Chapter 19 Episode 19
1656 Words
I stop listening. While Belle continues her rant against me, Ispin around and open the cabinet behind me. On the bottomshelf is a shallow, rectangular box wrapped in a black satinbow. I pull it out and drop it on my desk with a soft thump.
Belle jerks back. “What is that?”
“Open it and find out.”
Her eyes are still narrowed in suspicion at me, but she opensthe lid like she expects a snake to pop out at her.
When she sees what’s inside, she sucks in a surprised breath.
“Where did you get this dress?”
“Something I had lying around.”
It’s not a lie. It’s just not the entire truth.
I pull the forest green material out and drape it over my arm.“Put it on.”
She takes it from my hands like it’s priceless, which is actuallynot too far off. “Why?”
“Because reason number two why the bouncer wouldn’t letyou in is your clothes.”
“What’s wrong with my clothes?” She twists each of her legsin turn like she’s inspecting her wool pants for rips or stains.
“You’re covered from your ankle to your neck.” I reach overand pull the collar of her shirt apart slightly. It’s enough toreveal the tiniest hint of cleavage. “Show a little skin andyou’d have gotten in easily.”
She jerks away from me and frowns. “I’m not sure if I’moffended or flattered.”
“The little I know of you so far, it’s both,” I say. “Now, changeand we’ll go get your sister.”
I scoff. “Are you serious?”
“I’ve seen you, in case you forgot. All of you. I don’t thinkthere’s much mystery between us.”
“It’s not about mystery. It’s about decency,” she snaps. “Whichyou have none of.”
Belle stares at me for a long second, but when I cross my armsand resume my staring, she squares her shoulders. “Fine.”
She then proceeds to pull the silk dress on over her clothes.
“What the f**k are you doing?”
“I was a lifeguard three summers in a row,” she says as shereaches underneath the dress and starts unbuttoning her shirt.“I could get in and out of a wet swimsuit without a changingroom.”
“I’d pay to see that,” I chuckle, though my c**k stiffens at thethought of Belle, dripping wet with ocean water.
She pulls one sleeve and then the other off before sliding theshirt out from under the dress and dropping it on the floor. “Itwould be a waste of money because there’d be nothing to see.”
I watch as she unzips and removes her pants and slides off herwhite lacy bra without showing even the smallest glimpse ofskin. Finally, she zips the dress up and looks down at herself.
“It’s a little small,” she says, adjusting her chest and tuggingthe material down around her hips. “But you did okay findingmy size.”
“Okay” is an understatement. I couldn’t have picked bettereven if it had been her I was buying it for.
She’s right—the dress is a little tight. But that just makes it allthe better. The material stretches and tugs deliciously on everysingle one of her curves. And where the hemline is intended towhisper across her knee, it’s closer to mid-thigh. The discreteslit is spread wide, giving a scintillating view of her long, leanthigh.
Xena Simatou would look like the off-brand option in thisdress. I can’t believe I almost gave it to her instead.
This dress was made for Belle.
And she was made for me.
“Well?” Belle asks, throwing her arms out wide. “Do I lookokay? Are we ready?”
“Fine,” I growl. “You look fine.”
Fine like wine. Fine like art. Fine like I want to inspect everyinch of her with my fingers and my tongue.
I grab my keys and walk past her into the hallway. “Let’s go.”
Belle’s hand is tucked in mine as we walk past the line ofpeople waiting outside of The Ruby Room.
“I already tried this,” she hisses, tugging awkwardly at thedress as it rides up even higher around her thighs.
A man with a shaved head and a silver chain around his neckstares at her hungrily. I pull her closer and glare over her headat him until he backs down.
“No, you didn’t,” I tell her. “You didn’t have me last time.”
“And what are you going to do?”
I gesture to the dress. “I’ve done most of the work by puttingyou in this. Every man in this line wants to f**k you.”
She looks around nervously. “Ew.”
“So now, all you have to do is act like you’ve seduced a maneven once in your life, and we’re in.”
