Chapter Twenty
Pure barry: Saying, completely brilliant, wonderful, anything that’s really good, fantastic.
* * *
Hunter
Half asleep, I’m roused by the ding from my phone. Eyes closed, I reach over and fumble to find my phone on the bed. Instant warmth spreads to my heart as I read Eden’s name across the screen. Not reading the notification fully, I place my phone in front of my face and tap my messages app.
Eden:Hey, Hunter, I hate to ask, but could you come over to the studio later please? I need your help with something.
What does she need my help for?
Me:Is that a good idea? Can you not ask your dad?
Eden:I think you’re the best man for the job. If you could, you’d really be helping me out.
Me:OK.
Eden:Great. Tonight? About 7:40 p.m. I have a class at 8 p.m. It won’t take long.
Me:OK.
Eden:See you then, thanks.
Surely Eden has lots of guys around the estate to help her if it’s something she needs help with in her studio? Baffled, I jump out the bed anyway and head to the shower, with a spark of excitement at the prospect of seeing her again today. I hope she doesn’t ask me to fix anything; I am shit with a screwdriver and hammer.
Checking the time, I’ll grab something to eat, then I head across at 7:40 p.m. How very precise.
* * *
Right on time I walk through the door welcomed by a dimly lit studio. As I walked through the trees, I noticed the studio blinds were closed, making me question if the place was even open.
“Hello?” I call out.
I hear the clicking of heels from the far end of the giant room.
A vision in white and black, Eden appears in the studio's office doorway. Her petite figure is draped in an oversized man’s white shirt that falls to the top of her knees, black pantyhose, and black leather above the knee-high heeled boots. Is this her usual dance class attire for her late-night classes? She is a sexy treasure chest I want to open.
“Hey, Hunter. Thanks for coming,” she purrs, setting all my senses on fire. “I really need your help with something. Could you pop yourself on that chair there?” She points to the middle of the floor, where I see a solo gray velvet chair facing toward the poles now fitted at the far end of the studio.
“Eh, yeah.” I pull my brows together. “Are you sure your dad couldn’t help you? I’m not good at fixing stuff, if that’s what you need help with.”
“Oh, I’m sure. You’re the perfect man for the job. Sit,” she instructs.
Okkaaaaay. I step slowly toward the chair with no idea what she needs me to sit and help her with.
“So.” She looks me dead in the eyes. “I just need some general advice. I need to show you something, then I’ll need a little feedback. Is that okay?”
Frowning, I say, “Sure, I think.” I sit on the velvet chair, more confused than ever.
“Great.” She smiles seductively. “Now, I need you to pay attention. Pay very close attention. Because your advice and feedback are really important.”
As I’m about to reply, she sashays across the studio floor toward me, with the sound of her clicking boots against the floor echoing through the room.
“Ready?” she asks.
“Eh, yeah, I thi—” I don’t get time to respond as the sound system loudly fires up, making me jump as the first beat of “Naughty Girl” by Beyoncé booms through the room.
I’m about to ask Eden what’s going on, but she starts dancing in time to the music. Swaying back and forth, she seductively rolls her hips and rolls her body in time to the Middle Eastern style song.
I can barely breathe as I watch her delectable body move in immoral ways.
Shifting her weight from side to side with intention, she shimmies to every beat of the music, moving closer toward me before standing before my feet, swishing her incredible hips back and forth. Frozen solid to the chair, I can’t take my eyes off her.
What’s happening?
Rolling her body from head to toe directly in front of me, she crouches down, with hands on her knees, feet on the floor, she splays her legs wide with her hands. My eyes zone in between her legs and all I can see is the outline of her lower lips, clothed in a slither of black wet look fabric.
Fuck.
Me.
I then get a perfect view of her toned thighs covered by lace thigh-high holdup stockings. I groan.
Gliding her hands up her thighs, she snakes her hips side to side to a standing position as she moves in time to the breathless vocals.
Brain fog hits me hard, my head now stuffed full of cotton wool.
