paused, grinning, then continued, “not like that....”
She couldn’t help smiling at his innuendo. She definitely had a
craving for big meat right now. And she couldn’t blame his reasoning for
holding back when he’d come. Where she was from, men had been blasted
for one thing or another until they’d lost all shred of their manhood. They’d been bitched at so much you couldn’t even expect to have a guy come up to
you anymore and ask for a dance or buy you a drink. It was hell being a
woman these days.
“You forgive me, petite? I’ll be your shinin’ knight next time you’re
attacked.”
“Sure.” She shrugged. She could take care of herself--she was used
to it.
As snippety as she’d been, he still offered to see her into the club.
Once they passed through the blackened glass doors at the entrance and the music blasted their eardrums, he left her to go to his friend.
It was a shame really. She’d always liked those charming bad boys.
He was almost enough to make her forget how the night started. After
going to the bar and phoning in a tip and leaving the kid’s wallet, she
ordered a white russian and set out to find her friends. She spotted them almost immediately, getting off the dance floor.
CARNAL KNOWLEDGE
Celeste Anwar
8
Shawnda and Mina waved, and she followed them back to their table.
It was a little quieter in the corner away from the dance floor. Only minimal yelling was needed to communicate.
“Girl, what took you so long?” Shawnda asked after hugging Kaeli
and sitting down.
“Ya, I’d done give up on you coming. Called the hotel five times and
got no answer,” Mina said, settling into her chair.
“Sorry. I got mugged just outside the club.” Kaeli took a sip of her
drink and grimaced at the alcohol stealing her breath.
“Omigod!” they screamed in unison and passed hugs all around.
“What happened? Are you okay?”
Kaeli smiled at them. “I’m all right. Just some damn kid looking for
kicks. That ain’t the half of it though. Some guy came up right after.”
Mina perked up, instantly recognizing Kaeli’s interest. “Oh?”
“Spill it, Kaeli. Was he hot?”
“Take a look for yourself, Shawnda. He’s right over there.” Kaeli
hooked a thumb over her shoulder toward the opposite corner of the bar
where she’d seen him sit down.
They both stood and gaped. “Jesus! Kaeli, which one is it? They’re
both gorgeous,” Shawnda said.
“The blond one. His name’s Navarre.”
“On a first name basis now?” Mina asked as she sat. “Why didn’t you
jump him when you had the chance? We came here tonight for dick, and
girl, you need it worst of all.”
Kaeli nodded. They’d all been single so long, she was sure she was
growing cobwebs.
CARNAL KNOWLEDGE
Celeste Anwar
9
“I’d eat him up. You don’t pass up a good thing like that when it
comes along.” Shawnda finished off her fuzzy navel and leaned back in her chair, narrowing her dark eyes at Kaeli in mock severity.
Kaeli shrugged. “He’s not my type.” At their guffaws, she grinned.
“All right. Lies, all lies. I want him so bad I can practically taste it.”
Glancing over her shoulder through the smoky interior, she saw him stand
up and walk toward the exit.
“Damn. He’s leaving.”
“Well, go after him,” Shawnda prodded.
Torn, Kaeli sat there. She talked big, but when it came down to doing
the deed with a virtual stranger--no matter how hot--she was all talk and no action.
Shawnda and Mina both stood and grabbed her arms, hauling her up.
“Get the lead out of your ass and go after him before he gets away,”
Mina said.
They were right. You only live once. “Just bitch slap me for the
coward I am if I come home early tonight.” She pulled free. “You sure
y’all will be all right?”
“Hell, we were having a great time until that guy bit Mina.”
“Huh?” What the hell kind of city was this? Muggings, guys biting
girls in clubs--wait, that
Harry Connolly
J.C. Isabella
Alessandro Baricco
S. M. Stirling
Anya Monroe
Tim Tigner
Christopher Nuttall
Samantha Price
Lisa Mondello, L. A. Mondello
Katherine Ramsland