Carly and Jen as they link their arms through hers.
“Upstairs, we have a surprise for you,” Jen giggles.
I turn to Derek while watching them skip off. “What surprise?”
“Want a drink?” he asks, ignoring my question and heading toward the bar.
As I wait for him to come back, I can’t help but feel uneasy about Alexis’ ‘surprise’. I hate not fucking knowing what is going on.
A well-built—and if I’m completely honest—good looking bloke in a cop’s uniform, holding a duffle bag, walks past. His shady appearance is distracting and only adds to my already unsettled frame of mind. Derek returns and sets my beer down on the bar table, and we both follow the cop with our eyes as he disappears from the club.
Confusion settles in as I wonder why a police officer has just strolled through my nightclub, a police office that looks far too pretty to be a cop. Hearing my phone ring from within my pocket, I pull it out and answer it, not even bothering to look who it is, my bewildered state of mind controlling my actions.
“Sir, Alexis has just entered a suite with her friends. Do you want me to wait outside?” Joey asks.
Agitated and not really paying attention, I tell him he can leave, and then disconnect the call. Moments later, the fog covering my mind appears to lift, and I begin to comprehend why I suddenly feel slightly ill.
“Derek, what fucking surprise have they got for Alexis?” I ask again, hoping to God that cop wasn’t what I thought he was.
The fucker shrugs his shoulders but clearly knows what the hell is going to happen upstairs.
“That better not have been some cockhead, wannabe dancer, pretending to be a cop who wants nothing more than to handcuff my fiance and place her hands all over his spray-tanned, oily body,” I furiously spit out.
Feeling utterly murderous at the thought of another man forcing her to touch him and touching her in return, I begin to follow in the direction the girls headed.
“No you don’t,” Derek says while restraining me.
“Derek, fuck off! Let me go.”
“Dude, it’s just for one night. And anyway, Miss Nude Australia awaits you in Villa four,” he says as he releases one hand and waves a room key in my face.
“You’re an idiot, a dead set idiot. If you think for one second I am going to choose some stripper over rescuing Alexis from some slimy creep, you are dumber than dog shit. Let me go, now!”
“What’s goin’ on?” Will asks as he steps up to the both of us, assessing Derek’s armlock hold.
“Pansy here, wants to ditch Nude Australia and act all caveman in front of Alexis.”
“Speak fucking English,” Will complains.
“Carly has arranged a stripper for Alexis. I’ve arranged one for Bryce. Bryce doesn’t want to go. The dickhead doesn’t want Alexis to go either. I am currently stopping him from ruining everything. Wanna help me out?”
I apply a compression poke to Derek’s L11 pressure point, right in the crook of his elbow joint. This is my warning. If he doesn’t let me go in the next second, I will do some serious damage.
“Argh! Fuck, Bryce. Will, a little help please.”
Will steps in and restrains my hands.
“You arseholes! That dancer pretty-boy cop is about to rub his cock all over our women. How you can be alright with that is beyond me.”
“What pretty-boy cop?” Will queries, stepping back and looking confused. “You mean that one who walked past just before, that big, dark, handsome, police officer is a stripper?”
Derek tilts his head to the side in an assessment of Will. “Are you gay, Man? I don’t care if you are, each to their own.”
“No, I’m not gay. I’m actually this close...” he says holding up his thumb and pointer finger in Derek’s face, “...this bloody close to having Libby touch
“You’re weak. Both of you are fucking weak,” Derek spits out as he lets me go.
“What room are they in?” I ask, picking up my pace and heading for the exit.
“Don’t know,” Derek calls back with a shit-eating grin.
I stop, turn fully around, and start for him. “Tell me what room they are in or you’ll have no teeth left. And I can tell you, a lead singer without teeth will sound pretty fucking hilarious.”
He studies my face for a second. “You’re joking.”
“Am I? Let me ask you something. You’ve seen how Carly reacts to men, men with big muscles in particular. Imagine how she is going to react to body-builder, stripper-jerk. You sure you’re alright with that, alright with her dragging her hands across his chest, clenching his biceps, his arse, and feeling his sweaty junk?”
“She won’t touch his junk,” he affirms with not much conviction.
