The Irresistible Bundle (70 page)

Chapter Twenty-One

"He's specifically asking for you" the young server informed Leticia. She frowned irritated with Jaxon's persistence. She hadn't spoken to him since the night of the club. It had taken several days for her to shake out of her melancholy bitterness, if that was the best way to describe her mood. Leticia still stewed over the outcome of that night. She'd dressed to get Jaxon's attention, which she accomplished... but not enough to pull him away from Carina for the night. Instead, Leticia had danced the night away and gone back to the estate to fulfill her needs.

"I don't have time for visitors right now" Leticia lamely replied. It was a bullshit excuse but it was better than just flat out refusing to see Jaxon. The good-looking bastard fried brain cells whenever he flashed that brilliant smile of his. She didn't have the energy to fight against him. She reluctantly understood why Carina couldn't stay away. He was just too damn charismatic. Jaxon was the kind of temptation that you'd willingly walk through fire for.

The young server smirked. "He said you might say something like that. He'll wait for you; claims he's got all day."

Leticia impatiently growled. Why the hell was he looking for her? Was Carina too busy for him? Did Valentino and Marco finally lay the gauntlet down and tell them to get their shit straight? Leticia mustered as much haughtiness as she could and strolled toward Jaxon. If she had to be the stuck up bitch to get through this interaction she would do it. She smoothed her black dress pants and adjusted the black bow around her waist. She self-consciously pulled at her pink dress shirt.

"In support of breast cancer awareness month" Jaxon greeted Leticia. "Nice." He smiled at the beautiful bombshell. She wore a bright pink shirt, black pants, and black and pink high heels. He loved how she always managed to look fashionable yet professional whenever she was working.

Leticia looked over Jaxon's shoulder. She didn't bother looking into his magnificent ocean blue eyes. "Why are you here Jaxon?"

He pouted. She wouldn't even look him in the eye. "I was hoping to take you out to lunch. We haven't hung out in a while."

Butterflies fluttered in Leticia's stomach. If they were real she would beat them away so that every time Jaxon made this offer she wouldn't feel giddy and flattered. She automatically wanted to spout off something sarcastic but knew it would sound catty and spiteful. Jaxon didn't deserve to know the internal battle she waged with herself. No wonder girls threw themselves at him. He didn't have to do much to make a girl want to throw herself at his feet.

"So" Jaxon drawled. Leticia stood stiffly in front of him not acknowledging his invitation. The woman frustrated him to no ends. During the summer they had a great flirty relationship. The sexual tension between them during those months was thick and moist. Now they stood less than four feet apart; a live wire seemed to dance between them ready to electrocute either party at a moment's notice.

Jaxon sensed Leticia's frustration but he couldn't understand why she was upset with him. She'd danced the night away with random strangers never once trying to make her way over to their group. They'd barely spoken since classes had started but Jaxon figured that she'd been busy juggling her new job and he'd been busy between classes and rowing. Now Jaxon wondered if there was something more to it.

Leticia breathed in slowly. She'd had lunch with Jaxon almost every day throughout her first months here. If she was being honest with herself she missed hanging out with him. Lunches with Jaxon had been fun and easy going. She watched as he shoved his hands in his pockets. He silently waited for her to accept or decline his invitation. She wanted to decline out of principle. He couldn't just show up whenever he felt like it; or when he finally decided he had time for her and expect her to eagerly jump at his invitation.

"Where are we going" she sighed. Jaxon beamed with delight damn near blinding her. She held her breath trying to regain her composure. She could only handle him in small doses until she could fully become desensitized.... Whenever that would happen...

"I know this bakery that makes the best soups and sandwiches" Jaxon replied. He hooked his arm in Leticia's and escorted her back to her office. He patiently waited while she grabbed her matching pink purse from the drawer and her cell phone. Leticia offered him a similar sense of peace and easiness that Carina did.

~

Leticia sat across from Jaxon. She didn't know whether to laugh or roll her eyes. The staff had immediately recognized him and welcomed him with open arms. Jaxon had gotten preferential seating by the window. She wanted to be irritated with his highhanded ways. Jaxon had ordered for them both without asking her what she wanted. But she couldn't be upset with the beautiful bastard. He remembered what she liked and ordered the exact thing she had intended to. Leticia didn't know how he kept up with his harem of women but he did a phenomenal job of keeping everyone happy.

