The Dark Prince(The Dark Light Series #2)(33)

Wow. Dorian flustered? Now there's a first!

I casually pull the passenger side mirror down and fluff my hair, scooping it all to one side to hang over my shoulder before looking over at my disoriented lover.

"I'm sorry but you'll just have to wait until later. Sucks, doesn't it?" Pun definitely intended. "Here, let me help you with that."

I gently maneuver his still stiffened manhood into his pants with the very tips of my fingers, making it painfully clear that playtime is over. Carefully tucking in his shirt and refastening his pants, I flash him a naughty smile, catching a wicked look of his own.

"Oh little girl, you're going to regret that," Dorian mutters, pulling into the crowded parking lot.

I finish applying my shimmery nude lipgloss before smacking my pouty lips together and gazing back at him. "Bring it on."

Aria is a multi-level warehouse turned nightclub boasting raucous fun for the young and beautiful of all walks of life. It's not as posh and upscale as Shade, Dorian's restaurant and lounge in Breckenridge, but with its white couches, polished stainless steel tables, and pastel colored strobe lights, it definitely gives off a euphoric, almost angelic vibe. The DJ in the main room is spinning all the latest dance hits and the dance floor is already packed with girls showing too much skin in too high heels. Carlos has reserved a VIP section with a large white sectional and a long table packed with spirits, gifts and even a cake.

We approach the party hand in hand, a first for me in such a public place, and receive a barrage of surprised looks and smiles. How could people not react? Dorian looks even more drop dead sexy tonight, and knowing what has just transpired in the car ride just minutes before makes him that much more irresistible.

"Gabs! You guys came!" Carlos beams. He is in full diva mode with fire engine red tight leather pants, a matching leather vest adorned with small silver spikes, and heeled black boots. Even his red faux hawk seems to sparkle, going perfectly with the glittery black and silver makeup covering his eyelids. Carlos looks like some type of rock star superhero, and he is stunning.

"Of course! Happy birthday, Carlos!" I say giving him a hug and handing him a gift bag. It's a gold bottle of champagne that I'm sure rivals my monthly salary- courtesy of Dorian, of course- and a gift certificate to Cashmere. Though it's a women's clothing store, Carlos could and would work those threads better than most women.

"You are one lucky bitch!" Carlos whispers in my ear as we embrace. I laugh nervously as I look over his shoulder at Dorian who rolls his eyes playfully. Of course he heard; he hears everything.

We settle in with glasses of champagne, greeting our friends and mingling with party guests. Morgan looks ravishing in a metallic champagne colored halter dress, showing off her fabulous cleavage and long, gorgeous legs. She and Miguel are dancing intimately when she spots me and strolls over.

"What took you guys so long?" she shouts over the thumping bass-lines.

"Ugh, traffic totally blew," I say with a smile. I look over at Dorian and give him a wink. Let him hear that!

Everyone is having a great time drinking and dancing, even Aurora, who is oddly pleasant and not as annoyingly shrill. When Carlos and Jackson- who is rockin' the hell out of a tight tank and even tighter pants- pull all the girls on the dance floor for Beyonce's "Single Ladies," we all giggle and dance like best friends. The combination of champagne, positive vibes, and having Dorian gazing at me in admiration has got me on cloud 9. And for a moment, I pretend that we're just two normal people hanging out with friends and having fun. The thought brings an involuntary smile to my face. This is how life should be. I strut back over to him, eager to be back in his arms.

"Hmmm, this is fitting," Dorian murmurs, handing me a fresh glass of champagne just as Rihanna's "S&M" comes on, spinning a salacious tale of bad girls who like it rough.

"How so?" I ask, downing half my drink.

Dorian places his hand on the small of my back, letting his fingers slide up to meet my bare skin. I instantly feel the titillating tingles accompanied by his touch coursing through my body. "Because you like it. You like pain with your pleasure."

He's right, but I still play coy, hoping to prolong our little game. "And how would you know that?"

Answering my question, Dorian lets his hand travel farther north to the nape of my neck, right above the beginning of my healing tattoo. With a sudden jerk, he knots his hand in my hair, brusquely pulling me towards him so his mouth is on mine. I gasp in shock and at the sharp pain ripping through my scalp, giving his forceful tongue the leeway it needs to command my mouth. To an outsider, it looks like we are just two lovers sharing a tender kiss. However, the tight grip Dorian has on my hair, causing my head to snap back violently, actually hurts, feeling like tiny daggers attacking my strained hair follicles. His other hand flies up to my exposed throat, cradling it tightly. He gives it a firm squeeze, and I moan into his mouth.

