Shutter: The Complete Series (24 page)

He never actually made me say the words, that I’d chosen Niko over him; he more so avoided me most of the night, finally appearing right before closing time.

I’ll never forget the conversation.

“Stephen, I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” I said as I rushed to his side, breathing hard from fighting my way through the crowd.

“Brook,” was his only reply before he turned his back on me. By the tense furrow of his brow I knew he was already aware of what I was going to tell him.

I just stood there, feeling coldness spread through my insides and wondering how I would make things right. I thought back on the conversation we’d had just the night before, about how all he wanted was for me to be happy, even if that meant it was without him. I could still hear his voice saying he’d take any part of me I was willing to give. I guessed it was said in a moment when he hoped I’d actually choose him, and not honestly how he felt. Which I could understand, and I would learn to live with if that’s what he wanted.

I laid my hand on his back lightly and felt him slowly inhaling and exhaling, controlling every breath he took. Even as sad as I was in that moment, I knew what I felt was no match for the feelings racing through him. He’d left me once, and my heart shattered into a million pieces as I watched him walk away, and now, even though I hated it, I was doing the same thing to him.

“I’m sorry, Stephen,” I said as tears burned my eyes. “I never wanted to hurt you, I promise. But my heart belongs to someone else, I love you still, and if you can ever forgive me I’ll be here.”

I took my hand off his back and turned, hoping the crowd would swallow me up before my tears streaked down my face. I only got a few steps away before I felt an arm on my shoulder.

“Brook, wait.”

When I turned to look at him, his face was dark and sullen, something I’d never seen in all the time I’d known him.

Before any words left his mouth, he inhaled deeply and his eyes focused just over my head.

“I knew you’d choose him; I knew it all along. Even the way you look at him is different, a brighter shimmer in your eyes. When he’s not around I could still see him in your mind, always present. I’m not mad at you,” his eyes moved down and connected with mine. “I’m mad at myself for thinking it would be different.”

“Stephen I’m sor—” With a lone finger he stopped yet another apology from leaving my lips.

“I know,” he says dryly. “I’ll be fine, I just need time.”

He removed his finger and looked at me, awaiting an answer.

I nodded. “I can give you time.”

He nodded back and turned back toward the bar.

***

That was exactly one year ago, and Stephen held true to his word. Five weeks later, while Niko and I were moving into a new home, our home, he came back into my life as a friend and helped carry the heavy furniture – that’s always the sign of a good friend.

Tonight I plan to make his one-year anniversary a much better night than his grand opening. Surf has steadily remained the hottest club, especially now, with Paul as the manager, they were drawing an even more diverse crowd than before.

Niko and I make our way to the VIP section. I see Paul entertaining a table of young men while two scantily clad cocktail waitresses flutter around them. I recognize every guy sitting at that table as friends of Niko’s. As we approach they all wave and shout greetings to us.

“I didn’t know you’d invited friends tonight,” I tell Niko once we’re seated at our regular table. We don’t come to Surf as often as we once did, but over the year I’ve maintained my favorite table.

“Yeah, Stephen told me to invite them. Fresh meat and all.” He winks at me as the waitress drops off an extra dirty martini for me, and a glass of some dark liquor for him.

“Stop winking at me like that, or my new outfit won’t make it through the night.”

He gives me a devilishly handsome smile and turns to say hello to Brock as he approaches our table.

“Sorry I’m late, got held up at work,” Brock says as he leans in and kisses my cheek. “Couldn’t find a dress that would show maybe a little more skin?” he asks, frowning at my dress.

“See,” Niko jumps in.

“The fact Brock doesn’t like it isn’t really a good argument, he doesn’t like anything I wear,” I inform them both. “And I’ll have you know, I tried on several dresses that showed more skin than this one, so it could be worse.”

Niko rolls his eyes, “Oh, that’s comforting.”

We all laugh together.

“What’s so funny?” Paul appears at Brock’s side with a wide grin on his face.

Seeing my brother in love with Paul didn’t take me long to get used to. In fact, I sometimes think I love the two of them together even more than they do. They couldn’t be any more perfect for each other. Brock anchors Paul’s outrageous personality, and Paul helps bring Brock out of his shell.

