glass in the air.
“A very good thing,” a male voice said from the doorway.
Martina’s breath caught at the sight of a tall, olive-skinned man. His dark hair was shaggy, his gait confident. Another man stood just behind him, half of his body covered by the immense size of the exotic looking hottie.
“What are you doing here, Aleks? Don’t you and my brother have your own home?”
Martina looked at Carrie. Brother?
“Yes, we do. But our home doesn’t have scantily clad drunken women.”
“We aren’t drunk,” Carrie spit back.
“Speak for yourself.” Amie took another swig from her glass.
The grinning male, Aleks, entered further, leaving the second man in the doorway. He was blond and built, thick in all the right places. Just as attractive as the dark-haired man but in an Abercrombie and Fitch type of way. Despite the overt sexuality of the first man Martina was more interested in his quiet friend. But there was something wrong, he looked haggard.
“Who’s the new girl?” Aleks cut in on the conversation.
“Always the gentleman.” Carrie motioned toward Martina. “Aleks, this is Martina Jackson. Martina this is Aleks Turko and my brother Rob.”
“Martina works with me down at Lotus,” Amie added. “She agreed to be Carrie’s model.”
Martina shook her head in earnest. “Just for tonight. I’m not a real model.”
“Could have fooled me.” Aleks’s gaze remained glued to her body. In fact, she felt the stare of both men as their eyes raked over her skin.
At that moment Martina realized just how naked she was standing in the middle of the room on a carpet-covered pedestal.
“Carrie, do you have a blanket or something?”
“Sure, sweetie.” Carrie grabbed a chocolate brown fleece blanket from the back of the couch.
“Do you teach yoga like our Amie?” Why Aleks was so interested confused her. She was never one to garner the attention of men.
“Yes, and I practice reflexology and aromatherapy.”
“I knew it smelled good in here.” His smirk tickled her insides. The sexual energy radiating off this man was palpable. “So ladies, what are we gossiping about?”
“Nothing you’d be interested in, Turko.” Amie stood, staring at him with a less than amused look on her face.
“Oh, really?”
By the look on Aleks’s mischievous face, Martina couldn’t help but wonder if the men had overheard their conversation.
Aleks seemed the more talkative of the two, but Rob communicated with his eyes. They were fixed right on her.
Goose bumps made their way across her skin. His eyes heated up something inside her, something she thought died a long time ago. Good thing she now had a blanket to cover the evidence.
Carrie took a seat on the coffee-colored couch. Aleks was quick to join her. Martina saw the sparks flying between them despite Aleks’s cool-guy demeanor. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, his free hand messing up her dark strands.
“Aleks! Stop!”
“What are we drinking? It’s making your lips blue, Care Bear.” He ripped the glass out of her hand and took a long swig. His distaste was evident in the sour look on his face. “How do you girls drink this stuff? More importantly, how are you drinking this, Care?”
“It’s not that bad, and no one offered you any.” She stole the glass back.
“This is a girls’ night, Aleks. Time to go. You too, Rob. Out!” Amie hauled Aleks off the couch and herded him toward the entryway.
They were all easy and comfortable with each other. Martina had forgotten what it was like to be close to people.
“What do you think, Rob? What kind of secret girly things are they going to be doing?”
“I don’t know, but I’m definitely interested,” Rob replied. His brown eyes locked with hers.
“Out!” Carrie and Amie yelled in unison.
“Don’t worry. We aren’t staying. Aleks has a hot night planned with a lady who is yet to be determined…” Rob explained.
Martina felt the slump of Carrie’s shoulders from five feet away.
“…and I just need to find some of my meds and I’m going home.”
“I think Mom put them in the bathroom cabinet in the basement.”
“You mean you put them in the bathroom downstairs to make more room for yourself.”
“Either way. They’re downstairs.” She waved him off.
He looked a little sick. Martina always felt a connection to sick people.
“Good night, ladies. Martina–” Aleks eyed her from head to toe. “It was a pleasure. I hope we’ll see you again. Feel free to wear that anytime you visit.” Before turning, he took one last look at Carrie. “Nice work, Care Bear.”
Martina watched Carrie on the couch. Aleks’s interest in her seemed to hurt Carrie deeply. She felt guilty about drawing attention to herself.
Martina had never been the center of attention before, so she was a little taken aback by the obvious stares.
“Now. Where were we?” Amie picked up the various liquor bottles and made a new batch of blue drinks.
“I think I’ve had enough, Amie.” Martina swayed on her feet and after the gut reaction she just had to a stranger she didn’t think more alcohol would be the best idea.
“I’m sure Carrie wouldn’t mind you crashing in the basement so you don’t have to drive home.”
It took a second for Carrie to regroup. “That’s a great idea.” She flew off the couch. “My parents are away for the weekend. Now you don’t have any excuses.” Picking up her needle and extra thread she headed over to the pedestal. “Take that blanket away. We’re almost done, and then you can change.”
“All right.” Martina had been defeated. “Fill up my glass.” She was having too much fun to argue.
Martina needed to kick-start her life. What better way than finding a man to fulfill her sexual needs. Four years of celibacy was taking its toll. She was pathetic. A loser. A virgin again for all intents and purposes. To get her life back on track all she had to do was find a man and convince him to take her on the journey of a lifetime.
Chapter 4
Rob rummaged through the bathroom cabinet searching for his prescription
