Shutter: The Complete Series (7 page)

My eyes search for Niko, but he’s nowhere to be found. I can’t take this anymore. I came because he asked me to, but I didn’t realize wanting to avoid the spotlight meant he’d avoid me all night, as well.

The burly security guard in charge of the sacred VIP velvet rope is not pleased about letting me venture down with the regular people. I’m assuming Niko instructed him not to let me out of his sight. I nail him with my best
I’ll be a pain in your ass
look and he begrudgingly lifts the rope.

There are several bars in the club scattered strategically throughout the single large room. I was able to pinpoint the one with the least traffic during my stint in the VIP section. I make a huge circle around the outside of the sweaty, grinding bodies and see my destination.

“Martini, dry, extra dirty,” I yell at the first bartender I lay eyes on.

“Some people never change,” a deep, familiar voice rumbles behind me.

Well-known hands circle my waist and a memorable scent fills my senses. My eyes flash closed and I’m immediately taken back to a young, insecure girl that had just turned eighteen.

“Stephen Ami,” I exhale his name on a contradicting breath of shock and solace.

“Brook Beckham,” He breathes my name with a matching sense of relief.

His strong arms twist me around to face him and I look into his deep green eyes as if no time has passed. He still looks exactly the same - shaggy, dirty blonde hair, sun-kissed skin, and a strong jawline just begging to be licked.

“To what do I owe the pleasure of your attendance at the grand opening of my little ol’ club? I thought Paul kept you locked inside Blasé every night,” he says, a tinge of jealousy in his eyes.

“This is your club? Oh, Stephen, I had no idea. It’s fabulous, truly fabulous,” I say, acutely aware my body is firmly pressed against his and how nicely we still fit.

“Oh, so then you’re not here because of me?” He raises his eyebrows and eases his hold on me.

“No, sorry. I didn’t realize this was your place, but I’m very happy to know that now. You’ve done a great job.” I pause, my mind returning to something he said, “How did you know I spend my time at Blasé?”

“I’m in the club business; therefore, it’s my business to know who spends their time where.” he says, skirting around answering the actual question.

I laugh nervously, “I see…I guess.”

“Who do I owe a thanks to for bringing you out tonight?” he asks, curiosity tinging his brow.

“That would be me,” Niko says as he slips his arm around my waist, effectively removing Stephen’s.

“Ah. So the lovely Brook is the date you left lonely in the VIP section.”

“That would be me,” I say, mimicking Niko’s answer in an attempt to lighten the encounter, but neither man’s eyes turn to me, they’re glued together in some sort of pissing contest. But I can tell by Stephen’s knowledge of Niko’s date that I’ve been discussed, even if it was vaguely.

“Here you go ma’am.” The bartender sets my drink on the bar, and I reach inside my clutch to hand him cash.

“Your money’s no good here, Brook.” Stephen says, pushing my hand back to my side. “I’m pretty sure I owe you more drinks than I could ever repay.”

He smiles and nods his head once then turns to walk away.

“Stephen!” I call after him before he gets more than two steps. “I really am so very proud of you.”

I free myself from Niko’s hold and wrap my arms around Stephen’s neck in a friendly embrace. I feel his hands go to my back and he squeezes me lightly.

“Thank you, Brook, that means a lot. Come back sometime and we’ll catch up.”

I nod as he turns and disappears into the crowd.

“So Stephen, huh?” Niko asks.

“I had no idea you two were friends,” I admit honestly.

“We haven’t known each other long, but he supported me recently, so I felt I owed him.”

“He’s a good guy. I’ve known him for a long time.”

“I gathered,” he replies with a hard line to his jaw.

“His family helped me get into modeling. Well, helped me get a camera, and then pushed me into modeling,” I laugh, remembering how naïve I was to think such a rich, yet money-hungry, family would help me out of the goodness of their heart. “But I haven’t seen him in years; I was still modeling when he left for Hawaii to pursue the profession of beach bum.”

“Stephen? A beach bum?” Niko laughs, making his eyes sparkle. “Obviously, there’s a lot I don’t know about him.”

I take a sip of my martini and my eyes nearly roll back in my head, it’s so good. The perfect mix of strength and tart bitterness. I down the rest of the glass in one gulp.

“Thirsty?” Niko laughs.

