Kiss Me

Part Six

Aya

I knew I was running at least thirty minutes late for work, but it wouldn’t have any impact on my morning stop at a coffee shop, yet, I should have known better. As crazy as living in a city was, there was a certain precision to it too. Rush hour in the city even this one was exactly the same as anywhere else, like a carefully choreographed dance, and if your timing was off even just the littlest bit, you were basically screwed. I really needed to get over my fascination with coffee. Even as I told myself that, I stepped into line like a good little soldier and felt the cold air biting the back of my neck as I propped open the door behind me. The woman in front of me scowled over her shoulder at me, but I ignored her since I wasn’t about to wait on the other side of the door in the freezing cold just to mollify her. Luckily, it took less than a minute before the line moved enough that I could let the door snick closed behind me, and I only had to suffer through the blasts of bitter late-February air for a few seconds whenever a customer left the shop.

Although I now had my coffee fix, it didn't stop the ache. I was really cruel yesterday, I hurt Henley's feelings. Yet what could I do? I can't do anything more and that guy, for some bizarre reason wants more with me. Why me? I'm just an obnoxious lap dancer with fuck all else going for me. I love what I do and I'm damn sure good at it. There's literally no room for Henley in my life. It's so strange though, it wasn’t like I hadn’t ever noticed a random gorgeous guy before, but there was something different about him. He’d held himself with an air of confidence that could have easily been mistaken for arrogance, but there’d been a kindness in his brown eyes that had left me thinking it was just a little more confidence and a little less arrogance. I liked that. And it's not new for me to have guys lusting after me, infact its pretty tedious, yet Henley...fuck, Henley is something else. Even as the freezing air settled around us and impatient city goers bumped my shoulders as they rushed past to get to wherever it was they were going, I was grinning like an idiot and imagining what Henley's sweet smile would look like in the morning if I had stayed at his. Would he blush like he was prone to do when he was embarrassed, or would his eyes heat with hunger?

A shiver closely resembling electricity shot up my spine as I walked. I pulled my scarf tighter around my neck, trying to dissolve the memory of him from my mind. Didn't work though. "God, I feel stupid." I mumbled to myself as I made my way into work to be greeted with warmth and a soft smile. "Morning Liam."

"Morning sweetness," he smiled and draped his arm around my shoulder. "You bring me a coffee?"

"Not in your life."

"So cruel, but nothing new there."

"Idiot, let go of me and get tonight's routine sorted."

"You're an eager one. That's unlike you. What happened? Have you been replaced with a brain eating alien?"

"That would be better if I was, then at least I can forget shit."

"Such as?"

Shit, I opened my mouth and almost let slip. I can't have that. "Nothing."

"Where were you yesterday?"

"Bad migraine."

"Sure sure. That's believable," I shake my head and removed his arm. I feel even more pathetic. Liam's not stupid. I've known the guy long enough for him to know when I'm not quite myself. He's like a damn sniffer dog. Catching whiff of all my secrets. "Fine," he frowns. "Let's get ready. The guys are already awaiting his highness."

Shit, I hit the last pose as the spotlights blinked off. My heart pounded against my rib cage, my skin glistened with sweat. We’d only danced for ten minutes, but we timed everything just right.

"Good job, honey,” Z whispered.

"Thanks. I think the spin kicks and the second eight-count worked better. Don’t you?" I asked.

"It was fucking brilliant, Aya." Tom rushed past, pulling off the black gloves he’d worn during our practice dance.

"Don’t worry, Queens and Kings,  your Fantasy  come true will be heading out to work the crowd in later. So get your dollar bills ready because, trust me, you want to see what those boys can do up close and personal." Tom giggled after his DJ mimic. Idiot.

Liam snorted as he sat in one of the metal chairs in the dressing room and began pulling off his boots. "He wishes."

"Or not," I said, with a groan.

"You didn’t. Really?" Z stood naked now, wiping himself down with a towel. His light olive skin was smooth and taut over the hard muscles developed by dancing. He was definitely a sight for sore eyes.

"What?" I asked, hiding my face. Damn these guys.

"You went off with a guy, that's what Liam said anyway." Z mumbled, folding his arms across his chest.

"Slut." Tom grinned as he pulled off the tiny leather shorts.

"Says the genius who choreographs the dirty routines we dance every night. I think there is something twisted in your little brain." Z snorted.

"Wait, why did you say that you fucking bitch?" I shout, pointing my finger in Liam's direction. "Why would you assume that?"

"I didn't assume. It's damn obvious. Especially that nice deep red kiss mark on your neck."

"What?" I mumbled and rushed towards the mirror. "What the fuck?" How didn't I notice this? What the fuck is wrong with me. Every time I spend any time with a guy I always make sure to check my skin for shit like this. Although I'd tell them that they definitely cannot leave marks, I'd still check anyway. But thinking about it, I didn't say Henley couldn't, but that idiot should have known better. Did he do this deliberately? No, no I don't think he did. But fucking hell, a love bite. Who does that shit?

Z sniggers and I shoot him a death glare, yet he doesn't budge. "So, who did it?"

"None of your damn business!"

"Calm down. It's not like we're going to bite your pretty head off for it. But you need to wear something over it."

"Shut up Z."

"Calm your bitch tits, we don't care if you have that. We care if you get hurt."

"I know that...dammit." I inspect it again. I'm definitely angry, definitely. But also oddly pleased at his attempt to make me his. What a cute asshole. I will most definitely punch him for this. Yet...I told him never to come here again. Never look for me. I wonder if he took that literally. Of course it's still a bad idea, yet I would like to see him again, only to berate him for making me like this. There's no other reason. I sigh and pull my hair over my shoulder. I need to stop lying to myself.