“Ladies,” I said, giving them each a once over and then myself in the mirror, “I think we’re ready.”

Downstairs the guys were waiting for us. They were all dressed casually in jeans and t-shirts. No surprise there.

“You look beautiful,” Maddox told Emma, his eyes moving from her head down to her toes and back up again. Even after being together this long his words still made her cheeks tinge pink.

She was dressed in a sparkly flapper style dress in colors that reminded me of a mermaid.

Maddox nuzzled her neck and kissed her cheek before they headed to the door. Arden and Hayes were right behind them, which left Ezra and I alone for the moment.

I hadn’t looked at him when I entered the room, but now I lifted my eyes to his.

The look in his eyes could be described in one word. Hunger.

He was starved for me, and I reveled in that fact.

I loved knowing that my very presence had an affect on him. That it killed him that right now he could only look and not touch.

“That dress,” he growled lowly, his eyes scanning my body slowly like he was savoring every inch.

“You like?” I did a little spin, showing it off. The dress was short and tight, but had three-quarter sleeves and covered me fully in the front. The back, however, was open to just above my butt and crisscrossed at my shoulders. The fabric was purple and shimmery, so it appeared to sparkle any time the light caught it.

“Fuck.” He groaned, looking pained, and scrubbed his hands down his face.

I couldn’t hide my grin. I loved being desired by him and pushing him past his breaking point. I wanted him to lose control.

I turned and headed for the door, purposely putting a little more sway in my hips than usual.

I heard him let out a string of curses behind me and I smiled like the cat that ate the canary.

I could feel things changing between us and I was scared as to where it was headed, but for tonight all I wanted was to feel his hands on my skin.

Music poured out of the speakers so loud that I wanted to cover my ears, but then I’d just look like an idiot. I couldn’t believe that as a teenager I’d liked this sort of thing. While my teen years technically hadn’t been that long ago, it felt like a lifetime. I’d changed and matured so much in the last few years. Okay…matured, not so much.

Inside the club was far nicer than the ones I’d snuck into when I was in high school.

The ceiling had these unique triangle dropdowns that glowed with different colors and the floor was shiny and clean—not covered in a layer of sticky grossness like most were.

The bar was lined with every drink imaginable and backlit in varying colors like the triangle tiles on the ceiling.

“Boys,” I patted Ezra on the shoulder, “why don’t you go grab a table and some drinks.”

Ezra eyed me, his hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans. “And what are you ladies going to do?”

I grabbed Emma and Arden’s hands. “Dance of course.”

Before either of them could protest, like I knew they would, I dragged them onto the dance floor.

It was a fast paced song that immediately had my heart racing.

“I can’t dance,” Emma whined.

“I shouldn’t dance,” Arden interjected. “At least not like this. I’m a mom.” She glared at the people around us with disdain in her amber colored eyes.

“First off, you can dance.” I pointed a finger at Emma. “Secondly,” I narrowed my eyes on Arden, “just because you’re a mom doesn’t mean you lose all sex appeal. Own it, girl.”

When neither of them moved I started to dance. I reached out and grabbed Emma’s hips, getting her to sway in time to the music. Once she had it I set my sights on Arden, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that she was already loosening up. She was clearly still nervous, and rather awkward, but I knew in a matter of minutes she’d let the rest of her reservations go.

Since both girls seemed to be fine on their own now I closed my eyes and let myself enjoy the moment.

All that existed was me, the music, and how it made me feel.

I swayed my hips, lifting my hair off of my shoulders when my skin began to dampen with sweat. There were a lot of people packed in here and the air was stifling, but it was all a part of the experience.

Three songs later I finally opened my eyes and saw that Emma and Arden had disappeared.

I searched the crowded dance floor for them and came up empty.

Feeling irritated I started towards the tables.

I finally found them sitting at a large booth with the guys.

I stuck my hands on my hips and gave them both the most withering glare I could muster. “You bitches ditched me.”

Emma giggled. “We were thirsty.” She pointed to her drink.

I shook my head. “What are you even drinking?” I asked, sliding into the booth beside Arden.

Emma lifted her brightly colored drink. “I have no idea, but it’s delicious. We got you one too.” She pointed at a drink in the center of the table.

I took it and cringed. It was too sweet for me, but it packed quite the punch. For someone like Emma, who didn’t drink much, she’d be wasted in thirty minutes…maybe less.

“Are you drinking?” I asked Arden.

She shook her head. “No.”

I couldn’t blame her. She had a kid and dealing with a hangover and a three-year-old in the morning would be killer.

“Hey, hey, hey,” Hayes chanted, lifting his drink in the air. “We should toast.”

“To what?” Ezra asked.

Hayes’ lips twisted in thought. “To the Willow Creek family and all the adventures that are headed our way.”

“Hell yeah I’ll toast to that.” Maddox lifted his drink—which I’d bet was diet Pepsi, since he was tonight’s DD, and tapped it against Hayes’, before we all followed suit.

I downed my drink, and upon seeing the empty cup Ezra signaled someone over to our table.

Without me even getting a chance to open my mouth, Ezra ordered me a new drink—something completely different than the one I’d had. I’d bet money Emma had ordered the first drink for me, and of course Ezra had noticed that I detested it. But hey, it was doing its job of getting me buzzed, so it was still a winner in my book.

“Thanks,” I mouthed to him, where he sat across from me.

He waved his hand in dismissal.

Emma finished her drink and bumped Ezra to move so that she and Maddox could slide out of the booth.

“Outta my way!” She cried. “I want to dance with my man!”

Maddox snorted, fighting a grin. “I think someone’s buzzed already.”

“Absolutely not.” She pouted, standing with her hands on her hips.

Maddox leaned down and took her lips between his, kissing her long and deep. She melted into his touch and then they disappeared onto the dance floor.

Beside me Arden let out a dreamy sigh. “Is it just me or are they the cutest couple ever?”

“They are,” I agreed.

“I’ve seen cuter,” Hayes piped in.

Arden and I swung our gaze in his direction. “Like who?” I questioned, as a fresh drink was set down for me.

“One time I saw these two puppies that were clearly in love. Their little tongues kept hanging out and their tails were wagging. It was the epitome of cuteness.” He grinned easily, stretching his arm out along the back of the booth.

“Aww, that sounds precious,” Arden cried, clasping her hands together.

At the same time, I said, “You’re so full of shit.”

Arden narrowed her eyes on me. “That was an adorable story.”

“And you’re drunk.”

She wrinkled her nose in confusion. “I’m not even drinking.”

“Exactly.”

I finished my drink and stood. “See you losers later. I’m going to get my dance on.”

Before anyone could protest I stepped back and allowed my body to be carried away by the crowd.

The room was pulsing with energy and you couldn’t help but respond to it.