Dirty Secrets - Five Contemporary Hot Alpha Male & Billionaire Romance Stories Boxed Set

By Clarissa Wild

This sizzling anthology contains short stories and serial beginnings by USA Today bestselling author Clarissa Wild.Will you find your next sexy book-boyfriend here?

Get this awesome boxed set with a few passionate stories, like:

FILTHY - (Fierce Series) 68 pages short story with a HEA

Faking his way through life is all Jaret Paxon knows, but reality in the form of an ex-girlfriend bumps into him, and now he's forced to face his own sin. When shame becomes pride, he'll fight to claim what always belonged to him.

SEEK - (Delirious Series) 68 pages prequel open ending

Trauma reigns Lillith's life. Stuck in a mental institution, she trusts only Sebastian Brand; her savior. Obsessed with him, she lets him take control of her mind, her body, her heart. Love will be her cure. If only she knew more about him than just his name...

Raveled by You (Enflamed #1) - 41 pages serial

An erotic Romance about a one-night stand between a middle class girl looking for love and a mysterious, sexy Japanese man.

Hooked by You (Enflamed #2) - 46 pages serial

The continuation of Chloe's story of self-discovery and sensual seductions.

Blissful Volume 1 - 75 pages short story with a HFN

Amy's a singer-song writer running away from her past. Jack's a rancher drowning his sorrow in work. When the two of them meet, a passionate game of tug and war begins, igniting their love.

The Billionaire's Bet #1: A Seductive Deal - 41 pages short story

Writer Julie Valentine meets kind billionaire Dominic Fury at a casino and after a fun night they end up in her room together. She wants to get to know him, but Dominic ignores her advances. It turns out he has a request for her which she cannot refuse.

The Billionaire's Bet #2: A Hot Call - 58 pages short story

After a steamy night with hot billionaire Dominic Fury, author Julie Valentine wants more from him. However, sexy Dominic has some dark secrets. Is Julie's will to be loved stronger than her will to survive?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Clarissa Wild
• Release date: Nov 26, 2014
• ISBN: 9781502261618

Clarissa Wild

Clarissa Wild is a New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author. She loves to write Dark Romance and Contemporary Romance novels featuring dangerous men and feisty women. Her other loves include her hilarious husband, her cutie pie son, her two crazy but cute dogs, and her ninja cat that sometimes thinks he’s a dog too. In her free time, she enjoys watching all sorts of movies, playing video games, and cooking up some delicious meals.

Book preview

DIRTY SECRETS

Copyright 2014 Clarissa Wild

Cover art by Clarissa Wild’s Booming Covers

Naughty Secrets is a collection of 4 serial beginnings and 1 short story with deliciously naughty secrets, sexy mysterious men, hot and dominant alpha males, old flames, and possessive billionaires. Enjoy Naughty Secrets in this box featuring 5 sizzling stories about confident women and their erotic encounters with fiercely passionate men.

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ALSO BY CLARISSA WILD

Dark Romance

Mr. X

Delirious Series:

(FREE!) SEEK (Prequel)

SNARE (Book 1)

Seize (Book 2)

New Adult Romance

Fierce Series

Blissful Series

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Erotic Romance

The Billionaire’s Bet Series

Enflamed Series

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Visit Clarissa Wild on Barnes&Noble for current titles.

© 2014 Clarissa Wild

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, places, organizations, or person, whether living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to the retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FILTHY – FIERCE SERIES (68 pages short story – HEA)

SEEK – #0.5 DELIRIOUS SERIES (68 pages prequel – open ending)

RAVELED BY YOU – #1 ENFLAMED (41 pages serial – open ending)

HOOKED BY YOU – #2 ENFLAMED (46 pages serial – open ending)

BLISSFUL VOLUME 1 (75 pages short story – HFN ending)

THE BILLIONAIRE’S BET #1: A SEDUCTIVE DEAL (41 pages serial – HFN ending)

THE BILLIONAIRE’S BET #2: A HOT CALL (58 pages serial – HFN ending)

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FILTHY – FIERCE SERIES

Take what you want. Claim it. Own it. Never let go.

