What They Don't Know (Won't Hurt Them Trilogy #1) (24 page)

I don't send a response. Another text comes through.

I ignore it without
responding again. I know what's coming next, my phone rings, and I
know it’s Cruz on the other end.

“Hello,” I sing
into the phone.

“Why aren't you sure
about seeing me after, Bria?”

“I'm just not sure
if...” I trail off.

“If what?” he
laughs. “Bria, we've already established and confirmed that I will
fuck you. You don't have to make up your mind; it's already been
decided for you. You seem to think you have a choice.”

This guy is nuts.

“Cruz, how can you
determine I'm going to sleep with you?”

“Bria,” he laughs
as he's talking. “Are you listening? I'm very clear with my
intentions. I intend to fill
you
with
me
. I have three
ways of doing it. I prefer only two; but if you’re into getting
your ass rocked, hey, who am I to deny a woman her pleasure?”

Right then my body
shifts. No, not my body, only the lower part. There’s a throb
between my thighs. I mean I can feel the force pulsating. I feel like
touching her to ease the building sensations between my lips. “Cruz,”
I whisper.

“Hmmm.” He hums to
answer me.

“You're a perv.”

“A perv you’re
going to fuck, Bria; just remember that.” I end the call without
notice. I can only take Cruz in small doses. Even that is too much.
Before I can put my phone away, a text comes in. I suspect it’s
Cruz.

He stimulates all my
senses, but I can handle only one at a time. I read the text and get
chills.

I have to laugh to
myself. This guy's insane.

* * *

I'm feeling myself
tonight. I pick out the perfect one-shoulder dress. It's not too
long, just enough thigh showing. It's a nice bodice dress, nude with
a blacking lining over the skin revealing openings. It's not
appropriate office attire. I'm flashing skin tonight, baby! The
multicolor red bottom sets the dress off nicely. My hair has gotten a
bit longer so it's edgier than normal. It still looks good though; I
look good. Lisa's coming over to finish getting dressed and we're
riding to the club together. I hope she gets drunk enough to stay the
night, which would eliminate Cruz's intentions.

It's settled. I'm
buying drinks tonight. I need to run interference on the guys who
Lisa attracts to buy her drinks. They all tend to ‘woo’ her with
drinks hoping to gain conversation time that can lead to some Lisa
time. Well, not tonight, I'm going to be responsible for her
intoxication tonight. Oh man, I'm planning to get my friend drunk for
my own selfish reasons. Well, somebody's gotta do it.

My doorbell rings and I
can hear Lisa singing outside. “Coming,” I yell across the room.
I swing the door open, and she’s standing there looking low-grade
intoxicated already.

“What the hell, girl?
What are you doing?”

“Getting started
early, chickie,” she loudly confesses.

“No more for you
until the club.”

“Awww, you always
ruin the fun. Bria, you're a fun sucker.” She giggles and snorts a
little. “I'm not that drunk, but the guys will appreciate you being
a fun sucker.” We both bust out laughing.

“Get in here.” I
shake my head. “You’re straight jacket worthy, you know.”

“Yes, I am as long as
it's made by one of the top designers trending now.” We laugh
again. She finishes her makeup while I apply a little lip-gloss. I
can’t do make-up; the shit leaves your pores wide open. I call them
potholes because those are the size of your pores after make-up.

Lisa doesn't have that
issue, she has decent skin. She uses a ton of eye make-up. That's not
for me either. I go for the natural look.

“How's that?” She
turns and asks me.

“You look good,
girl.” And she does, even with the smokey-eye look. It's a good
look on her. It’s 10:30, I figure we'll get there at 11:15.

“Let's go, Bria.”
She directs me toward the door. I grab my keys and cropped leather
black blazer with my matching clutch. As we walk out the door, Lisa
yells, “To one-night stands!” I push her toward the car.

“Get in, silly,” I
say as she gives me the one finger salute.

We ride to the club
chatting about what we've missed since my ‘big promotion’ as Lisa
refers to it. She tells me who she suspects is sleeping with whom in
the office. She confirms that Mrs. Wilke did pay off the former
receptionist Mr. Wilke was sleeping with. She turned up pregnant. The
Wilke-Foster name would have taken a social media blow if she had
kept the baby. Rumors about a pay-off and abortions are easy to deal
with. A few months later and the media would leech on to someone
else’s misfortunes. A constant reminder of infidelity is not what
they want. They have an open marriage, which is crazy enough. No need
for any additions; these two pay for both their discretion and
indiscretions.

