“Maybe we could make it a group thing,” Chrissy suggests. “Include Ron and Booker.”

“That’s a great idea!” Toni exclaims.

Maybe that would work. I’m hoping he wouldn’t object if I wasn’t alone. “Okay…but we need music and a routine…and outfits.”

“There are tons of sexy songs we can use. We can have Allah put something together for us. The question is, do we go simple sexy or hardcore?”

“Toni’s right,” Chrissy agrees.

“Why not both? We can do a medley. Any ideas?”

We all think for a while then Toni comes up with an idea. “‘Say My Name’.”

I know exactly the song she’s talking about and it. Is. Perfect.

“Destiny’s Child?” Chrissy asks in confusion. “Wouldn’t ‘Cater 2 U’ be better if we’re going with them?”

“Not Destiny’s Child,” I tell her. “Qwote. Q-W-O-T-E, look it up.”

“We could use ‘Cater 2 U’, though,” Toni says pensively.

Another two hours are spent on the phone planning our big lap dance. We decide on a soundtrack – “Cater 2 U”, Ciara’s “Body Party”, Beyoncé’s “Dance For You”, Lady Saw’s “Heels On” and “Backshot” with Spragga Benz, then we’ll end with “Say My Name”. We just need to recruit Allah to make a mix for us. Next, were our outfits. This whole idea is a real toss-up with a man like Gage Hunter. It could either be epic or a complete disaster. I hope to God it’s the former.

Here goes Operation Birthday Lap Dance.

CHAPTER 14

***Gage***

Thirty-three fucking years old. Another year older. Can’t say I’ve had a bad run. My life has been pretty good so far. As I watch Raven with her friends, I can only see it getting better. Chopper’s words resound in my mind – that’s when I knew you were his future. I know she’d be a perfect old lady. She has all the qualities I could ever need in a woman and I’d be lying if I said I’ve never thought about it. I could patch her, have her on my bike and in my bed. I’d take care of her and protect her. That’s what I can offer. All the extra stuff she needs – love, romance, and promises of forever – I can’t offer that to any woman. I don’t know how, and I don’t see her settling for less. So while Chopper is certain, I’m not.

My eyes follow her movements as she walks over to Ellen and whispers in her ear. My sister grins from ear to ear, so I know something’s up. Both of them put this party together for me so when I see them conspiring, I brace myself for what’s to come. Raven disappears to the back with her friends and Ellen sets out three chairs in the middle of the room. She approaches me with the same grin and drags me to one of the chairs, then seats Ron and Booker in the other two. Judging from the expressions on their faces, they don’t know what’s going on, either. She hurries over to the DJ booth and grabs the microphone as Allah stops the music.

“Okay, everybody! I’m going to need you to clear some space.”

People start moving out of the way, leaving the three of us sitting in the center like the main attraction. I don’t know what’s going on, but I already don’t like it.

“We’re all here to celebrate President Reaper’s birthday, but we also have two new brothers – Ron and Booker.” She pauses while everyone cheers. “Raven, Chrissy, and Toni have put together something special for these guys, so let’s hear it for the ladies!”

The crowd cheers again, the brothers hooting and whistling. The girls walk back out wearing short, black trench coats and heels. What the fuck is going on? Raven stands in front, the other two girls behind her, one on either side. She gives me a nervous smile then nods in the direction of the DJ booth.

The music comes on and they begin to move. Raven mimes the lyrics as she performs a sexy-as-hell routine, her body gliding on the beat. I’m not really paying attention to the song, but a few words resonate – ‘I’m yours’ and ‘my man’. Fucking right, she’s mine. If anyone doubted it before, here she is announcing it to the entire room. The song changes and her movements become less sensual and more sexual. My dick immediately stands at attention when she drops to her knees and starts grinding. As she crawls toward me, I grab my crotch and adjust myself. She catches the action and smirks. Seeing her there, kneeling at my feet is doing things to my body I never knew a woman could do. She mouths some more lyrics about dancing for me as she rises to her feet. As she rolls her hips, she starts undoing the belt on her coat. I lick my lips, anticipating what’s underneath.

She flips the sides behind her and then the heel of her shoe is digging into my thigh. I vaguely hear something about fucking with heels on, but I’m focused on her outfit. Leather shorts—if you can call them that—and a matching top that’s pushing her tits together and up. Everything else from her tits down is bare. I seriously feel like I’m going to blow my load just looking at her.

In a flash of movement, she whips off the coat, tosses it aside, and turns her back to me. She drops onto my lap, leans forward, and with her hands on the ground, starts grinding on me. I grab her hips and she sits up, leaning in to me. She turns her face toward me, breathing heavily, her lips an inch from mine. She starts singing again about fucking me, and I drown out everything but her. The rest of the dance goes by in a blur of motion. All I can think about is getting my dick inside her. I only realize their little routine has ended when the noise from the cheers and wolf whistles brings me out of my thoughts. Somehow, she’s now straddling my lap, facing me. I twirl the red ends of her hair around my finger. She said she did it for me because black and red are my favorite colors.

“Happy birthday, Gage.”

I grab her ass and stand in a swift motion, taking her to the bedroom. As soon as I kick the door shut, I have her backed against it.

“Did you like –?”

I cut her off with my lips. I can’t hold back anymore. I need her. I need her now.

“Gage, wait.”

“For what?”

“I want to give you your gift.”

“I want you,” I growl against her lips.

“Please.”

“Fuck!” I release her and watch her ass as she hurries to the chest of drawers. She removes a white envelope and brings it back to me, bouncing up and down in excitement as I open it.

When I pull out the paper inside, she yells, “Happy birthday!”

I quickly scan the words on the paper until I realize what it is – flying lessons. At the end, I’d be able to get a Private Pilot Certificate. I raise my gaze from the paper to her beautiful face in shock. Once. I mentioned to her once that I wanted to be a pilot when I was younger. She not only remembered but now she’s encouraging and enabling me to pursue my dream. Fucking hell. Maybe Chopper was right after all. I drop the paper and yank her to me, forcing her against the wall.

“Do you like it?”

“I love it, baby doll. How did you –?”

“I dipped into my trust fund. I wanted to get you something special.”

“There’s only one thing I want.”

I take her lips in a fierce kiss, grabbing her hands and pinning them above her head. She returns the kiss, writhing against me, making me even harder. But then her breathing grows rapid…ragged, and her writhing feels more like fighting. I relinquish her lips and see fear-stricken eyes boring into me.

“Stop. Let me go. Please!”

She pulls at her hands and I realize what the problem is. I release her immediately. How could I have been so fucking stupid? No doubt me trapping her like that brought back memories of being tied down. Fuck! Have I undone months of progress in a few seconds?

“Raven, I’m sorry. I didn’t –”

“It’s fine.” She shakes her head. “I’ll be okay in a minute.”

I reach for her, but she shrinks from my touch. Fuck, fuck, fuck! Stepping away from her, I head to the bathroom. I need about a dozen cold showers.