Page 121 of All for Love

KODY

“Ican’t believe you talked me into coming here instead of going to the party at the estate,” I said as Mercedes dragged me into some seedy bar and nightclub on New Year’s Eve.

She spun to face me, dressed in jeans, a tight black sweater that showed off every curve, and boots with sky high heels. She looked hot as fuck and I’d never seen her wearing such dramatic makeup, but that set aside, this was the wrong part of town.

Dragging her nails down the front of my shirt, she smirked at me when I slid my arm around her waist. “Ellora’s roommates scored these tickets for us, baby. You’re going to love the band, and Ellora, and Josh, and her roommates. Do you really always spend New Year’s at the estate?”

I shook my head. “I haven’t been to that party for years, but the point is that we would’ve been safe there. Around here, I’m not so sure.”

“Protective looks good on you Kody Wagner, but this is about dancing, watching the band, dancing some more, and then taking me home to celebrate the new year alone instead of in a house surrounded by our parents and their friends.”

Well, she had a point there. “Do you remember the last time you went to a place like this? I vaguely recall an SOS being sent. Stay close to me, you hear?”

She winked. “Dominant looks good on you too. Let’s go inside before we lose them.”

She grabbed my hand and we rejoined them toward the front of the line, pushing our way through the throng of bodies gathered outside the club to get in. The music spilling out from inside was already making my chest ache, but clearly, this was a side of Mercedes I hadn’t gotten to see before.

She was in her element here, with her friends, knowing that we were about to dance the night away. I hadn’t told her this, but I also didn’t typically dance. I knew how to, but I wasn’t a fan. Usually, I was the guy watching the girls dance, picking one, and then taking her home.

Now that my choice had been made though, I supposed I was going to have to get out there on the dance floor with her. Protecting what’s mine and all.

Mercedes drew her share of stares on our way in, and I glued myself to her back, wondering if jealous as fuck was a normal thing to feel. I briefly considered texting Kaden about it, but then I decided I didn’t care if it was normal.

Normal was great in some circumstances, but I knew what these guys were thinking when they looked at her. I knew what they wanted, and I was okay with wanting to rip their eyes out for it.

Thankfully, as we pushed our way to the bar and waited our turn, we blended into the crowd and I relaxed a little, realizing that the place wasn’t so bad inside as it was outside. I’d never been to this club before, but it seemed Ellora had a knack for sniffing out venues that had supposedly great bands playing at affordable prices.

Her words. Not mine.

There was no VIP section here, no bottle service, and no way to hasten our turn for drinks, so eventually, I bought as much as we could carry and gave the bartender a very generous tip, leaning closer to yell into his ear. “Keep an eye out for us.”

He nodded, and I saluted him and passed out the beers. We made our way to the dance floor. When they said we were going dancing, it turned out they meant it. With our drinks in our hands, we made our way through the crush to the center of the dance floor, and that was pretty much where we stayed.

With the exception of quick runs to the bathroom or to the bar to refill our drinks—much faster now thanks to my new bartender friend—we didn’t move from our places. I couldn’t say I minded it, though.

The beers were cold. Ellora and Josh were clinging to each other, keeping each other busy without being the least bit worried, and the roommates had each found themselves someone to dance with, which meant that Mercedes and I were essentially alone.

In a sea of people but alone enough that it felt like we were in our own little bubble. It also turned out that my girl could really move. She closed her eyes, her hands in the air when she wasn’t lowering one just to take a quick sip of her drink.

There were so many people around us that there wasn’t enough space but I didn’t mind having to be pressed up against her front. Her hips moved with a mind of their own and my body molded to it, following her movements before I slipped my thigh between her legs and drew her in close.

One song flowed into the next and then the next. I didn’t know how much time passed, but with every second that we spent on that dance floor, I was getting harder and harder. Mercedes ground on my thigh like she didn’t have a care in the world, her dark hair swaying as her body moved and her lips mouthed the words of most of the songs that came on when I wasn’t devouring them.

Eventually, I decided that we either needed fresh air or to go home early so I could do this with her—but naked. Since it was probably close to midnight but not quite there yet, I figured fresh air was the better option.

Sliding my hand down into hers, I lowered my head to her ear. “Want to come outside with me for a few?”

She pulled back, her pupils dilated and her cheeks flushed. “Yep. Yeah. Let’s go.”

I tightened my grip on her hand and drank down my latest drink in one long sip as we made our way to the exit. I set the glass down on the last available table before we left. There were almost as many people on the sidewalk as there were inside, but we had our wristbands. We’d get back in.

I twisted to make sure Mercedes was still okay, but I was keeping a firm grip on her hand and my gaze met hers. She smiled at me. “There’s an alley just over there.”

“I don’t want to know how you knew that.”

She winked. “Ellora told me.”

I marched us past the crowds, thankful when I finally started feeling the fresh, cold air instead of just that insane wave of lust I’d been drowning in. Even so, as soon as we turned the corner, I looked up and down the narrow alley to make sure we were alone. Then I spun her in a circle and pushed her up against the red brick wall.