"Careful, little girl. Your Dark is showing," he murmurs against my lips. Then he bites my bottom one hard enough to deliver a sting before letting me go.

I'm panting, my chest heaving as if I've just danced through ten songs straight. My sex throbs with a vengeance, infuriated with the constant tease of release. I'm burning hot for Dorian, and his little stunt has just upped the ante.

Just as I'm beginning to collect my bearings and settle into normalcy, Xavier comes over with a tray of tequila shots for everyone. After all are distributed to the crowd of party guests, we toast to Carlos's birthday, singing the Happy Birthday song loud and obnoxiously. He beams brightly, his brown eyes twinkling with unshed tears. It warms my heart that we were here to commemorate this day with him. I look over at Dorian, a mixture of curiosity and nostalgia playing on his features. Maybe birthday celebrations are something the Dark don't engage in. Or maybe he is missing the friendships that he once had and lost. I put his hand in mine and give it a squeeze. If it's up to me, there will be many more celebrations like this together.

We're chatting it up with Carmen when Morgan pulls me away to meet some of her friends and fellow stylists from Luxe. I look over at Dorian, standing yards away, his bright blue eyes locked on mine. I vaguely hear Morgan making the introductions, unable to tear my eyes from his. I'm completely mesmerized, damn near hypnotized by his gaze as if I've never seen anything like them before. It feels like lava is running through my veins, warmth radiating all through my body. The heat begins to travel through my breasts, stinging each nipple. Then it's in my belly, slithering further south combining with my slippery wetness. The sensation is so agonizingly good; I can feel it pushing me closer and closer to the edge of my downfall. Then Dorian's delicious lips part a fraction, forming a small ‘O' as if he is blowing out a candle, and it happens.

I come. Hard.

Right there in the middle of Morgan and three other people whose names I could not remember if you paid me, I climax, unable to contain the tragic cry of defeat and attracting a number of questioning stares.

"Excuse me, something is caught in my throat," I cough, trying to mask my guffaw. I grab Morgan's glass of champagne and down its contents in record time, excusing myself to the ladies room. I swear I hear Dorian's baritone voice laughing behind me.

When I emerge from the bathroom stall, I nearly run right smack into Aurora draped in skintight gold sequins. She stares at me intently, almost fascinated with our near collision. The bathroom is empty apart from the two of us, and I instantly know something isn't right.

"Hey Aurora, everything ok?"

"Everything is fine, Gabriella," she purrs in her sweet soprano. "Having a good time?"

"Yeah, I am. How about you?" I maneuver around her stock still body and head for the sink, keeping my eyes fixed on her through the mirror. Awkward.

Finally Aurora saunters over next to me, so close that our arms are almost touching. I can feel the static between us, sending tiny bolts of electricity up and down my extremities. She tears her brazen, blue eyes from my reflection in the mirror and turns towards me.

"He's happy with you. I've never seen him like this. He really does love you."

Of course. This is about Dorian. "I love him too, Aurora," I say tentatively. Where is this going?

"And Jared? Do you love him?" her expression is completely unreadable. I can't decipher if she's being aggressive or simply curious.

I flash her a nervous smile. Not because I'm afraid of her, but because I'm afraid of what I may do to her if she steps out of line. "I'll always have a special place in my heart for Jared. He and I have been friends for a long time."

Aurora nods her head slowly. "He loves you. I can see it. I didn't quite understand it before but … ," she trails off, lost in her own thoughts. "Have you ever thought of how it would be to have both of them? At once? Pleasing you simultaneously? I know I have."

The fuck? Where the hell did that come from? And why am I just standing here, my eyes wide with shock, unable to verbalize my disgust?

Aurora bites her pouty pink bottom lip seductively, her eyes sweeping the length of my body. I suddenly feel as if I am butt naked in the middle of rush hour traffic.

"You know, Jared is a very good lover. Very generous and attentive. Very …  big. " A wicked grin spreads across her face and her ice blue eyes meet mine. "And Dorian...oh my. He's still the best I've ever had. He's so … intense. Domineering. Just all-consuming. Don't you agree?"