“Coffee and martinis; nothing in the world is better.”

“Nothing?” he asks as he leans in and I feel his warmth caress my flesh.

“Almost nothing,” I admit.

“Dance?” he asks.

“A man who dances?” I ask, shocked because I have never once seen him dance. His usual MO is to sit lazily in the VIP section until a woman throws herself at him and his next conquest begins. I’ve never seen any variation from him.

“Well, not usually, and not very good, but I feel the bar has been raised with you. I might need to explore some new tricks.” He winks at me and I smirk in response.

“New tricks?” I laugh, but inside my core is clenching at the thought of him wanting to catch me so badly he’s willing to change from his normal habits. I feel my head shake at the thought and see it in his eyes when he notices.

“No dancing.”

“Yes,” I say and see defeat touch his features. “I mean yes, let’s dance,” I quickly correct myself.

His fingers lace with mine as we weave to the middle of the dance floor where we’re hidden from most wandering eyes.

His hands fall to my shoulders and then slowly move down, inch by torturous inch, as he explores the feel of my body and I examine the feel of his hands. I spin around and ease my back against his front as we move in tandem to the rapid thrum of the house music pulsating from the speakers.

His lips caress the base of my neck; full and soft, they send waves of pleasure through my entire body. I shudder at the feel of his tongue as it snakes out, tracing a long line across my shoulder and back, eliciting a gasp. My eyes drift closed and I savor the sensations. His hips grind into my ass and I feel his long, hard erection dig into me. Hands move across my stomach and weave their way down my body, feeling every inch of me through my skirt. As we move together, I thank God I remembered to pay special attention down there. I foresee her getting used and abused tonight – and my nether regions praise the heavens above at the mere thought.

My body hasn’t felt touch like this in so long, it has no memory of the last time. I had shut myself away from a harsh world, and every aspect of my life suffered, mentally and physically. But I am finally ready to revel in these sensations with the one man that helped me sustain a semblance of a life since that day. His body was not merely a tool for pleasure, but a remembrance of myself and being alive.

I shift my head, searching for his lips; our open mouths collide in a flurry of unbridled heat and desire. The taste of him escalates the burning between my legs into an uncontrolled flame, and like a moth, his fingers brush over my clit, and I curse the fabric impeding his touch. My clit screams out for a touch belonging to someone other than myself.

A primal groan escapes from his mouth into mine as my hips grind into his hand. His mouth rips from mine as he looks down, into my eyes, and the intensity of sheer lust I see burning is enough to make me want to rip my clothes off where we stand. If this look is anywhere near what he gives his other women, they never stood a chance – and neither do I.

The doubt from earlier, the steadfast resolve not to get pulled into his web of sexual gratification, is long since lost. I am way past any hope of self-preservation. The only thing that matters is this man, and the way he makes me feel. I vow to take the leap, do the deed, take the bull by the horns, fuck my obsession into submission – or something like that.

I get one night; one glorious night of overindulgence, and then I’ll call that political bullshit magazine and take their stuffy, zero-creativity photography job until I find something better. My life of stalking Nikolas Gallo will come to a very gratifying crescendo this very night.

In perfect time with my newfound resolve, his fingers lightly brush up my inner thigh until they touch the silk of my thong, underneath which he will find evidence of years of abstinence and yearning. His fingers slide over the silk, softly caressing my swollen clit, halting my breath in my throat. I don’t even care that an entire club full of people could possibly be watching, I need his touch more than I care about their judgmental eyes. I don’t even bother to look around in case someone is openly gawking.

“Yes?” he asks softly in my ear as one finger rubs along the edge of my panties.

“Yes,” I breathe without worry or regret.

His hand gently nudges my thigh, urging me to spread them wider; I acquiesce without regard.

One lone finger slips under the border of my panties and I hear his sharp intake of breath as it delves into pure, wet velvet. God, this is a moment I’ve dreamed of daily - his hands bringing me the greatest pleasure he can. Thankfully, my dreams were nowhere near as good.

He lazily drags his finger down my clit and teases my opening with small circles that have my hips searching for more.

“Oh, Brook, so wet,” I hear him say but my mind is more focused on his hand than his mouth.

Another stroke then he circles my clit with the same slow pattern.

“So swollen, so fucking perfect. I knew you would be,” he raves in my ear.

