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Heck, for that matter, she’d be satisfied if she could find a man who sparked even half the interest that Rafe inspired. She refused to believe he was the only man alive who could turn her knees to jello.
“I’m on hair duty,” Miley called as she walked in the bathroom and grabbed the curling iron, flat-iron and several bottles of hairspray. Ari cringed, knowing how long it was going to take her to get her hair back to normal.
“Cool. I’ll do makeup,” Shelly said as she grabbed the beauty bag.
“That leaves me to pick out the outfits,” Amber said with way too much enthusiasm.
“Sit,” Miley stated as she led Ari to the table. Within seconds she was twisting Ari’s hair into a series of tight loops and pinning them to her head. Once her hair was off her face, Shelly started applying makeup.
“Don’t make me look like a hooker this time,” Ari insisted.
“We’re just trying to help you get laid. Be grateful,” Miley snapped as she tugged on a piece of her hair.
“I don’t need help,” Ari grumbled.
“That’s where you are so wrong. If anyone has a stick higher up her ass, I don’t know where to find her. Relax. We’ll have fun tonight. ”
“Why does it seem to be your mission to hook me up?”
“Isn’t it obvious? We’re all in marital bliss and we want to spread the joy,” Amber said as she joined them. The three women burst out laughing at her joke.
“It’s more like we’re trapped in suburbia and we get to live vicariously through you,” Miley admitted.
“Are your marriages that bad?” Ari asked with concern.
“Oh, Honey, you know we’re just kidding around. We all love our husbands and our kids, but honestly, each of us got married too young and didn’t get to play as much as we wanted, so it’s fun to have a single friend we can pimp out. Not one of us would cheat on our husband’s, though. I promise you that,” Amber said solemnly.
“Fine. You’ve made me feel bad for you, now. Do what you want, but I’m warning you that I have two left feet. No matter how good you try and make me look, it won’t matter when I step all over some poor shmuck’s toes. ”
“Ari, you’ll look so smoking hot, he won’t care what part of his body you’re stepping all over, just as long as he can touch you,” Amber said with a whistle.
By the time they left the house, Ari was almost too embarrassed to be out in public. The dress she was wearing hugged her curves like a second skin from her cle**age showing top to her hips. There, the bright red material flared out until it ended at mid-thigh. As if that wasn’t bad enough, there was a slit in the side that would show the world too much of her goodies if she turned wrong.
“Quit fidgeting. It ruins the siren effect,” Miley snapped.
Ari had to admit, she did feel sexy. Never had she owned something so daring. Her feminine assets were on display, but since the other women were dressed almost as sexily, she didn’t feel out of place. Besides, they had connections at the club, personal body guards, so nothing could go wrong. That was, nothing could go wrong unless your friends told the bodyguard to let men manhandle you.
“Okay, we got here early enough for the dance lesson. I hope it’s a good one tonight,” Shelly announced as she climbed from the rig.
“No one said we were taking dance lessons. I’m afraid to even move in this dress, let alone swing about,” Ari gasped in horror.
“Ari, you promised to be a good sport. If you go back on your word then we won’t lay off you all month. If you just go with the flow tonight, we’ll leave you alone forever,” Amber said, though her fingers were crossed behind her back.
“You swear that you promise?”
“Of course. I just want to add that I’m hurt that you feel the need to even have to ask,” Amber said as she turned and walked away, making Ari feel instant guilt.
“I’m sorry. I’ll quit griping and just enjoy myself,” she called out as she caught up to the girls.
“Good. That’s what we want to hear,” Shelly said as the door was held open for them.
Ari was a little suspicious by their instant forgiveness, but the low smoky lights of the club caught her attention and she forgot all about their little tiff.
“Darlings, you got here just in time. Pierre is about to start the lesson so hurry on over. You know how he hates to be kept waiting. Tonight it’s the Cha Cha Cha. ”
Ari turned to find a small man wearing way-too-tight pants, who seemed to be herding them toward the back of the room.
