“Playing the wallflower doesn’t suit you, Olivia,” Marcus said, sauntering over to me after greeting a table full of guests who’d just arrived in the VIP section.
I smiled, adjusting the hem of the short midnight blue dress he’d given me to wear tonight. “I’m not. Just helping you keep an eye on your business.”
“How thoughtful of you.” He sat down next to me, his hand resting on my upper thigh, sending a thrill through my entire body. “Not a bad way to make a living.”
I glanced up at him, catching the playful gleam in his green eyes. In front of us, the dance floor was filling quickly. For all the drama going on elsewhere in Marcus’s business dealings, Desire was thriving. A mass of bodies writhed and twisted rhythmically to the hypnotic beat already and the place had only been open for an hour.
“This is the fun part of my life,” Marcus said. “Watching people enjoy the space I created.”
I jokingly swatted at his hand on my leg. “I thought I was the fun part of your life.”
He leaned over, putting his lips against my ear to speak. I could almost feel his gaze locked on the low neck of the dress that showed more of my breasts than it covered. “You are the sexy, sweet, smart, silly part of my life.”
Warmth filled me. With everything we’d been through recently, tonight felt different. Like Marcus and I were truly together. A team. I’d seen the darker side of him, the things he did to afford the dress I was wearing and the club we were sitting in. But he was more than that. What we had was bigger than that. No matter my reservations about his shady businesses, Marcus had always been honest with me. That meant everything to me.
“Thanks again for the dress.”
“Seeing you in it is all the thanks I need. Well, maybe getting you out of it…”
I grinned, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear. I’d managed a wash and go with the products Marcus sent someone out for earlier and my mass of curls was looking great and smelling even better.
A shirtless waiter in very tight pants approached with a tray balanced on one hand. He placed two glasses of champagne on the small table in front of us and handed me a tiny, flat, wrapped parcel.
“What’s this?” I looked back and forth between the waiter and Marcus.
Marcus shrugged. “Open it and find out.”
I thanked the waiter and tore open the wrapping, revealing a brand new sleek cell phone. I gasped. “Marcus! You didn’t have to replace my phone. I would have gotten to it.”
“You lost it because of me, seemed like the least I could do.” He planted a soft kiss on my lips. “All your contacts and stuff are transferred over. Should be ready to go.”
“Thank you,” I said, setting the phone down to show my appreciation. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him firmly. “My hero.”
Marcus smirked. “That’s one I can honestly say I never got before.”
“Well, it’s true.” I shifted, sliding my body over into his lap. “You take such good care of me.”
Marcus gripped my waist and looked deep into my eyes. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Olivia.” His tone was low and serious. I knew he meant it. Once, it might have frightened me to think about just how far he might go, but now it was comforting. No, more than that. Exciting.
I leaned over, resting my head on his chest. Marcus brushed a hand over my hair gently. “Aren’t you gonna turn your new phone on? I know how your generation can’t be without those things.”
“Quiet, old man,” I muttered with a snort of laughter. I pressed the button to activate the phone, and the screen lit up immediately. As I scrolled through to check all the settings, notifications from multiple apps pinged repeatedly.
The new phone had carried over my highlighted message settings and one popped up. “Shit,” I said, clambering off of Marcus’s lap.
“What’s wrong?”
“Message from my boss from last night. He needed a copy of something sent to a client, but there’s no remote access to the servers.”
“Do you need to go to the office?”
“No.” I scanned the series of messages. “He got someone else to take care of it, but I should call and apologize.”
“Of course. You can use my office in the back. It’s quiet.”
This was one in a long list of great things about being with Marcus. He understood that work is important. Most guys my age would’ve thrown a fit or not gotten how important it was for me to make a good impression on my boss, even halfway across the world.
Marcus directed me through the VIP section, around a corner, and down a narrow hallway. He used a keycard, unlocked a door marked ‘PRIVATE’ and ushered me inside, revealing a small but neat office. “Take all the time you need. I’ll be right outside,” he said, closing the door behind him.
As I sat down at the desk, my thoughts drifted to Elle. I hadn’t heard from her in a while, and that nagging worry began to gnaw at the edges of my mind. Picking up my phone, I shot her a quick text, hoping she’d respond right away. When there was no immediate reply, I tried calling her, but it went straight to voicemail. I left a quick message, then called my boss. That also went to voicemail. This time I left a longer message explaining about losing my phone and promising to be on call for anything else he or the other partners needed.
I hung up and tried Elle one more time. Nothing. The office door opened a crack. Marcus poked his head in, holding my abandoned glass of champagne. “Did you get fired or promoted? We can celebrate or drown your sorrows.”