Playboy Jaret Paxon has no pride. He’s filthy as fuck, and he doesn’t care. He’s got it all... Expensive cars, a luxurious home, and a killer smile. Flirting with girls at local clubs, his money gets him whatever he desires. Tight pussy around hungry cock. Night after night. Life is good.

Except it’s all a lie.

Wealth. Love. A family. Education. None of it is real. Jaret’s life is broken. Fucking makes him forget.

Until Lin, the only girl who understood him, stumbles back into his life. One kiss rekindles the sparks from long ago. Jaret wants her back, but he’s not the only one who screwed up. Dating the wrong guy got Lin into trouble. Now that Jaret’s in the middle, someone’s out for blood.

Lies turn into shame. Shame becomes pride. And when Jaret’s proud of something, he won’t let go without a fight.

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Length: This is a short story part of the Fierce Series, but it can be read as a standalone. This part contains about 16.500 words.

Spice: This story contains very hot, explicit sex, M/F. For 18+ adults only.

Genre: New Adult Romance

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Turn the page to read Filthy, a short story in the Fierce Series, by Clarissa Wild

Or click here to return to the Table of Contents.

Chapter 1

Dirty

I have no pride.

Like I give a fuck.

With my back against the wall of an alley and no lamp in sight, I’m thoroughly enjoying being in the dark. No, seriously, I’d rather not see the girl that’s knelt in front of me right now. Regardless, I can’t help myself sneaking some looks at her from time to time. Biting my lip, I look down at her sucking on my dick. Her big mouth and perky lips allow for plenty of pleasure, which is pretty much the only thing I care about. I’m glad I shut her up with a kiss back at the club. That mouth of hers is finally being used for the right reasons, and damn, she can suck. Her tongue swirls around my dick, lathering it with her saliva. When her lips wrap firmly around my shaft, my veins pulse from her licks. Fuck, this is just what I needed. I wouldn’t want to go a day without some random girl blowing me. Yep, every day another girl, never the same. One time only, and that’s it. Usually, I don’t even know their names. Heck, I don’t even remember the name of the girl who’s on her knees in front of me right now.

Do I care? Maybe. I should, actually, but strangely I don’t. It wasn’t my idea to do this, so I sure as hell don’t feel guilty. Girls just tend to throw themselves at my feet. Of course, they do it because they think I’ll give them more than one night with my cock. I might have given the impression I’m worth my weight in gold, which frankly, makes me laugh, but whatever. I guess the right clothes, a flashy car, and plenty of cash to go around makes them believe I’m rich. As if I would share it with them ... if I were in fact rich, that is. Looks can be deceiving.

I groan from the pressure she applies with her tongue, my cock bouncing against the roof of her mouth.

Yeah, baby, I say, that feels good. Spreading my fingers in her hair, I grasp it tight from excitement.

I wanna taste your come, she moans.

I smirk. You sure you want me to blow in your mouth?

She glances up at me with smudged eyes, which look more like those of a raccoon than an actual human being. So I close my eyes and imagine someone else’s lips slipping over my dick. Once I have her in my mind, it never takes long to blow my load.

Except ... she stops.

What the fuck?

Making a face, I gaze down at her. She smashes her lips together, smiling, and licking them before coming back up. Now wait a minute, that wasn’t the plan.

I was just enjoying that, I say, groaning out loud.

I know, but there’s plenty more where that came from. Let’s go to your place. I want to try out that bubble bath you mentioned. She raises an eyebrow, tucking my cock back into my pants, which suddenly feel too cramped. I’m fucking hard and ready to come, and now she’s pulling this shit? Tasting my come my ass. She’s playing me.

Her fingers trail a way down my shirt while she pouts her lips. Oh no, not another one of those. Fuck no, why do I always get the money-grabbers?

I grasp her fingers and push her away.

She winces. What the hell, Jaret?

Never-fucking-mind.

I turn around and shake my head, blowing off some steam.

Hey, where do you think you’re going? I’m not done yet.

I am. I snort, and walk back to my convertible Mazda.

