The Darker Side of Trey Grey by Tara Spears Read Free Book Online

sheepskin slippers at nine on a Saturday night. The sweet smell of chocolate lingered around him like cologne. 
    I didn’t understand how people could get emotional over someone they had just met. A crush, yes, completely based on appearance, lust, a primal want to fuck someone. But this? What Taylor was doing? Beyond my realm of comprehension.
    “It will be. Raincheck? Give me a few days though, okay?” I offered a small smile and he smiled back a bit unsure.  
    “Kay, a few days.” He sighed, his hand coming up towards my face before he let it fall away. “Where are you going?” His eyes narrowed as if he had just noticed what I was wearing.
    “Job interview. At a club,” I replied, and the dubious look magnified as he hugged himself. He didn’t believe me. Hell, I wouldn’t believe me either. “I’ve got to go. I don’t want to be late. I’ll find you in a few days.” I turned and headed to the door.
    “216. That’s my room number, 216...” he trailed off when I didn’t stop or look back. I did wave my hand over my shoulder— once.
    God, I could be such a bastard. It really was for his own good though. Sure, whatever makes you feel better, Trey. I wiped Taylor from my mind, not needing another reason to berate myself.   
      I was again thinking over my small triumphs as I pulled up to the club. A valet trotted over and opened my door. I looked up at the kid, not a kid, probably my age, with a new fear I never planned to have to face. No one had driven kitten since I had rebuilt her but me. My chest grew taut, and I started breathing too fast.
    “Sir, I’ll take care of her for you. No worries. We have a private lot and I’ll set the alarm,” he said in a kind tone. Could he see my fear? “She’s a beauty. I won’t let anyone else touch her. Just ask for Steven when you’re ready to leave.”
    He was reading my fear, and to a normal guy in love with his car he would have been convincing. I held up my hand, gesturing for a minute. Steven stepped back. I closed the door, laying my forehead on the steering wheel as I gulped air. I opened the garbage bag, I can do this too.
    I swung the door open and bolted out, almost running into the valet. I gazed at him, stuporous. I had planned to give him a warning to take care of her, but the only sound that came out was a pitiful growl. He palmed the ticket to me, and I turned and fled to the entrance without looking back. I heard her engine yowl and a shiver knifed between my shoulder blades. Someone was in my car. A stranger was driving kitten. I grabbed one of the posts holding the awning in order to keep my feet under me.
    I quickly became aware of people giving me odd looks as they passed, and when I glanced sideways I saw the peanut gallery staring at me curiously. They were all waiting for me to self-destruct, and I refused to give them the satisfaction as I forced myself to let go of the post. I might be a freak, but I preferred to keep that part of my personality private.
    Shaking my hair out of my eyes, I pulled the black and red card from my rear pocket. I flashed it to the big black man blocking the door, and he stepped aside with a flourish and a short nod.
    “Who the fuck is that?” a young woman shrilled.
    “I dunno... he looks like he could be a model, or maybe an up and coming rock star.”
    “He’s rolling on something, so... I’d say musician,” some guy in the waiting crowd answered.
    More speculations bounced through the throng of wannabes, tugging out a grin despite my recent near-meltdown. The confab outside disappeared as I stepped into Temptations, and my grin drooped.
    “Shit,” I muttered as I stopped. I wasn’t out of my element, but I was damn close. If there was one thing I was good at though, it was playing games.
    The club was roué, fashionable and raunchy all at once. From the level I was standing at, it had the appearance of a chandelier cascading in tiers. Wide black marble steps descended each level, and