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Charlotte savored it.

“So what, you were a stripper or something?” Victoria bit out, voice so brittle with jealousy it filled Charlotte with triumph.

Ali’s doe eyes widened with practiced innocence as she buttoned the last of her blouse. “No silly, I was just always enamored with the artistry of it so I took a class in college and never stopped.”

Victoria sneered. “Maybe you missed your true calling.”

“I don’t think so,” Ali replied as she picked up the bills and counted them with leisurely satisfaction.

“Would be more lucrative than art, don’t you think?”

Ali tapped the tip of Victoria’s nose with her finger, all sugar-coated mockery. “Life is about more than money and whatever everyone else can do for you. Don’t you think?” Then she twirled away, dividing her winnings between the dancers.

Victoria skulked to the far side of the room.

This night was somehow turning out to be one of the best nights of her life. Not because of the environment or even the way Victoria fumed. Because of Ali… Always because of Ali.

And the night wasn’t even over.

28

ALI

Though the hour was late when they climbed into their Uber, Ali felt wide awake. The pleasant buzz of her drinks still shimmered through her bloodstream, and the memory of Victoria’s sour, pinched expression only sweetened it… worth every bit of effort.

Charlotte apologized to the driver, promising a hefty tip.

Ali pounced.

Her fingers dove into Charlotte’s thick locks, roughly tugging her head to the side, exposing the elegant line of her throat for the taking. Ali caught the sharp inhale, felt cool hands slipping beneath her shirt. But Ali caught each one, lifting them away and pinning them against the seat beside Charlotte’s head.

Charlotte groaned, a low and shredded sound, muttering expletives under her breath as she arched upward.

An epiphany struck.

Every time they’d had sex Charlotte was always on top. Unsurprising, as she was type-A to the bone. She liked control. Needed it, even. But this Charlotte was biting her lip and pleading quietly beneath her.

Something had unlocked in her and it required research.

Ali caught Charlotte’s earlobe between her teeth, biting at the sensitive skin before murmuring praise against the column of her neck. The softest of whimpers escaped the normally composed woman, no doubt keeping herself from completely letting go due to their current location.

Once they made it to the beach house, they tumbled out of the car, rushing up the stairs to their room. They took their time getting ready for bed, hands roaming, lingering kisses mapping exposed skin. Every touch stoked the wanting already smoldering in their bellies.

But cottonmouth hit Ali hard.

Ali left her temptress behind, promising to be swift as she padded downstairs. The house was quiet, the other party members either outside on the deck or already asleep in their beds. She found the largest possible glasses. Once halfway full of ice, she waited agonizingly long seconds for the filtered water to trickle into the glass.

Temptation was waiting and she had a theory to test.

“I have to admit, your performance tonight was impressive. You put on quite the show,” Victoria drawled behind her.

Ali refused to jump. She took a slow breath, eyes fixed on the water creeping its way up the glass.

“Glad you enjoyed it,” Ali chirped, though her internal eye-roll was something comical.

“You’ve got serious talent,” Victoria mused, footsteps clicking closer. “Makes me curious about what other talents you have.”

“Innumerable,” Ali swapped out the cups, watching the ice crack and shift beneath the water. Her skin prickled with the discomfort of having Victoria at her back, but it would be a cold day in hell before she ever let Victoria see.