Chapter Two
The White Rabbit
Dropping my bags on the floor, I flopped back on my couch unceremoniously and closed my eyes. This afternoon was a doozy. After I left Grant Morgan’s apartment, I headed over to Mr. Rosencrest’s house. I needed to bring his aging father’s seemingly vintage car to get a tune-up. Carrying the grocery bags for delivery to my next client, I loaded up the car and got in, adjusting the seat. I turned the key, and nothing happened. Absolutely nothing.
After pounding my head against the steering wheel a few times, I sucked it up and called a tow truck. Seeing as how we live in New York City, of course the wait was outrageous. Without any other choice, I waited. And waited. And then waited some more.
While waiting, one of my higher maintenance clients decided she needed ten new pairs of silk thigh-highs, pronto. She didn’t want to wait. She didn’t want to hear about how I was stranded with another client’s car. All she wanted was her new stockings.
Such is the day in the life of me.
After waiting for a tow truck for almost three hours and running around to three different stores to find the right silk stockings, I couldn’t wait to get home and prop my feet up on the table and down a glass of wine.
“Knock, knock,” Maya shouted from the doorway to my apartment.
“Hey,” I called back as I watched her walk through the room.
My apartment is cozy. It is by no means large and spacious. It does, however, have a fireplace, which is an amenity you didn’t usually find in the city. There are lots of eastern facing windows, which means lots of early sunshine to get me going in the morning. I had the place decorated with warm, rich tones. Family photos and knickknacks were scattered throughout the space, while the walls are covered with paintings that I picked up at a steal from an artist friend of mine.
My white couch faces the fireplace and overflows with accent pillows that are soft and feel luxurious. I figured if I didn’t have the money for fancy furniture, I could at least accessorize with more expensive pieces. Hence, the extremely expensive Egyptian cotton sheets on my bed.
Perpendicular to the couch is a plush white chair. Its back draped with an Indian scarf that Collette bought me when she was in the Middle East. In between the couch and the fireplace is a dark-stained, square teak coffee table that I found at a flea market. It is sturdy and looked gorgeous. It is one of my favorite pieces in the room.
On the left side of the fireplace is the doorway to my bedroom. The living room opens up to the kitchen, just big enough for a small table. Off to the side of the kitchen is the door to the bathroom, complete with a claw foot tub.
“Get your lazy ass up. We’re going out tonight,” Maya informed me with a kick to my foot.
“You couldn’t get me off this couch if you paid me,” I grumbled in response. She had to be smoking crack if she wanted me to move. I could sleep for days with how exhausted I felt.
Maya gave me an exasperated look and said, “I don’t care if I have to drag you by your hair. We haven’t been out in forever and I talked to Tina earlier. We have VIP tickets for the White Rabbit. You can’t turn that down. Besides, we haven’t seen them in a while and are due to catch up. It will be fun. Which I know is something you have forgotten how to have, but I swear to God, tonight. You. Will. Have. Fun.”
I closed my eyes and sighed. Maya was as tenacious as a pit bull if she really wanted something. Arguing with her wasn’t going to do me any good. I knew this, but still I wanted to throw a temper tantrum like a little girl. Why couldn’t I just stay in? Why did I have to do something just because she wanted me to? Granted, it had been a long time since I actually got dressed up and went out.
“Remember that cute outfit we bought a few months back? The teal-colored one? You were just complaining you haven’t had a chance to wear it. Tonight is that chance.”
“Fine. But next time I don’t want to go out, I don’t want to hear shit from you. Not one single word,” I threatened even though I knew that was never going to happen.
“Yay!” She squealed and jumped up to run into my room. “Get in the shower, pronto. I’ll lay out your wardrobe.”
Pulling myself together, I stalked off to the bathroom and prepared for a night out filled with booze, dancing and great friends. A small smile played on my lips. Tired or not, I knew it was going to be amazing.
?????
Entering the club, the bass pounded, vibrating through me, straight down to my toes. I felt my body moving of its own accord to the beat of the music. Going out tonight was a good idea. I’m glad that Maya talked me into it. I really needed the release after working so hard this week.
The White Rabbit is the premier club in that part of Manhattan. Luckily, I knew the wife of the owner, Nik. Otherwise, we probably would have been stuck in line with hundreds of other people looking to have a good time.