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“Donnie, it’s been too long. We’ve missed you,” Miley said as she kissed him on the cheek.
“That’s because I’m a one of a kind, gorgeous. Now go,” he commanded as he smacked her on the butt. Ari quickly followed, not wanting to get left behind.
“Hurry. Hurry. You four are holding me up. If Donnie hadn’t insisted his friends were coming, we could have been well into our lesson by now. ”
Ari was stopped in place by the stunning dance instructor. His pants were too tight, as well, but that was a blessing for every female in the room.
“Are you going to stand there gawking all night, princess, or are you here to learn?”
Ari was mortified as her friends laughed while pulling her to the front of the room.
“Don’t worry, Ari. The first time I saw Pierre, I had a minor orgasm. When he touched my ass during a lesson, I had a major one. Don’t get too excited, though, cause he and Donnie are a couple. It’s probably a good thing, cause I think I’d forget my husband’s name if that man wanted to heat the sheets with me for a night,” Amanda said with a giggle.
“The Cha Cha is a teasing, sexy and fun dance. You want to move toward your partner and then entice him to come back for you. The more you use your ass, the better. God gave you those luscious, beautiful behinds so don’t be afraid to shake them. If you can’t shake your backside, then get out of my club because Latin dances without a shaking derrière is useless. ”
Ari was stunned to see that Pierre’s face was completely serious. She may actually be kicked out of the club. She’d never wiggled her butt before. She didn’t know how to. Sweat broke out on her forehead as she looked on in fear while he demonstrated the steps they’d be learning. She’d never pick that up in a half-hour.
“You, come here. ”
Ari gazed at Pierre in complete terror. Was he kicking her out before they’d even begun? Could he tell by just looking at her that she was a fraud?
“Go. You do not want to keep Pierre waiting,” Miley urged as she pushed Ari forward.
“Take my hands,” he commanded. Luckily, her brain was working because somehow her arms came up and she found herself clasping the stunning man’s hands.
“There are two basic steps to the Cha Cha. The first is a rocking step. Basically, you’re going to shift your weight from one foot to the other as you slowly move backward and forward. Remember to use the ass, always use that luscious bootie. Don’t just stand there. Shift!”
Ari looked at his legs and copied what he was doing. This wasn’t so bad. Just shifting her weight. She grew a smidgeon of confidence as the two of them moved.
“Good job, Ari. Nice butt wiggles,” Amanda called out. Ari was going to kill her.
“Now, you add in a little bit of Cha Cha Cha,” Pierre said as he did some wiggle with his knees while his h*ps shook back and forth. She stumbled a few times while trying to mimic him, and just when she thought he was going to lead her straight to the door, her body seemed to absorb the information.
“Good. You’re doing well for a first timer,” Pierre told her.
“How do you know it’s my first time?” she asked, feeling more confident.
“Ha. That’s amusing. If it’s not your first time, then just give up now,” he said with a smile to take away the sting. He wasn’t as scary as he’d
first appeared.
Pierre placed Ari back in the line, then went through the group helping each person until they got the basic moves down.
“Now, partner up. Yes, it’s mostly women – don’t be such prudes. I’m not asking you to strip down na**d and get jiggy. You need to learn how to do the dance with a partner. Dancing is a prequel to love-making. If you want to make your man sweat on the dance floor ladies, then tease him with your bodies. The dance should be a chase, and you don’t allow him to catch you until you’re good and ready. Do you understand?”
“Yes!” several of the women shouted out excitedly.
“Good. That’s very good. ”
The time flew by, and too soon, Ari’s dance lesson was over. She felt good walking from the back of the club. She may not be able to swing her butt as good as some of those women, but she could certainly Cha Cha.
“Let’s order a drink and then get to dancing,” Amber said as they moved toward a table Donnie had saved for them.