"I'm sorry we haven't been able to hang out as much lately" Jaxon began. Leticia waited for him to say something more. She wanted to hear his excuse for his negligence as a supposed friend. "My coach has us conditioning early in the mornings and my class load is pretty intense this semester."

She nodded her understanding. Those were legitimate reasons for his absence at the club and the estate but she knew it wasn't the only thing occupying his time as of recently. "Explain something to me" Leticia stated. She sat back in her seat and waited for the server to place their meals on the table.

"Okay" Jaxon mumbled between a mouthful of his turkey and cheddar sandwich.

Leticia pushed around her spinach and goat cheese quiche before responding. She needed to get this off her chest or it would relentlessly fester at her until it infected her entire being. "What is the extent of your relationship with Carina?" She wanted to pat herself on the back for sounding so professional.

"Are you envious" Jaxon playfully replied.

"More like curious" Leticia lied. Fuck yes she was envious of their intimate yet easy relationship but she wasn't giving Jaxon that kind of leverage. Girls came too fast and too easy for the dashing fucker.

Jaxon finished his sandwich in four bites. He washed down his meal with sweet tea before contemplating how best to answer this question. No one could make sense of his and Carina's relationship and rightly so. They'd gone from one spectrum to the other and were still see-sawing with how their friendship-slash-relationship should be categorized. Could they be considered friends with benefits since they'd had sex over the summer? Did it matter that she was dating Valentino and Marco?

"I've told you our history" Jaxon began.

Leticia smiled sardonically. "Yes and I've also seen all the videos under your saga link." She smirked.

Jaxon winced both hating and loving some of those videos and pictures. He and Carina had been through a lot and the stuff online was a testament to that. They wouldn't be in such a good place today, regardless that she was with Valentino and Marco, if they hadn't gotten through all that.

"Carina and I are finally in a good place. It's actually where I wanted to be when we tried our hand at dating." Jaxon admitted.

"So are you going to try to win her back" Leticia inquired. She hated the way her chest ached at the potential for Jaxon's answer but she needed to know. The man spoke with more than just his words. His body language gave him away. It was why he couldn't deny his attraction to Carina. For some reason they couldn't resist each other.

"No" Jaxon confidently stated. "I've been there, done that, and failed miserably. Carina's always had trust issues with me... and rightly so." He narrowed his eyes at Leticia's knowing smirk. "For the first time in over a year we can be around one another without being at each other's throats. She's not fighting to get away from me and I'm not fighting to gain her affection. I've come to terms with the fact that she'll never love me the way she loves Marco and Valentino. She loves me in a way that's unique and platonic. I cherish it. I don't think the sexual chemistry is ever going to go away. Dancing with her at the club was a great way to diffuse the building tension between us. I don't want to do anything to jeopardize our relationship. If it's possible for me to have a female best friend, then Carina's it."

"But you've had sex with her" Leticia challenged. "And I'm sure that if Valentino and Marco offered you to do another scene with her you'd jump at the chance."

Jaxon shrugged. He didn't want to lie to Leticia but he didn't know how to assuage her uncertainty. "I don't know if we can be considered friends with benefits. We're definitely not fuck buddies. I'd like to compare Carina and my relationship with what Valentino and Desirae have. They've had sex together on more than one occasion. I've known both of them before and after they had sex and I can attest that they're closer
now
than they were before. It's bonded them in a way that I've never seen before and I can only hope that the same can be said for me and Carina."

"So you don't think anything's wrong with Carina letting her men have sex with her friends" Leticia inquired. She was still trying to understand the dynamics of the relationships around Carina. It usually gave her a headache and she just stopped trying to make sense of everything. It was too easy for that kind of thing to get out of control. It was like watching a controlled burn turn into a raging forest fire.

"At first I was infuriated that she willingly allowed Desirae and Andrea to have sex with them when she'd ostracized me about having sex with Chelsea." Jaxon stated.

"That's different and you know it" Leticia interrupted.

"I know" Jaxon sighed. "It was consensual while I'd done it out of spite and retaliation. The point is that Valentino and Marco haven't had sex with all the girls. Even Sati hasn't been with Valentino since he and Carina formed that inner circle. I'm humbled by the way it's all played out. I really wanted it to blow up in their faces but if it had I don't think Carina and I would've ever gotten this close." He rubbed the back of his neck at a loss for words to express all that he was feeling. He was sure that if things had gone south with the guys that he would've found his way back in Carina's bed but Jaxon was sure it wouldn't have gotten any farther than that. He was actually grateful for their relationship. Carina had grown more as a woman and as a person since being with Marco and Valentino.

