She was here to relax and have a good time. The beats to the best dance song ever started to flow out of the speakers. Colored lights flashed on the dance floor and called her name. She tossed back the remainder of her Appletini. “That’s my jam!” she shouted, and ran on to the dance floor.
As Luc stood leaning against the bar, she was well aware of his eyes on her. Without looking at him, the goosebumps on her arms told her all she needed to know. Trying to not let that deter her, she moved her hips to the beat and swung her hands in the air. Some guy bumped up against her and started to grind with her to the music. He was a blond pretty boy wearing too much gold jewelry, and so not her type. Knowing it’d be easy to say no to anything more than a dance, she danced with him.
And with her “bodyguard” watching, she had nothing to worry about. Quinn was still dancing with Luc’s two friends. They were too young for her, but Quinn never discriminated. As long as they were eighteen, that was good enough for Kassie’s friend.
While Kassie was dancing with the blond pretty boy, she felt a strong hand on her hip, and it wasn’t pretty boy’s; both of his hands were in the air. The hand pulled her into a hard body, away from her current dance partner. Still dancing and grinding, she spun around to see who belonged to the hard body that had cut in.
Staring right into Luc’s heavy eyes, she tried to pull away as she yelled, “What are you doing?”
It came out more of a shriek than she wanted. He had just surprised her, especially since he was still holding her close, his hand now on her ass instead of her hip.
“I didn’t like seeing you dancing with that guy,” Luc said in a very calm voice. “He looks like a creep.”
Kassie tried to wiggle free from his grip.
“If you want to dance, let’s dance,” Luc continued, still very calm, but his eyes were heavy and dark.
“I wasn’t dancing with you.”
“Now you are.”
She grimaced at his protective comments, even though they did something to her insides. Maybe it was the way he looked at her. Whatever it was, it was intense.
“What’s the matter, Marcella? Jealous?” Kassie was asking for trouble, but she couldn’t help herself. It was too fun to mess with him.
“You can call me Puck-Star, Kass. Or Luc. Don’t call me Marcella,” he said in an almost growl.
“Aw, why not?” Kassie said with a faux pout.
“The guys call me that. You’re not one of the guys.”
“But we’re friends. Right?” She was grating on his nerves, that much she could tell. That’s what he gets for telling me who I can and can’t dance with.
The music changed, and Luc tightened his grip on her, pulling her closer to his body. He moved with such precise, yet fluid actions, she couldn’t help but move with him. The heat between their bodies, the masculine scent of him, the way his eyes held hers, made the dance sensual and sexy. His suggestive moves had her gasping to catch her breath. But when he moved, letting her know without any mistake what was under those tight blue jeans, she pulled away.
“I-I need another drink.” Hurrying to the bar, she asked for another Appletini.
She didn’t need to turn around to know whose hard body was now pressed up behind her. His warm breath on the crook of her shoulder shot tingles of awareness through her, as he whispered in her ear.
“Did I make you nervous?”
Kassie shook her head as she drank her Appletini. She fanned at her face. “Overheated.”
“Yeah, that happens too.”
Oh my god, is this guy for real?
“You want to dance some more?” His strong hand rested on her hip again.
She didn’t hate how that felt. If she was being honest with herself, she didn’t hate how he took over on the dance floor.
“Kassie!” Quinn squealed, rushing to stand beside her at the bar. The young friends of Luc trailed behind Quinn like puppy dogs. “Barkeep! Two Blow Jobs!”
The young guys’ faces lit up until they realized it was just the name of a shot.
“Don’t worry boys, you’re next,” Quinn yelled with a devilish grin to JJ and Travis.
Kassie wasn’t exactly sure what Quinn meant by that, and she really didn’t want to know. The guys were Luc’s problem, not hers. But Luc seemed to be focused only on her.
The bartender placed the shots before them and Quinn paid. “All right, boys. Will you do the honor of holding my hands behind my back?” Quinn said, and fluttered her eyelashes. “Hey handsome hunky friend of Kassie’s, you get to hold her… I mean her hands. Secure them behind her back, so she can suck this drink down.”
“Oh, Quinn.” Kassie loved her friend dearly, but this was a little too much in front of Luc. Especially with him pressing against her.
“Ready, Kass? One, two, three, go!” Quinn picked up the shot glass with her mouth and tilted her head back, drinking the shot. She slammed the glass back on the bar and looked expectantly at Kassie. When she spoke, she whined. “Kass! You were supposed to drink on go.”
Luc held her hands behind her back, and whispered in her ear, “You don’t have to if you don’t want.”
Too much for him to handle? Kassie didn’t like being told what she could and couldn’t do. She bent down and took the drink in her mouth. Quinn could be heard cheering her on over the noise of the club. Tilting her head up, Kassie drank down the shot, then slammed the glass back on the bar.
She started to sway to the music, as the alcohol ran through her, helping her to feel a little more relaxed. She licked at her lips, catching some rogue whipped cream.
Luc moved beside her. Facing her, he leaned his elbow on the bar. He cocked his head. “Kass, you driving home tonight?”
“No. Uber. I’m responsible like that,” she retorted with sass. Or maybe it was the shot talking.
Luc shook his head, his eyes heavy and filled with disapproval. He had such a brooding sense to him. Maybe it was the way he towered over her. She didn’t hate it.
“I’m taking you home.” His voice was stern, and his eyes focused on her.
“I told you, I’m taking an Uber. And what if I’m not ready yet?” Who was he to tell her what to do?
“And I said I’m taking you home. You’re too tipsy, and I don’t trust you alone in an Uber.”
“Barkeep, another shot please!” She slammed her hand on the bar.
“Really?” Luc shot her a pointed look.
The bartender looked at her, then looked at Luc. “I think I’m cutting you off, young lady. You weigh what, a buck ten? I think you’ve already had too much. Do you have a ride home, or do I need to call you a cab?”
Luc spoke up quickly. “She has a ride home.”
She wanted to argue, but maybe she had drunk too much tonight. “What about Quinn? She’s Ubering too.”
She glanced over at her friend, who was now tongue wrestling with one of the guys, while the other danced behind her. All Kassie could do was groan and be thankful she wasn’t as drunk as Quinn.
“No. I called the guys a cab and for her, too. Although, it appears they may be only making one stop.” He nodded to Quinn and the guys.
Quinn was not shy about public displays of affection. Obviously.