Free Hard Fought (A Stepbrother Warriors Novel) by Celia Loren Page B

the pulse of the music scene,
so I can sit back as she launches into an explanation of this DJ's influences,
and the better ones she's seen in the big clubs in Europe. Her older husband,
Jonathan, is the heir to a pharmaceuticals fortune that's based out of Tampa,
but she escapes to more exotic locales whenever she can, with or without him.
Though I think she prefers to go without.
    Before I know it, I've finished my second drink and Nikki is
pressing another one into my hands as she begins telling me about Jonathan's
eligible friends. I giggle as she lists their best attributes, one being that
his divorce has now completely gone through. She grabs my hand and drapes it
across her shoulder. At her insistence, I chug whatever rum-based concoction
she just made me so that I don't bring it onto the dance floor and spill it
everywhere.
    She guides me out of the VIP area and through the crowd. I
marvel at the multi-colored lights that swing every now and then across the
otherwise dark space. Moist, glistening bodies press in around me and I throw
my head back and laugh with Nikki. Our limbs move with the music and I have no
worries in the world. The lights above me change and look almost like they're
spinning, or maybe it's all in my head.
    A handsome man with a dark beard sidles up to me and takes
my hand. His hips press against mine and his arms wrap around the small of my
back. He's a good dancer, and quickly takes the lead. My body follows his as he
swirls me around and then dips me back. Nikki joins in, pressing against his
back as I turn around and spin with the music. I giggle as a short, balding man
makes eye contact with me and wiggles his eyebrows. He looks almost absurdly
out of place, and I look around for an escape route as he begins to dance
toward me.
    Suddenly, Carter steps around a woman in front of me and
grabs my arm. "We need to go. There are too many people here. It's not
safe."
    "Carter, stop being such a killjoy!" I reply, and
wrap my arms around his neck. "Just have some fun!" I press my hips
against his and try to get him to move them back and forth. "Consider it
physical therapy!"
    "Thought you were pissed at me," he growls.
    "You caught me in a good mood," I sigh, tilting my
head back and letting my hair swing from side to side.
    "You mean a drunk mood. You said you weren't
going to drink anymore."
    "I just wanted to relax a little!" I yank my hands
away from him. "Just let it go OK? I feel like I have to walk on eggshells
in that house and I just want to forget it for a while!" I throw my hands
up in the air and move away from him, swaying with the music.
    "Alexa!"
    I look back at him. Shit, he looks stressed. His jaw is
clenching and his neck muscles are bunching out. He needs to learn to take
things less seriously. The cute guy with the beard grabs me around the waist
and pulls me toward him and Nikki. She's so fun and pretty. We need to hang out
more.
    "You're the best!" I yell at her.
    "No, you're the best!" she yells back.
    "We're leaving," Carter says, taking my arm and
pulling me away.
    "I don't want to!" I retort, planting my feet.
    "Hey, chill out," the bearded man says, placing a
calming hand on Carter's shoulder. "We were just dancing. I didn't know
she was here with—"
    "Get the fuck off me!" Carter spits back, his eyes
flaring. The music changes to a faster song and the crowd surges behind him,
sending a couple dancers stumbling against him. His head flies wildly around
and his knees bend into a slight crouch. "Alexa, we have to go now !"
he yells, his eyes darting around as though we're under attack.
    "Carter..." I say, stepping toward him, hands
outstretched. Around the edge of the dance floor, a cocktail waitress trips and
sends glass flying and a stool toppling over.
    Carter drops to the floor, his hands over his ears and his
head bowed. I rush over to him, my concern cutting through my drunken state.
    "I'm here. Hey, I'm here," I murmur, spreading my
fingers over his hands and ducking