Boycotts and Barflies (44 page)

As Vicki walked away, Grace noticed that Meg was craning her neck around the crowd. “Now where did those boys run off to?” She was looking toward the section of the bar that Vicki and Steve had just abandoned when she was suddenly lifted high into the air. “Ryan!” she screamed as her legs sailed upwards.

“You looked like you were having fun, so I decided to join you.” Ryan wrapped his arms around Meg and the two of them began dancing away. Without missing a beat, Meg melded her body to his and the two of them were lost in each other amidst the loud music and screaming crowd.

With Meg occupied, Grace and Bianca partnered up to dance. A couple of cheesy club guys tried to cut in and join them, but the pair managed to run them off by completely ignoring them and paying a lot of attention to one another. As the rejected males sulked away, Ryan pointed to the bar where

Jack and Michael were proudly applauding the girls’ efforts.

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The DJ was playing a great mix of dance songs and the crowd loved every second of it. People swarmed to the floor as the music and lights picked up. The room was wall to wall bodies, all moving together in unison to the rapid beat of the music. Even more and more people rushed onto the dance floor when one of their favorites blasted over the sound system, the red lights flashing over the crowd.

“Meg, it’s your song!” Grace called over. Meg simply squealed and began dancing even more enthusiastically, with Ryan laughing at her exuberance.

As Grace started dancing, she felt two strong arms wrap around her from behind, crushing her against a warm chest. “Mind if I join you?” Michael said in her ear as he planted his hands firmly onto Grace’s hips and began to slowly move them in unison with his without missing a beat.

She immediately flashed back to that first night when she had unknowingly danced with him and remembered how well he moved their bodies. “Um, nope. Not at all.” Grace knew she’d have to keep her heart in check, but having him that close made it incredibly difficult. She leaned her head back onto  his chest and let him take the lead, surrendering control and moving her body with his, following his lead.

The tempo of the song changed and Grace wanted to try something. She crooked her finger at Michael, encouraging him to follow her lead. Together, they swiveled their hips down to the ground then slowly back up again, keeping in constant contact with one another. Grace was acutely aware of everything about his body, each muscle she felt moving underneath her fingertips, every curve to his body, every ripple of muscle and just how well they fit together. He couldn’t have held her any closer if he tried, making their two bodies move as one under the flashing lights of the dance floor.

“How did I do?” he asked in Grace’s ear as his hands drifted upwards, hiking up her dress while sending chills down her spine. As the tempo of the song increased, so did the speed of their movements together.

Grace spun around to face him and pulled his head down so his ear was right next to her lips. “Oh, you definitely know how to use your hips.” She gently bit down on his earlobe which made him grind his hips harder into her. “Let me show you a little something the girls taught me.”

When she pulled her cheek away from his, Grace saw his blue eyes were on fire. “Go for it.”  He licked his lips and continued gracefully rocking their bodies together to the beat.

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As the music continued to pulse through the club, whenever the notes began to drop low and the beat slowed, Grace would slither her body down to the floor, keeping contact with Michael the whole time. Her hips swiveled and swayed all the way down. He stood in silence and watched as she seductively crawled back up his body, knowing the sole goal of her actions was to drive him crazy.

She finished her little display by pressing her lips against his chest.

“Wow …” was all Michael could manage to say before he scooped her up into his arms and kissed her.

The way they moved together became more erotic with each passing minute. Every time they had their bodies pressed together, Grace could feel him moving with her in perfect unison. If she closed her eyes, Grace could imagine how it would feel to move this way with him later that night, minus the clothes.

Her cheeks flushed at the naughty images while her head fell back in pleasure.  Grace gasped and couldn’t breathe when she felt the incredible sensation of his tongue running along her neck.

With each touch, each caress, Grace wanted him more. His hands felt like velvet as they glided over her skin, his full lips begging to be kissed. She remembered how sweet he’d tasted at the pool hall when they kissed, and she wanted nothing more than to feel the warmth of his mouth on hers again. Grace wanted his hands all over her. She wanted him naked. Sh e wanted him now!

Screw the shoes.

Grace raised her head and quickly checked over her shoulder to see Bianca and  Jack with their hands all over each other while Meg and Ryan were off dancing in their own little world. No one would miss us if we left before midnight.

Hell, they might even thank us .

I’m OUT, her head screamed.

As the song was coming to an end, and with her confidence soaring, Grace decided to play dirty and get Michael’s undivided attention. She brazenly put her hands on the front of his chest; then she slid not only her body down his, but also her hands. Her fingers trailed down his chest, his abdomen, and then  Grace carefully slid them all the way down the front of his thighs, doing her best to tease him as her thumbs slid over the zipper of his pants.

He froze when she crouched at his feet. Her big brown eyes looked up at him through her thick eyelashes. It seemed as if he held his breath as he waited for her to begin her graceful climb back up his body, and part of him wondered what she might do next.

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Instead of moving slowly, she grabbed onto his belt buckle, her fingers reaching partway into his pants and pulled herself up in one swift motion. With her hand still on the buckle, Grace stood on her tip toes and as the music lulled, she said, “Don’t move an inch.” Grace ran her free hand down his cheek, her finger slowly grazing over his lower lip.

All he could do was nod his head as his eyes smoldered with desire.

Without releasing him, Grace turned to Meg and whistled to get her attention.  Meg turned and leaned her head into Grace’s and heard her say the magic words. “I am out.”

Meg pulled back, a look of shock on her face. Then she leaned in again and asked, “Are you sure, Grace?”

“Oh yeah, I’m sure. I’m done waiting. I want him. Screw the shoes. I’m ou t.”  Grace kissed her friend’s cheek and caught the brilliant smile that came across  it as she realized her victory. Spinning around, Grace turned her attention back  to Michael, who was still standing there, stunned. “You, come with me.”

