The Irresistible Bundle (77 page)

"Apparently they expected him not to have the song" Andrea semi-asked, semi-stated her observation. Carina's lip curled. This would certainly be interesting if the DJ didn't have the song in his infinite selection.

Marco ran to the booth before the DJ played the song. Everyone cheered as he grabbed a microphone. He winked his trademark wink out to the crowd earning squeals and sighs from the audience. The girls at the table snickered knowing how potent the hot male really was.

"Welcome ladies and gents to Club 69's private party. Y'all have earned this through your hard work and dedication. This last Halloween event was one of our most successful in Club history... So a big thanks from me and Valentino."

"Thanks to the
Irresistible 8
too" someone screamed from the back corner of the club. Marco nodded in agreement and motioned over to Carina's table.

"Thank you ladies! You inspired everyone to take things up a notch. We immensely enjoyed seeing the turnout and effort patrons put into their costumes." Marco stated. The girls blushed but nodded. The staff gave them a standing ovation making them squirm uncomfortably with the attention. Marco whistled and motioned for everyone to sit before he continued. "As I was saying... Everything's on the house. Our open bar features anything you desire but I'll forewarn you all now. When you've had too much to drink we'll cut you off. If you don't have a designated driver that can pass our breathalyzer test..." Marco narrowed his eyes at the group. "Yes, I'm looking at a few of you. Don't try that shit again this year. Valentino's ensured that everyone and their vehicles will arrive to their respective destinations safely. Enjoy your evening and the upcoming performances."

The initial group of girls that were waiting to perform repositioned themselves on the dance floor. The DJ played their CD. Carina immediately recognized the song after the first few strums of the guitar. She laughed in delight as the girls split up facing their fellow coworkers.

"What freaking song is this?" Griffin retorted; it sounded like some teeny-bop shit from the 90's. He didn't recognize any of the words the girls were singing.

"It's a Glee song" Carina giggled. It felt good to leave the bullshit behind even it was only for a few hours. "
Loser Like Me
" She clarified to the semi-confused group. "Oh c'mon guys, was I the only Gleek around here?"

"What the fuck is a Gleek?" Griffin snorted. Carina said some of the strangest shit sometimes.

"It was that show a few years back about a high school that had a totally geeky but awesome show choir. It brought back my show choir days from high school!" She gushed. She hadn't watched every episode and not every one of their remakes were record worthy but the show had made being in show choir cool again. Carina wasn't great at art, band, or most sports but she'd loved her chorus classes.

The girls sang over their conversation and Carina sang right along with them encouraging the girls to be even more outrageous. They placed an "L" on their forehead while they performed. One of the girls ran to the bar and climbed it as she rapped her portion. They received a standing ovation. Carina smiled pleased with their bold choice.

"Carina is that what you and Sati are wearing for your performance?" Leticia inquired. She brought a change of clothes for herself and several outfits depending on the girls' choices for their number. She was the only one who'd seen their rehearsals. Jaws were going to drop to the floor tonight.

"I think Desirae and Andrea can stick with what they have" Sati replied, "But Carina and I should change into something. I wasn't taking that into consideration when I got ready."

"No problem" Nicholas reassured her. "We've got a few things in here that should do."

"Looks like the male servers are doing a number." Valentino motioned to 10 guys approaching the dance floor. They didn't speak to the DJ; apparently this was all pre-arranged.

Carina and Sati followed Leticia to the back offices. They headed to the conference room, giving them more space to change. Carina momentarily stopped as the guys began their performance. They were dancing to Michael Jackson's
Thriller
and doing a magnificent job of it.

"That song's several minutes" Leticia urgently whispered. "If we hurry up we can watch most of it." The girls rushed to the back hallway, practically sprinting the rest of the way. If the crowd's roars of approval gave them any kind of indication, the guys had really rehearsed. Carina threw off her beautiful sweater before looking into the garment bag. Leticia had several pieces of clothing to choose from.

Carina grabbed a red sassy sequined playsuit. The strapless top and attached shorts provided a cute yet playful look. She grabbed dangerous-looking heels making her outfit all curves and skin.