I catch Lisa up on
Bryant issues and why he's been M.I.A. He's been M.I.A. to my lady
parts as well. I didn't exactly disclose that information to her.
Only two other people are aware of Bryant and my sex-sessions; the
three of us aren't talking. I'll have to threaten Mr. Wilke with
bodily harm... Oh wait, that wouldn't work; he's into that. She
shares with me that her parents are getting back together after six
years of separation. We both squeal at that.

“That's fucking
awesome, Lisa.”

“I know. They’re
even planning another wedding.”

“Really?”

“It's going to be
small, but it’s happening.”

“So how soon, and am
I invited?”

“Two months and yes,
you are, crazy girl.”

“Yay! Where are they
having it?” I ask.

“One of the Hiltons.”

“Yay! Drunkin'
sleepover, whoo-hoo,” we say in unison as we laugh it out.

We arrive at valet. A
car in front is similar to mine, but it's white. It's nice, almost as
nice as mine, but with a chick look to it. Instantly, I know it's a
chick car. See, my car, I love him. It's questionable what gender
owns it because of the work put into it. I'm getting hot just
thinking about my Infiniti; he's a beast on the road.

When we get out of the
car, I hand over my key to the valet assistant, and he hands me a
ticket. Lisa walks around to my side near the door to the club.
“Lady, you've always been hot for cars,” she says as she notices
me checking out the car in front of mine. I look at her, a smile
lights my face.

“I know; cars embody
me.”

“Oh Lord, Bria, you
are a sociopath.” The car door opens of the Infiniti. The heel that
steps out is fierce just like the rest of the woman who follows. I
give women respect. I'm not a hater. I recognize Shanna immediately
as she walks over to me.

“Hi.” We give each
other a quick hug.

“Shall we,” Lisa
offers.

“We shall,” I
reply. As we walk into the club, I give the two ladies a friendly
introduction. They hug each other while I get the attention of one
the very hot doormen. He is tall, dark, and yummy. Yummy, meaning I
wouldn't mind tasting him. Oh, my God! I've been around Cruz too
long.

“Hi, how are you?”
The large sexy man nods and leans in so he can hear me.

“I have two issues.
One, we have a V.I.P. section for our party of three maybe four. Can
you show us to that area?”

“Okay,” he says in
a deep voice, which makes my spine tingle.

“What's the second,
gorgeous?” He smiles. Damn he's fine.

“I'm waiting on two
gentlemen tonight. I reach in my clutch and hand him two generous
bills. “Can you please inform me when they arrive? I'll need a
separate V.I.P. section for that party.” He looks around eyeing the
club.

“You know all the
V.I.P sections seem to be taken. If you'd like a privacy room, I can
get that ready for you.” I nod at the doorman and hand him two more
large bills for his assistance.

“Is that all I can do
for you?” he says. He's eyeing me like he's tempted to say
something other than what he has.

“No, that will do for
now; but the two men will ask for B. If you could come get me when
either of them arrives, it'll be another bill for you,” I say in a
sultry, seductive voice. I crack myself up.

“Sure, B?” he asks

“Yes, B.”

“Will do. Let me show
you ladies to your section.” Lisa is on one side of me and Shanna
is on the other. Shanna leans over to whisper to me. “I've invited
my friend; she'll be here shortly.”

“The more the
merrier,” I say.

Lisa leans and
chastises me. “What the hell were you giving the door guy?”

“Oh, that's
business,” I say. She squeezes my arm. “Ow-oww.”

“He's fine, Bria; you
should ask him out.”

I shake my head.
“Tonight is about good times and good fortunes. Oh, Shanna invited
a friend. I hope you don't mind.” She scrunches her face a bit then
shrugs.

“As long as she pays
her portion.”

“Oh, don't worry. I
got this tonight.” Lisa squeezes my arm.

“No, you don't Bria!”
she says firmly. I wide-eye her.

“I'm good; it's fine,
Lisa. Relax and enjoy yourself, okay?” She nods but she isn't happy
about it.

