Dirty little secrets

Chapter 25

Ava

We left the mall with all those bags, my arms aching from carrying half of them even though he tried to grab most, and I was still buzzing from the crepes and his knee pressing against mine under the table, like he couldn't stop touching me even while we ate. "Hotel first," he said, steering me toward the car, that smirk on his face making him look way younger than he was, and I nodded, heart pounding because yeah, clubbing sounded fun, but the idea of crashing with him after? That was the real thrill. The driver took us to this sleek place downtown, not some cheap motel, all glass doors and marble lobby, and he checked in quick, flashing his card like it was nothing, then handed me a keycard. "Room 003. Drop your stuff, change into that red dress. I'll meet you down here in ten." He actually picked the top VIP room, I love big daddies so much. ^^

I rode the elevator up alone, grinning like an i***t, and the room was huge king bed, city view, minibar stocked but I didn't linger, just dumped the bags and stripped fast, shimmying into the red dress he'd picked, the one that hugged my t**s and ass just right, short enough to feel risky. I fixed my hair quickly, added some lip gloss from my bag, and texted Riley: "At hotel, changing for club. This is insane." She shot back: "Pics or it didn't happen, slut." I laughed, snapped a mirror selfie, sent it, then headed down.

He was waiting in the lobby, changed too black button-up open at the collar, showing a hint of chest, jeans that fit him perfectly, hair still messy but somehow hotter now. "Damn," he said, eyes raking over me as I walked up, and he pulled me close, kissing me hard right there, his hand sliding down to grab my ass quick before letting go. "You ready to dance?"

"Hell yes," I said, linking my arm with his as we headed out to the car again. The drive was short, city lights blurring past, and he kept his hand on my thigh the whole time, thumb rubbing circles that made me squirm. "Never been to a real club," I admitted, voice low, and he glanced over, smiling softly.

"First time for everything. Stick with me, kid." Kid…. f**k, that should've annoyed me, but coming from him, it just made me wetter, like he knew he was twice my age but didn't give a s**t.

The club was this spot called Eclipse or something, all neon signs and a line out the door, but he bypassed it, nodding at the bouncer who waved us in like we owned the place. Inside, it hit me, bass thumping so hard I felt it in my chest, lights flashing purple and blue, crowd packed but not trashy, more like people in designer s**t sipping fancy drinks. VIP sections up on platforms with ropes, bottles popping, and yeah, upscale but with that edge, girls in tiny dresses grinding on guys, smoke from vapes or whatever curling up. I felt this rush, like holy s**t, I'm here, weird as f**k but he's making it happen. Adult freedom yeah, that's what it was, no parents, no Jax bullshit, just me and him in this world I barely knew.

He guided me through the crowd, hand firm on my lower back, possessive but not shoving, just steering me like he owned me and the space around us. We hit the bar first, him ordering shots, tequila for me, whiskey for him and he leaned in close to shout over the music. "To new adventures," he said, clinking glasses, and we downed them, the burn hitting fast, making me cough-laugh.

"f**k, that's strong," I gasped, and he grinned, pulling me toward the dance floor.

"Come on, show me what you got."

I started dancing first, just swaying to the beat, arms up, feeling the alcohol loosen me up, and he stood there watching, smiling that half-smile, eyes locked on me like I was the only one in the room. God, the way he looked at me watching the youth in me bloom or whatever poetic s**t, but it wasn't poetic, it was real, like he was soaking it in, this older guy getting a kick out of my energy. I laughed, grabbing his hand. "What, you too old to dance? Come on, I'll teach you."

He let me pull him onto the floor, chuckling low. "Teach me? Baby, you have no idea."

And f**k, he was right I thought I'd show him some moves, but the second we were in the crowd, bodies pressing around us, he pulled me close, one hand on my waist, the other sliding to my hip, and started moving like a pro. Slowly at first, grinding against me in time with the bass, his body hard and warm, and I melted into it, laughing surprised. "Okay, okay, you're good at this. Where'd you learn?"

"Years of practice," he murmured in my ear, breath hot, and his hand dipped lower, fingers grazing the hem of my dress, sliding up my thigh just a bit. "But with you? It feels brand new."

The dance turned frantic very quick, music picking up, our bodies slamming together in the best way, sweat starting to slick my skin. His hands roamed waist to hips, then bolder, one slipping under the dress to trace my inner thigh, making me gasp. "You look sinful in this," he whispered over the bass, lips brushing my ear. "Red on you? Drives me crazy."

I teased back, grinding my ass against him harder, feeling him rock hard through his jeans. "Yeah? Feel how wet you make me?" I shot over my shoulder, voice breathy, and he groaned low, hand tightening on my hip.

"f**k, Ava, you're killing me." And I loved it, I loved how his composed professor bullshit cracked, that facade slipping as he lost himself in the rhythm, eyes dark and hungry.

We danced like that for what felt like forever, song after song, my head spinning from the shots and the heat, and at some point he spun me around, pulling me chest-to-chest, kissing me deep right there on the floor, tongue sliding in, hands everywhere. "I like you a lot," he said when we broke for air, voice rough, and it hit me he meant it, not just f**k-buddy s**t, but real like, the kind where he saw me happy with him and wanted it forever, or at least that's what I thought, what I felt bubbling up in my chest. "You make me feel alive again. Happy. Like I could do this forever with you."

I blinked, heart flipping, because yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking happy with him, wishing this night, this trip, us, could stretch on forever, no end date. "Me too," I whispered back, pulling him down for another kiss, softer this time, but then the music kicked harder and we were grinding again, frantic, his hand sliding higher under my dress, fingers brushing my panties.

"Need a drink," he said eventually, pulling back reluctantly, sweat on his forehead. "You want water? Another shot?"

"Water," I panted, nodding, and he kissed my forehead quickly before weaving through the crowd to the bar.

I kept dancing alone, feeling the beat, eyes closed, loving the freedom, but then this guy appeared. college-age maybe, cute in that frat-boy way, blond hair, smirking as he danced up close. "Hey, gorgeous, you alone? Dance with me?"

I laughed, shaking my head, still moving. "Nah, I'm good."

But he didn't back off, stepping closer, hands on my waist light. "Come on, you're too hot to dance solo. What's your name?"

"Ava," I said, trying to twist away politely, but he pulled me a bit, complimenting nonstop. "That dress? Killer. You from around here? Let me buy you a drink."