Seth's Cravings: An Endless Series: Book 2 (35 page)

     She laughed. “You say that like you’re old when you’re
only two years older than me.”

     I coughed out an exaggerated sigh. “Sometimes I feel
old after dealing with temperamental customers all day, and then going home to
two temperamental siblings.”

     Carrie laughed. “I don’t miss customer service, but I
do have to deal with a prickly shark every now and then.”

     Nic groaned. “Carrie, you know I have a hard enough time
thinking about you in those shark tanks, don’t add to my torment.”

     I’d learned Carrie’s major in college was Marine
Biology and that she worked part-time at the Charlottesville Aquarium cleaning
and creating the habitats of the fish tanks. It sounded fascinating.

     Carrie leaned sideways into Nic’s body. “Sorry, honey.”
She grinned looking not that sorry, and he pulled her in tighter kissing her
cheek.

     Seth’s hand inched up again and I finally turned to
give him a glare. He stared down at me with heated amused eyes. “The waitress
is coming. What would you like to drink?”

     Still gripping his hand I answered. “Flavored lemonade
if they have it, if not water with lemon.”

     Seth’s hand stilled as he ordered, getting a beer for
himself. Nic was also drinking beer while Carrie looked to be drinking soda.

     “How was the restaurant?” Carrie asked.

     “The steak was great.” Seth declared.

     Nic rolled his eyes. “You go to an authentic Russian
restaurant and order steak.”

     “It was really good steak.” Seth grunted.

     I chuckled. “I ordered several authentic dishes and
made him try them.”

     Nic’s brow twitched as well as his mouth. “And how were
they?”

     I looked to Seth letting him answer.

     “I didn’t care for the fish soup, but the beef
stroganoff and meat dumpling were pretty good.”

     “You liked both meat dishes…shocking.” Nic snorted.

     “Nothing wrong with liking meat. It’s what helps me
keep the opposing team from scoring. If I started liking fish broth soup my
frame would dwindle down to nothing.” Seth grumbled.

     We wouldn’t want that. The man had the most delicious
frame and tonight it was encased in dark jeans and a dark blue button up shirt
that stretched taut over his broad chest and shoulders.   

     “Actually, I can’t argue with that.” Nic conceded with
a grimace. “Fish broth, huh?”

     “Dude, it was sparse.” Seth said shaking his head in
disbelief. “I can’t believe people pay for something like that.”

     The waitress came and set down our drinks and I slipped
her a ten dollar bill before Seth could pull out his wallet.

     “Nadia,” He growled, not happy that I’d paid.

     “What…you just made me feel bad for ordering the fish
soup. This makes up for it.”

     He rolled his eyes. “That’s not what I meant.”

     “Well, then next time you’ll have to be more careful
when you make fun of your date’s food.” I retorted.

     Nic and Carrie laughed while Seth’s hand rotated on my
leg moving closer to my sizzling center. Everything inside me pulsated, and my
underwear just kept getting wetter. Gripping his hand tighter I controlled my
panting giving him another glower.

     He leaned toward me and whispered in my ear. “I did
tell you that you look stunning in this skirt, didn’t I?”  

     His warm breath sent shivers down my spine, and I
wanted to punch him somewhere precious for getting me all worked up like this
in public. Instead, I decided to get him back. Setting my hand high on his hard
thigh…
Bog
, was it hard…I whispered in his ear. “Not in those words, no,
but have I told you that you look delicious tonight. I could just eat you up.”
I licked his ear before retreating and then wondered belatedly if I might have
gone too far.

     Seth growled and muscles went even more rock hard
beneath my hand. His hand on my thigh jerked me closer to his side, and when I
looked up into his eyes my heart stuttered at the blaze in them. “You are
killing me, woman.”

     “You started it.” I protested huskily.

     He gave me a crooked smile his dimple flashing. “That I
did.” He agreed gruffly. Leaning down he took my mouth forcefully as his other
hand dug into my hair holding me still for the assault. He didn’t need to
though because I welcomed him just as aggressively. The man unleashed a gambit
of emotions in me that couldn’t be contained. I wanted to straddle him right
here and now.  

     The kiss lasted less than five seconds but it had us
both panting by the end of it, and staring at the other with scorching
intensity.  

