Unmasking Charlotte (a Taboo Love series) (18 page)

Chapter Eight

Charlotte

It’s been a few weeks since my fi
rst date with Calvin, and I am strung out. I mean seriously addicted. We have gone out a few more times, but nothing major – grabbed a coffee before he went into work or a quick bite during my lunch hour. He hasn’t even done more than kiss me those times we’ve met. Sweetly. Not that I am complaining because just having his lips on me is body tingling. But I want more. I need more. Anywho, like I said, nothing to write home about. Of course, it doesn’t help that we keep different schedules since he works most nights. Actually, he has asked me a few times to come to the club while he is working, but I feel a little weird about it. I don’t know.

This week seems to have dragged ass. With Eddie out of the office, my stress level has risen considerably. The villagers are getting restless with the fact that this ass dweeb is bogarting all of Eddie’s attention and they are taking it out on me. I really could use a drink – or a good screw. Maybe it is time to visit Calvin at Club M after all.

I find myself staring at the clock all day. Now that I have decided that I am going to see Calvin at the club, the minutes are crawling by. I mean seriously. Every time I look up, it has only been a few minutes. It has to be five o’clock somewhere, right? Fuck it, I am out of here!

I make a quick stop at my place to shower, freshen up my makeup,
sweep my hair up into a messy but sexy French knot, and change into something a little more…revealing. I decide on a black leather mini with my gold
lamé
backless silk shirt. And when I say backless, I mean no bra wearing, sticky-tape-required backless. My front is completely covered, demure even. But when I turn around… va va va voom! The only material you can see is the waistband, it is only being held up by a thin gold chain stretching across my shoulders. Calvin is going to freak when he sees this! If he can see past my leather clad ass.

I slip into
my prized pair of gold Jimmy Choos and do a once over in the mirror. Something is missing. My lips! I grab a shimmery gloss, my cell, and keys, then head out the door. No turning back. Tonight’s the night. Nothing and nobody is going to stand in my way. Not even myself.

I delicately slide into Daisy, making sure not to moon anyone in the process. Oh yeah, I figured that since I am unable to wear a bra, I might as well go completely commando. And I have to admit, I am feeling a little freaky. Sexy, but freaky. I get myself situated, making sure I am decent,
and then head to Club Masquerade. I am so nervous that I almost forget to call Monica to put myself on tonight’s list. Even though Nick, Delilah, Parker, and I all have VIP status, we are still supposed to call ahead so that our nametags are ready and messenger devices are available and programmed with our numbers. While on the phone with Monica, a little idea pops into my head and I run with it. Thankfully, she is all for foreplay and she goes along with it. I give her my new name and number and tell her I will be there in a few.

Still Charlotte…

Every time I walk through the door at Club M,
it feels like the first time when I was here with Delilah. It is so impressive; it takes my breath away, just like its owner.
I hope I can say the same thing about what he’s got in his pants later!
I spend a few extra minutes plotting with Monica, and then head in through the solid wooden double doors. The first thing I do is pull off my nametag. I have no interest in anybody messaging me tonight, so there is no point in wearing it. I don’t want to be disturbed during my mission. I walk the perimeter making sure that he doesn’t see me, and then slide into a corner booth, out of sight. I scan the room trying to find him, but it is so large, like a grand ballroom, that it takes me a solid few minutes to spot him. To say that I am not pleased is an understatement.

Calvin - my Calvin – is leaning against the bar,
his back to the room. I don’t need to see his face to know that it’s him. His broad shoulders, muscular back, and that ass. I could pick that ass out of a line up.
Oooh that would be awesome! How can I make that happen?
But the leggy red head hanging on him is certainly not a welcome sight. Maybe my plan is stupid. Maybe I should have taken him up on his offer to visit weeks ago. I see Calvin turn to her and smile. Not a panty-melting smile, but a nice smile. A polite smile. I’m not close enough to see if it reaches his eyes, but I doubt that I would be able to tell anyway with his mask. But it is a smile, nonetheless, and I am heartbroken. I feel like such a fool. Just as I feel my insecurities and past issues creeping in, I see him gently grab her hand –
gasp!
–and then slowly lower it from his arm, placing it lightly to her side. I think he is trying to give her the brush off, but I don’t think she is getting the hint. She tries to touch his chest this time, and I am standing up out of the booth quicker than necessary. Just as I am about to approach this desperate slut – effectively ruining my seductions plans for the evening – I see him shake his head at her and remove her hand again. This time, she gets it and walks away with a pouty face. Desperation is not her color.

