Fragmented ✔️

18. Lace and leather

The midnight blue lace overlay skirt swayed as I took each step that led down into the speakeasy club. Zaire had stayed to man the door. Just as well, I didn't need him for what I had planned. A tug in my stomach stopped me in my tracks and I released a harsh breath, shaking my hands out at my side. Seriously, what was I doing? He was at work.

When I reached the bottom step, I glanced up the stairs and back to the closed double doors in front of me. No one in sight. As fast as I could, I hooked my thumbs into the elastic of my underwear, slipped them down my legs, and hid them in my clutch purse. I straightened my skirt, making sure my bum wasn't on show when the door opened. Barely able to breathe, I gave a tight smile to the man holding it open for me and brushed past him with a weak "thank you".

Lights dimmed everywhere but at the bar where Matt stood, his eyes already trailing up my bare legs; my beacon in the darkness.

Fuck, each time I saw him, he just got hotter. The buttons on his black shirt begged to be yanked off and his skin to be licked.

I strolled to the side of the counter with a flip hatch and waited for him to finish serving a round of drinks.

"My day just keeps getting better and better." Matt's lips spread into a knee-weakening smile and he lifted the hatch to place a chaste kiss to the corner of my mouth.

"Why's that?" My fingers automatically slid between the gap between his buttons and I smoothed over the fraction of skin they had access to.

"Well, I passed that test on my course."

"Oh, Matt! That's great news." I threw myself into his arms and squeezed him to me. I bet he could feel the pounding of my heart when I was this close.

After a brief hug, he nudged me away and scanned the room. Disappointment sagged through me. I had built this moment up in my head only to be knocked back.

"And now you're here." He looked down and saw my smile slip. "Sorry. My boss is around here somewhere. Doesn't like us touching the customers." He ran his thumb under my chin, tilting my head up, and winked. He peered over my shoulder for a second time.

Maybe I should ditch my plan if he was already on edge.

"Shit, I forgot. Sorry."

"That's what my breaks are for though." Matt traced the plunging lace neckline of my dress and rested his hand on my hip.

My nerves intensified, but the mischievous glint in his eyes pushed me forward. I leant into him and confided in his ear, "Good because I have something for you." I opened my clutch purse, discreetly balled my black thong into my fist, and slipped them into the pocket of his trousers.

Matt caught my wrist and tugged me closer. "Was that your g-string?"

I nodded. "Yep, I don't have any underwear on." And with that, I drifted out of his grip and onto the dancefloor. I felt daring and seductive as I swayed my hips, knowing his gaze was glued to my every move. The beat picked up as I reached the middle of the crowd and shedding any remainder of insecurities, I closed my eyes to lose myself in the music.

Warm hands ran down the length of my arms and wrapped themselves around my waist. My entire body simmered and my insides clenched when Matt blew into my ear and murmured in that deep rumble I loved, "Taking that break now."

He tugged back, causing me to stumble, and marched us off to the backroom, his arm firmly secured around my middle. Or at least that was where I thought we were heading. Instead of the staff room, Matt pulled me into a smaller office space, filled with sealed moving boxes and discarded old furniture.