* * *

We are having a great
time. Shanna's friend has showed up. Tracey or something like that.
Lisa has been back and forth on the dance floor. With men, without
men, with the two women we are here with.

“The scenery and
atmosphere are fucking awesome,” she yells over the music. I sip my
drink nodding my head to Lisa, also to the music. “Oh, I like
Tracey, don't like Shanna... something about her. She comes off...”
She pauses. “I'm not quite sure yet, don't like her,” Lisa admits
as she is sipping her drink.

I shrug my shoulders.
“Give her a chance, Lisa.” She's rolling her eyes but agrees to
it. I glance to where the stairs lead out of V.I.P. section. The
doorman I paid to escort my guests to one of the privacy rooms has an
entourage behind him. One person I didn't expect to see.

“Shit,” I say to
Lisa.

“Good evening,
ladies,” Bryant says overly friendly. The doorman gets my
attention. I stand to greet him and holy shit. Cruz is standing
behind Bryant.

“Ladies,” Cruz
says, but pauses like a deer caught in headlights. He looks as if the
wind has been knocked out of him. He looks in the direction of
Tracey, or whatever her name, is and Shanna. It's an intent to kill
stare. Or like he's seen a ghost. He instantly turns his attention to
me as he lifts my hand and kisses it.

“You look gorgeous
tonight.” He leans in so only I can hear. “The dress... the dress
is way too short, Bria. Your thighs are exposed. The only exposure
they should get is opened for me. This will be the last time you wear
that.” I step back to give him an evil eye while Bryant tries to
grab my hand to spin me toward him. I quickly pull away from him. I
don't even look in his direction. I go to the doorman who is waiting
patiently.

“B, one of your
guests is here.”

“Thank you, love.”
I turn to grab my clutch.

Bryant is standing with
his hands in his pockets. “Bria, can we talk. We need to talk.” I
casually ignore him and turn my attention to the group in our
section.

“Lisa, ladies, excuse
me for a moment. I have a bit of business to tend to. Continue to
drink and order what you like. It's on me.” Cruz eyes me but
doesn't move. He's helped himself to some whiskey we ordered earlier.
He's sheltered himself to the balcony portion of our V.I.P. I step to
him briefly.

“I'll be right back.
I need to take care of something for Mr. Wilke, okay?” When I put
my hand on his arm, he freezes under my touch.

“Are you okay?” I
ask.

“Yeah, I'm fine,”
he says coldly.

“We'll talk about
that”—I point to Bryant—“when I return.” He tips his head
and takes a sip of whatever is in his glass. “And whatever it is
you have going on, we'll talk about later.”

I give him an attitude
look then turn to the doorman to be escorted to the private room. As
we approach the other side of the club, I can see a man speaking to
another doorman. He's handsome; his hair is a bit longer than I like,
but it works for him. He's dressed in gray slacks with a nice
pin-striped shirt, Rolex on his wrist. He's panty-dropping gorgeous.
His face is strong and manly; he takes care of himself. The doorman
points in our direction.

“Is that your second
guest?” the doorman escorting me asks.

“Possibly,” I
reply. When this man approaches me, he kisses my hand and I'm sold.

“B?”

“Yes.” I nod.

“I'm Mike.”

“Mike Stone,” I
respond.

“Ahhh, you’ve done
your homework.” He speaks in a calm, husky tone. His voice is
soothing, almost like Cruz's but raspy. We are both escorted to one
of the private rooms on the upper level, closer to the back.

“Good, no
interruptions,” I say. He looks down at me with a smile on his face
that I know women would throw their underwear at... he's already a
keeper. The doorman opens the door to reveal my other prospect
standing as we enter the room. I glide across the room as if I’m on
skates. I amaze myself sometimes.

“Hello, Frank, how
are you this evening?” I extend my hand to test whether he shakes
or kisses it. He takes it and places a feather light kiss there. I
have to keep up this charade because this will tell me what type of
men they are. If I act like a boss, they'll respect me as one.

After fifteen minutes
of questioning these two men, I find out that Mike Stone has a double
degree. One in sociology and the other in law. Holy hell, I want this
man but there's a rule that I have. Never get high on your own
supply. Notorious B.I.G. What? I listen to rap...