Cageside After Midnight: Blue (AN EXCERPT)

By the time Blue downed her second cocktail, she had enough courage to drag the reluctant Duke in the middle of the dance floor. He seemed to prefer the sidelines, moving discretely from side to side.

“Loosen up, Duke,” Blue encouraged, swinging her hips in time with the music.

“Careful,” Duke said, putting a hand around her waist protectively. His hand was warm, permeating through the thin layer of her camisole dress. Blue didn’t want to push him if dancing wasn’t his cup of tea, but she resolved to make him see what he’d been missing.

With his hand still on her waist, Blue grabbed the other and placed it on the other side, turning around until her back was on him. When Duke didn’t pull away, Blue raised her arms and grounded her hips in time with the music, moving closer and closer to him until she could feel his hard chest on her shoulders. As the sweat rolled down her temples, Blue was tempted to take off her leather jacket. But she didn’t want to scare Duke.

Not too much anyway. Just enough for him to get a taste and want more.

And it seemed to be working.

Duke’s fingers crawled over her firm stomach before slowly moving back to sides, then lower down her hips until they settled on her pelvic bone. The pounding of the music increased — or was it her heart beat?

Blue swung her hips side to side, and around, intentionally brushing against Duke. She leaned her head back on his chest, and was pleased to hear his heart beating as fast as her own. Blue felt Duke's hands travel upward again, but this time past her waist, settling just below the cups of her breasts. He lowered his face to her neck, and took a deep breath — just like a vampire would before he took a bite.

Come on, do it. Bite me.

But he didn't.

Instead, Duke's hands dropped once again to her waist. "Let's take a break," he said close to her ear, trying to be heard over the loud music. "I'm thirsty."

Blue was disappointed, but she nodded.

Duke kept a protective arm around her as they snaked through the dancing bodies to their table. As they drew near, Blue could see Sean and Troy had a woman on the table with them. Blue smirked, eager to get back at Troy for teasing her earlier. But before she could open her mouth, her glee turned to a frown.

The woman sitting beside Troy wasn't just any woman. It was the bane of her life.

Rain.

Blue swore the woman couldn't stop raining on her parade — pun intended.

From his expression, Duke apparently saw her too. His hand dropped from her waist. Blue tried not to show her hurt, vowing not to show him she was jealous. But she couldn't help herself, moving slightly away from Duke, their bodies no longer touching.

Duke must have sensed her discomfort. He reached for her hand and held it in a firm grasp as they approached the table.

"Hi Blue!" Rain chirped, standing up to give Blue a beso. Blue tried not to wince as Rain's cheek touched hers. The woman was so perky, it was annoying. Like nipples, Blue thought. Perky as hard nipples.

"Rain," Blue nodded. She didn't want Troy to think she was jealous. Sean already knew, but thankfully, he wasn't the type to use it against her. "You look great."

Blue wasn't lying. It annoyed her to admit it, but Rain did look gorgeous. Her long, blue-black hair was so immaculately straight, Blue could have sworn it came straight out of a Barbie doll factory. She wore a plain white halter dress. It clung to her body like second skin, but stopped modestly a few inches above her knees. Her strappy platforms gave her extra height, towering Blue even more.