     “See, I told you…clothed porn.”

     Seth and I turned our heads to see Nic watching us in
amusement while Carrie stared off into the crowd blushing self-consciousness. I
felt heat burn up my neck but thankfully the host of the club stepped out on
the stage saving me.  

     The hand on my neck messaged soothingly as Seth leaned
down brushing a soft kiss over my cheek. He then relaxed back into the booth
focusing on the comic. The hand on my thigh remained, though it did move back
down closer to my knee allowing me to breathe and concentrate on the
entertainment.

     The next forty-five minutes were the most I’d laughed
continuously…ever. Seth, Nic, and Carrie appeared to find the guy just as funny
because they laughed just as hard. I’d never been to a comedy show before but
if given the chance I’d definitely do it again. When the performer left the
stage the lights turned up signaling the end of the act.

     “Oh my
Bog
, I have to go to the restroom so bad.
I’ve been holding it in for the last ten minutes.” I complained sliding out of the
booth. “Carrie, do you want to go with me?”

     She scrambled out after me. “Oh my gosh, yes.” She said
sounding like she had the same dilemma.

     “Nic and I will meet you at the front after we hit the
head too.” Seth informed us as we scuttled away.  

     The line to the waiting room was long but thankfully in
moved swiftly so there were no accidents, because, for me, it had felt damn
near close call there for a minute.

     “Woo, that was a close call.” I sighed as we stepped
from the restroom.

     Carrie laughed. “I know. All the laughing didn’t help
either.”

     “Hey, aren’t you that girl that was on the news several
months ago. You were molested by your father, right? And then ended up killing
him?”

     I stared at the blonde female standing in front of us in
shock wondering what the hell she was talking about. Then I noticed she was
staring at Carrie…and Carrie was looking back at her with white-faced dismay.
While I didn’t know what was going on it was obvious that Carrie was extremely
upset, and if the words were in any way true—something I wasn’t going to think
about at the moment—I couldn’t believe the girl was crass enough to blurt
something like that out loud in a public forum inciting the interest of
everyone around us. I mean, get a clue.

     Without thought I stepped in front of Carrie and looked
down at the girl who was at least four inches shorter than me and gave her a
‘you’re shit under my shoe’ look. “Aren’t you the girl who was pole dancing at
my boyfriend’s frat party two weekends ago? Sparkle, right?” I raised my left
eyebrow for effect.

     The girl, who’d taken a step back at my encroachment,
goggled at me, her jaw dropping. “What! That wasn’t me.” She exclaimed looking
around in mortification. The hallway leading to the lavatories was silent now
because of her outburst and everyone was looking at us; guys and girls alike.

     The girl could dish it out but couldn’t take it. I
hated to miss out giving a lesson in good manners. “I’m sure it was you. You
came out wearing a cowboy outfit with these rhinestone high heels, and you had
this tacky tramp stamp that was so ten years ago.” I had no idea if she had a
tattoo, but they seemed kind of common among these types of girls. You know…the
kind of girls that wanted everyone to notice them. Yep, she definitely seemed
like one of those.

     The blonde’s face went red telling me I got lucky and she
did indeed have one. “You’re making this all up.” She gritted out.

     I gave her a confused look. “Why would I do that? I
don’t even know you.”

     “What’s going on, Brenda?” A six foot sandy blonde male
pushed forward into the melee stopping at the blonde’s side while giving me a
leer. I refrained from rolling my eyes at the
nonka
(ass).  

     “This bitch is telling everyone I’m a stripper.” Brenda
whined.

     The guy scowled. “You telling people my girlfriend’s a
stripper?”

     What! He was going to give me attitude after leering at
me. I forced a frown of mystification on my face. “I didn’t call her a
stripper. She just called herself that. I only said that I saw her pole dancing
at my boyfriend’s frat party two weekends ago.”

     The guy’s leer turned to a frown and he looked at his
girlfriend. “What is she fucking talking about, Brenda? Did you strip at her
boyfriend’s party?”

     Brenda’s jaw dropped again. “Todd! No, I’ve never
stripped at any party.” She exclaimed red-faced.

    
Uh oh
, the red face had me thinking that she
might have been lying about that.

