Strong Enough (21 page)

Leaning over across the center console,
Brent is inches from my face. “You, my Miller, are the only hot
thing I plan on dancing with. Now let’s get a move on it, we are
wasting valuable grinding time.” He winks and backs off. Seems any
time a guy gets that close to me I lose the ability to breathe.

I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was
holding as my car door is opened by the valet attendant, who
graciously extends his hand for me to take as I exit my car careful
to not cause a “Britney moment” when getting out. Brent has walked
around the car and is waiting next to me with a very eager look on
his face.

Giving me a genuine smile, he says, “If I
haven’t told you, you look really pretty tonight.”

“Thanks, now quit being so nice, it’s
creeping me out,” I say playfully nudging his arm with my
elbow.

He laughs silently as we walk through the
main doors.

The hallway entry to Hunger is black with
red lights lining the floor and nothing hanging on the black
painted walls. You can feel the beat of the bass on the floor as
the music plays inside. Pushing past another set of doors you enter
into the main room. The atmosphere is alive with music and bodies
dancing together. The main dance floor is in the middle of the
room. I glance at Brent and give him a smile knowing that’s where
he wants to go first. To the left is a wide staircase that leads up
to the VIP section that overlooks the whole bottom floor. To the
right is the main bar that extends the length of the building with
mirrored glass covering the bar and rows of liquor placed on
shelves on the wall. The bar is very sleek and very busy. I can
count at least eight bartenders behind the bar. High top tables are
scattered around the room surrounding the dance floor. In the back
of the club, past the bar area is a lounge filled with oversized
black leather couches and large square red leather ottomans being
used as coffee tables. This is the only place besides the VIP area
you can sit down and take a load off. The black atmosphere of the
club is only offset by the red lights dancing around the club or
the spotlights that randomly hit the stage and the dancers on it.
The dance floor is packed with people and it looks like a solid
movement of people as they dance and grind against each other the
beat.

I motion to Brent to walk to the bar, this
requires a drink. I haven’t yet begun to think about the fact I am
meeting Zane here. Right now I can’t get Jon out of my mind. His
soft hair, kissable lips and the burning desire he has left in me.
Part of me wishes I had stayed at the bar and listened to him play
and continued to imagine all the things I would do to him or what
he would have done to me. A flash of heat washes over my body just
thinking about it.

“Miller, yoo-hoo… hello…” Snapping his
fingers in my face back and forth to get my attention.

“Oh sorry, what were you saying?” Shaking my
head back to the present.

“I wasn’t saying anything, but you sure did
zone the hell out. I would suggest I know why but SOMEONE won’t
tell me what HAPPENED.” His face stern.

“Seriously, not this again.” My face showing
my annoyance.

Hands up in the air he mouths the words
“fine” to me and backs away toward the bar to get us drinks.

I have not been paying much attention to
anything around me, even though it looks like I am scanning the
room. I honestly cannot tell you anything I have seen. That is
until he steps in my line of sight. From across the room we are
caught in each other’s sight. As cheesy as it sounds it reminds me
of a scene out of a movie. They see each other from across the room
and everything else fades away as they make their way directly to
each other to meet in an embrace and passionate kiss. This wasn’t
quite like that, but when we saw each other at the same time, well,
everything else in my mind disappeared.
Who was
I just thinking about?

I watch as he shakes a few hands and pats a
few backs of the guys standing around him and turns his attention
to me. Even from across the club I can see his bright smile and I
can’t help but smile back. With each step he takes I find myself
taking inventory of him. His hand tucked in the pocket of his
bright red slacks which pulls slightly across his large muscular
legs when he walks. The fitted black button up shirt lays flat
against his flat abs hiding what I already know to be one hell of a
six pack. With the sleeves rolled up to the elbow, I notice his
forearms flex as he walks and I remember the strength of his arms.
His shoes are black and sleek matching the thick black belt he has
around his waist. His hair done into a very sexy short mohawk and
the slight amount of scruff he left on his face. Yes this is one
very delicious man. He has a bit of a swagger in his walk, and I
notice as he walks across the room the amount of looks he is
getting from the other females in the club. Yet still his focus is
on me and I must say I am loving it.