When the song hits the chorus, she runs her hands up my thighs, then suddenly hops onto my lap and straddles me with her curvaceous body. I feel my cock leap with joy as I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding and gulp for fresh air.
Christ, it’s gotten really hot in here suddenly.
Grinding her pelvis into me, she rolls her head back in a circle, grabs the chest of her shirt, and rips it open, like she’s fucking Superwoman, catapulting buttons everywhere.
My eyes bug out as she exposes her splendid breasts, covered in a matching strappy black bra top that does nothing to hide her deep cleavage and full breasts.
Rolling her shoulders, torso, and hips simultaneously, she skims her hands from her hips up her waist, over her breasts and neck, then interlaces her fingers into her hair, wildly whipping her head, all the while moving back and forth across my now rock-hard cock.
Instinctively, I raise my hand to touch her as electricity runs through me like a bullet train.
“Ah, ah, ah, no touching,” she purrs, rolling her obscene hips into my aching hard crotch.
She slides backward off my lap and dances off toward the poles. I watch her ass and hips swish back and forth in her barely there black hot pants. Her firm toned butt cheeks spill out everywhere as she bounces and moves across the dance floor, twisting and turning as she goes.
As if by magic, she jumps onto one of the poles and starts wrapping her legs and body around it, spinning as she moves from one move to the next.
My eyes bore into her as she slithers and curls around the pole, legs curling one way and then the other.
Without warning, she lowers her feet to the floor, walks around the pole, jumps into it, hugs it tight, turns herself upside down, then draws an air arch with her legs, executing the perfect pair of splits while suspended in the air.
Dear Universe, please forgive me for all the truly dirty thoughts I’m having.
Eden slowly glides down the pool, turns on her front, and begins crawling back toward me on her hands and knees.
Midway, she pumps her shoulders and ass in a pounding motion in rhythm to the music.
Magnetic eyes locked on me, she prowls, lithe as a lioness, forward, like she’s hunting her prey.
Her tits jiggle and spill out of her top with honey hair swishing over her shoulders to the floor in waves.
My heartbeat shoots through the roof as she arrives at my feet. I’m not sure how I’m still alive at this point. I think a mild heart attack is on the horizon.
Running her hands up my shins, she grabs my knees, then slowly leans back on her heels and weaves her way upward, slinking her hips in a figure eight motion till she’s at full height.
A strangled moan leaves my throat as I stare transfixed by her seemingly effortless movements.
I don’t think I can take anymore. But she continues torturing me as she starts to belly dance, swooshing and twisting her hips in slow fluid waves. Her aqua belly ring glints in the light as she hypnotizes me with her lascivious hips, tilting her shoulders one way, her hips another.
Arms stretched out in front, she hooks her hands on to my shoulders and thrusts herself back onto my lap, straddling me again.
My heart hammers in my ears as she slides her hands up my neck, leans in, licks my neck with her delectable mouth, all the way up to my ear, and lightly bites my lobe. I’m a goner.
Goosebumps of desire cover my entire body as she triggers all my sinful thoughts of what I want to do to her. “I’m so glad you could help me tonight, Hunter,” she whispers in my ear in her gentle Scottish accent that lights my soul.
I try to clench my eyes shut and shake my head to clear this fog that’s taken over my brain, but my body has a mind of its own and they shoot back open.
Without warning, she takes one leg, arches it high in the air off my lap, pivots her foot that’s planted firmly on the ground, and pushes herself away, just as the music fades out, and she starts walking, wiggling her hips back in the office's direction.
She disappears into the office and the door closes. I’m then left sitting by myself in the middle of the studio with a furrowed brow, completely puzzled.
Eh, mmmmm. What. The. Hell?
The studio door behind me opens with a whoosh and I spin around in my chair in a panic, wondering if something else is about to happen, only to find Ella drifting through the doorway.
“Hey, Hunter. You alright? What are you doing here?” She frowns.