     The unrelenting frown on Todd’s face said that he wasn’t
completely convinced at Brenda’s assertions either.    

     I should feel bad about possibly breaking up a couple—no
matter how offensive both of them were—because of my false accusations, but I
didn’t. However, I wasn’t going to test my karma and have it backlash on me
later.

     “Hey, maybe I was wrong.” I declared giving them both
an apologetic look. Behind them I saw Seth, Nic and Carrie making their way
toward me. When did Carrie walk away? I hadn’t even seen her leave. “But you do
look an awful lot like her.” I tacked on unable to stop myself.

     “Nadia, you all right?” Seth barreled his way through
everyone coming to stand by my side. Nic and Carrie stayed behind a few yards.

     Todd glanced at Seth and his brows shot up. Probably at
seeing the size of him, as well as the intimidating look. It didn’t stop him
from asking his question though. “Uhh…is this the boyfriend who had the party?”

     Seth looked at me in confused inquiry.

     I set my arm on Seth’s shoulder. I didn’t feel bad about
dragging him into my fun. “Why yes, it is. Seth, is this the girl who danced at
your party two weeks ago? You know, the one in the cowboy outfit.”

     I was having a difficult time keep the smile from my
mouth. Seth’s eyebrow quirked and I knew he could see the amusement pouring
from my eyes. Turning his gaze toward Brenda he sized her up and down. Her eyes
moved from me, to Seth, to Todd in disbelief of the situation.

    “It looks like her.” He said with a deadpan face.

     Brenda’s eyes widened in shocked incredulity while
Todd’s scowl deepened.

     Seth looked back at me with a question in his eyes
wanting to know what his answer should be. I loved that he was following my
lead. I gave an infinitesimal shake of my head.

     “But that girl had bigger breasts.”

     I almost busted out laughing at how quickly he’d come
up with that response, and because the entire hallway full of people who’d been
watching the drama unfold dropped their gazes to Brenda’s chest. The look on
her face was a cross between mortification, offense, and relief. I don’t know why
she was offended; the girl had more up top than I did.  

     I sighed. “Well, I feel dumb. I am so sorry, Brenda,
for causing you all this trouble. I guess I learned my lesson on opening my
mouth before thinking things through.” My words were pointed and I gave her a
look before taking Seth’s hand and dragging him down the hallway toward Nic and
Carrie.

     Seth waited until we were out the doors before
commenting. “What was that about?”

     Carrie answered for me. “Nadia, thank you.” She gave me
a look of guarded gratefulness. “That was rather amazing, what you did.”

     I had a feeling that she was guarded because of what I
had overheard. She didn’t need to be though. “No problem. The girl deserved
having the attention turned back onto her. She was three-quarters empty of a
full bottle.” I said with a smile and an eye roll hoping to put her at ease.

     “Does someone want to clue us into what happened?” Nic
asked wrapping his arm around Carrie’s waist.

     It wasn’t difficult to see Nic was protective of Carrie
and I had to wonder if it had to do with what Brenda had been blabbing about.
If it was true my heart went out to her.

     Carrie curled herself into Nic’s body. “Some girl
brought up my past outside the woman’s bathroom.” Both Nic’s and Seth’s
expression darkened in anger at her disclosure. “I was fine.” Carrie patted
Nic’s chest in reassurance. “I was just about to walk away from her, but before
I could Nadia stepped up in the girls face saying she’d seen her recently at a
party pole dancing.” Carrie giggled. “Oh, god, the look on her face was
priceless; especially when Nadia went into details of the outfit and tattoo.”

     Both guys looked at us in bemusement and I decided to take
pity on them.

     “I was just giving the girl a taste of her own
medicine. She was trying to put a spotlight on Carrie, so I turned it around on
her by calling her a cowboy pole dancing stripper with atrocious taste in
footwear and sporting an out of date tramp stamp. Maybe next time she decides
to open her mouth trying to make herself seem important she’ll think about the
consequences.”

     “Damn.” Nic mumbled hugging Carrie closer. “I wish I’d
been there, baby.”

     Carrie’s hand came up to touch Nic’s face. She stared
in his eyes. “I was fine, Nic. Really. I think Nadia handled it better than you
would have anyway.” She teased.