"I can't imagine having something like that" Leticia softly mumbled. She gazed out the window not really seeing anything. Carina had the kind of relationship people fantasized about but couldn't handle having. There were too many unknowns and insecurities. Especially considering the fact that all three of them were gorgeous and sexy as hell; maybe if they'd been ugly with frumpy bodies it would be easier to envision.

"One in a million, huh" Jaxon chuckled. A year ago he was screaming from the mountaintop
hell to the fuck no.
Now he enviously and admirably watched as Carina's relationship with Marco and Valentino blossomed and transformed.

"That would definitely involve a lot of trust" Leticia smiled.

"And the desire to be in an open relationship" Jaxon added. "I think
Hedonism
impacts our wants and needs in any kind of relationship."

"You wouldn't be a member of an exclusive sex club otherwise" Leticia chuckled.

"True" Jaxon concurred. He lifted his drink waiting for Leticia to lift hers as well. "To choices" he toasted.

"To having choices" Leticia replied. She took a healthy gulp of water before setting her glass down. "I'm really glad we did this."

"Thank you for accepting" Jaxon's gaze softened. He wanted to talk about the other night at the club but he didn't want to ruin their great meal. He sensed there was more to that night than just not dancing with the group. It merely gave him an excuse to spend time with her again.

"By the way" Leticia stated as she rose from the table. "Nicholas was planning to call you guys about college night at
Scandalous...
"

"What about it" Jaxon tilted his head in curiosity. He was dying to see what Nicholas intended to do with the nightclub for such an event. Halloween was right around the corner and Jaxon knew that Valentino was focusing all his attention on Club 69's annual event. He'd already had more than one person ask if they could ride with him in hopes of getting guaranteed admission. Club 69 was the hardest place to get into for Halloween but well worth the time and effort. Leticia shared with him Nicholas' plans. Jaxon couldn't wait to tell the girls about it.

Chapter Twenty-Two

"Did you hear about
Scandalous
?" Jaxon asked the girls. The second Leticia told him Nicholas' plans; Jaxon knew he had to be the one to tell Carina and the others about it.

"Everything okay?" Desirae asked. They hadn't worked at the club since classes started. Maybe it was time to make another appearance if business wasn't so hot for Nicholas.

"Leticia and Nicholas decided to have a college night for the club. They want you ladies to perform that night." Jaxon was damn near giddy with excitement.

"Will this be something ongoing?" Sati asked, forever in business mode.

"I think Nicholas will give the event two or three tries before deeming it a success or failure." Jaxon replied.

Carina smiled wickedly. She stared between Jaxon and Sati. "We'll need the others in this too."

"What song do you have in mind?" Andrea bounced in her seat. Carina's expression said it all. Sati would come up with the routine but Carina already knew the song they'd perform.

"Let's introduce ourselves to the college crowd with something a little naughty" Carina shuffled through her songs. She played her choice over the speakers making the girls squeal with delight while Jaxon scowled.

"Why the hell is this song worthwhile?"

"C'mon Jax!" Carina goaded. "You don't remember the infamous video of Miley Cyrus swinging butt-ass naked on a wrecking ball?"

"I suppose this is why you want Chelsea and Melissa in the number?" Desirae snorted.

"If you want to swing around naked I'm sure no one will complain" Andrea waggled her eyebrows.

Jaxon gaped at the foursome. They always said outrageous shit to each other. He was still trying to understand when they were being serious and when they were playing around.

"I won't be swinging on any balls" Carina haughtily replied making Desirae snicker. "But I'd like to involve Jaxon in this number."

Jaxon sat up straighter. Fuck yes he was game. "Wait..." He narrowed his eyes at an all-too-eager group of women. "I'm not swinging naked or doing anything with balls" he clarified. The girls bent over laughing.

"So you don't want to catch any of us... potentially naked" Carina challenged. Sati's eyes lit up as ideas flashed across her mind. She shot up from her seat and ran to write down the group's suggestions.

"Call Nicholas and let him know we're in" Sati barked from the dining table. "Someone else call the other girls and let them know what Nicholas wants."

"Yes ma'am" they barked in unison.

~

"It's packed out there" Diego scoffed. If he and Griffin hadn't been at the VIP table, Diego doubted he'd have somewhere to sit for the night. "The bouncers are turning people away."

"Are they giving them business cards to enter Club 69 free of charge?" Carina inquired. It was one of the ways Valentino was trying to balance both of his most popular nightclubs. He hosted events on nights that Nicholas kept things low-key at
Scandalous
.