“Gee, well, I’m not sure,” I say, flustered, and try to cover my hands over my crotch.
Ella ambles toward me with a tilted head. “Are you feeling okay?” She palms her hand to my forehead as soon as she’s beside me. “Yikes. I think you have a temperature. You feel really hot. You should go home and lie down or have a cold shower. That might help,” she says with a poker face.
I lean forward, figuring it will be the only way to cover up my throbbing erection. “Yeah, I think I should do that. Can you just give me a second? I’ll just sit for a couple of minutes. You know I feel light-headed.” I rub my temples.
“Sure, yeah, but we have a class in ten minutes. The students will be here soon; you may not want to hang around.”
I scratch my head, trying to think of my job, golf swings, the weather, anything to help my cock go down.
A click from the office door turns both our heads toward the sound. Eden, the she-devil that she is, smiles a full-on provocative smile, now dressed in purple leggings and an off-the-shoulder white tee shirt. “Hunter, you don’t look so good; are you okay?” Teetering behind her is Eva. Christ, was Eva in the office the whole time?
“I’m fine,” I say through gritted teeth.
“You sure? You look a little flushed,” Eden says coyly.
“He’s boiling, feel his forehead. I think he’s got a temperature. I suggested a cold shower; that always helps. Don’t you agree, Eva?” Ella says.
Is this some sort of a test?
“Good idea. You should rest too. You don’t want anything raising your temperature more now, do we Hunter? Stress can do that to you. Have you been training hard this week, Hunter? Adrenaline can also cause your temperature to rise too.” Eva says, and I detect a sarcastic tone in her voice. They are all loving this.
“Did you know, if your heartbeat rises, it stimulates your temperature too? You should be careful, Hunter. You don’t want anything raising your heartbeat or blood pressure either,” Eden retorts, unblinking.
What is going on here?
Ella turns to Eden. “You look nice today. But I thought you were wearing all black and a white shirt earlier?”
“Nope, I’ve been wearing this all day.” Eden firmly locks eyes with me and winks.
Fucking vixen.
New voices enter the studio.
“Here comes our students. You had better go. You okay to stand?” Eden asks me, like she would ask a child as she tilts her head.
“Yes,” I grit out.
“Great, I have a few things I need to ask you, you know feedback-wise? I’ll text you later. Have a great night, although your night may have peaked already.” The corners of her mouth curl upward, flashing a smile of innocence.
Finally able to stand, I lean down toward Eden, but she doesn’t give me the chance to say anything.
“You can go now. Thanks.”
And just like that, I’m dismissed.
You are in so much trouble, Cupcake.
She bats her lashes back at me. “I’ll text you later.” She turns her back on me and starts addressing the room with a loud clap, as if I’m not here. “Evening all. Okay, let’s get started early tonight ’cause Eden has stuff to do after class.”
With a deep frown, I glance back over my shoulder. Did I imagine what just happened? I look around, searching for answers. Shake my head in bewilderment. Nope, it really happened.
As I push the heavy door open to leave, I come face-to-face with Luke, who’s leaning against Ella’s black Fiat 500 with a grin wider than the Grand Canyon. “Oh, man, you are so fucked.”
“What the hell, man, did you know about this?”
“Nope. I still don’t really know what those girls are up to. All I know is you were getting your own private pole show this evening.”
I pull the back of my neck.
She well and truly got me.
Luke’s right, I’m fucked.
* * *
Sitting outside, enjoying the fresh Scottish evening air, I lean back against the bench outside my log cabin and take a long drink of my cold beer. I need it to refresh my brain. It was fizzing when I returned from the studio.
I’m so ill-equipped to deal with Eden’s transformation from Virgin Mary to enchanting urban sex goddess, and it’s taken almost an hour to reorganize my thoughts and for my cock to settle down.
All I wanted to do was reach out and touch her. Make her mine and never let her go. But I don’t think she wants that. I think she’s punishing me for all the things I said the other night. It’s payback I reckon.
