Page 34 of Justus
Aydathrows the cherry from her drink at him and he catches it, popping it into hismouth with a wink.
“Thecostumes are always the same,” Jeremy laughs. “Ooh, he’s a fireman, he’s apoliceman, he’s a construction worker.”
“Yougo to a lot of male stripper shows, Jer?” Landon taunts.
Tuckershakes his head and takes a drink of his beer. “I think he’s thinking of theVillage People.”
“Womenare different,” Dare says. “We want to see skin, but they still need to knowthe fantasy guy has a job.”
Everyonecracks up, then falls silent as the lights go dim. Nerves make my stomachflutter when I know the beginning is seconds away. Despite the fact I’vebrought all his friends to mess with him—hell, because of that fact—I really dowant Justus to do well.
Theguys crack up again when a song begins to play. Oh my god. Is he actually goingto strip to Miley Cyrus?
Myquestion is answered as a large, black replica of a wrecking ball swings acrossthe stage. Perched on top, his legs wrapped around the chain, is Justus,wearing nothing but a white thong. “I came in like a wreeeecking baaalll!” hesings, and I can’t hear anything for a few seconds after that because the crowdloses their shit.
Earpiercing shrieks and squeals bounce off the walls, and the women jump to theirfeet, cheering.
Theball strikes the gray wall and sends it smashing to the ground. When he swingsback, losing momentum, his gaze falls to the tables full of his friends, and hesmirks at me, before standing up and grinding on the chain, mouthing the lyricspulsing through the speakers.
Hiseyes meet mine as he sings about kissing and falling under a spell. The womenlose it again when he does a backflip off of the wrecking ball, landing lightlyon his feet and dancing across the stage. Wow. The man has talent.
Hepicks up the sledgehammer and straddles it, stroking up and down the handle. Itgoes on like that for the entire song. He humps the sledgehammer, caresses it,kisses it, and licks it. I can’t believe I’m turned on by this, but I can’ttake my eyes off of him. It’s silly and over the top and ridiculously sexy.It’s Justus.
Hesignals to another half-naked guy just offstage and the guy approaches me,grabbing my hand. “Come on, love. He wants you on stage.”
WhenI shake my head, Zoe, Ayda, and Leah all goad me on, and Ayda pulls me to myfeet, shoving me towards the stage. Bitches.
Justusgreets me with a smirk, and I know this is payback for bringing his friends.All right. He’s not getting the best of me. I fall to my knees and grab thehandle of the sledgehammer, stroking it, and the crowd goes wild. He pretendsto thrust it in my face and I lick the tip.
Asthe song ends, he tosses the sledgehammer aside and scoops me up. My legs wraparound his hips and he kisses me long and hard in front of hundreds of cheeringwomen. “I’ll always want you,” he murmurs in my ear, referring to the lyrics.
“You’vegot me, you maniac.”
I’mcarried backstage amid the hoots and hollers of women who would kill to be inmy place.
* * * *
“Sadie!”Lisa crows, running to hug me as I step into her dance studio. She has been inItaly for the past month on vacation with some brooding Italian guy she met online.It’s the longest we’ve gone without seeing each other. She’s the sister I neverhad.
“Thereyou are, you hussy! Tell me everything!” I demand. Other than a few quick phonecalls, we’ve hardly spoken while she was gone. I didn’t tell her about my momand my new relationship until yesterday, when she got back home.
“Comeinto my office, I have a half hour until my next class.”
“Alright.Spill it. Was he as impressive in person as he is online?”
Asmile splits her face. “More. Good Lord, girl, Italian men know shit Americanguys can’t even imagine.”
“Likehow to make the perfect cannoli?” I tease.
“Oh,his cannoli is perfect. Long, thick and full of—
“Iget it,” I laugh, holding up my hand.
“Andhow are things going with the manyou wouldn’t fuck with a borrowed pussy?”
Sighing,I shake my head. “I really like him, damn it.”
Lisathrows back her head, laughing. “Of all the guys that have tried, you fall forthe persistent stripper.”