What? Her voice makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Such a fucking annoying, high-pitched shriek. I thought we were going to fuck at your place!

You thought wrong, I yell back, flipping my keys. Home is for sleeping, clubbing is for fucking.

What a load of crap, she yells. Did you honestly expect me to suck you without wanting something in return?

I stop in my tracks, look up at the sky, and laugh. It’s not even funny, but then again it is. I momentarily turn around and cock my head. Actually, I did.

Her jaw drops slowly, as if she’s still digesting the fact that I’m a major asshole. Of course I won’t deny it. Why should I? It’s useful to me. Like I said, I don’t give a shit. Not about random, money-hungry girls like her.

The expression on her face is amusing. No shame in my game, I add. Turning around again, I walk away. I can hear her stampede and shriek like she’s gone ape-shit as I hurry to my car. Unlocking it, something slams me in the back. It drops to the floor.

Jerk!

Growling, I turn and see the girl standing a few feet away, fuming. She’s only wearing one heel. I swear she came here with two. Below me, on the asphalt, is the other.

Taking a deep breath, I bend and pick it up. I come back up, squinting. She squints, too. And then I throw the fucker back at her.

Fuck that! Don’t mess with me. You throw a shoe at me? Right back at you.

Her squeal is the last thing I hear before I jump in my car, start the engine, and race off.

♥♥♥

They think I have money, and I make them believe it so I get laid.

I’m cheap. I don’t give a fuck. They’re just as bad as I am, pretending to want me for my cock when all they want is a free pass into luxury. Well, fuck me if it’s bad for using it to my advantage. I mean, I like fucking, no doubt about it, I’ll do it any day I can, and since they are so willing, why not? It’s the only thing I got going for me at the moment, so I’m sticking with it. Hell, my parents are the ones who are rich, not me. I used to believe everything they owned would become mine eventually. Boy, was I wrong. Turns out they had me removed from all of the funds after they found out about that fiasco at college. If I had known they’d stop supporting me financially when I fucked it up, of course I would’ve done a better job at acing my tests.

Not that it fucking matters right now. It’s too late, so I might as well enjoy my time while I still have some money left. After that ... well ... who knows? I’d rather not think about it. I know I’m a fuck-up. I don’t need to be reminded of it.

Screw that, I don’t need their money. I can make my own just fine. I’ve been dabbling at poker for a while now, and I’m getting pretty good at it. A flick of the hand, an extra card shuffled under the table; no problem!

When I take another sip of my beer, I notice it’s empty. Crap! This is my last can.

Scrunching it up, I throw it in the back of my car while I drive toward the next club. This time one where I’ll definitely get action. Paid action. Laid action. Hell yeah, baby!

I honk at some pretty ladies driving in a car in the other lane, flipping them the finger when they stick out their tongues. Then I make a turn and drive up the parking lot of Kitties Club. After hopping out, I lock the car and saunter to the club. The music is booming; I can hear it already and I’m not even inside yet. As I walk through the door, a guard checks me out from top to bottom before letting me continue. He even growls at me like some kind of dog. I shrug and pass through. Red lights, flashing outfits and loud music overload my senses. Girls dance on the bars, tables, and floor, or hang from the poles. Some are dancing with a guy while others are doing some hands-on work. They’re all wearing masks today. Crap, I totally forgot to bring one. No wonder the guard was being snarly at me.

Didn’t you see the flyer hanging on the wall right beside the door?

I look to my side. A long, curvy woman strides toward me, a sassy smile plastered on her face. She giggles when I begin to open my mouth, but instead frown. Its fine, I’m only messing with you. Placing her hand on my shoulder, she leans in and pecks me on the cheek. Welcome to the club, baby.

Winking, she reaches behind me, her tits bouncing up and down against my chest. A hard-on grows in my pants. In her hands she holds a golden mask. Here. It’s on the house.

Holding it in front of my face, she straps it behind my head and then puts it in place. There. You look like a real gentleman now.

I laugh. In nobody’s dreams.

She cocks her head. Baby, you know everybody’s dreams come true here. Now, enjoy your time!