"Sati I think you should complement Andrea's style" Leticia stated as she pulled out animal-printed leggings and a black, chiffon top with an animal-print heart on the front. Sati momentarily frowned before putting on the outfit. Carina bounced on her toes not trusting the ice-pick thin heels to snap.

Carina and Leticia stepped back as Sati pulled on the leggings and slipped into the shirt. "You look like a fucking rock star" Leticia beamed. Sati looked to Carina for approval before draping her dress over one of the conference chairs.

"I plan to put this back on later" Sati clarified. Carina knew the exotic beauty wouldn't be seen in an outfit like this for too long.

Leticia stripped off her work clothes while Carina and Sati waited. She pulled on a comic-strip bustier with red trim and striped halter straps. She shimmied into red straight-legged pants and threw on the first pair of matching shoes.

"Another badass outfit for the night" Carina sighed with appreciation. Leticia winked at Carina before tossing their stuff onto the table.

"Hopefully Valentino won't need this room" Sati giggled. Carina shrugged. He rarely used the room for club events. It was his go-to place for intimate staff meetings and business interactions.

Carina and Sati sauntered over to their table as cheers erupted throughout the club. "Do we have our props?" Sati inquired. The guys scrunched their faces in confusion as Ariel handed out cherry Chap Stick and drink glasses. The entire club froze watching as Carina and Sati headed in one direction while Andrea and Desirae headed in another. Ariel and Beatriz waltzed to the middle of the dance floor with their cups and microphones. The moment the music started the club exploded with screams and chants.

Ariel and Beatriz sang to Katy Perry's "
I Kissed a Girl"
while the other girls slathered Chap Stick on each other. Guys and girls cheered while the mighty foursome rubbed against each other and kissed on the lips. Carina and Sati were more daring with open-mouth kisses while Andrea and Desirae allowed their lips to travel along each other's necks and jaw lines. The club's patrons sang right along with Ariel and Beatriz.

Andrea and Desirae leaned against a pillar feeling each other up to the beat of the song while Carina sprawled Sati onto the bar. She straddled Sati while dancing over her. She mouthed the words to the song as Sati squirmed beneath. Groans of appreciation echoed around them as the girls got into the song. Sati grabbed Carina's ass causing guys to roar their approval. Ariel and Beatriz screamed the last
I liked it
as the girls panted with spent energy and desire. Sati winked at Carina signaling her to slowly climb off the bar. Guys eagerly helped the duo down.

The girls settled back into the booth while Marco and Valentino spoke into the microphone. The catering staff served everyone's meals. They ate and talked between performances. The entire club needed to cool down from the girls' racy number. Carina and Sati had immediately considered this song after they'd reminisced about their all-girl-karaoke-night at their dorm last year. It was one of the nights Desirae had tried to get Carina to feel better after Jaxon and another of his never-ending dramas occurred. It was also the first time people started recording Carina and posting it on YouTube.

Carina quietly ate her meal mentally preparing herself for the next number. She and Jaxon were singing a song together that people could misinterpret. The fact was that she loved the male-female rendition of this Bruno Mars song and had wanted to sing it with Jaxon over the summer. Nicholas hadn't approved it because it wasn't "scandalous" enough for the nightclub.

"Ready" Jaxon softly asked Carina. If she looked at all hesitant he wasn't going to obligate her to perform.

"Do you have your guitar?" She asked. She hadn't recalled seeing Jaxon lug his guitar case with them when they headed to the club.

"Nicholas brought the one from the estate" Leticia answered. She looked between the pair wondering what they were going to sing together.

"Y'all may remember them from last year's party" the DJ chuckled. "This time around they've decided to play nice and perform together. Give it up for Carina and Jaxon!"

The club exploded with noise as Carina and Jaxon made their way over to the main area. They grabbed a set of stools and sat a few feet apart from each other. Jaxon grabbed his guitar quickly strumming it to ensure that it was still in tune while Carina patiently waited.

Jaxon closed his eyes and sang about his heart breaking every time he heard her name and about being too young and dumb to realize what he had. Carina joined in on occasion but Jaxon was the lead singer. She sang her parts in a higher melody making it entirely feminine.

