Anything He wants

DREAMS DO COME TRUE

The music blared too loud for Sandi’s taste, making her chest vibrate with the base, but those on the dimly lit dance floor didn’t seem to notice.

Sexy women wearing low-cut, clingy dresses drew her attention and she tightened her kegels as she tapped a red stir stick on the table in the dark corner of the crowded bar. Sandi watched the patrons make eyes at each other, share a kiss or two… or engage in a screaming match in front of everyone.

She turned her head to look at the couple she came in with.

Why had she agreed to come here again tonight with Kiera and Greg?

Bile rose in her throat as she took in his unshaven, square jaw line, combed-back blonde hair, and a tight tee shirt that hugged his muscular chest and tattooed arms. He watched every woman in the bar. Ignoring her best friend, Sandi was sure he imagined fucking some stranger right there on the floor instead of being with Kiera tonight. Greg disgusted her. Their stormy relationship would never get better because he’d never be a one-woman man and Kiera couldn’t see that.

Relationships with men had ruined her long ago when her step-father thought it was okay to sit naked on her bed as a child and proceed to teach her about life as a woman. Since when did a child need to learn about adult sex so early? Men just wanted one thing and didn’t give a shit about making a relationship work.

A shiver ran down her back; her fingers fisted.

Even after all these years, those memories still haunted her. Egotistical men just made her stomach turn and Greg fit right into that category. Sandi turned her thoughts back to the couple at her table, wondering why Kiera couldn’t be stronger and see what kind of man he was.

After teasing the ice in her glass with a manicured nail, Kiera took a long pull from her whiskey glass. Her tongue took in the last of the amber liquid from her lips, and then she raked her fingers through her dark curly hair. How could Greg ignore such a sexy creature? She stared for a moment at the back of Greg’s head. “You should quit gawking and just go ask one of them to dance and maybe fuck later. I’m not who you want to be with lately.”

Greg looked at her, grabbed his beer, and curled his upper lip. “At least maybe they aren’t a bitch all the time.”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

She shrugged a shoulder. “I can find my way home tonight. Get the hell out of here.”

Sandi chewed the stir stick as she laughed to herself. The asshole didn’t waste time and stormed off to the other side of the bar, leaving them alone in the dark corner. Could she convince Kiera that best friends didn’t treat each other like that? Shutting out the crowd around them, she reached across the table to squeeze Kiera’s hand, sick of seeing the same thing

happen to her time and again. “You know he’s a jerk, right?”

“I know. Why am I always attracted to assholes?”

“Because that’s how you were treated growing up.” Not wanting to scare her, Sandi pulled her hand back and sipped her own Jack and Coke. “We share an apartment. I’ve known you long enough to see a few of the boyfriends you’ve picked up, hon…not good.” Sandi looked into Kiera’s blue eyes and hurt gazed back at her.

“I can’t say I’ve ever dated a nice guy. I don’t think they make that kind anymore.” Kiera finished her Jack and ordered them both another round. “Look at the two women over there. They seem happy and you can tell they’re into each other.”

Sandi glanced across the dimly lit bar as one stroked the forearm of the other. If only she could be that close to Kiera, she knew they could be happy. Right now, she at least had her as a best friend. Kiera needed to get her head straight before Sandi could approach her about changing their relationship and becoming more than best friends. “Those two know that women can be as happy as any heterosexual couple, but relationships can be difficult no matter what gender you are.”

“Maybe being single for a while would do me good. Having a man around anymore just makes me crazy.”

The low tank top Kiera wore displayed a deep cleavage that Sandi couldn’t take her eyes from. Living with Kiera had given her more than one glimpse of her naked body, making her wish she made a move long ago. “I know your work at the attorney’s office keeps you busy but, you should come down to the gym with me. Working out relieves stress and clears your mind so you can think about what you need. Nobody else can make you happy if you’re not happy with yourself first.” Sandi leaned back in her chair to watch the other women on the dance floor when she spotted Greg at the bar with his hand on some woman’s ass.

Let it go… it’s not your problem.

Kiera handed her empty glass to the waitress, took her fresh drink, and leaned forward to yell over the music. “You always seem to be in control and happy with your life, so exercising must do something for you besides keeping you in great shape. How’s that kickboxing class going?”

Sandi loved her class and the fact that it could be used on a man in a dark alley made it that much more fun. “You should join. It’d be one less night Greg could bother you.”

Kiera shook her head yet her eyes spoke of regret. “He hates it when

I’m not available if he calls.”

Sandi slammed her palm on the table. “If he calls should be the warning for you, damnit. That’s allowing him to control you and that needs to stop right now. Quit answering your phone every time he calls you. He’s just proved to you that he doesn’t care and if you take him back after tonight, his control will get worse. Who knows what might happen if you’re alone with him and he gets pissed.” Sandi rested her forearms on the table and looked into Kiera’s eyes, wishing she could hold her close right now. “I’m your best friend and I care about you too much to sit by and watch him treat you like a doormat. Stop it tonight. You have no idea how hard it is to keep my mouth shut when he’s at the apartment.”

Kiera looked back at her, struggling with the emotions that she wore on her sleeve. Sandi wanted to hug her and show her how much she cared but now wasn’t the time. Over Kiera’s shoulder, Sandi saw Greg slip out the back door with the woman from the bar stool.

Bastard.

Glad that Kiera hadn’t seen him leave, Sandi could relax and enjoy the rest of the evening. She had to keep Greg out of Kiera’s life and help her become a stronger person for her good. The bastard only tore at Kiera’s self-esteem, but that’s how his kind worked. That shit ran in families and his father likely treated his mother the same way so he didn’t know any better.

“Let’s finish these, grab a movie, and spend a quiet night at home. You game?” Sandi prayed she’d agree. They could be alone, shut off Kiera’s phone, and maybe talk about what could be next for them.

“It is noisy in here. Maybe a good movie is what I need. We could find a comedy to watch. Let’s go.” Kiera finished her drink and tossed a few bills on the table.

Fresh air replaced the stale bar air as Sandi stepped outside into the dark. The parking lot was full, patrons pulling in and out, looking for a good time. Careful where she stepped, Sandi didn’t want to wrench an ankle in her new strappy heels. “I’m glad I insisted on driving my car, otherwise we’d be grabbing a cab. Ewww!” She clicked the remote to unlock the doors of her Charger.

Buckling her seatbelt, Kiera looked over at her. “How do you afford this car? Are you making that much money modeling for Daniel?”

Sandi laughed. “Yes. He’s been bugging me to get him another model. You should think about it.” After looking both ways, she pulled onto the busy street and headed to the video store, secretly wondering if she should grab a bondage movie and see how Kiera would react.

“I’d want to work out for a few weeks before getting in front of a camera to model what you do. That’s what he’s asking, right? For another lingerie model?”