She flicks her finger at another girl. Get this customer a drink, she says before she turns around and walks away, her hips swaying back and forth with each step. Damn, that woman’s got some ass.

A thin yet confident girl walks toward me, a pearl-white smile partially hidden underneath a mask. Glancing at her, I can’t help but zoom in on those beautiful chocolate eyes she hides behind that mask of hers. They are peculiar thin slits that immediately draw my attention. God, I wonder what look she’d give me when she’s splayed underneath me, ready to take my cock. I bet those eyes would sparkle even more.

I clear my throat when she lifts the tray she’s carrying and hands me a small glass, contents unknown.

Drink up! she says.

I hastily chug it down, the burn in my throat riveting. Fuck, I need to wash this down.

Strong, huh? She chuckles.

Some girl grabs a microphone and a chair to stand on. Time to party! The club suddenly bursts with cheers and howls as people get up and grab the girls like they’re some kind of prey. The music starts blaring through the speakers. The girl next to me opens her mouth to say something, but I can’t hear anything.

What? I yell.

Laughing, she grabs my hand and hauls me to the dance floor. I like where this is going.

She wraps her hands around my neck as I place mine on her hips. Swaying with the music, she comes closer with each step, her eyes enchanting, luring me closer. Fuck, I love this event. We’re never allowed to touch the girls, so this is a surprise. No wonder it’s so crowded in here.

As I glance around, her hand leaves my neck and moves to my chin. She abruptly pulls me from my drifting thoughts and forces me to focus on her. Her wicked smile enthralls me, lighting a fire in my core. The way she dances with me—which is so fucking hot—is riling me up. Especially when she turns around and rubs her ass against my cock. Oh, yeah. My cock is tented against her skirt, but she doesn’t seem to mind. Her head is rested on my shoulder, one of her hands playing with mine while the other is exploring my body. A groan escapes my mouth when she arches her back and her voluptuous tits are on display for me. Her eyes rise to meet mine.

Like what you see? she murmurs.

Oh yeah, baby. I grin and let my hands drift down her waist. I’m seeing stars.

She smiles. You know I don’t mind. Her hands float over mine, gently touching, sending shocks through my body as she guides me down. My dick pulsates in my pants as she uses my hand to touch herself through her skirt. Fuck ...

A silent moan leaves her mouth. I wonder what you’d see if this was more than just a dance.

Hmm ... Now she’s talking. I twirl her around in my arms, an alarmed look on her face. Her eyes are wide open, her lips parted, and for a second we just gaze at each other, a tentative smile on our faces. With that sultry look she tempted me, and now I want more ... so I smash my lips on hers. For a moment she’s taken aback, and just stands there, allowing me to kiss her. If she’s not complaining, I’m going for it. My tongue dips out to lick the seam of her lip. She tastes delicious, like lemon shortcakes, something ... familiar.

Squinting, I take my lips off hers. Her eyes are still big, her mouth open, her wet lips still looking tantalizing. Quite frankly, she seems shocked I’d actually go for it. Hey, why not? I mean, she basically begged me to. It’s not like I fucked her or anything. It was only a kiss. Although, I am looking forward to more. After all, my cock is still hungry.

However, the look on her face tells me she wasn’t prepared for this.

You ... she mumbles.

My lips curl up into a half smile. Sorry, didn’t catch that.

You kissed me.

Yeah ... I laugh. And it was hot. Fuck, your lips are nice.

No.

I frown, confused. Hey, if you don’t want it, you can just tell me. I get it. I’ll leave, no problem.

That’s not it, she says, so softly I can barely hear it, and she visibly swallows. Take off your mask.

I snort. Why exactly?

Before I can stop her, she’s already jerked the thing off my face. Shit.

Her jaw drops. Her pupils enlarge.

Yeah, if that’s the way it’s gonna be, then I’m making sure we’re on equal grounds. I reach for her mask. Her hands fight with me, but I win. Ripping it off, she hides her face behind her hands, but it’s not enough to prevent me from seeing who it is.

Holy fucking shit.

Lin? I say, in shock.