I laughed. “Neither. No answer. From my boss or my roommate.”
“Oh?” He stepped into the room and closed the door. “When was the last time you heard from her?”
“When she left to get me snacks after the emergency room.”
“Hmm, that is weird, considering. Want me to send someone over to your place to check on her? Maybe she’s just sleeping.”
“She could be. Or out of the service area. Last week, her boss sent her up to the mountains to buy special honey or something.”
“That’s probably it, then.” Marcus replied. “But I’ll send a car over to your place, just to be sure.”
“Thanks.” I took the champagne from his hand, downed it in one go and smiled. “Now, what do you say we actually enjoy this nightclub of yours?”
*
Music reverberated through my bones and filled every step with excitement as Marcus and I made our way to the middle of the dance floor. As his arms wrapped around me and we joined, the rhythmic motion fueling the crush of bodies around us, I thought back to the night we met. The instant, powerful attraction was still there, stronger now. But something else had joined it, true connection.
Our bodies moved in sync, hips swaying to the rhythm, breath mingling in the heated air between us. Every touch, every brush of skin against skin, sent shivers down my spine. The warmth of Marcus’s breath tickled my earlobe as we swayed together. “God, Olivia, I could dance with you forever.”
“Just dance?”
His hands circled my waist, drawing me closer. “To start.”
“Mmm, and then what?” I asked.
His gaze was intense and hot enough to burn. “You’re about to find out.”
“Promises, promises,” I replied coyly, pressing my body even closer to his, feeling the heat of his arousal against my thigh.
“I always keep my promises,” he added. But before I could get more details, an arm slid between us. I stepped back automatically before even looking to see who was cutting in.
A pretty woman stood there, her hand entirely too close to Marcus’s chest for my liking. She was petite, with a sultry smile and curves that were impossible to ignore. “Marcus, honey,” she purred, stepping between us with a toss of her head, shutting me out of the conversation. “I’ve been looking for you. Ready to finish what we started last time?”
Marcus crossed his arms, frowning. “Not now, Renita. I’m busy.”
“Really?” she challenged, raising a perfectly arched eyebrow as she cast a derisive look over her shoulder at me. “Looks like you’re not doing anything at all.”
Rich, really, coming from a girl who could be my sister.
“Did I stutter? Go away,” Marcus said through gritted teeth. “Go dance for someone interested.”
“I’m not working tonight, honey.” She — Renita, apparently — ran her hands down her sides, skimming over the lace bodysuit that barely covered any of her firm, curvy figure. “I got all dressed up just for you, Marcus. The way you liked it. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about that night we connected. It was magical. I know you thought so, too.”
My blood ran cold, a lump forming in my throat. I took a few deep breaths before speaking, wanting to seem calm. She was there to cause trouble, make me jealous. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction.
“Look,” I said, forcing my voice to remain steady even as my heart pounded in my chest. “It’s clear that you and Marcus have history. But that’s all it is — history.”
“Is that so?” she sneered, her eyes narrowing as she turned her attention back to Marcus. “Marcus, you tell me. Did you forget what it feels like to have your hands on this body? I bed your huge cock is aching for my wet cunt.”
Suppressing a gasp of shock from her crude language, I held up a hand before Marcus could reply. She was putting this show on for me, not him. “Renita, isn’t it?”
She nodded.
“Whatever happened between you and Marcus is none of my business. I’m sorry if you feel slighted, truly. But kindly fuck off. We’re trying to have a nice time tonight.”
Marcus smiled broadly, stepping around Renita and wrapping his arms around me. “Well said, baby. Well said.”
Renita clenched her jaw so tight I thought she’d crack a tooth. She glared for a second before throwing up her hands. “Whatever. You won’t be so smug when the tables are turned.” She hissed, “You’re not special, bitch,” and stormed off.
The crowd of dancers closed around us again. The show was over.
Marcus held my face in his hands. “You okay?”
“Fine. I meant what I said. I’m not letting anything ruin this night for us.”
“I’m impressed,” Marcus said, brushing his thumb across my cheekbone. “I can’t say many women would’ve reacted as calmly as you did. For the record, I didn’t sleep with her.”
I shrugged and slid my arms around his waist. “I’m not the jealous type, and I don’t think you were a monk before we got together. And I don’t want to let her waste another second of our night.”
Despite the nonchalance in my words, my heart thudded in my chest at the thoughts that plagued me. Was I special to him, really? Or would Marcus tire of me soon?
We kept dancing, but the music sounded remote now, the beat unable to truly reach me. While my body remained locked to Marcus, my mind was a million miles away, worrying that the true danger he posed was to my heart.