The club held their breath as the couple finished their song. They performed the number flawlessly, emotionally, and powerfully. Several girls wiped tears from their faces while others solemnly nodded. Desirae and the occupants at their table whistled and cheered. Carina and Jaxon smiled brightly as they stood from their seats. They put the stools away while the rest of the club recovered from their emotional shock and applauded the amazing performance.

"Thank you" Carina and Jaxon mouthed. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and walked back to the table. Everyone's bright faces made Jaxon breathe a little easier. It was a beautiful but risky song to perform. Too many people could read into the words a little too closely. Although Jaxon felt the song in his entire being, in his soul; he didn't want to cause any distress in Carina's relationship with Valentino and Marco.

"Guys that was beautiful" Ariel gushed. She risked a quick peck on Jaxon's cheek and hugged Carina. The group made room for them to sit in their respective seats. A server brought dessert and drinks while another group took to the dance floor to perform.

Leticia glanced between Carina and Jaxon. They weren't stealing glances at each other. They hadn't touched at all during the performance. If anything, they'd kept their eyes closed for most of it. Leticia wasn't going to kid herself. That song sure as hell was about Jaxon and Carina.... Even if it was Jaxon's preferred method of closure, the song was about them. Leticia rubbed her chest not liking the tightness threatening to choke her. Jaxon wasn't hers. Hell they were barely friends.

"Did you like it?" Jaxon whispered into her ear. He didn't like her expression. Leticia looked like she'd swallowed something sour. He'd thought they'd done well.

"It was lovely" Leticia replied immediately cringing at the lame choice of words.

"Lovely" Jaxon winced. "Damn..."

"It was worth all the hours you put into practicing with Carina" Leticia added. She swallowed the growl in the back of her throat. What the hell was wrong with her? She sounded like a catty, whiny bitch. Leticia closed her eyes praying for a do-over. What could she say to Jaxon without stirring the hornet's nest?

"I really did like it" She finally stammered. Part of her wanted to know if he had another number with her but she wasn't ready to hear the answer yet. Leticia opened her eyes to find Jaxon and Carina silently communicating. Were they at that stage in their relationship that they could have a conversation with their eyes and nothing else? Did Carina have that with Marco and Valentino? Why did that hurt so fucking much to see?

"Leticia will you come with me" Carina asked after tearing her gaze from Jaxon's pleading expression. Leticia may not be able to communicate with Jaxon like Carina could but she easily recognized his look of desperation and uncertainty.

Leticia looked between Carina and Jaxon torn over what she wanted and what she felt. Marco and Valentino silently watched the entire exchange which didn't make her feel any better at all. Leticia hesitantly nodded and slid out of the booth. She silently followed Carina to the center table facing the dance floor.

"Would you please have a seat here?" Carina motioned to the seat facing the performance area. Leticia stared with confusion. The others remained at the table while Jaxon huddled with Marco at the DJ booth.

"He may not say it" Carina whispered. "But this song's dedicated to you." Carina's eyes brimmed with unshed tears as she smiled softly at her. Leticia's eyes widened in surprise and confusion; Jaxon was performing a song for her?

~

Jaxon stood for this performance. He held the microphone in his hand praying that no one noticed his trembling hand. When had he become so emotional? A year ago he could've performed this song without a second-thought... Even if the song had been dedicated to Carina it wouldn't have made him as nervous as he felt now.

Jaxon hadn't had sex with Leticia. They'd built a true friendship, endured the sexual tension, and now they hovered on that imaginary line. Jaxon didn't know if he wanted to step over the safe and easy line of friendship and delve into something deeper, far riskier. This song helped voice some of his thoughts and feelings. He especially loved Maroon 5's video. It was exactly how he felt with Leticia. They were a clean slate, no baggage between them. Okay, that was bullshit. Carina was a curvaceous obstacle that hovered around the peripheral but she wasn't a threat to his relationships. Jaxon wanted to do like Adam Levine in the music video and paint Leticia until her form completely contrasted against the blank background.