Fuck! she hisses. Her eyes skid over the room and she slams her mouth shut. Then she turns around.

Wait! I say, grabbing her arm. She jerks loose and runs, disappearing through a door in the back. Guards are in front of it and they’re glaring at me like they want to eat me. No thanks. There’s no way I can go in there; no way I can talk to her again.

Jesus, out of all the places I thought of seeing her again, this is where we meet? I’m a gambler with no future, and I just discovered my ex from ages ago works at a strip club.

What the fuck happened here?

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Chapter 2

Chances

13 years ago

Leaves fall down on top of me, showering the ground with colors as the wind blows them across the road. I run through the garden, kick the bigger pebbles away, and crush the old leaves with my boots. The wind and rain don’t stop me from playing outside. Mom and Dad hate that I make my clothes dirty, but I don’t care. They aren’t even here anyway. They’re always away on some business trip. I don’t get why they care so much. I’m not going to listen to the maids. They can punish me all they like, I’m not afraid. I’m doing what I want, and I want to have fun.

C’mon, Lin! I yell, running past her.

We aren’t supposed to go play outside, she says.

So? I turn around while walking. Nobody’s the boss off me.

Your parents are, she scoffs.

They’re not here.

They’re not, but you know they gave rules.

Like I care. Rules don’t matter when they’re not here. I’m not going to listen.

She gasps. You should. They’re your mom and dad.

You listen to yours too much.

She sticks out her tongue. Laughing, I turn back around and start running again.

Hey! Wait for me! she says. I can hear her slippers move on the grass. She doesn’t walk on the pebbles; they hurt her feet. Her parents always tell her girls aren’t supposed to run like boys do, but I think she should just do whatever she likes.

I lift my arms and pretend I’m a plane soaring through the skies. Lin tentatively lingers behind to my left, following me from a distance. I don’t mind. Once she finds out how cool I am she’ll want to play with me.

When I find a puddle, I jump up and down inside it, splashing the water everywhere. My pants are wet and mud splatters all over me. I love it. I giggle and laugh while Lin frowns, a puzzled look on her face.

Jaret! Lin places her hands in her side.

What? I splash the water her way because I know she hates it.

Ew! Stop that! She holds up her hands, protecting her face.

Afraid of a little water?

You know that’s not allowed. Look at your pants.

Stop worrying so much. Come play with me.

No. She freezes when I step closer.

It’s fun.

Girls aren’t supposed to.

I snort. Who told you that?

My parents.

Your parents tell you not to jump in puddles because you’re a girl?

She nods, a flush appearing on her cheeks, and I laugh so hard I choke. Frowning, she shoves me. Jerk.

I land ass first in the mud, but it doesn’t stop me from laughing. Lin steps forward and stomps with her feet, splashing the water all over herself and me. Her shoes are brown just like mine, but she doesn’t seem to care. She tries to splash me with her hands, but I lunge forward and pull her leg, causing her to fall, too. Her squeal makes me giggle even more. For a while we fight each other on the ground, throwing pebbles and water at each other. Suddenly, her eyes widen and her jaw drops, her gaze lifting. She’s looking at something.

What? I say.

Her cheeks turn red as a beet as she points behind me.

Jaret Paxon. The way the maid says my name makes me swallow my breath. Oh crap, I’m in trouble now.

♥♥♥

Present

Just thinking about her makes me wonder what the hell happened. To her, and me, and ... us. She was always there, but could barely hang out with me, except when her parents would allow her a short break. Her parents worked in our kitchen as chefs. God, I was so young back then, I didn’t even notice there was a difference in what was allowed and what was not. My parents were never there, so they loaded me with gifts and made me a spoiled brat. Her parents were always there, looming over her shoulder, telling her what was appropriate and how their girl should behave. Lin was always ashamed of being careless, something I’d grown accustomed to. But now ... fuck, how could she have a job at a fucking strip club? That is so unlike her. Something must be wrong. I wish I’d known about her troubles sooner. I could’ve done something about it.

