Come Hot (Club Silken #2) - Jerrie Alexander Page 0,4

tonight at the rehearsal.” Zack’s enjoying this too much.

I blow out a breath. Fuck, he’s always been there for me. Whether in Afghanistan or here in Chicago. “Seven o’clock at the church, right?”

“Be there a few minutes before. Afterward, we’ll go to Chez Joey for a late dinner.” Zack grins like a lovesick kid. “That’s where I took Morgan on our first date.” He screws the top onto the whiskey bottle. “We’ll all be sober.”

I stand, give him a bear hug, and leave him with Slider while I walk next door to my office. Zack runs his investment company in this building and the three of us lease and share a small office next door. Slider runs Gallants and Gloss is my baby, but Zack, the lucky bastard, runs the members-only nightclub. Club Silken is expensive as hell to join but the benefits are worth it. People who want to satisfy their wildest fantasies line up to join and pay expensive dues.

A quick conference call with the managers who run my storage buildings and I’m out of here. I take the elevator to the parking garage and slide into my sports car, a bright red Mercedes-Benz AMG GT. It’s been a good year and, after bonuses were paid, I bought this baby. Foolish? I tell myself it’s not.

During the drive to my apartment, my thoughts are dominated by the image of the pale-blonde hair and bright-blue eyes of Kayla. Fuck, I don’t remember her last name. What I do remember is how fast my dick jumped to attention when Morgan introduced her to me. Dressed in a skin-colored, body-hugging, club dress, she was stunning. Maybe five foot three, a figure that wouldn’t quit; fuck, every man in the club wanted to scene with her. Her eyes were wide and she was breathing heavily as we watched couples fucking, playing with toys, three men double teaming one woman. Sure, I felt her stiffen when we stopped to watch a caning scene. The couple involved are married and come to the club to spice things up. Kayla took off to the restroom before I could explain and never came back.

By the time I park my car, get out, and head to the elevator, I try to push her from my mind. I swipe my key card and get moving. The top floor of this building is mine and the only way to get there is with a card or code. The world is silent when I step off the elevator and enter what I call my sanctuary.

The living area is a large open space with two sides lined in glass. I like seeing the sun. The tinted glass reduces the glare but allows light to flood the living area. I thrive on sunshine and miss the beaches in California. I considered having a designer come in and fancy the place up, but I like simplicity. A place I can rest and regenerate.

There’s just enough time to work out, so I change out of my suit and hit my weight room for an hour. It’s not quite as large as Zack’s but it’s all the equipment I need. A speed bag with a platform installed in the far corner of the room is new. It doesn’t take up much space and I enjoy it above all my equipment. I complete my exercises and then grab a bottle of water from the fridge, downing it on the way to the bathroom. After a hot shower, and a quick trim of my mustache and scruff, I brush my teeth then dress in black slacks with a white, tailored shirt. Zack insists tonight is informal, but nobody goes in Chez Joey wearing jeans and a T-shirt. I make it to the front door and my stomach growls. A trip to the kitchen nets me a power bar and I eat it standing up. Brushing my teeth a second time can’t hurt after downing a couple of shots of Irish whiskey in Zack’s office.

I ride the elevator back down to the parking garage, get in my car, and drive outside, into the bright sun at six o’clock. I don’t regret making Chicago my home. It’s a great city, but I miss San Clemente. I feel a trip coming soon.

It takes me the best part of an hour to reach the church, but traffic is something you learn to deal with in Chicago. I drive into the parking lot and take the spot next to the groom’s SUV.