Page 25 of Inside the Maelstrom: Part One
She reared back, shocked. I didn’t know whether to be amused or offended by her surprise. “You do?”
I gave Hendrick the finger. “No, I don’t. These guys do have security. They’re just really good, so you don’t notice them.” I pointed to a guy at the bar. “That’s Sampson’s security guy, Evan. He’s scary as fuck and really does know Krav Maga.” I searched the walls of the room. “That one over there in the expensive suit belongs to Hendrick. More conspicuous, but still, quite good.”
Her eyes had slid right past Evan, which was why he was paid so well.
“Have they been with us all day?”
I shook my head. “Not when you and I went to the bookstore. We aren’t that important.”
Sampson frowned. “Don’t say that.”
And that's why I loved Sampson. Unlike the rest of the world, he didn’t see any difference between the value of my life and his. He wasn’t an idiot; he knew that he would be more likely to get abducted and ransomed or some such shit. But he’d mourn my death just as much as he would Hendrick’s. I wasn’t worth less as a person to him, just because I was worth less monetarily. I couldn’t say the same for everyone in this room though.
Tossing back the rest of my drink, I smiled at Aviva. “Want to dance?”
She chewed on her lip. “I’m not a great dancer.”
I stood, holding out my hand. “Neither am I. But it's fun anyway. Let’s go.”
She hesitated for a moment, then put her hand in mine. “Okay.”
I held her close as I dragged her down to the dancefloor, the crowd pulsing with lust, sweat and music. Putting us in the middle, I held her hands, just holding her loosely as she swayed from side to side awkwardly.
I grinned at her, grabbing her arms and putting them around my neck, then placed my hands on her hips. “Just feel it pulsing through your feet, then close your eyes and let it fill your limbs,” I yelled beside her ear.
She continued to bite her lip, but closed her eyes, and I used my hands on her hips to slowly sway us to the music. She was stiff, but after a few minutes, she finally began to unwind, her body relaxing into the music and into my hands. I pulled her closer, letting her body move with mine, her head lolling back, her eyes still scrunched shut.
Her lips parted and I desperately wanted to kiss her. Instead, I let the music strip us both down until we were free.
Chapter14
Aviva
We danced until my feet ached and my mouth was dry. Otto led me back to the VIP area, and I noticed Hendrick was gone, as was Destinee. I frowned, before slumping back down beside Sampson. I felt sweaty and disgusting, but my heart was racing and I was smiling so wide I thought my face would crack.
“Having fun, Good Girl?”
I grinned at him. “I—”
“Excuse me. You’re in my spot.”
I looked up, and then up a bit more, at one of the most beautiful women I’d ever seen. She looked like a Victoria’s Secret runway model. Beside her was a girl who was smirking into her phone.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I said, my buzz leaving me in a rush. Of course Sampson hadn’t been sitting up here alone. I looked at him, and he had his eyes narrowed at the girl. He didn’t look particularly happy to see her.
“Is it your spot?” he drawled coolly, and the sound of it made all the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. He may as well have growled. “Good Girl, you aren’t in your proper seat.” He grabbed my waist and dragged me onto his lap. I sucked back a gasp as he settled me across his thighs. I couldn’t help but look up at the beautiful woman again.
“My place is always at your side. You know after you’re bored with whatever this is”—she waved a dismissive hand in my general direction, and I bristled—“you’ll come back to me, Sonny. You know I’m the only one who can give you what you want.” She leaned over me to purr the last part in his ear. Would it be rude to tit punch her? Would it rupture her breast implants?
Also, Sonny? Seriously? The hell kind of nickname was that? This dark, brooding man was the opposite of sunny.
Sampson held me tight, his hand wrapped almost the whole way around my thigh as he looked up at the model. “This might be a shock to you, Alexis, but the only thing you can give me is an STD. Now, fuck off.”
“Just go away, Alexis,” Otto groaned, rubbing a hand down his face. He knew her too? “This isn’t going to end well.”
Alexis shot a look at Otto. “No one was talking to you, leech.”
Oh. Oh hell no, she didn’t just say that. Mentally, I tore her to shreds. I threw out everything I'd ever believed about female solidarity and the feminist ideal, and told her she was a bleached blonde plastic trash bag. And that her vagina probably smelled like an old tuna sandwich and gangrene.