I walked into the main room of the club, where booths ran along the sides of the room. The retro black and white tiled dance floor sat four or five steps below the bar. Bodies writhed against each other in perfect unison, beckoning you to join them in their debauchery, as the deejay spun old school hip-hop beats.
We greeted Asian Alice controlling the entrance to the VIP area and made a beeline to the bar for a Cosmo. The thing about the White Rabbit that made it so unique, and in demand was the fact that it played up the Alice in Wonderland theme – from the whimsical, swirling paint lining the walls and the framed pieces of artwork to the big bronzed Cheshire Cat statue by the bar. The waitresses even wore short light blue and white pinafore dresses with puffy sleeves, thigh-high white lace stockings with garters and white Mary Jane shoes with four-inch heels. Their look was capped off with long, blonde wigs with a light blue bow. It was quirky and very adult Disney.
Taking a sip of my drink, Maya and I joined Nik’s wife Tina, and her friends Nat, Mimi and Lola at their table.
Tina owns Safira Boutique across the street. I met her when I was shopping for one of my clients. Her merchandise is top of the line, and a must have for many in the city. The girls all work for her at the boutique. Nat is married to the head security guy, Ghost. Nik and Ghost, along with their other friends are so damn hot they could make you melt with just a look. I swear it should be illegal for that many hot guys to be friends. They threaten a girl’s sanity whenever they are together.
“Oh my God! It’s been so long since we’ve seen you!” I hugged the girls, trying to think back to how long it had been since we’d all hung out.
Tina rubbed her swollen belly when she sat back down, taking me by surprise. I had no idea she was pregnant.
“This is yours and Nik’s first child, right?” I asked while sipping my Cosmo.
“Oh sweetie, they aren’t mine.” Smiling, she reached over to pat my hand.
Mimi and Lola couldn’t quite hide their chuckles while Nat looked at Tina like she hung the moon. And stars. And everything in between.
I met Maya’s gaze and lifted my eyebrow. Not hers? What? I think I missed a step somewhere.
“Not yours?” I asked, bemused.
Nat surprised me when she lifted a hand to hold Tina’s belly. So much love and affection was written on her face. She glanced over to me and explained, “I can’t have kids. Tina already has two little princesses. And these little peanuts are mine.” Tina coughed. Nat rolled her eyes. “Well, mine and Asher’s of course.” She looked over at me and winked. “But they’re gonna be like their mama. If they’re like their daddy, I’ve got problems.”
“That is so wonderful! So, you and Nik have little girls. And Nat and Ghost are having twins! I feel like I’ve missed everything!”
Lola smiled sweetly. “I know, right? These guys don’t mess around. Tina’s vagina is a freakin’ clown car!”
Mimi bit her lip to hold in her laughter. Turning to take in Tina’s miffed expression, she lost her battle and howled with laughter. Lola, looking a little embarrassed, tried to soothe a sulky Tina. “I’m sure it’s a nice clown car! Nik can’t seem to get enough of your clown car. It’s a golden clown car!”
Nat bunched up her face. “Ewww.”
Mimi laughed harder.
Tina glared at Lola. “Would you stop calling my lady bits a clown car? It’s bad enough I look like a whale right now.”
Nat wrapped an arm around Tina and pulled her close, resting her head on Tina’s shoulder. “You’re the most beautiful whale I’ve ever seen.”
And although Tina tried to look upset, she scowled with a radiant smile in place. She really did look gorgeous. Pregnancy was good to her.
“I happen to like clown cars,” I chimed in hoping to make Tina feel better. Maya spit out her drink, while the rest of the girls choked on their laughter.
“What?” I asked, not sure what was so damn funny.
Tina squeezed my knee and threw me a serious expression. “You just said you like my vagina, honey.” It was my turn to choke on my drink. Did I really just say that?
Tina chuckled, “Not that I’m complaining. It’s nice to know someone who isn’t Nik appreciates my lady bits.”
“Well, maybe I do like a little muff every now and then,” I huffed indignantly. My face started to burn with embarrassment. I couldn’t believe I had just said that.