“Nothing, just discussing fashion,” Brock says as Paul leans down and presses his lips to Brock’s.

I notice the subtle scan of the room Brock does after Paul has stopped paying attention to him. It was hard for Brock to admit his feelings for Paul to all of us. Falling in love and admitting them to Paul was simple, but telling the rest of us, and showing affection in public has taken some getting used to for Brock. No matter his reservations, they love each other, and I don’t see anything stopping them.

“Ah yes, you are looking mighty flashy this evening, my dear,” Paul tells me with a poke to the cleavage.

“If you got it, flaunt it, right?” I say and we both fall into laughter.

“No,” Niko and Brock both say in unison, causing us to laugh even harder.

We sip our drinks while watching the crowd steadily grow. I had promised Stephen I’d be here if he needed anything, but he assured me all he’d need was moral support.

“Has anyone seen Stephen?” I hear a voice ask and look up to see Kiki standing before us.

“Stephen?” I asked surprised.

“Yeah, didn’t he tell you? He invited me.” Her smile is wide with excitement.

“Oh, he did? I’m so happy!” I squeal and Kiki bogs her head up and down in excited agreement.

I’ve been trying to get Stephen to go on a date for at least six months, but at first he wasn’t even willing to talk about it with me. When he finally would, he said he was too busy and didn’t want to listen to a girl whine about him never being around. It was actually Niko’s idea of trying to set him and Kiki up, although I think he actually meant it as a joke when he said it. I thought the idea was brilliant, so I took it and ran. They’ve been on three dates in the past couple of weeks, which I’ve taken as a good sign. I had to make Kiki swear not to discuss him around InTune, otherwise I’d quit, but so far she just bugs me about him all other hours of the day instead.

“No, we haven’t seen him yet.” Niko says trying to calm us both down.

“There he is,” Brock says pointing down to a bar near the dance floor.

“Let’s go dance,” I say jumping from my seat while grabbing Niko and Kiki by the hands. I don’t even bother trying to get Brock to tag along, and Paul is on duty so he can’t join us.

“How many has she had?” I hear Kiki ask Niko as we weave down the stairs to the dance floor.

“I haven’t even finished my first one!” I shout to her while giving her a stern look.

We weave through the crowd with Niko leading the way. A year ago, Niko being at Surf would have drawn a lot of stares from the patrons in the club, along with the occasional overzealous fan approaching him. But in the past year, he’s stopped accepting acting roles and started working with Brock full time producing and writing. The writing is what drew him to the entertainment industry to begin with, but acting is what got his foot in the door to pursue his dream of becoming a writer. He obviously still gets recognized, but since he’s not the current “It” guy, those encounters happen a lot less.

“Hey,” Stephen calls and waves us over as we get close to the bar. “I was going to come that way before long, but I kept getting stopped.” He tells all of us, but as he finishes the sentence his eyes turn to Kiki.

“It’s okay, I just got here,” she tells him, and then he leans in and kisses her on the cheek.

“Awwwww,” I say before I can stop myself.

Three sets of eyes turn to me and I throw my hands up in a sign of defeat.

“Sorry, sorry. Let’s go dance before I get in more trouble.” I lace my hand with Niko’s and fight my way through the crowd so we’re right in the middle of a sea of dancers.

“Remember the first time we were on this dance floor?” Niko breathes into my ear and the warmth spreads over every inch of my body.

“I do,” I breathe on the edge of a moan at just the memory.

He rests his hands on my shoulders and gently inches them down, taking time to feel every curved edge. Once his hands are on my hips, I feel his fingers dig into my flesh as he turns me around and pulls my back flush with his front. Our bodies move in sync to the rapid beat of the music.

His lips soothe against my warm skin at the base of my neck sending chills skating down my body until they pool between my legs. I feel the wet of his tongue as it snakes out and traces a long line across my bare shoulder and up to my ear. His hips grind into my ass, and I exhale sharply at the feel of his hard length pressing into my flesh.

