Page 7 of Room Twenty-Four: Under Their Hands

We stride inside and the bar manager comes running up, the hostess close behind him. “Marco! So lovely to see you! I’ve got your usual VIP section reserved up top. Just tell me if you need anything else.”

“I’m sure it will all be fine.” Marco looks around with a casual glare.

The manager flinches. “It’s still early, sir. We’ll have a bigger turnout soon.”

I nod and the hostess leads us to our table, smiling at us when we sit down, handing us a small card with the drinks on it. We all shake our heads and hand it back to her.

“No, thank you. Just bring us some of your best scotch.” She nods and moves away.

We look around and Bruno groans. “It’s too early. All of these women are way too old.”

I snort. “Old? Dude, we’re all in our early forties. I don’t need a damn teenager.”

“I’m not talking teenager but I like ‘em young and you know it. More pliable. Easier to mold.”

“Ugh. You’re a sexist, man.”

Bruno smirks while Marco sips the crystal glass of scotch the waitress already hurried over to us. “I fully support that remark.”

Marco gasps next to me and I glance out where he’s looking, surprised to see his dark eyes locked on something.

“What? What’s up?”

His gaze is locked on a gorgeous woman making her way through the thin crowd with another curvy woman who’s slightly smaller and considerably more animated.

The other woman is taller, a solid five foot five at least. Still tiny compared to us. She’s also damn curvy in all the right places. Big breasts, full hips and thighs showcased in a cream and cold sweater dress that makes my mouth water.

Long, golden-blond curls riot down her slim shoulders and all the way down to her slender waist. I can’t see her eyes from this distance but it doesn’t matter if she’s got a squint like a grandmother. The rest of her more than makes up for it.

Bruno finally catches up, his head jerking back to us. “What, what?” His caramel-colored eyes finally follow ours and he sits up, his mouth dropping open. “Who the hell is she?”

“I don’t know. But I sure as hell want to know.” Marco stands up and throws his drink back in one gulp before he stalks down the stairs from the upper level, dropping to the floor where the action is.

I nod at Marco’s retreating form. “I’ve never seen him like this. Do you know her?”

Bruno shakes his head. “Let’s go see what’s going on. You know I can’t stand being out of the loop.”

“You’re a fucking nut.”

But both of us follow after Marco’s distinctive suit. It doesn’t take long to reach the floor and then push our way through the crowd to reach where Marco has stopped right in front of the woman who’s eyeing him like he’s a crazy person.

The other woman is watching the action like a spectator at a tennis match.

“What’s your name, angel?”

She glares at him and even though it’s dark I can tell her eyes are a pure emerald green. There’s a cream and gold collar around her slender, tanned throat and I want to put a leash on it and tug her over to me, drop her to her knees and teach her how to behave.

She’s a wild woman. I can tell. Her lush mouth is tight and her body is tense. “None of your damn business.”

She tries to walk around us and her little friend eyes us and then smiles. “Violetta. Her name is Violetta and I’m Alexia.”

“Ladies, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” I say. “I’m Seth and this is Bruno and Marco.” I point at each man in turn. “We couldn’t let this moment pass without coming to meet two such beautiful women.”

Violetta snorts and I grin.Fuck, she’s a pistol!“We’re here to have a few drinks and a little fun.” Her gemstone eyes run up and down Marco while he blocks her in, his big hands twitching at his sides. “I don’t know what’s going on with your friend but I don’t care. I’m not looking for company.”

She stalks off, her back ramrod straight and I cough over a laugh as Alexia looks back at us, her blue eyes twinkling under the lights.

“That went well.”

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