and locked eyes with Sparkles himself. He generally went to other bartenders, but he knew if he asked me, I’d get his drink to him right away. He knew how much I wanted him, and I suspected he used that to his advantage.
“Sure thing, sweetheart. Let me get this one out, and I’ll get you yours.” I winked and was met with an eye roll.
After passing the mojito off to the customer, they handed me their number. I slipped the piece of paper into my back pocket and quickly went over to Sparkles. He stood, eyes wandering over the place while I made his drink. He wore an emerald-green shirt that shimmered when he moved. I couldn’t see his pants, but I had no doubt they matched. His fingers were painted black and he tapped them along the bar. His always hot-pink hair stood out like nothing else, and his face was done up to compliment it all. I had no idea how he did it, but he was a work of art.
“Here you go.”
He dropped a ten on the bar and said to keep it. “Hang on.” I couldn’t hear him huff when I stopped him, but I knew he did. “How is this outfit disco?” I gestured to his garb.
“This masterpiece is the epitome of disco. Look at these pants.” He lifted his leg so gracefully, it was as if he’d done it a million times. Large pieces of what I assumed were sequins were sewn onto the seams of the pants. They were some sort of fancy bell bottoms. “And this top? Are you even being serious right now?” He had a martini in one hand, the other on his hip. “I’m disco inferno up in this shit.”
Holding my hands up in surrender, I smiled and answered, “My apologies. I can clearly see you’re all about funky town.”
Sparkles sipped his drink with narrowed eyes. “I’m going to dance.” Without another word, he disappeared into the crowd and got lost in the throngs of people desperate to forget their day with alcohol and dancing.
Chapter Two
Lane
As I slipped through the gyrating bodies on the dance floor toward the edge, I couldn’t help but glance through the spaces to see Max. He had long since stopped watching me, but I could feel the aftermath of his burning gaze. He was hot. I wasn’t some blind idiot. His normally thick black hair was cut a lot shorter, but it worked for him; dark eyes, olive flawless complexion, and a body that was built from manual labor sent waves of lust through me. What stopped me from jumping the bar and giving him what he wanted was that I’d be just another notch. I’d be something he acquired and nothing more. I knew because that was exactly who I used to be, and I hated it. There was no such thing as something for nothing with people like Max. I’d lived that life a long time ago; I understood how power worked better than most.
Sure, I had sex, and most were as faceless to me as I was sure they were to Max. But something about Max felt like it’d be too much of a power exchange, like if I slept with him, I’d be too vulnerable, and I had to protect myself from ever feeling that way.
“Can I buy you a drink?” a guy with blond hair, blue eyes, and a gorgeous smile asked me. He was taller than me, which I liked, but I had no interest in a drink that would be followed by an expected fuck. What kind of hypocrite would I be if I said yes to the Ken doll beside me?
Lifting my half-full martini glass, I grinned. “I’m good, but thanks.” Before he could say more, I made my way over to where I could see Toby leaning against the wall, eyes scanning the room.
When I first met him he was a timid guy, enamored with Atlas and too nervous to do anything about it. Now, he had that man’s heart, ran the floor of Joker’s Sin, and was what I’d call a friend.
“How’s your night going?” I asked as I lightly hip-checked him.
He smiled at me, his brown-and-purple hair shimmering under the lights. He was my height with one of those faces you just knew was all sweetness and honesty.
“Good. Loving the outfits. DJ Edge is all about the disco.” Toby gestured to the stage where DJ Edge—Ledger was his real name—was doing his duties