A soft ding brings me out of my fumbled thoughts, indicating a new text message. I’m hoping it’s Eden. Although this could be yet another ruse.
A quick look at my phone screen confirms it’s her.
Here we go.
Eden:Thank you so much for taking part in my research tonight. I just have a few questions to ask. Are you free now to answer via text?
Me:What are you up to, Cupcake?
Eden: I am not *up to* anything; this is for research purposes only.
Me:OK, what do you want to know?
Eden:On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being strongly dissatisfied and 10 being highly satisfied, how would you rate the quality of my performance this evening?
Me:10.
Eden:That is high, thank you. Next question.
Eden:Thinking about the routine itself, do you think it needs more or less pole routine?
Me:Less pole.
Eden:And can I ask what you suggest putting in its place?
Me:More lap dancing.
Eden:This is great feedback; you have no idea how grateful I am for your time, Mr. King.
Me:What are you doing, Eden?
Eden:Patience, Hunter, patience.
Eden:On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being very low and 10 being very high, how likely would you come back for a second showing?
Me:10.
Eden:Brilliant, you must have really enjoyed the routine then. Next question.
Eden:How fast did your heart beat in your chest when I was dancing? Again, with 1 being very low and 10 being very high.
Me:100.
Eden:Yikes, that is high, next question.
Eden:How much did I turn you on? With 1 being not at all and 10 being super high.
Me:10 multiplied by 20.
Eden:That’s a lot, next question.
Eden:How hard were you as I thrust myself against you? With 1 being soft and 10 being rock hard.
Me:10 multiplied by 100.
Eden:Gosh, these stats are going up and up, next question.
Me:It was really up.
Eden:Shush now, stop distracting me.
Eden:Do you think I should test my routine on other guys to gather more research?
Me:HELL TO THE NO.
Eden:That’s quite a strong, firm no, noted, next question.
Eden: So not appropriate to have asked my dad like you suggested?
Me: Definitely not!
Eden: I agree. Next question.
Eden:Do we have an undeniable connection? Answer Yes or No.
Me:Yes.
Eden:Is the attraction toward me so strong you find it difficult to stay away? Answer Yes or No.
Me:Yes.
Eden:Has sex with me ever felt like it does with anyone else? Answer Yes or No.
Me:Yes.
Eden:What?
Me:I’m only joking, the sex with you is mind-blowing.
Eden:Phew, you had me worried there, next question.
Eden:Reservations aside, do you want to be with me? Answer Yes or No.
Me:Yes.
Eden:My heart just did a funny flippy thing, that’s pure barry
Me:Mine too, what the hell is pure barry?
Eden: Ah, it means that’s utterly wonderful and fantastic.
Eden:Next question.
Eden:Do you think you are feeling things for me in a way that scares you? Answer Yes or No.
Me:Yes.
Eden:I thought so - well Ella and Eva did.
Me:Are they both in on this too?
Eden:Maybe, next question.
Eden:If I tell you, even though I have only known you for a brief time, that I’m *falling* for you, would you say that you are *falling* for me too? Answer Yes or No.
Me:Yes.
Eden:The girls were correct, and that scares you?
Me:Yes.
Eden:Me too.
Eden:But…
Eden:I have a proposal on the *us* thing, would you be willing to hear it? Answer Yes or No.
Me:Yes.
Eden:A wise woman (my mum) once told me (just today) that you don’t have to see the entire road map; you just need to get to one junction, then the next and then the next. Meaning we don’t have to have it all figured out, but if we don’t try to take this beautiful journey together, we may live to regret it for the rest of our lives. Just like Ella does with Fraser. Imagine, if we do drive through all the curves and ups and downs together, we could be each other’s ultimate destination. Would you be willing to take one junction at a time with me? Answer Yes or No.
Eden:You’re making me nervous by keeping me waiting.
Eden:Maybe you need a little time to think it over.
Eden:Did I lose you?
Eden:Bum.
Eden:OK, it was worth a shot.