"Yep but the buzz is about the
Irresistible 8
and their notorious performances. Everyone's anticipating what you girls have in store for them." Diego's stiff smile belied his uncertainty. He'd heard about some of Carina's more risqué performances from guys who'd attended the club. He wasn't sure if he could stomach seeing his younger sister shaking her stuff in front of guys he attended school with. Diego was liable to knock someone's head off if they tried some stupid shit.

"They're in for a treat" Andrea beamed. "You need to get back out there... We have to do our finishing touches."

Diego scowled at the group of girls. "Where the hell is the rest of your outfit?"

Melissa and Chelsea cackled with delight as the other girls winked at Diego. They ushered him out of the room without saying anything else. Diego groaned with the realization; they were
trying
to appear naked without really being... Well, most of them anyways. Diego was sure Chelsea and Melisa were going to remain topless. He hauled ass back to his seat. He really needed to set some boundaries with Nicholas about their performances. He didn't give a shit about most of those girls but he did care about what his sister and her roommates did.

"Dude, your poor fucking balls can't even hang right in those pants!" Griffin scoffed. Diego looked at a bare-chested Jaxon. He wore black leather pants that fit like a second skin. The fucking pants left nothing to the imagination.

"Gross" Diego scowled. "Take that shit somewhere else!"

"Can't" Jaxon shrugged. Girls hovered close to the VIP table trying to get the guys' attention. Griffin smiled and winked at the girls while Diego and Jaxon ignored them. "I have to hydrate myself and my drink is here."

"Have you seen their costumes?" Diego glared at Jaxon. If he was performing with the girls wasn't he supposed to be in the room with them until show time?

"Yep" Jaxon concurred. "It's why I'm out here. Can't control my dick when I see them like that..."

Griffin choked on his drink while Diego growled. The fucker was just too damn open about shit sometimes. Diego really wished Jaxon learned to shut his mouth.

"I see the girls getting strapped up" Jaxon peered into the rafters. "That's my cue!"

Diego looked around. He rolled his eyes at Melissa and Chelsea. They didn't disappoint; they were showing as much skin as possible, right down to the smallest pasties they could stick onto their strawberry nipples. Yep that's right he could still tell what fucking color they were.

"Your sister singing" Griffin asked. Several guys' heads snapped to Diego. Did Griffin really fucking ask that out loud for others to hear?

"Yes" Diego growled. The music started but none of the girls moved from their positions up in the rafters. Carina's voice altered in pitch as she began the song. People looked around the club trying to see where she was at. Diego groaned as she came into sight.

"Fuck me" several guys breathed.

Yes
Diego thought,
fuck me indeed
...

~

Carina noticed Jaxon in her peripheral. She slowly sauntered around the large pillars thankful that Nicholas had installed a small platform around each one. She was able to dance around and above people without worrying about being manhandled. Carina annunciated each word of the first verse of Miley's song,
"Wrecking Ball"
. She needed to get the club goers attention before the girls came in and blindsided them. She leaned forward and grasped the railing. Jaxon positioned himself knowing she was coming down soon. Carina watched the hungry stares claw through the shred of material she wore. The mesh material barely covered her nipples and sex. The color matched her toned skin, making it appear as if she were naked. She swung her long hair and belted out the chorus.

The girls swung in from different directions as she sang. Gasps of surprise erupted, immediately followed by cheers. Desirae swung from an actual swing while Melissa and Chelsea swung from fabricated wrecking balls. The crowd tried to look at every girl in the air while tracking Carina's movements. It was a lot to take in but their placement allowed for everyone to be able to view them from every part of the club.

Carina stepped down each wrung of the ladder with each phrase she sang. She timed her movements to the pulse of the song allowing her body to sensually move to the rhythm of the music. Jaxon waited for her below, ready to take her into his arms. As Carina prepared for the chorus again, Jaxon embraced her. He swung her around to face the audience as she sang about wrecking balls. Carina swung her hair and moved her arms to the synchronized motions of the airborne dancers above them. Spectators watched in awe as she mirrored their movements.

Jaxon came behind Carina and held her tightly. His arms wrapped beneath her breasts and around her waist. She placed her hands on his hips while he pressed his face into her shoulder and neck. The crowd forgot about the girls, captivated with the couple as she sang with emotion.