The next few hours flew past and Ari danced with so many men she couldn’t keep track of them all. If she knew what her friends did while she was on the dance floor, she’d be going to prison for homicide.
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Chapter Thirty-Three
Rafe’s phone buzzed and he thought about ignoring it. He was tired, irritated and not in the mood for whoever it was. When it buzzed again, he sighed and pulled the device from his pocket. He would check real quickly and then turn it off to try to get some sleep.
When he saw it was a message from Ari, his pulse picked up a beat. She’d been ignoring his texts all week. His first thought was that she was in trouble. As he clicked the button to open the message, his heart stalled for a single beat.
When he looked at the two pictures that came in, any thought of sleep evaporated. Who the hell had sent him the pictures! At the bottom of the images was the club name. He knew exactly where that was.
Rafe threw on his jacket and grabbed his keys. It looked like Ari hadn’t learned her lesson from almost being raped once. She was out on the town again, attempting to get abducted for a second time. Rage simmered inside him.
She continued to deny him when all he wanted to do was offer her security. Well, offer her security and have her at his beck and call, but that was just a minor point in the contract, he rationalized.
He made it to the large Latin club in record time, walking to the front of the huge line outside the doors. Pulling a wad of hundreds from his pocket, he approached the bouncer.
“Welcome,” was all the man said as he opened the rope for Rafe to enter while the people standing in line grumbled.
“Shut up or none of you are getting in,” was the last thing Rafe heard before the loud music droned out the outside world.
He made his way to the dance floor and spotted Ari almost immediately. She was locked tightly in the arms of some heathen while the damn man ran his hands down her ass. Rafe saw red as he pushed forward.
“I’m cutting in,” Rafe commanded.
The man turned, glaring at Rafe, until he saw Rafe’s face – then, he immediately backed down. Rafe must look more fierce than he thought.
“Rafe. What are you doing here?” Ari asked as she grinned drunkenly at him.
“Apparently, saving you again,” he growled as he went to grab her hand. She was leaving with him now. “Let’s go!”
“I don’t want to go. Let’s dance. I learned the Cha Cha Cha tonight and I’m very good at it. John, Paul and Tiger… no… Trevor… oh heck, I can’t remember his name, all said that I can move my ass just fine,” she spouted happily.
Rafe stared at her incredulously. What in the hell was she talking about? He didn’t like dealing with drunken people.
“Ari, I said, let’s go,” he repeated.
“I want to dance,” she pouted. She then lifted her arms in the air and started doing the steps of the Cha Cha Cha. When she circled around and shook her ass, the slit of her dress exposing the side of her very thin black panties, Rafe forgot all about leaving.
He tugged her into his arms as the music shifted to a more sensual number. His hands slid down her back to tug her flush against him as he began shifting his feet, one foot sliding between her legs, giving her no choice but to arch into him.
“I don’t know this dance,” she muttered huskily.
“Just follow my lead,” he said as he began circling her around the dance floor.
“Mmm, I think I like this dance, too,” she whispered as he moved his head down and inhaled her sweet scent. He hadn’t taken her in such a long time. He knew it was wrong to seduce a drunk woman, but wasn’t alcohol only a social lubricant? Didn’t a few glasses of courage only allow a person to do what they truly wanted to do in the first place? It wasn’t like they hadn’t already had sex a few times.
“I’m taking you home and stripping that dress from your body. ”
“I like this dress. I was mortified to wear it at first, but Amber insisted, and when she gets her mind stuck on something, there’s no talking her out of it. I think she secretly works for the government as a master torturer. ”
“Amber? Is that one of the women who came to see you in the hospital?” The pieces of the puzzle were still hazy.
“Yes. I came with Amber, Shelly and Miley. They insist on making me as slutty as possible because they’re determined to get me laid. They said I’m too repressed and I need to let loose. Since sex was so incredibly hot with you, I figure, why not. ”
Rafe didn’t know whether to thank his lucky stars her friends liked to meddle, or put a leash on Ari. He now knew who’d sent the pictures. They must have gotten into her phone and seen his messages and decided to stroke some flames. He flashed back through his mind of what he’d texted her. He felt confident it was nothing too bad. Hell, at that moment, he really didn’t care all that much.