I take a sip of my Coke and look around the club. People are cheering like crazy, throwing their snacks to the ring. My friend Hunter is fighting a fierce opponent, one with sneaky tendencies, but I’m sure he’ll win. The guy is already bleeding profusely from his mouth and nose, while Hunter is still standing strong, shuffling on his feet. Yep, he’s a true favorite of the crowd. But fuck me, I wish they’d stop making so much noise. My head hurts. Fuck hangovers. I should’ve thought better than to drown myself in alcohol last night. And I only did it because I saw her ...

You look like you drank a few gallons last night.

Jessie!

I turn my head and see Jessie, Hunter’s brother, being punched in the shoulder by Autumn, Hunter’s girlfriend. They sit down beside me on the benches. They’ve been watching him from the sidelines all this time, and I wish they’d stayed there. I’m not up for talking.

Jessie slaps me on the back. Bro, you all right?

Fine.

You seem a little down, Autumn states.

Go figure.

Jessie frowns and smiles at the same time. I smell a tiny white lie.

Jessie ... leave him alone. He doesn’t want to talk, Autumn says.

Ding, ding, ding, ding, I reply, twirling my finger in the air.

Jessie squeezes my shoulder. Dude, whatever it is, talking about it is better than bottling it up.

I laugh. Now you almost sound like me.

I know, I learned it from the best. He winks.

I sigh.

Lemme guess ... it’s about a chick?

And how did you come to that conclusion? I ask.

Ah, well with you there’s not much else it can be.

Autumn smacks him on the head with her bottle of water. Stop teasing him.

But I’m right, aren’t I?

I roll my eyes. Whatever.

See! I knew it. Got into trouble again?

That’s enough, Jessie. Hey, Jaret, she leans forward, if you wanna talk to about it, you know ... A girl knows a lot more about girls than boys ever will.

Jessie laughs out loud. You probably wouldn’t, in this case.

She frowns. What’s that supposed to mean?

The girls Jaret hangs with are a little ... different.

Different?

Dude ... I say.

What? It’s the truth, isn’t it?

What is? Autumn asks.

Jessie turns his head toward her. He’s a one night kind of guy. You know, random girls, no strings attached.

I slam him in the shoulder and he winces. Fuck, dude, you know I’m right.

Normally, yeah.

Normally? Every day.

Not now. He gazes at me, confused, and I stare back at him while clenching my teeth. I’m really not in the mood to talk about her, but he can’t seem to let it rest. Then a devious smile spreads on his face.

Oh ...

That doesn’t sound good.

I’m not following at all, Autumn says.

Jessie grins, which makes me think he knows what I mean. Shit. I turn my head away from him, taking a deep breath, and continue watching the game for some distraction.

Hey, sorry, dude. I didn’t think it was actually a girl you’d ... well, you know. Whatever it is, I’m sure you’ll figure it out.

Oh, wait a minute ... this is about Jaret having a girlfriend?

She’s not my girlfriend, I say, a little too bluntly.

Oh, sorry, Autumn says.

No, never mind. I shake my head. I shouldn’t have said anything. I don’t want this to turn sour.

We don’t care. Jessie pulls me closer, as well as Autumn, hugging us tight. Friends don’t turn their backs on each other. We’re here to help you out if you need us.

Thanks. I push myself away from him. I appreciate it, but no need. I need to figure this out on my own.

We understand, Autumn says, smiling.

The crowd goes mad with cheers as Hunter steps out of the cage, drawing all of the attention. Grabbing a towel from the stack, he walks over to us with a confident stride. He steps onto the bleachers, disregarding the fact that the fans are going crazy over him. He doesn’t seem to mind. His eyes are set on her. Autumn’s eyes light up like candles have been lit behind them. I admire the way they always live toward each other’s presence. I’d consider myself lucky to have such a connection. Unfortunately, most chicks only go for my money or my dick. I’m only cool with the latter.

Hunter holds up his hand and gives me a bro shake. Great job out there, I say.

Thanks. Couldn’t have done it without your support.

I smile, not knowing what to say. Hunter cocks his head. You okay?

Yeah ...

Lovesick. He’s got the bugs, Jessie jokes, and Autumn punches him in the side.