I watch him walk around a little bit, making sure
that everything is running smoothly and that the guests are enjoying themselves. My mood elevates when I see him on the dance floor walking toward the band. He is snapping his fingers and bopping his head back and forth. I guess I picked swing night because the band is playing
Zoot Suit Riot
. He looks so sexy and so relaxed. He is wearing a black button down dress shirt and charcoal gray pants that are molded to his ass so closely that I may start drooling if I don’t look away. Shifting in my seat, trying to calm the pulsing between my legs, I get my shit together and send him a text.

Golden Cha Cha #666: Hey, sexy. U look lonely. Want some company?

C-dog #413: Depends on what kind of company u are offering

Golden Cha Cha #666:
Only the best kind, of course

C-dog #413:
I am a bit lonely :( Someone to warm my bed would be nice

What? Is he fucking kidding?

Golden Cha Cha #666: Would anyone do? Or is there a certain someone u are waiting for?

I
start chewing on the skin around my thumbnail waiting for his reply.

C-dog #413:
Wouldn’t mind checking the validity of your moniker…

I release the breath that I didn’t even realize I was holding. I guess the “dog” in his nickname isn’t just for show. Time to kick it up a notch.

Golden Cha Cha #666:
Maybe if u take me up to a room u can find out for yourself

C-dog #413:
Room 2B. 5 min

Oh, he is going to fucking pay for this. I came here for a good screw, needing to relieve all of this stress from wo
rk. I guess a good fight will do the same trick.

Golden Cha Cha #666:
You got it, hot stuff

I wait a
few extra minutes to make sure that he gets there before me. Admittedly, I have to take that extra time to calm myself down and think things through. I am beyond pissed at the player, heartbroken by my lover, and disappointed as a friend. I know that we never really defined what we are, and we never discussed exclusivity or monogamy, but I guess I just assumed that while we are dating and getting to know each other, that other sexual encounters would be off limits. I feel like a fool. I grab my purse, the messenger, and head to room 2B.

When I get upstairs, I see that Calvin
has left the door open a crack for me. Well, not me exactly. I guess that few extra minutes served its purpose on this front; it hasn’t, however, cooled me down any. He is in that room, just on the other side of that door, waiting for the girl with the golden cha cha. Boy is he going to be disappointed.

I take a deep breath, straighten my s
pine, stiffen my shoulders, lift my chin, and confidently –even if I am faking it – walk through the door of room 2B. I slam the door behind me and turn quickly on my heels, ripping off my mask.

I see him approaching me
quickly, his mask already off.
Damn, he is sexy
. I point my finger at him and speak sternly. “Who the hell do you think you are?” I bite out, gritting my teeth.

He keeps striding toward me until his mouth is covering mine, my back thumping against the door that I
had just slammed shut. I am lost in his kiss. All rationale leaves my brain and my body betrays me. His large hands grab my arms, sliding them above my head as his right one locks both of my hands together in his one. His left hand begins to drift down my body past my beaded nipples, which have nowhere to hide in this blouse, and latches onto my hipbone. His hand is so large it practically encircles my entire waist. He has one muscular thigh between my legs and I am completely pinned against the door, my body buzzing in anticipation of what he will do next. In this position, I can feel his erection leaning against my stomach, and he is rock hard.
Take me, taste me, screw me
, I chant in my head.

While he is preoccupied,
I take a few seconds to study his gorgeous face. The one I have become so familiar with, considering I dream about him every night – square jaw, full bite-able lips, perfectly trimmed goatee…missing? It looks like he shaved it off and is now sporting a scruffy shadow.
Hot damn! I didn’t think he could be any sexier than he already was
… and his eyes…usually a soft chocolate brown, right now look almost black with lust. His lids are hooded, and looks as though he is surveying the land. My land. When he realizes that I am not moving, and am completely silent, his eyes snap to mine. When our eyes meet, I remember our earlier texts, and it’s like a bucket of ice water being dumped over my head.

“You need to back the fuck off me right now,” I growl.

Calvin blinks at me in surprise but lets my hands go and backs up a couple of steps. “What’s wrong?” he asks with a frown.

“What…what’s wrong?” I stutter in my rage. “I’ll tell you what’s fucking wrong! You came up here to meet some chick that you thought you were going to fuck!”

Calvin’s eyebrows shoot up and he lets out a bitter laugh. “Wow, you really think so highly of me. Did you really think that I didn’t know it was you? First off, I never sleep with anyone from the club. Second, and listen closely because this is most important, we are together, which means I’m not going to be with anyone else but you, Pinky.”

I narrow my eyes at him, trying to decipher if he’s being completely honest with me. “How did you know it was me?” I
ask suspiciously.