Break Me (3 page)

Keisha had a fiery, bubbly spirit about her, and when she smiled, it reached her eyes, lighting up her whole face. I liked her.

“I’ve seen you here a lot. We should hang out some time.”

I also appreciated her forwardness. “Sure, that sounds fun.”

“Awesome, and you are…”

“Oh, sorry. Little distracted. I’m Tori McLeod.”

“It’s understandable. Distracted by Mr. Bodacious. He’s fucking gorgeous.” She waggled her eyebrows.

I giggled. “Yeah, he is.” My skin warmed just thinking about him.

“Did you get his name?”

“Sebastian Chelios.”

She gaped. “Wow, even his name is hot.”

I laughed. “Yeah, it is.”

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Tori.” Her smile seemed to turn brighter at that thought.

We chatted for the rest of the night until the coffee shop closed, making plans for the next day to go shopping. 

***

Over the next couple of weeks, Keisha and I hung out regularly, becoming friends. She told me about her brother owning a nightclub, so we decided to make an appearance. I hadn’t heard from Sebastian, and even though I never expected him to call me or show up to my place, a part of me was disappointed. So Keisha and I were going to go out and have a good time. Apparently I needed a night out anyway, according to her.

Showing up at the coffee shop with ten minutes to spare, I sat in my regular seat.

I settled on casual and comfortable, wearing dark blue skinny jeans and a white tank top. I threw my long, straight black hair up in a ponytail and wore little make up.

“Are you ready?” Keisha walked up to the table, eyes bright and full of life. I envied her bubbly personality.

“Yes, I am.” I smiled and stood.

“You’re not wearing that, are you?”

I frowned and looked down at myself. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”

She rolled her eyes and grabbed my hand. “Come on.”

We left the coffee shop and walked to the end of the street where Keisha hailed a cab. “I only live about two blocks, but I don’t want to wear out my dancing feet.” She winked at me and opened the door to the cab when it pulled up. She slid over, and I followed in behind her.

Keisha gave the cab driver her address, and his eyebrow rose. “What? I don’t want to wear myself out before the night begins if you must know.”

I laughed and she glared at me.

A moment later a giggle escaped her lips, and we were both in hysterics by the time we reached her apartment building.

Growing up, I never had a friend quite like Keisha. She was a spitball of fire, and in the short time that I’d known her, I could already see us becoming lifelong friends.

She was a little bit shorter than me, but her big personality made up for it.

When we reached her apartment and after paying the cabbie, Keisha practically dove out of the vehicle.

Shaking my head, I smiled and followed her to the big brick building in front of us.

It was a three-story walk-up that was between a Chinese restaurant and a mini grocery store.

As we approached Keisha’s apartment, I heard some loud noises coming from behind a door down the hall. I laughed once I realized what was causing them.

She laughed along with me. “Sounds like they’re having a good time.”

“Yeah, no doubt.” A wave of jealousy flowed through me, settling in the pit of my stomach.

Oh, what I wouldn’t give for a night like that
.

Hearing the woman scream and moan from the other apartment instantly made an image of Sebastian pop into my head.

I sighed. I so had it bad for him.

“You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?”

“What? Are you psychic or something?”

Keisha giggled. “No, I just know how to read people, and its obvious ’cause you’re blushing.”

I huffed. “I swear, that man is the only fucking one to ever make me blush, and it’s very annoying.”

“Oh Tor, you really need to get him out of your system.”

I turned back toward Keisha. “Yeah, I do.”

She laughed again and grabbed my hand, yanking me from my spot at the door. As she dragged me to her bedroom, I noticed her cozy living room that was vibrant in colors, just like its owner. It was my first time in her apartment since meeting her a couple of weeks ago  but I could see that her style was very much like her personality.

“Keisha, I think I did something stupid.” I never told her about giving Sebastian my address and phone number, and it was eating me up inside.

“Oh?”

“I gave him my address and phone number.” I said quickly.

Her eyes widened. “You did what? I know I haven’t known you for long but I feel I should say this anyway. Are you fucking crazy!”

My face heated. “Trust me; I was thinking the same thing.”