Just as he reaches me, Brent takes a place
next to me reaching out to hand me my drink.

“Here you go hun, assumed you were sticking
with vodka water,” he said with a knowing smile.

Zane stood in front of me with a smile but
also looking a little confused. Realizing this, I made quick
introductions.

Motioning between the two, “Zane this is
Brent, my trainer, Brent this is Zane.”

Zane’s expression eases as he shakes Brent’s
hand with a smile. “Hey man nice to meet you. Glad you could make
it out.”

“Yeah thanks, Miller over here was dying to
get her groove on and well, didn’t want to pass up a chance to
shake it with her.” His words a little more suggestive than they
should be.

Both Zane and I are looking at Brent in
confusion. He caught on quick. “Oh I didn’t mean it like that, just
meant that, fuck never mind, I’ll catch you two later I’m hitting
the dance floor,” he says as he turns and shakes his ass at me a
bit causing me to giggle. “One dance Miller, you owe me at least
one dance.” And he is gone into the sea of people.

I look back at Zane to see him already
smiling at me. My toes begin to tingle again.
Damn toes

He reaches up and softly brushes a loose
hair from around my face. “You look beautiful tonight Reece.” His
deep brown eyes looking into mine.

“Thank you, you look pretty good yourself,”
I say a little more playfully with a wink.

“Thank you.” He winks back.

His hand fell from my face and is lightly
resting on my shoulder as his fingers lightly run over my skin just
under the cap of my sleeve. His touch, so soft, causes goose bumps.
Damn goose bumps!

Noticing the chill he slides both his hands
up and down my arms. “Cold?” His voice full of sincerity. I laugh
inside knowing the only reason I have goose bumps is because his
touch gave them to me. “No, I’m ok, but thank you.” I smile back in
a flirty way.
Ok what’s happening to me? This
is not me, I don’t act flirty.

Attempting to change the mood. “So Zane,
what is the party for?” I ask.

“Well it’s not really a party for a specific
reason, just invited people I knew to come out and have a good
time. I have a spot for us upstairs if you want to go up for a
bit.”

“Oh sure, yeah that would be cool,” I
stammer out trying to not sound as eager as I might look.

He offers a small laugh and reaches down and
grabs my hand as we starts to walk toward the stairs. His hand
wrapped around mine feels comfortable, safe, and familiar.

When we reach the top of the stairs, Zane
nods to the rather large man in a suit standing with his hands
crossed in front of him. He reminds me of someone working secret
service. The man nods back and gives me a faint smile for which I
return.

The VIP area is full of black oversized
comfy looking couches and chairs and low sitting coffee tables
unlike the leather couches below. It has a softer more intimate
feel. The area is full of people standing and talking, a few
dancing together. The couches are filled with couples snuggling up
to each other and drinks are flowing all around. Zane leads me past
the majority of the couches and people to an area further toward
the back where there is a U shaped plush sofa. In the center is a
table with a bucket of ice, two glasses, a bowl of limes, a large
bottle of water and an unopened bottle of Vodka. It isn’t hard to
realize this was set out for us.

He motions for me to walk around the table
toward the middle of the couch where I sit and he joins me.

“Well looks like you have a pretty good set
up here,” I say looking around. “You must be in pretty well with
the owners or something.”

He gives a hushed laugh. “Yeah I guess you
could say that, considering I am one of the owners.”

A blush of embarrassment rises to my cheeks.
“Oh, wow, I didn’t know you owned this place.”

“Well I’m an owner in it, more of a silent
partner I would say. I just take advantage of the space every now
and again,” he says looking at me intently.

“So what else do you do then Zane? I bet
you’re full of surprises.”

