Danielle’s POV
*****
“I can’t believe we’re actually going through with this.”
“Come on, quit the whining.”
I pouted like a kid being dragged to a dentist appointment as Kim basically pulled my ass into a club later that night, just like she’d threatened.
I mean—said.
The air inside the club was thick and electric with the sound of loud pop music blasting from speakers at the corners, and the laughter, howling, and chatter of the people inside.
And Mother of God, there were a lot of people.
I could already feel myself getting overstimulated as my eyes swept through the place.
From the throbbing colourful lights.
To the female exotic dancers at one corner twirling around poles in ways that would probably get my ass in the ER.
Gosh, it was all too much.
I tugged nervously at the tight handless red dress clinging to my body as Kim flung her head to me.
Kimberley was a gorgeous white woman with lush black hair and dazzling blue eyes.
She wore a leopard print dress with long sleeves, her diamond ring gleaming like a repellent on her finger each time she touched her hair.
“You know,” she yelled through the music, “Timmy was so close to coming with us. We usually came here before the engagement and all!”
I arched my brow.
“Girl…”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. I told him it would’ve deleted the whole point of a ‘girl’s night’.”
“Bitch, if your man had tagged along I would’ve sat my single ass in a corner all night.”
We giggled at that before squeezing our way past the sea of bodies.
Finally, we got to the counter.
I could already see some tempting drinks that other people were ordering.
Kim appeared to be quite familiar with one of the bartenders who was quick to whip up our drinks.
She got an Espresso martini while I got a glass of spicy margarita.
“Now that’s a brave choice,” Kim gave me a light shoulder nudge as we sat at a table away from most of the dancing and noise.
She took a sip from her drink—then tapped my hand.
“Look over there.”
Furrowing my brows I followed her gaze—
—And nearly inhaled my drink down the wrong pipe.
Male strippers.
Actual male strippers danced on an elevated stage, most of them wearing nothing but thongs or tight leather underwear.
Women and even other men crowded them, raining dollar bills on them.
My throat closed up when my eyes trailed between every last one of them.
The slick sweat dripping down their perfect muscular abs.
The way their hips swayed like they’ve done this thousands of times.
Fuck.
Their bulges.
Most of them were hung as fuck.
Not exactly as large as Anzari but—
Wait, why the fuck am I thinking about that six-armed stranger right now? Find the original chapter at g.com.
“Whoa,” Kim cackled, snapping me out of my lustful reverie.
“Golly, look at you. Already ogling like a cougar in heat.”
With an ear-to-ear grin, she leaned in and whispered.
“So? Like what you see, eh?”
I batted my eyes shut as heat flooded my cheeks.
“You have me fucked up.”
“What are you talking about? Come on, one of us at least has to go out there and have some fun. And that definitely ain’t me.”
“Fun? T–They won’t—”
“Danielle, come on,” she poked my nose, forcing me to open my eyes again.
I was just in time to see her pulling out some fifty-dollar notes.
“Here. If you’re worried about spending too much, take this.”
I blinked a couple times.
Then my chest warmed up.
“Kim, I can’t take—”
“The hell you can’t.” She put them between my fingers and practically forced me to hold them.
After a little more persuasion from her, I reluctantly got up.
“Take some of your drink.” She raised the glass to my mouth, beckoning me to take it.
I clawed it off her hand, flashing a sarcastic smile before turning on my heels.
As I made my way toward the male strippers I took a large gulp from my drink.
It burned my throat a bit but I ignored that, bobbing my head to the beat of the music playing.
Soon enough I got to the stage, gaze already landing on a Latin American guy.
His birth year probably started with ‘twenty’ based on how young he looked.
But God, he was so hot.
He dragged his eyes to me.
With a coquettish smirk, he came closer until my head was almost at eye level with his crotch.
He slipped both thumbs past his underwear, making it seem like he was going to take it off.
Then he rocked his hip back and forth.
I swallowed hard.
“Give him some cash, babe!” Kimberley screamed behind me, making me jolt.
Right.
Slowly, I lifted two bills and reached out to him.
I thought he’d take them and leave or something.
He didn’t, instead grabbing my wrist and gradually guiding my fingers to his abs.
Then lower—dear Lord!
My heart beat must’ve ceased a few times when I felt his bulge.
It was warm and so full.
‘Breathe, Danielle.’ I bit my bottom lip without realising.
Just when he released my wrist—time dropped to a snail’s pace.
Quite literally.
I frowned, swerving my head left and right.
I wasn’t imagining it.
The music now sounded sluggish.
That’s when I sensed it.
This odd feeling like someone was watching me.
I snapped my neck around, looking past Kimberley.
My breath caught the next second.
Across the room, leaning against the counter of a bar was a man unaffected by whatever the fuck was happening.
Not just any man too.
“A–Anzari?” I couldn’t bring myself to believe it.
Yet those silver eyes gleaming under the club lights begged to differ.
Unlike before he now had two arms.
Not to mention he was clothed for once—I don’t think I’ve seen any man make a black trench coat look so good.
It hugged his large arms so tightly that I thought it would rip under even a little pressure.
His shoulder-length black hair draped down his face like silk curtains.
Suddenly I felt moved to walk up to him.
To actually head for the stranger who might be a figment of my imagination—or a nightmare come to life.
But just when I took a step forward… time returned to its normal speed.
Someone moved past him.
And just like that he was gone.
“No,” I shook my head, searching around desperately.
“No, no… this doesn’t make any sense. None of this makes any sense.”
The stripper behind me tried getting my attention by dragging a hand through my hair.
I swatted his palm off me, striding into the crowd with purpose.
Kim must’ve not noticed me leaving because I didn’t hear her calling after me.
I’d not even walked far when something pushed me to turn my head again.
Just in time to see this absolute son of a gun heading for one of the back exits.
“Bitch…” I quickened my steps until I was basically jogging.
By the time I got outside the club, I was panting and regretting my life choices.
It was an alleyway, dark and surprisingly devoid of any foul smells from the nearby garbage cans.
I took a whiff of the night air before moving away from the door.
The place was dead silent save for the cautious click-clacks of my high heels against the tarred floor.
“Hello?” As stupid as it was, I called out.
“Anzari? I know you’re out here.”
Still nothing.
I stopped close to a wall.
He couldn’t have just disappeared, right?
If he did why the fuck did he show—
I gasped when I felt two strong hands grab my shoulders from behind.
I didn’t get the chance to think as I got pinned to the wall in front of me.
Without looking back I knew who it was.
His raspy breath on my neck and huge body pressing on my back were enough of a tell.
“I leave you unattended for a single evening and suddenly half the city wishes to touch you.” He purred.
“Well, now you’ve got my undivided attention.”