“Girl…” She shook her head.

I followed Keisha as we walked down a narrow hall lined with picture frames that were empty. I was about to ask why they were still empty when she caught me looking at them.

“I haven’t found anyone deserving enough to be in my frames except for my brother,” she said, answering my question for me. She pointed to a handsome man that was with her in one of the smaller frames.

“I like them.”

“I liked them too, so I bought them all.” She smiled at me. “Maybe you’ll be in one of them someday.”

I smiled back. “I think I would like that.”

“Now back to the Sebastian thing… I can’t really judge about you giving out your phone number and address to a guy you just met ‘cause girlfriend, trust me, I probably would have done the exact same thing.” She laughed and pulled me into her bedroom.

“Well that makes me feel somewhat…” My eyes went wide. There were clothes everywhere. On her bed, her desk, her dresser…it was like a clothing store threw up in her room.

“Um, Keisha…”

She looked back at me and noticed my reaction. “Don’t mind the mess. I’m a bit of a slob.”

Yeah, no kidding
.

Keisha released my hand and walked to her closet. “Ok, now what can we get you to wear to make all the guys’ eyes pop out of their heads?”

I crossed my arms under my chest and raised an eyebrow.

She turned back to me and sighed. “Fine, what can you wear to make Sebastian’s eyes pop out of his head?”

“I don’t think I have any issues in that department,” I mumbled.

She laughed. “Yeah, probably not.” She gave me a once-over. “Hmm…” Tapping her chin, she crossed her other arm under her chest. “Well, you are hot and you have a smoking body. Okay, will you change just one thing for me then?”

“Sure.” I frowned.

“What size are your feet?” She looked down at my feet and scowled at my black flats.

“Eight,” I said, following her gaze.

She clapped her hands together. “Perfect!” She turned around and started digging through the bottom of her closet. She threw stuff out behind her, and I actually had to dodge a couple of shoe boxes and clothing items so I wouldn’t get hit in the head.

“I know they’re here somewhere,” she mumbled.

A few moments later, she rose and handed me a pair of black high heels that looked to be about four inches high.

She expects me to walk in these
?

I looked down at the shoes in her hand. “Um…I don’t think I could walk or even dance in these shoes.”

She shoved them at me. “Try them on. You never know. There’s a floor-length mirror on the back of the door.”

Grabbing the shoes out of her hand, I walked to her door and closed it. I put the shoes on. They were hot. They made my legs look a mile long. I took a couple of steps to the left and then to the right, surprised at how easy they were to walk in.

“Um…Keisha?”

“Oh my gosh. You look fucking gorgeous, Tori! Those shoes are perfect.”

Both of us were looking in the mirror at my feet.

“Thank you. I love them. I just hope I can dance in them.”

Keisha shrugged her shoulders. “Just take them off if you have to. That’s what I do, but I’m sure you’ll be fine. Sebastian could always hold you up anyway if your feet get tired.”

I rolled my eyes and laughed. “You say that like he’s going to be at the club tonight.”

“Well…” She turned and grabbed a dress from her closet and walked to the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.

“Well, what?”

“I’ve seen him at the club we’re going to before. He’s a regular.” Her voice was muffled by the closed door, so I waited for her to finish dressing.

A moment later, she re-entered her bedroom sporting a skin tight black dress that hugged her curves.

“You look beautiful.”

Keisha smiled, revealing a set of perfect white teeth. Her brown curls were piled on her head in a messy bun, and ringlets fell down, framing her lightly tanned face. Black kohl outlined her bright green eyes, and pale pink lipstick coated her full lips.

“And I love the dress.”

“Oh, this old thing?” She winked.

I laughed, grabbing my clutch.

Turning around, she went back to her closet and pulled out a pair of red-satin pumps.

“Now, did you say that Sebastian is a regular at the club we’re going to tonight?”

“Yes, I did.”

My heart thudded against my chest at the thought of seeing him again so soon. “Oh…well…this could get interesting.”

“Yes, it could. Just be careful.”

“Yes mother.”