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“So, what you’re telling me is that you want to go out and have sex with strangers, but you won’t sign on as my mistress. ”
He knew it was the alcohol talking, but still, there had to be some truth to her words. Had he read her wrong all along? Did she really not desire him? It was unlike him to feel doubt, but he didn’t know what to think right then.
“I didn’t know I liked sex until I had it with you, but it was good, really good, and I’ve decided I want to do that again and again. I can’t do it with you though, cause you’re a control freak who wants to rule my life. ”
“No, Ari, I want you to submit to me. ”
She looked at him with a furrowed brow for a minute as her drunken mind tried to comprehend his words. He took the opportunity to caress her neck with his mouth and he felt her low grown all the way to his toes. His groin jumped painfully as she ground her h*ps against him.
“Isn’t that the same thing?” she panted.
“Not at all. Let’s go home and I’ll show you the difference. ”
She looked at him with confusion as if she were trying to solve a difficult math problem. His body throbbed as he waited for her response. If she said no, then he’d stay at the club until her friends took her home – but he really hoped she’d just say yes.
“Okay. I better tell my friends, though. ”
It took almost a full minute for her words to sink through to his brain. When it registered, he wasted no time in pulling her from the dance floor.
“Where are they?”
“Over there,” she pointed. He spotted the women from the hospital room and made a beeline for their table. The three of them were looking at him like he was their next meal. He had to admit they frightened him just a tad. He’d have to check for hex bags beneath his bed.
“The mysterious Rafe arrives. I vaguely remember seeing you at the hospital,” one of the women said.
“Yes, somehow I received a message from Ari’s phone with a picture and her locat
ion. I’m taking her home now. ”
“Is that okay with you, Ari?” one of the women asked.
“Oh, yes. Rafe is going to show me the difference between control and submission. ”
Rafe nearly groaned as he watched the three women’s eyes go wide at Ari’s words. He and Ari were going to have to have another talk about privacy. Her friends suddenly seemed unsure if they should allow Ari to leave with him.
He didn’t care. They could try and stop him, but it wouldn’t do them any good.
“Goodbye,” he said as he wrapped his arm around her waist and grabbed her purse. Before the women could even think about standing, he was hauling Ari through the club. He got her into his car and floored the gas.
Just as he reached home, he looked over at her, anticipation burning hot. A groan escaped when he saw she was completely passed out. He may like a submissive woman, but he certainly didn’t want a corpse.
He wondered if a man could die from sexual frustration. He was beginning to think so. As he carried Ari into his home and laid her on his bed, he decided it was time for a stiff drink and an ice bath.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Ari turned over and felt a small ache in her temple, nothing too unbearable, but just enough to make her realize she’d had one too many drinks the night before.
Blackness surrounded her, letting her know it was sometime in the middle of the night still. Her lips opened and she realized how dry her mouth was. She needed a glass of water. She went to move the covers and her arm landed against something solid.
Tentatively, she wiggled her fingers and realized there was a man next to her. She stopped all movement as she tried to assess her situation.
The first thing she needed to figure out was who she’d gone home with. Very carefully, she reached inside the covers, then let out a relieved breath when she found she had some clothes on. That was a good sign.
Now, she just needed to figure out who she’d decided to have a one-night-stand with. Horror filled her at the thought. She may talk big, or even think she was capable of having casual affairs, but the reality of it was mortifying. She’d never respect herself if she treated sex like nothing more than a game. She felt bad enough about falling apart each time Rafe so much as looked at her.
At the thought of Rafe’s name, Ari’s memories came flooding back. She remembered dancing until her feet were screaming. There were so many men, and it had all been nothing more than innocent flirting, and a whole lot of hip action.