I look back as Madison drags me to the dance floor and expect to see Memphis looking at everyone, watching all the women dressed beautifully in couture, practically see-through clothing and expensive jewelry, but he’s not. He’s staring at me.

“This is DJ Drunken Monkey in the house! Let me hear you say ‘Whoa-oh.’ ” He waits for the crowd to respond and they do. “Say ‘Whoa-oh,’ ” he says again, and it continues until “Pretty Girls” by Iggy and Britney starts to play.

Mads and I start to dance and sing along. Mads sings Iggy’s part, and I get Britney’s.

The floor is packed as we dance, bodies rubbing up from behind us as the music takes control. It’s the only time I feel free, no inhibitions, so I go with it.

“One Hot Mess” by Malea starts, and now it’s not just bodies pressed tightly, there are hands on my hips and a little grinding. Mads has a guy behind her, too.

I look back, expecting to see Memphis, but I don’t. It’s a Ricky Martin look alike with amazing moves. I look at Mads and put my palms up and shrug,

With my hands in the air and Ricky’s on my waist, I tip my head up and see the very angry eyes of Memphis Black from the second level, getting a bird’s eye view of the dance floor.

“Mads!” I yell over the noise and point up. “Your brother is angry.”

She looks up. “Where?”

I laugh. “He was right up there.”

“Fuck him, Tales. It’s me and you, dancing.” She hands me a blue drink she took off the cocktail waitress’ tray. “Bottoms up.”

We slam down the drinks. They don’t taste like alcohol; they taste like Kool-Aid.

I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn to see Memphis standing behind me.

He looks at the Ricky Martin look alike. “That’s mine.” He slams back his drink and shoves the glass into the guy’s hand. “Take that up for me.”

Whoa, what was that? I think to myself.

“You looking for a fight? ’Cause you’ve got one,” Ricky snaps.

Finn steps between them. “Walk, man, while you can.”

Memphis looks at me. “If we’re gonna be playing around for the next couple of days, it’s one on one, you feel me?”

“I was just dancing.” I blush and look to see if Mads is watching this. She’s not; she’s dancing with River and Billy.

“That wasn’t dancing, Tallia. That was fucking foreplay,” he says, stepping into my space as “Teacher” by Nick Jonas starts. He then takes my hands and puts them on his hips. “Your little hands go here, not on his, feel me?”

I nod as he places his hands over mine and drags them up under his shirt as his hips start swaying to the music.

As Nick’s voice booms “Oh my, oh my, oh my God” over the speakers, Memphis’s hips circle while he moves down slowly until he is hip level with my hands on his shoulders. I close my eyes and start swaying as his hands run up the back of my thighs and stop right below my butt. Then he lifts the hem of my tank top with his nose and runs it across my stomach before I feel his tongue against my skin.

My knees weaken, and I clutch his incredibly strong shoulders while he continues to lick, kiss, and graze his teeth across my now exposed flesh. He senses it and places a kiss on my hip as he slowly kisses up my side and then turns me so my back is against his body. He takes my hands in his and runs them up my body as he sings, “So let me teach ya,” in my ear, sending chills all over my body.

My hands now rub up my front and over my chest, and he groans in my ear.

“So let me teach ya,” he sings again, my hands now behind his neck.

“Hold tight; don’t let go,” he commands against my neck. “Rock with me.”

He sways, and I follow his lead as his hands grip my hips and pull me toward his hard body. And his body is hard everywhere.

“Feel what you do to me?” I say in her ear. I am in a club with hundreds of people around and hard as steel. “Fuck, Tales, you can move.”

While her body presses more tightly to mine, I see her chest rising quickly up and down.

“So sexy, Tallia. Fucking heartbreaker.” I know she is. I feel it deep.

“Me?” She looks up at me like I’m nuts, flashing me those eyes. They look like that place with the witch, the dog, the lion, and the scarecrow. Aw, fuck, what’s it called? The John Lennon song’s one. “Good-bye, Yellow Brick Road”?

Move back to those fucking eyes. Fuck!

“You make me insane. Those emerald eyes, that tight body, those lips, and don’t even get me started on POW!” I say, turning her back to me.

“Pow?”

“Your ass, Tales, it’s like POW!”

She blushes, giggles, and shakes her head. “You’re crazy.”

“Crazy in lust over you,” I tell her, and I’m not kidding. “Tonight’s the night, Tales. I’m going to show you what it’s like to be rocked.”

Once she swallows hard and gives a slight nod, I look up and see the boys surrounding Madison. She is laughing, and so are they. When Finn looks at me, I mouth, “Cover me,” and he nods, stepping in front of Madison’s view.

I run my hand up Tally’s back and she squirms. I love it. I grip the back of her neck gently enough but also letting her know who is in control. Then I use my other hand to lift her chin, and her eyes roll slightly and close.

I lick my lips at the same time she licks hers before pressing my lips and swiping my tongue against hers. She opens to me, and I slowly stroke my tongue along hers, unable to hold back the urgent growl rising in my throat.

My hand leaves her face, grabbing her ass and pulling her body to mine. She takes in a quick breath as I roll my hips against hers, showing her exactly what I was talking about, showing her what she does to me. When I lick inside of her mouth again, I am that little blonde chick, and this porridge is just fucking right: clean, sweet, fucking mine.

I open my eyes to find she has hers open. Emerald City, that’s what they are.

“Fuck, Tales. You taste like fucking more. I want more.” My lips crash against hers, and she meets me with just as much urgency, her tongue coming out to play. How she strokes my tongue is hot and sweet.

I bring my hands to the side of her face, tilting her head so I can get in farther. My tongue needs control—I need control—so I take it.

Breathless, I eventually pull back while she leans into me, wanting more.

“Damn, Tallia.”

She opens up Emerald City, her chest rising and falling, nipples hard as hell. She is trying hard to control her breathing, looking confused.

“Talk to me, Tales,” I say, knowing she can’t.

“I-I—”

I take her hand and pull her behind me, walking by Madison and the boys.

“Tales needs a break. We’ll be upstairs.”

“You okay?” Madison yells to her over the crowd.

“Stubbed my toe,” Tales responds.

I have to bite my cheek so I don’t laugh.

We get upstairs to a private box overlooking the dance floor, and I shut and lock the door behind me.

“Breaking all the rules, are you?” I smile a little as I turn to look at her.

“I lied. I know it’s wrong, but—”

“And you suck at it,” I say, taking her hand and leading her to the U-shaped couch.

“Do you think she knows?” she asks as she sits down and clasps her hands together on her lap.

“No,” I answer, grabbing two bottles of water. I open one and hand it to her. “You drunk?”

“No,” she says, looking at me like I’m crazy.

“I don’t want any excuses, Tales. When we do this, it’s us—you and me, sober.”

“Do this?” Her voice squeaks.

I look at her and try to push away the annoyance the question gives me.

“This happens tonight, you feel me?”

“This?”

“You and me, naked and sweaty. I have three more nights after tonight, and I am telling you right now, I need to get this out of my system. I want you so fucking badly, and I know damn well you want me, too.”