He adjusts his position, so he is sitting
facing me more. I see his eye catch the top of my knee and watch as
he slowly drags his vision up my exposed thigh under my short
flowing skirt. His attention breaks and he looks back up at me with
a mischievous glimmer in his eye. His expression heats up my core
and I like the feeling, so much I have to adjust and cross my legs
the other direction.

“Well, I do a few things. My main focus is a
nonprofit I started when I left the NFL. It works with kids/teens
to teach them about working out and being fit, eating right,
self-defense and overall giving them an outlet they would not have
had for different reasons. Besides that I invest in business.”
Moving his head around showing the club.

“Self-defense huh, I actually started at the
gym because I was interested in their MMA training program to learn
self-defense.”

He tenses up and his demeanor becomes very
rigid almost protective. His hand braces the back of the couch
almost as if he was shielding me.

“You okay?” I ask.

“I’m fine. I just didn’t know you were
interested in self-defense classes.” Still sitting stiff.

“Life happens. I need to be prepared for the
next time it happens to….” Stopping myself from completing my
thought. I have become too comfortable and it’s showing.

“Next time what happens Reece?” His tone
even.

“Nothing, it’s nothing. I just think a girl
should be prepared. The MMA program they are starting offers
self-defense training and I just think it would be a good place to
start. I’m not looking at becoming the next MMA champ or anything,
even though I totally could kick ass.” I lightly punch his knee
playfully to lighten the mood and it seems to work.

“Ouch, yeah I can see you have a little
scrapper in you don’t you,” he jokes.

I think about that for a minute and he
couldn’t be further from the truth. I WISH I had more fight in me.
I wish I was able to not be afraid. I wish I was strong enough.

“What’s going on in your pretty little
head?” He tilts his head in questioning.

His hand rests on my leg and I feel the soft
up and down movement as he caresses it. When he touches me I feel
so many things. All of it scary and comforting at the same time.
“Nothing, I’m good really.” I lie.

I reach out for my drink and notice it’s
empty, he sees it at the same time. “Here let me make you another
one.” Turning so he can grab the glass and ice.

“I am a bartender I can make my own drink ya
know.” Looking at him with a smart ass grin.

“You’re right. You could, but this is my
bar. You’re not working so I’ll make it for you.”

He finishes making my drink and hands it to
me. We clink our glasses to a good evening.

“You know I meant to tell you, you have a
glow about you tonight, and you seem more relaxed. I like that,” he
says lifting his glass to lips.

I almost choke on my drink hearing his
comment but manage to hide it from Zane. Well hell yeah I’m
relaxed. Glowing, not sure but relaxed, yes that I definitely am. I
think about Jon, his kisses and his touch. His smell fills my
nostrils and I take a small inward breath reminding myself of
him.

“I guess I just had a relaxing day, its
carrying over that’s all.” Offering a small smile.

“Well whatever it is, it works for you.”

The music shifts from upbeat fast tempo to a
slower, sensual sound and I instinctively start to sway slightly to
the music.

Zane stands and holds out his hand. “Dance
with me, please?” As he displays a sexy crooked smile.

I don’t think twice about his request as I
place my hand in his. He pulls slightly bringing me to my feet but
hard enough that my body collides with his and I instinctively
brace myself against his chest. Looking down at my hand over his
pec muscle, I can feel him flex beneath his shirt as I look up into
his smiling face. His hand wrapped around my back as he held my
hand wrapped in his close to his ear.

He turns his head slightly and places the
sweetest and most sensual of kisses on the inside of my wrist
before he looks down at me. His hand moving to caress the small of
my back. I lean in and can smell that familiar smell and close my
eyes as I process it.

He drops our hands and begins to move. “Wait
where we going? Thought you wanted to dance?” I ask
questioning.

“Oh we are, and don’t think it’s for one
song either. Sweetheart, I want to dance with you where everyone
can see.” He glances to his right and down to the main dance
floor.

I suddenly grow nervous, embarrassed and
worried, so I pull back a little on his hand.

“Zane, can we just stay up here? I um, I
just, well, see…” Stammering to get out what I am trying to
say.