“Right there, Niko. Please, right there.” I’m already willing to beg and he has only just begun.

“Oh God, you need it good, don’t you? I promise you’ll get it.” His assurance makes a moan sing from my mouth.

He places the fingertips of his other hand to my mouth, “Shhh, it’s coming, baby.”

I part my lips and forcefully pull two of his fingers into my mouth, sucking them hard and fast.

“Fuck, Brook,” spills from his mouth on a rush of air. “I’ll be sure you use that powerful mouth soon, very soon.”

I release his fingers after one last swift suck. “Promises, promises,” I tease.

A low, sexy laugh fills my ears just as he pushes one finger inside me. He pulls it back out and quickly fills me again with two fingers. Again a loud pleased, moan flees my throat.

“That’s the sexiest sound I’ve ever heard,” he murmurs in my ear then slicks his tongue along the edge and sucks my earlobe in time with the pumping of his fingers inside me.

He rests his thumb directly over my clit, unmoving - just a light pressure that makes me jerk my hips forward and back until I’m fucking his fingers. His hand is at a perfect angle, allowing his fingers to move deeper with each thrust of my hips as the pressure from his thumb grows stronger.

“I can’t wait to fuck this sweet pussy with more than these two fingers,” he tells me as he flutters his fingers inside me, sending vibrations shooting straight to my clit.

“Ah fuck, yes, don’t stop.”

His fingers follow the rhythm of my hips. “Is this what you want?” he asks, his domineering tone exactly the way I suspected it to be.

“Yes. Please, yes,” I unabashedly beg for the pleasure I know he’s willing to give. I was prepared for this side, always knew it existed from the times I’d seen him with other women. He craves the control as much as he does the pleasure.

He pulls his fingers out of me and my body screams in protest.

“No, please, Niko,” I continue to beg, not the least bit ashamed at how much I want his touch.

“Such a good girl already.” I can’t see his face, but I know he’s grinning by the inflection in his voice.

In one quick motion, his fingers fill me again completely. His thumb, no longer motionless, begins to swirl and twist over my swollen clit. I can feel my body reaching for its apex, longing for pure gratification.

“Oh, please, don’t stop. Whatever you fucking do, please do not stop,” I half scream, uncaring who might hear.

He eagerly complies with my request and the pace of his thumb and fingers increase. I wrap my hands around his body, pushing him harder into my back. His erection has grown and the pain of it digging into my back enhances my pleasure.

The walls of my sex begin to clench rapidly, as a tingling wave spreads from my clit throughout my body. My head goes light, and my vision blurs through the pleasure. My whole body jerks as the full weight of my release is felt. Niko swallows my screams with a hard kiss.

I turn to see him sucking the two fingers he’s just removed from inside me into his mouth with a loud smack and his wicked smile.

He grabs my hand and presses it roughly against his erection, “We need a room, and we need it now.”

I laugh, “VIP area has rooms.”

He shakes his head, “Not here. We need a real bed – your house or mine?”

He doesn’t wait for an answer, he grips my hand, and we speed walk back toward the bar where I’d had my martini.

“Give her another just like the last, fast please,” he tells the bartender and plops down a hundred dollar bill then turns to me, “I have one thing to do. You think on whose house, and I will be back in five minutes.”

I groan, “Five minutes?”

His hands cup my face and he presses his erection between my legs as he glides his tongue leisurely up the side of my neck.

“Five minutes. I swear on my harder-than-a-rock erection – five minutes.”

He releases me and is quickly swallowed up by the crowd.

Chapter 9

“Here you are ma’am,” the bartender yells over the roar of the music and the crowd.

I turn to pick up my dry, extra dirty martini, hoping it gives me the same courageous care-free demeanor as the last. But long frail fingers wrap around the stem and quickly pull it to lips that are not mine.

“Did you think you’d get away with it?” Suzy slurs at me.

I take two steps back to put a little distance between me and the craziness I can see pouring from her. Her blonde hair is pulled back into what should be a sleek ponytail, but stray hairs are sticking out all around, creating a wild halo effect. She has mascara smeared under her eyes and lipstick that reaches outside the lines of her lips. From afar, I imagine she’d look gorgeous in her tight red dress and killer body, but up close she’s a crazy-looking Monet.