Just Breathe (Blue #1) Read Free

ear, he backs away from her. I quickly decide I should find something better to occupy my time.
    Dar eagerly welcomes one of the dancers onto her lap. By scooting down in the black leather booth, she gives him more room for straddling her legs. She winks in my direction and then smiles as he lifts himself from her lap to thrust his crotch upward. His skin gleams in the pulsating lights as he grooves to the music. His tight muscles flex to accommodate the movements.
    When Dar tries to tip him, he takes her dollar bills and stuffs them into her cleavage. “Your birthday present, sweetheart,” he purrs through a sly grin, probably the same one he uses to get a woman to do practically anything he wants. My hat is off to him, so to speak. Having the ability to hold that much power over someone at a single glance is both incredible and disturbing. Not that I would have any experience in that department, but I can imagine the feeling of euphoria.
    The effects of the vodka and cranberries finally relax me a little. As I watch the man flail his bright blue banana hammock, Dar’s face turns scarlet, and she scrunches up her nose. I can’t help myself when I burst out in a sporadic snort-laugh, which I’ve coined “slaughs”.
    Dar hears me “slaugh” and hangs her head in laughter. After she catches her breath, she grabs my hand, giving it a firm squeeze. “See, I told you it would be fun! Thanks for this, Cass! I love ya!” she screams over the music, bobbing her head with the beat.
    “Girl, I love you as well!” Seeing her happy warms my heart. She is the sister I never had. She is the only person I can count on, and I don’t know what I would do without her. At times, she understands me better than I do myself.
    “Is this what you do every time you come here?” I ask her while watching a woman well in her eighties stuff bills into the elastic of a stripper’s underwear. Dar belts out a laugh so loud it actually makes me jump, spilling part of my drink onto my lap.
    “No, you silly woman. This is the first time they’ve ever come here in their banana hammocks.” She sticks out her tongue at me and changes the subject. “Let’s do shots!”
    Nodding, I stand up.
    Banana hammocks? I’ve never told her what I call G-strings or my extreme hate for them. I shrug it off, wondering if Dar can read minds.
    We pass the dollar-stuffing grandma, and she winks at me. “Hey, sweetheart, let me show you how a real woman handles a fine piece of ass!” The music is blaring so loud I barely hear her yelling at us. One of the dancers shakes in front of her face as the music beats through the speakers. She grabs his crotch, with what looks like all her might, and yells, “Momma’s got a new set of jewels!”
    His face is priceless. His mouth drops open as he looks around for help. The bouncer rushes over and urges her toward the exit; she brings up her hand to her ears, motioning for the poor guy to call her.
    I nudge Dar with my elbow and point out what’s unveiling in front of us. She shakes her head and giggles.
    We fight through the crowded space and approach the bar where the bartender smirks. His eyes wander up my body, stopping when they connect with mine. His hair edges his high cheekbones, and he really could benefit from a trim. He definitely has the bad boy look. There is a vague five-o’clock shadow along his prominent jawline, but it suits him. By the grin playing on his lips, I can tell he is completely aware of his good looks.
    “Stare much?” I mumble under my breath. His head jerks back. He blinks as if he didn’t expect me to notice him undressing me with his eyes, but it would be pretty hard to miss. At least he’s actually looking at my eyes, which is more than I can say for most men. Other guys usually pay more attention to my chest and never notice anything else about my body.
    “What’s your choice of poison, ladies?” he asks while looking at the bar, swiping a cloth along the wooden surface.