Nat scoffed, “Oh, please. You are as straight-laced as they come, woman. You need to let down your hair and stir up the vanilla. You don’t have to go from vanilla to chocolate right away. You can just add some chocolate chips here and there.” Her face turned dreamy. “You wouldn’t believe the pleasure in chocolate chip.”
Mimi cocked a brow my way. “Vanilla’s lame.”
Lola grinned, “Totally lame. You need your ass spanked, babe. Be a bad girl. They love it.” She winked. “You’ll love it too. I swear.”
Tina sipped her drink. Looking down into her glass with a furrowed brow, she mumbled, “I like vanilla.”
“There isn’t anything wrong with vanilla sex. Christian Grey even said so,” I defended the fact that everyone seemed to think I was such a prude. I might not talk about my sexual exploits, but they were fulfilling enough. I had an orgasm… most of the time. Whatever.
“Who is that hottie talking to your husband?” Maya asked Tina, her gaze fixated over my shoulder.
Curious, I turned and locked eyes with the most delectable, dark haired man that I had ever seen. I never would have thought it possible, but the pictures had done him no justice whatsoever. His jaw was square, his cheekbones high, his eyes piercing, his hair short on the sides, but longer and wavy on top, and his suit should have looked out of place, but on him it was anything but.
“Oh, that’s Grant Morgan. He’s Nik’s lawyer.”
I vaguely registered the girls talking behind me about the man holding my gaze. A shiver worked up my spine the longer he stared. I felt as if he was stripping me with just his eyes. I felt bared to him and at his mercy. My thighs started to tremble, and my palms were sweating. The effect he was having on me was out of this world. I’d never felt this way before, especially about someone I didn’t even know. He made me feel aware of every single thing about myself.
“Earth to Elizabeth! Come in Elizabeth!” Maya chided from her seat across from me.
“What?” I asked distractedly, not wanting to break my gaze from the man who was slowly beginning to own me. How could he possibly be having a conversation with Nik right now, while all my systems were shutting down?
“Seriously! You are practically drooling over him! And he’s staring right at you! You should go talk to him!”
“No.” I shook my head and turned to face Maya, breaking the spell he was weaving over me. “He’s a client. Besides, I’ve heard the stories. He rarely goes back for seconds. I’m not in the market to become a notch on his fancy bedpost.”
I downed my drink and signaled the waitress for another. I was definitely going to need alcohol to forget about all the thoughts that seeing Grant was putting in my head.
“You’re too rigid, girl. You need to loosen up a little,” Mimi said, backing up Maya’s typical diatribe.
“See! I’m not the only one who thinks so,” Maya joined in, making me roll my eyes. I was so over this conversation. Seemed a subject change was in order.
“So, Nat, did you guys pick out names yet?”
Nat leaned back with a sigh. “We haven’t. We’re stuck. Ash seems to think we’re going to have two boys. I’m pretty damn sure it’s going to be two girls, what with my family having all girls. We can’t decide. Not until we find out the babies’ genders.” She smirked, “But I’ve got some pretty good names in my head. And in my head is where they’ll stay until they’re born.”
Mimi piped up, “It’s a boy and a girl.”
Everyone turned to look at her, stunned by the determination in her voice.
Suddenly looking uncomfortable, Mimi added with a shrug. “Just a feeling. Whatever.”
While the girls chatted away, Tina leaned closer to me and whispered, “I know it’s none of my business, but I just wanted to let you know that Grant is a really good guy.” The look of disbelief clear on my face, she added with a grin, “When you get to know him, that is.”
Remembering the way he looked at me had my body flushing with arousal. There was a magnetism about him that couldn’t be denied, but he was dangerous with a capital D. Even if I didn’t have my rule about getting involved with people I work for, there was no way I could pursue anything with Grant. I had a deep sense of foreboding that he would be my downfall. I couldn’t chance the structure I’ve worked so hard to create for my life crumbling at my feet.
A while later, a tap on my shoulder made me turn, and I was greeted by the sight of my friend with benefits, Matt.
“Hey, pretty girl!” He shouted over the music and pulled me out of my chair, so he could engulf me in a tight hug.
“Hey, you!” I replied back and kissed his cheek. It was always awkward when we were together in public. I mean, are friends with benefits supposed to hold hands and engage in PDA? The whole thing was a definite gray area. And I didn’t do well with gray areas. I preferred life to be defined.