She placed both her hands on his chest and pushed him backwards until he  bumped into a nearby wall.

“What’s wrong, Grace?” He was still trying to fully understand her odd  behavior, but a knowing smile started to creep onto his face.

“I’m out.”

“Out of what?” He smirked, dimples blazing as he waited to hear her say the  words.

Grace didn’t even bother to answer him. She put her hands on his face and  quickly pulled him to her. Her lips crashed into his, and he responded with  equal enthusiasm. Grace’s mouth opened, allowing his tongue to plunge inside,  the sensation igniting a fire deep inside of her. With a surge of emotion, she  ground her hips against his, their bodies melting together. Her hands slid from  his face down to his chest, gripping his shirt, as one of his hands knotted into  her long hair and the other tightly clutched her around the waist.

He pushed himself forward from the wall and spun Grace around so her back  was now flush with the coarse brick wall. She felt the weight and power of his  body as he sank into her. Reflexively, she arched her back, pulling him closer,  trying to eliminate any distance between their bodies. His hand left her waist  and gently cupped her breast, making her gasp in pleasure.

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“Michael, let’s get out of h ere, please. Take me somewhere—anywhere,”

Grace said breathlessly as he devoured her neck, making every hair on her  arms stand on end as his tongue teased its way down her neck.

Grinning, Michael stepped back from her and started rummaging in his pocket.  His phone flew up to his ear and it sounded like he said “She’s ready,”

and then he hung up.

“Who were you calling?” Grace asked as she straightened out her dress and  tousled hair. Now was not exactly the time for phone calls. Now was the time  for taking the extremely aroused girl in front of him back to his place for a long  night of wild sex.

He saw the look of frustration on her face and pulled Grace into his arms,  kissing her once more. “Do you trust me?” he purred in her ear.

How can I say no when he says it like that? she thought.

She nodded and stared at his glistening lips, wanting nothing more than to feel them all over her body.

“You won.”

“Won what? Most sexually frustrated girl in the room contest? Most likely to beg for sex? What exactly did I win, Michael?” Grace scoffed, completely confused at this point.

“You won the bet, sweetheart. We both did.” He brushed her hair back over her shoulder and pressed his lips to her cheek. “Go with them now, and I’ll come get you in a bit. Then we can be alone, finally. God, you have no idea how badly  I want to be with you.” He grabbed Grace and passionately kissed her, letting her get just a taste of the desire burning in him at that moment.

Meg and Bianca appeared out of nowhere and scooped her up, directing Grace to the door. Reluctantly she went with them, but Grace glanced back in time to see Jack and Ryan patting Michael on the back and shaking his hand.

As the girls ushered her into the break room, Bianca grabbed their coats and hurried Grace into the car  in record time.

Flying down the road in Jack’s truck, Grace turned to Meg and threw up her hands. “Would one of you like to tell me what the hell is going on?”

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Chapter 28

T he girls pulled the truck up in front of their place. They hadn’t spoken a single word to one another since Grace had asked for an explanation a few minutes earlier in the club, and they walked up to the building in silence. Meg and Bianca occasionally exchanged nervous glances but gave Grace no further clues.

As soon as they walked through the door of the apartment, Grace felt Meg grab her wrist and drag her to the very couch where they had spent countless hours not only sharing the horrific stories of their dates, but also their most secret hopes and dreams. Grace landed on the couch with a thud and looked at Meg, her face begging for an explanation.

“Before I say a word, I want you to know that I love you and what I did was because I love you.”

Well, this must be bad for her to start like that.

“Fine, Meg, you love me. I get that. Now, explain one thing to me. How did I win the bet? Michael said I won. Was he telling the truth or was he just trying to make me feel better for attacking him back there in the club?” Her eyes danced between her friends’ faces, hoping for a straight answer from one of them.

“You won.” Meg said the words, looking extremely guilty, while behind her,

Bianca’s face was absolutely beaming.

“How? Oh my God, did you and Ryan have sex at the club? Tonight? In the

break room?” Grace gasped, trying to make sense of the baffling situation, her

hand instinctively covering her now gaping mouth.

Ewww! Our poor coats !

“No!” Meg said, insulted.

Grace racked her brain trying to figure where they might have been able to sneak off to tonight. Her nose crinkled as she continued her guessing. “In his car?”

It would be a little chilly, but this is Meg we’re talking about so you never know

…

“Grace, it’s twenty degrees outside. Do you think I’m crazy or that the prospect

of hypothermia is somehow appealing to me?” Meg winced at the insinuation.

Bianca, however, was doubled over in laughter.

Grace pressed her fingers to her temples, thinking. Where could they have had

sex at the club? Where? All of a sudden, it hit her. Right away, her eyes flew to

Meg’s in horror.

“Oh my God, please, please don’t tell me you and Ryan had sex in the bathroom of the club. Meg, I’m sorry, but that’s just revolting,” Grace shrieked, trying  not to gag.

“Grace Marie Park,” Meg snapped, “I most certainly did not have sex with Ryan in the bathroom of the club. What do you take me for, a twenty-dollar hooker?”  Offended at the speculation, Meg’s eyes became narrow slits as she glared at  Grace. “You know I don’t even sit on public toilet seats to pee; I hover because they’re so disgusting.”

“Then where did you and Ryan have sex?” Grace felt utterly lost as she threw up her hands in frustration. It wasn’t on the dance floor … was it? How could

I have missed it? That might actually be worse than the bathroom … “Thefirsttimewehadsexwasatahotel,” Meg blurted out in frustration.

Slowing down the sentence, Grace repeated it in her head a few times, trying to separate the jumble of words … the first time … “What do you mean