7. Skylar

Chapter 7

Skylar

One Year Later

"It's occupied!" I call out when someone pounds on the restroom door. Whoever it is must really, really, have to pee. I almost feel guilty for locking the main door. It's not like the bathroom doesn't have four stalls in here. It is probably considered a bitch move. Then again, I've been called a bitch often. I don't mind it. The pounding starts again and this time it's so harsh that I wouldn't be surprised if the damn thing doesn't fly off the hinges soon. I slip my lip-gloss—cherry candy red—back into my clutch, then look at my reflection in the mirror.

I frown, even though I know I look good. My strawberry blonde hair is full of body and blown out to maximize volume. It glistens with glitter, thanks to the spray I put in it, and I love the effect it gives. I wouldn't wear it everywhere, but here at Swank—the hottest nightclub in Cincinnati, it fits. Besides, I know I can carry off about anything. Sure, I'm curvier than my sister, Thea, but I fucking rock my curves.

Don't get me wrong. My sister is gorgeous with a capital G. She's so pretty that she scored a modeling contract, despite the fact that walking a runway is almost impossible for her because of her bad leg. I'm totally different from her. I'm so different, that to look at us, I doubt you would think we were sisters. She takes after my dad with bronze skin, full, curly hair that falls to her mid-back, and is slim and shapely.

I'm her complete opposite. My skin is pale, almost to the point of being too white. The stark contrast from my sister made me ask Mom if my dad was my actual dad or if she cheated. It was a shitty question to ask. I know that, but I'm just the type to ask what I'm thinking. I kind of don't have a filter. You need to take me as I am, mostly because I never plan on changing for anyone. My hair is another difference from my sister. Mine is short, a little softer, and much thinner than hers—okay, I'm a little jealous of my sister's tresses. My hair also wants to be a deep auburn like my mother's. Thanks to my monthly visits to one of the best hairdressers in Ohio, it's more strawberry blonde and full of waves, not curls. That is, unless I straighten it. I cut it in a choppy bob that I love. It gives me freedom to do whatever I want and doesn't weigh me down in the heat of summer at the same time.

I stand back and admire my body. I have on my brand-new LBD—little black dress. Incidentally, they do not lie when they say every girl should have one in their closet. They definitely should. I'm not sure you should spend the seven hundred bucks that this one cost me, however. Luckily, Daddy gives me a budget and I stay within it. It's not my fault if he spoils me rotten and my budget is more than enough to buy whatever I want. Honestly, Mom kind of gives me what I want, too. That's what happens when you're the baby of the family, I suppose. Still, I do make my own money. So, I don't feel guilty.

If Daddy could see me in this dress right now, he'd have a cow. I would either be dead or grounded for life. That thought makes me giggle. The dress comes down to my mid-thigh. It's tight and hugs my hourglass figure. The silky material makes it appear that I was poured into it. There's not a curve that's not outlined and the way it puts my breasts on display is probably indecent. I look down at my double d's with a smirk.

If you have them, flaunt them.

The pounding has finally stopped. It's about fucking time. I bend down to adjust the strap on my fuck-me pumps and I can feel the cool air touching my ass.

"Note to self, do not do much bending over on the dance floor. Well, unless there's a tall drink of water there just waiting for my name to be stamped all over him," I murmur under my breath.

Okay, I know what you're thinking, and you'd be wrong. I'm not easy. In fact, I'm a virgin. I'm twenty and never had my cherry popped. It's kind of sad if you think about it. Even my nerdy roommate Tellie has had sex. It's kind of embarrassing when your best friend knows more about sex than you do. Being a virgin also has nothing to do with a lack of offers. Nope, it's much worse than that.

I'm in love.

Wait. Nope. As of tonight, I am not in love. Tonight, I am ignoring what my heart keeps insisting is true and I'm starting with a clean slate. I'm twenty, in college, definitely single, and tired of waiting. I've given Torin every opportunity to step up and claim me. He keeps refusing and I'm tired of crying over him. It doesn't bother me he's over ten years older than me, but apparently it does him. I'm not a baby and I refuse to let any man treat me like one ever again.