Matt set me down on my feet and signaled the waitress for a beer. He turned back to me, and his eyes journeyed down my body, flaring in a familiar way that showed me he liked what he saw. Even I had to admit I looked pretty hot in this outfit. My leather pants cupped my ass perfectly. The teal shirt had a black lace overlay and was fitted across my chest and torso. It had barely there black sleeves and the V-shaped neckline cut down low and accentuated my cleavage. I had on the most amazing pair of platform teal and black four-inch heels that made my legs look extra long. My wrist was covered in black beaded bracelets, and my ears had black dangling earrings hanging from them. My long, blonde hair was styled in soft waves down my back with the sides pinned loosely back, and small pieces framing my face. And my makeup was done up in what I liked to call, “Drama.”
“I didn’t know you were coming out tonight,” I said as we waited for his drink.
“Maya called me before you guys left,” he gestured towards Maya with his chin. “I figured it would be fun. This place is crazy slammed tonight. I can’t believe how many people are here.”
His eyes wandered over the bar, and I noticed several girls staring in his direction, licking their lips and panting like cats in heat. I didn’t blame them. At just under six feet, Matt could be a model with his tousled brown hair and green eyes. His body was fit and lean from his active lifestyle. But a sure sign that things with Matt and me would never progress was the fact that I wasn’t jealous in the slightest from all the attention he got. I had no claim to him, and he had none to me.
Once he had his beer, he sucked back a healthy amount before pointing towards the dance floor. “You want to dance?”
I nodded and let him lead me by the hand out to the floor. Whenever we were out together, we always danced for hours. Matt could definitely move.
Arms in the air, hips swaying, I lost myself in the sounds of 112’s, “Peaches and Cream.” Matt moved up behind me, pulling me back against his hard chest, grinding his hips into mine. His hands glided teasingly down my arms and sides, causing a slow burn in my belly. His hand moved my hair over my shoulder so his lips could skim along the side of my neck, sending shivers down my spine.
Feeling like I was being watched, my eyes opened and looked directly into the blazing, heated gaze of Grant Morgan. I had made myself forget that he was there, but apparently he hadn’t forgotten I was. He sat forward in his booth, one arm propped on his leg – watching me. He was the master of his domain and of his body. You could tell he was at ease with himself and knew how to command his body. He had a powerful aura now that I was closer to him. And if I wasn’t mistaken, his jaw seemed to tick when Matt ran his hands intimately down my thighs as he danced behind me.
The dance floor was packed with bodies gyrating together. I could feel all my movements being tracked by Grant through the crowd. I could see the movement of his eyes on my hips as I dipped low. Whenever my hands would run up my torso and over my breasts, he would lick his lips. If Matt touched me intimately, Grant’s hands would tighten into fists.
At one point, I even caught him subtly adjusting himself. When he did that, I closed my eyes, overcome with a wave of need. I ran my hands over my breasts and down my torso, further stimulating myself. I could imagine my hands down his pants, feeling his hardness beneath my palm as I squeezed it and made him hiss with pleasure. And when my hands skirted further down my body, I imagined they were his, seeking to give me the same pleasure that I was giving him.
When I opened my eyes, the hunger I saw in his made my desire increase exponentially. I was so hot I felt like I would combust at any second. He was looking at me like I was his next meal, and I desperately wanted to find a platter to serve myself to him on.
From that moment forward, I danced for Grant. It was beyond my control. My imagination went wild with thoughts of him behind me, moving me sensually against him. Matt or not, I only wanted Grant to watch me. Only wanted him to touch me. Only wanted him to want me. It was dangerous. It was reckless. It was everything I wasn’t.
Grant watched me the whole time. Even when waitresses brought him what looked like whiskey or scotch, and even when Nik came back to talk with him. It was a rare occasion for me to look his way and not see his eyes on me. His heated look made my skin tingle, and my panties grow wet with desire. I might as well have been naked, for the way his eyes stripped me bare.
And that was how I spent the rest of the night. Seductively beckoning Grant to join me. Secretly wishing he would answer my unspoken call. When a man I didn’t know came up and pulled him away, I watched him leave the club and felt an odd sense of loss blanket me. What was happening to me?