“I seduced you, didn’t I?”
“How could I forget?” I drawl sarcastically. “The way younearly projectile vomited in that plane stole my breath away.”
Her face flushes, and she tugs on the dress again, trying tocover more of herself. I grab her hands and fold them in mine.
“Stop fidgeting and stand tall. Act like your body is a gift, nota burden.”
She huffs and straightens her shoulders. Immediately, her chestlooks fuller and her waist looks smaller. Carrying herself with
a little confidence makes a huge difference.
Her frown deepens. “I’m not your show pony.”
I stop, turn, and get in her face. “Do you want to get throughthat door and find your sister?” I growl.
She glares for a second and then her face splits into a wide,glittering smile. I know it’s fake, but that doesn’t lessen theimpact. The woman is gorgeous.
“f**k off,” she says, the smile still plastered on her face.
I bury a smirk. Then I grab her hand and lead her towards thedoor.
The bouncer is a massive wall of a man with a bald head and abraided gray beard that hangs to the middle of his chest. Hehas one beefy hand on the velvet rope. “Sorry, sir. There’s aprivate party here tonight. We’re at capacity. You’ll have towait your turn in line.”
Belle sashays around me and bats her long lashes at the man.Even though his expression doesn’t change, I watch his eyessweep over her. He’s obviously appreciating the view.
I fight the urge to move in front of her like a shield. Also, theurge to break his f*****g neck.
“We promise not to cause any trouble,” she says in a delicate,flirty voice I’ve never heard from her before. She bites herlower lip and smiles. “Well, not unless you ask nicely.”
The man’s pierced eyebrow jumps. “You’re causing enoughtrouble as it is in that dress.”
Belle giggles and lifts my arm up to spin herself in a circle.“He gave it to me. You like?”
“I like.” The bouncer glances up at me while he talks to Belle.“Is he your boyfriend?”
“Then I think we have room inside for one more,” the bouncersays. He leans over the rope. “And my shift ends in an hour.What if you and I—”
“What if I let you keep your eyes in your f*****g head?” Igrowl.
He stands tall again. “I thought you weren’t her boyfriend.”
Belle laughs and presses her back against my front, drapingmy arm over her shoulder. “He’s protective, that’s all. Allbark, no bite.”
I hold back a smile. Belle has no idea just how wrong that is.
“Well, we don’t want any trouble inside,” the bouncer says. “Ifyou want to go in alone, honey, you can. But your not-a-boyfriend has to stay out here.”
I feel Belle pull away from me slightly, but I tighten my armaround her and hug her against my chest. She gave it her besteffort, and I applaud her for that.
But I’ll take things from here.
“If you don’t want any trouble, then I suggest you let meinside.”
“Alright, man. It’s time for you to go,” the bouncer says. “Ihear more than enough threats from guys looking to playtough, and—”
“I don’t make threats,” I say. “I make promises. And if youdon’t let us inside, I promise you won’t be alive to see yourshift end in an hour.”
Fear flickers across the man’s features. He opens his mouth torespond, but Belle whines. She pets my hand, wrapping herhand around each of my fingers in turn and pulling. Betweenthat and her ass fitted against me, I’m struggling to stayfocused.
The bouncer is watching her motions, too.
“No killing anyone tonight,” she tuts. “You promised.”
Belle is playing a part, but she has no clue how close to thetruth she is.
“You promised we’d have a nice night,” she continues. “Justpay him, Niki.”
She slides her hand between our bodies and reaches into mypocket. I feel my wallet slide out, but I let Belle take the lead.Mostly because the bouncer is watching her with a fair amountof curiosity. If nothing else, we are making his night moreinteresting.
She opens my wallet and pulls out a stack of cash. She fans itin front of the bouncer. “Please take the money and let him in.You seem nice. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Jealousy twists in my stomach, but then Belle rolls her hipsagainst me again. I’m not sure if she’s doing it on purpose tokeep me calm, but either way, it’s working. Somehow.
- Writer