Tonight is all about letting go of my silly pipe dreams that include Torin and just get laid. Getting rid of my V-card will be a new beginning. Tonight is the night, and I have the condoms in my clutch to prove it. With a grin and one final fluff of my hair, I exit the restroom. There's a line outside waiting for the restroom, but I ignore their stares and bitchy looks. I scan the area, looking for Tellie. I don't see her anywhere, which is disappointing. I knew she wouldn't stay with me long, but I had hoped for a little moral support—at least until I found a target that interested me.

Tellie and I are complete opposites, but we're closer than sisters. I'd do anything for her, and I'm sure she'd do the same for me. We've been friends since grade school and when she got a full ride to the university here, I followed her. I don't have a full scholarship, but I earned a partial one. I fight to keep my grades up, especially since I'm pre-med. Being a doctor like my mother is exactly what I wanted. I got derailed after meeting Torin. Now, it's time to focus back on that—well that, and finally having sex.

I walk up the stairs to the observation deck. There are tables and chairs all over this area, and it's enclosed with sleek railings you can lean on and look down at the dancers below. The lighting is dim and a mixture of reds and blues that alternate with the beat of the music. Speaking of music, the bass is cranked up so high that it vibrates in the air I breathe.

I look down at the DJ booth below and smile. Maybe I could give him my V-card. He's cute and I don't see a wedding ring on his finger. Of course, that's not always a dead giveaway. Men lie. Torin lied when he said he wanted me.

I gasp as a man comes up behind me—and it's definitely a man. I can feel his very erect cock pushing against my ass as he pulls me to him. I may have come tonight with the intention of getting laid, but it's not like I am going to make it completely easy for the guy. Besides, I want it so that I actually find the guy I'm going to sleep with relatively cute.

"If you don't want that tree you're packing chopped off, I'd recommend you back up," I tell the guy, not bothering to turn around to see what he looks like. I don't want a neanderthal who thinks it's okay to press his cock into a stranger's ass.

The guy has large hands because they span each of my hips and his fingers bite into me. I feel his beard graze against my bare shoulder as his hot breath hits the side of my neck and ear. "Time to go, Peaches."

Immediately, my body goes rigid. Then I try to calm my heart as I force myself to relax against him.

"Torin, what are you doing here?"

"I've come to get you," he growls against the shell of my ear.

His lips touch against my heated flesh and I barely stop the whimper that wants to come out when I feel my black lace panties become drenched. I push my ass back against his cock, now reveling in the fact that he's hard. "Where are you taking me?" I ask, my voice breathless, much like it always is when Torin is nearby.

"Home."

He tries to hold his body still against me, but his hold on my hips is a bruising force as his fingers bite into me. He presses deeper against me and this time there's no way of holding back my moan of need. I hold my hand up and bend it back, to slide my hand against the back of his neck, pulling him closer.

"Why don't you give us both what we want here, then take me home and give me more later?" I murmur, not sure I can wait until we get to whatever hotel room he's staying in. I want to squeal in victory that Torin is finally giving in after the last two years. I don't do that—merely because I don't want to reinforce the erroneous idea that I'm a child. I'm not. I'm a woman and all I want in the world is to be Torin's woman.

"Not happening, sweetheart. Let's go. I've got shit to do."

Turning around, I look up at the man who tortures my dreams each and every night. To look at him, you'd think he could never be my type. You'd be wrong. So wrong. He's everything I've always wanted. He towers over me in a way that I know he had to bend down to speak in my ear. At a minimum, he's six-five. Me? I'm five-five. Tonight, with my five-inch heels, the difference between us isn't quite as stark as it normally is. His beard is a little too long to be stylish, but I love it. His beautiful blue eyes are so bright it feels like they're charged with electricity. I melt every single time I look into them.

"Why are you here?" I ask again.

"I'll tell you once we leave this place. These damn clubs make my skin crawl." I hide my smile. I know he's telling the truth. The man barely speaks, and this scene is definitely not him. He's more the type to enjoy a roadhouse than a state-of-the-art club in a city.