Carina felt Jaxon mouth the same words on her skin that she sang. He whispered about not meaning to start a war and wanting to be let in. Her skin erupted in goose bumps as his hands gripped her tightly. She caressed his arms sending the signal to loosen his grip. As she began the chorus again Carina flung his arms away from her body. She climbed a table and grabbed Desirae's dangling leg swinging her friend as she repeated the chorus. The crowd roared their approval as Carina's voice faded with the last words of the song.

~

"That's your sister" several awed voices asked Diego.

Diego glared at Griffin. He knew for a fact that the girls had another performance before the end of the night. If they opened with this number Diego was petrified to see what they intended as the next number.

Valentino and Marco approached the table. "Gentlemen did you enjoy the show?" Marco politely inquired. Griffin chuckled as the other guys tried to talk over one another.

"Do you know what they're doing next" Diego asked the men. Valentino threw his head back and roared with laughter. Diego blanched knowing he wasn't going to like their response.

"The troublemakers are out in full force tonight" Marco snickered. "I've been instructed that you and Griffin specifically need to participate in the next number."

"I'm not getting on stage" Griffin scoffed.

"No matter what the girls planned to do to you" Valentino smirked. He was having way too much fun tormenting Diego.

Griffin squirmed in his seat. He stole glances at his rigid best friend. "As long as it's not Chelsea or Melissa I'm game" Griffin replied.

"Will you two be participating?" Diego narrowed his eyes at the club owners.

"This crowd couldn't handle us" Marco scoffed. "We'll save it for home."

Griffin's jaw dropped as the table's occupants leaned in. "What the hell do they have planned?" Griffin demanded.

Jaxon strode up to the table dressed in low rise jeans and cowboy boots.

"Why is he always fucking shirtless?" Griffin grumbled.

"No vest or belt" Marco chuckled.

"The less stuff, the more skin... all the better to be fondled" Jaxon licked his lips. "I'm not going to get yelled at for touching right?"

"You touch and everyone else will think they can touch" Marco chastised. "You've been playing nice... Valentino and I may let you in soon."

Jaxon lit up like the fucking Fourth of July. He nodded his head but didn't say a word. If they really meant it...

"All right fellas" the DJ's voice boomed. "Need y'all to grab a cowboy hat and spread out.

"Do as the man says" Marco snickered at a wary Diego. "Jaxon up front; Diego sit here in the VIP area; Griffin by the bar"

"What about us?" One of the other guys asked.

"Sit wherever you'd like" Valentino politely informed them. "Excuse us" Valentino ushered Marco away as the guys scattered across the club. There were enough guys present to enjoy the performance.

Diego fidgeted in his seat suspecting the girls of another lap-dance type of performance. He didn't know if he could handle watching Carina do something like that but Marco and Valentino were there and apparently looking forward to the number.

Jaws dropped to the floor as eight girls in daisy dukes, cowboy boots, and skimpy tops strode into the room. They marched to their designated spots and moved in unison to the sound of banjos and fiddles. Jaxon bit his lip as Carina stalked toward him. She wore tiny shorts that were frayed at the cheeks and revealed tanned skin. Her halter top squeezed her girls tight and close making Jaxon want to lick her exposed skin.

Guys hooted in the background and girls clapped in delight as the
Irresistible 8
mounted their first cowboy and gyrated their hips. They yelled out, "Save a horse ride a cowboy" just as the group Big & Rich did too. The girls hopped from cowboy to cowboy thrusting their chests in stunned faces and grinding against eager cocks.

Valentino watched over the patrons of the club. The guys ate up the girls' performance while remaining civil. He looked over the girls impressed with their choices of attire. Although they all wore cut-off shorts and tiny tops they still managed to individualize themselves. Sati wore bright, tasteful pieces while Chelsea managed to find shorts that barely covered half her ass cheeks and exposed her bare mound every time she bent down. Valentino needed to remind Nicholas to formally let Chelsea and Melissa go. If they had to add Leticia or other staff members to the mix to keep the group balanced then he'd do it. Those two were a liability with their careless actions and hostile ways.

Marco whistled loudly at the end of the song. Carina ended where she began, in Jaxon's lap. The club roared with cheers and applause. The girls gracefully exited as aroused guys stumbled back to their tables.

"Looks like Jaxon needs to go to the estate" Griffin chuckled.

"She is potent" Marco fondly remarked as Jaxon's flushed face approached. Marco snickered at his tented pants. "Troublemaker plays dirty doesn't she?"

Jaxon rubbed his face. "Fuck" he groaned. "Next time you two need to be on the floor."