Chapter 4

Since moving to the city, college and looking for a job took up most of my time. Being on a scholarship, I had to work extra hard to maintain good grades, so I spent most of my days behind a book, studying.

Keisha was the first friend I had made since moving to there and I was determined to enjoy myself tonight.

After getting ready, we took a cab to The Red Love, the hottest new club in town, according to Keisha anyway. She also exclaimed how hot the owner was. She only said that because she knew him.

Loud music seeped from the doorway, and I already felt the beat of the base vibrating through my bones. Big red letters hung over the entrance surrounded by a brick building.

Excitement flooded through me, and Keisha grabbed my hand, pulling me along beside her.

There was a huge line of people waiting to get into the club, but she walked us straight to the bouncer at the door.

She turned to me and winked. “Watch this.”

She sidled up to the bouncer and ran a hand along his broad chest. “Hey there, big boy.” She leaned into him as she ran her hand down to his tight stomach.

A black T-shirt that said Security on it hugged his big torso and was tucked into black pants. He had a smattering of tattoos on his arms and wore an earpiece that he occasionally spoke into.

With a deep baritone chuckle, he wrapped an arm around Keisha’s shoulders. “Hello there, Keisha.”

I shook my head and laughed.

Her eyes twinkled as she looked at me. “Kane, this is my friend, Tori. Tori, this is my favorite bouncer, Kane.”

I smiled in greeting. Kane was huge and definitely was someone that I wouldn’t want to be left alone with in an alley, that’s for damn sure. His pale eyes were kind and gentle, though, but I bet he could kick some serious ass if needed.

“Well, any friend of my Keisha’s, is a friend of mine.” He smiled back at me. Blue eyes lit up every time he glanced at her, and I thought that someone had a little crush on my new friend.

Our gazes met and she flushed.

I laughed.

Giggling, she released herself from him.

He smiled down at her and looked between the both of us. “Have a good time, ladies.” He stood back, motioning to the open doorway.

We headed through the door and walked down a dim, narrow hallway that had red lighting in the ceiling. Black-and-white pictures of famous musicians lined the walls on either side of us, and as we neared the end of the corridor, the music got louder. It wasn’t so loud that she couldn’t hear herself think or carry on a conversation, but loud enough that she felt the beat in the floor.

“Did you want to dance first or grab a drink?” Keisha yelled over the music.

“Drink first.”

She nodded and led us to the bar.

Once we left the hallway, it opened up into a wide space. The bar was on the right and took up most of the wall that led to the back of the room.

To the left of us, there was a dance floor jam-packed with moving bodies. Four cages in each corner held scantily clad women who gyrated and danced to the music.

Across the floor, on the other side of the club, red couches lined the wall. Some had curtains drawn closed in front for privacy.

The air in the room was thick and smelled of alcohol and sweat.

Keisha grabbed my hand, pulling me through the crowd, and led us to the bar. Once we reached it, we both took a seat.

The bartender noticed us, made a drink that looked like a martini, and placed it in front of her.

Wow. She knows everyone
.

“Do you come here all of the time?” I asked her.

“Yeah, probably more than I should.” 

He nodded his head in my direction, and I looked at Keisha. “What do you want to drink?” she asked me.

“Oh, I’ll have a beer, please.” He nodded and a moment later placed a beer in front of me.

I grabbed the cool bottle and brought it to my lips. I took a long pull and sighed as the cold carbonated liquid slid down my throat.

“I’ve never seen someone make drinking beer look erotic.”

My gaze flashed to Keisha’s, and she smiled.

My cheeks felt hot, and I put my beer down. I shrugged. “I like beer.”

She laughed. “Now I bet Sebastian would love seeing you drink beer that way.”

I laughed, rolling my eyes.

I turned in my stool and scanned the vast room. The walls were black, and all of the lighting fixtures, except for the ones behind the bar, were some shade of red.

“Are you looking for Sebastian?” Keisha teased.

I smiled. “Maybe.”

“Well, he does come here often, so you might see him, but be warned—he doesn’t get along with my brother.”

I frowned. “Why does that not surprise me?”

She laughed and turned on her stool. Leaning against the bar top, she crossed her legs. “Speaking of the owner…”