"I tell you what, Torin, I came here with one goal. You agree to be the man to help me achieve it, and I'll leave with you."

"You act as if you have something to bargain with here, Skylar. Maybe I should remind you that you're underage. You had to get in here illegally."

"I didn't come here to drink," I respond with a smile and a shrug.

"Should I ask why you are here?"

"I told you. I have one goal for tonight. I'm not leaving until that's done, but if you agree to help me out, I'll agree to leave."

"And if I don't agree to whatever hair-brained scheme that's in that pretty little head of yours?"

"Then, I should warn you, I'm very close to the owner of this fine establishment and I'll have him escort you out of here. Trust me when I tell you, Torin, he'll do it." I'm bluffing my ass off. Torin doesn't need to know that, however. That shall be my little secret. "You have one minute to decide," I add with a smile.

He stares at me like he wants to choke me— and he probably does . I just continue to smile. I maintain eye contact with him, refusing to back down. After a bit, it gets monotonous, so I up the ante. "Tick-tock, Torin. Time is wasting."

He finally let out a growl. "I'll help you. Now, can we go?"

"Do you promise?"

"You're pushing it," he warns.

"Promise, or else this is not happening."

"Fine. I promise to help you with whatever issue you've got going on. Are we ready now?"

"I'm all yours," I announce with glee.

"Bullshit. What you are, is a pain in my ass," he mutters, putting his hand on the small of my back and leading me toward a back exit I didn't even know was there.

"Um … I hate to be a pain?—"

"Why? You seem to excel at it."

I frown, refusing to let him see how much his words hurt me. "Two things," I breathe. "No, actually, let's make that three. First, stop being an asshole to me. I haven't even seen you in six months and that's been your choice, not mine. If you can't be nice to me, then just leave."

"We're wasting time," he grumps, which I'm pretty sure means he is ignoring my request.

"Sometimes I can't understand why I am even attracted to you. I was trying to tell you that my car is around front. I'm not leaving here tonight without it. Besides, unless you have changed, you still own nothing but a bike and if I climb on a bike in this dress, I'll be mooning everyone we pass."

"If I remember correctly, you never had an issue with taking your clothes off around people," Torin responds with a droll voice that I hate.

"I took my clothes off for you. Just you, Torin. Quit making it sound like I'm the star member of the sex clubs downtown."

"What do you know about sex clubs, little girl?"

"Why do you care, old man?"

"There's my Peaches. Sweet as honey until she comes at you with her little rich girl, spoiled-ass rotten attitude."

"I'm not leaving my car," I insist, ignoring his insults.

"Fine. We'll take it. I'll send someone after my bike. Anything else, your highness?"

I exhale in frustration. "It's a good thing you're hot and have a big dick, otherwise you wouldn't be worth my trouble," I snap.

"I forgot how annoying that sassy little mouth of yours is, too. You can turn from sweet to bitch in nothing flat, Peaches. They should give you an award," he complains.

"If you don't want me to talk, maybe you should give me something to put in my mouth to keep it full—something we both want," I purr, letting my fingers trail down his ink covered arm.

"Not happening. You might as well get your mind off my dick, honey. You're never getting it."

"But you already promised that I would," I answer with a smirk.

"Are you drunk? I would never agree to give you my dick."

"You just did a few minutes ago, Torin. You see, my little problem I have? I decided to get rid of my V-card tonight. I was here to find a man to help me out. Lucky me that the man who I've always wanted in my bed just agreed to be that man. So now, I only have one question. Where's your hotel?"

"Joker, man, are you ready?" A guy comes running up to ask. He's really kind of hot, but he can't hold a candle to my man.

Torin looks at the other guy, and then his gaze moves back to me. He pinches the bridge of his nose and looks down at the ground. I'm pretty sure he's praying for patience so that he doesn't kill me. I don't really care. The man made a promise, and come hell or high water, I'm going to make him deliver. If he wants a war, I'll give him one.

Finally, after two years of a private hell, Torin ‘Joker' James is going to be mine.