Hmmm ... Hunter looks at me with squinted eyes. I didn’t think you were the girlfriend type.

I’m not.

Hunter shrugs. Whatever works for you, dude. We’re here if you need us.

He grabs Autumn by the waist, lifts her up from her seat, and firmly plants his lips on hers, claiming her as if he owns her ... and she lets him. Jessie and I look at each other. I know we’re thinking the same thing; we’re freaking jealous, but hey, I guess they just got lucky.

I turn my head sideways, away from the lovebirds. And then I notice her standing there.

Lin.

My eyes widen. She’s right there, in the corner on the opposite side of the room. She stands next to a tall, masculine guy, who’s blowing off steam after the match he just had with Hunter. Oh, fuck no.

I shoot up from my seat, not caring to explain where I’m going before I storm off the bleachers. The guy standing next to her goes into the locker room. She tries to walk after him, but he slams the door behind her, leaving her behind. With her back against the wall, she gazes down at the floor. She’s alone. A perfect opportunity for me to take a chance and talk to her.

As I weave my way through the crowd, her eyes find me. They widen in shock, her jaw dropping as she freezes in place. She quickly shuts it again when I approach, licking her lips like she used to do when she was anxious. I never forgot about her little quirks.

Hey, I can’t believe you’re here, too.

Me neither, she says.

You here with someone?

Yeah.

I nod slowly. That guy that was fighting with Hunter, huh?

She nods and shrugs, tapping her foot. I clear my throat. What an awkward conversation.

Well, this is a surprise.

Uhm ... yeah ... Her eyes skid across the premise.

So listen, about last night...

I don’t want to talk about it. She turns around and walks toward the exit. I follow her.

Hey, wait up, please. I come walking next to her. Sorry, I didn’t want to make this uncomfortable. I just wanted to talk to you.

Oh, yeah? About what?

Well, maybe about the fact that I haven’t seen you in years, thinking you were off to boarding school and then college, but now I find you working at a strip club?

She slaps her hand in front of my mouth, catching me off guard. Shhh. Her cheeks flush. Do you want the entire fucking club to know?

No, I mumble as I take her hand away. Sorry, I’m just really confused right now.

She frowns. There’s nothing to be confused about. She starts walking to the door again and I follow, intent on not letting her get away again.

Stop, please. I want to talk about this.

Why? What does it matter?

It matters because we kissed by accident, and then you ran away. I want to know why.

Because it wasn’t supposed to happen.

I snort. Well that’s nice to hear.

She sighs. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. Look, I have a boyfriend, all right?

Ah ... I see.

Yeah ... no, not really.

I’m attempting to figure out what you’re trying to tell me, but it’s kind of hard when you’re avoiding any conversations about your current situation.

No shit. She shakes her head. It’s just really hard right now, okay? When she raises her head to look at me, her eyes are glass. Oh fuck no. This is not good.

It was quite the surprise for me to see you at that club, I say.

I know, so let’s just forget about it and pretend we never saw each other.

She tries to turn and walk away again. However, I grab her wrist and twist her around, stepping closer with a smile. Give me one good reason why I would ever want to do that.

She looks up at me with glossy parted lips. Her folded, dark eyes are so beautiful, so mesmerizing. I lean in, reducing the distance between us.

Cupping her chin with my index finger and thumb, I say, After all of these years, I finally find you again, so I’m not letting you get away. Not without talking first.

Instead of responding, she bites her lip. Such a tease. It makes my cock twitch. Fuck me, I never lost my attraction to her. All I’ve been doing is fucking other girls for the heck of it, just to forget about her, but she never really left my mind.

I can’t. She swallows.

A gasp leaves her mouth, and her eyes jerk away from mine, widening. My eyes follow hers, but not in time to avoid the huge fist landing on my jaw. An ‘oompf’ sound bursts from my lungs as I struggle to maintain my balance. Lin’s scream keeps me close and alert.

No! she yells, pushing me aside. A guy with muscles like a truck, facial hair, and a nipple piercing just pounded in on my face. What the fuck is wrong here?

Stay the fuck away from my girl. He points at