My eyes drift closed as I savor the feel of the man I’ve grown to love for who he is a person as much as how he loves me in return. His hands move across my stomach and weave down focusing on the space between my legs that’s covered by a very short skirt.

I turn my head to the side, searching for his lips. Our mouths collide and the taste of him flames the fire already burning inside. His hand slips under the edge of my skirt that has shifted high enough to allow him open access. My hips press forward searching for his touch, he happily obliges my need and plunges one finger beneath the silky fabric of my thong.

His finger delves into the wetness caused by his touch. All that matters in this moment is this man, and the way he makes me feel. The first time we were on this dance floor our bodies were new to each other, and this was unchartered territory. Now I know every inch of his body as well as he knows mine. What may have been new and exhilarating then is just as stirring now, but with a newfound trust and intimacy. His touch used to bring with it the unknown, but now the love behind his touch only serves to incite more sensations.

He slowly pushes his finger past my clit and teases my opening with one small circle before returning and doing the same to my clit. My hips rock into his hand as a moan rolls from my mouth.

“As wet for me as the very first time,” he growls in my ear.

Another stroke, another slow circle around my clit.

“Oh God,” I moan.

“Shhh baby, I’m just giving you a little head start for later.”

In time with his words he pushes one lone finger inside me and quickly pulls it back out. Again, a loud pleased moan rushes past my lips in response.

“That’s still the sexist fucking thing I’ve ever heard,” he murmurs.

He slowly pushes his finger back inside me and moves his thumb to rest over my clit, completely unmoving. I feel his finger inside me slowly move but not withdrawing. My hips jerk, trying to force his thumb to rub against my clit, needing to feel more. He slowly moves his hand in time with the rocking of my hips. I can feel my climax waiting just out of reach but growing nearer with every touch.

Suddenly he pulls his hand completely away, and my body screams in objection.

“You know I fucking hate when you do that,” I groan, even though I secretly love it because I know he only does it to draw out my climax, allowing even more pleasure.

He doesn’t speak, but the rough grumble of his laugh rolls his chest against my back.

In one swift movement, his finger completely fills me. His thumb works fast, pushing me even further than before. I feel my body reaching for its release. My hand wraps around him, grabbing his ass and pushing his erection hard against my ass.

My muscles begin to contract with pure satisfaction flowing through my body. The walls of my sex clench around his finger as my body jerks with pleasure. He slowly withdraws his fingers once the tremors of my climax have subsided.

I adjust my skirt and turn to look at him, he sucks his finger into his mouth and smacks loudly.

“Just as fucking tasty as the very first time.” He smiles.

I swat at his chest, “And you’re just as fucking disgusting as the very first time.”

We both laugh and begin to sway to the music again, but this time I’m wrapped in his arms. When the second song begins to play Niko pulls back and stares down at me.

“Dirty martini?” He asks as he places one finger under my chin, tilting my face up to him.

“Always.” I say with a smile.

He leans down and presses his lips to mine and then turns and disappears into the crowd.

I ignore the people surrounding me and move my body to the music and think back about how much my life has changed since I met Niko. Everything I missed he brought back into my life and gave me so much more than I ever dreamed I could have.

Niko reappears before the end of the song, without out drinks.

“Where’s my martini?” I ask with mock anger.

His strong arms wrap around my waist and lift me up so I’m face to face with him.

“Do you have any idea how much I love you?” he whispers to me.

I run my hands down the sides of his face and wonder how I ever lived a second of my life without him.

Suddenly the upbeat song switches to a slow melody. I look around to see all the dancers that once surrounded us have moved away, creating an empty circle with us in the middle.

Niko lowers me to my feet then lowers onto one knee in front of me. All the blood rushes from my head, leaving me deaf to everyone around me but him.

“I loved you before I even knew your name. I needed you before I ever saw your face. You made me a better man before you ever loved me in return. I can’t imagine living one second of my life without you by my side. You make the sun shine brighter even when it’s hidden behind the clouds.” A grand smile stretches across his face and dances in his dark eyes. “Brook, I love you with everything that makes me worthy of you. Will you make me the happiest man alive? Will you marry me?”