by Alexa Riley
He lets out a whistle. “I’ve seen those girls' outfits. Doesn't leave much to the imagination.”
I shake my head, smiling. I already know where this is going. “They aren't that bad.”
“If you’re going to do that, you might as well work here. You could make triple the money.”
“Thanks for the offer, but I’m good.”
“Come on. A girl like you would bring in a whole different crowd.”
I try not to cringe because I'm sure he’s talking about men who like thick girls. Chubby chasers? I hate the labels.
“She needs to lose a little weight first, but I could never get her to diet.” I turn my head to see my mom standing there. She towers over me in her heels, and not for the first time I wonder how we're related. I’m short, she’s tall; I’m thick, and she’s a rail. I could do this all day.
“Don’t be a bitch, Tina.” Lawrence stands up for me, but her comments just roll off my back. It’s been years of just ignoring them.
“What? I’m being helpful. I’m her mother, I should tell her these things.” She purses her lips.
“I’m not taking my clothes off for money.”
Liar, my mind sneers. I pull the money out and hand it to my mom. She snatches it from me quickly, and Lawrence shakes his head.
“Don’t come in here on your high horse. My stripping kept a roof over your head for years.”
How do either of them not see how weird it is for a mother and daughter to work at the same strip club? Though she doesn't look like my mom, she’s still pretty even though she used to be gorgeous. Too many years of using drugs and the one resource she uses to make money is drying up.
“I need to get back to work.” She pulls me in for an awkward hug before she walks off without a goodbye.
“You gotta stop coming here,” Lawrence says.
“I know,” I sigh.
“See you later, kid.”
I smile before going back outside to the waiting car. I haven't even started my shift, and I’m already tired. I don’t know how she does it, but she can drain the energy right out of me.
By the time I make it to the casino, I’ve pushed all thoughts of her away. I have my own stuff to worry about, and I’ve still got to meet with Neil. I have a bad feeling about this. I knew the look in his eyes because I’ve seen it in some of my mom's boyfriends.
I head to my locker and take my coat off before changing into my heels. My calves burn from the workout I did earlier. It wasn’t much, but it almost killed me. I know Rogue told me not to, but for some reason that made me want to do it even more. There I go playing with danger.
My mood starts to change thinking about him, and I wonder when he’ll get here. Will it be later in my shift, or could he want to see me so badly that he’s here first thing? I’m still surprised he tracked me down and it wasn't for the money. It should’ve bothered me that he came to my home, but it hadn’t. All I felt was excitement and a thrill. God, maybe my mother and I have something in common after all.
I don’t know what this is I feel for Rogue, but I want to find out. What if he asks me to go home with him tonight? Why not? I never do anything like this, and I can have one wild night to see where this goes. Right?
Neil calls my name, breaking me from my wonderful thoughts, and my stomach drops. I turn around to see him standing in the doorway of his office. “Change of plans. Come see me after your shift.”
Before I can tell him I have plans, he’s already shutting his office door. Gah. I hate that man.
Chapter Eight
Rogue
I roll the chip over my knuckles back and forth while I wait. I don’t like waiting, but I seem to be doing a lot of that for Ember. She’s worth it, my mind whispers, and I can’t disagree.
Finally, the doors to the poker room open, and she walks in, carrying her drink tray and wearing that same goddamn uniform as last night. Only this time she’s got on the corset with a different black skirt. This one is fluffy like a tutu and her fishnets have been swapped for garters. Her skirt is so short I can see where the tights clasp to the garters and the little pink bows on the back of them make me drop my poker chip.
“Fuck.”
Her eyes widen in surprise, not at me but at the empty room. “What did you do?”
I stand up and walk toward her to where she’s rooted to the spot. “I called to book a private room again, and your manager told me they were all booked.”
“I bet he did.” When she smiles, her rosy cheeks are rounder, and it makes her look so fucking innocent. “So the next step was to…?”
“Buy out the poker room.” I shrug like it’s not a big deal when in fact the manager had thrown a tantrum when I went over his head.
“Rogue, there must be twenty tables in here.”
“Thirty-five.”
“I don’t even want to know how much that cost.” She looks around the room and then back to me. “So you’re the only one in here tonight?”
I nod over to the dealers by the bar talking to one another. “They come with the room, as do you.”
“There are rules about what I can do while I’m on duty.” Her eyes roam over my suit, and I smooth my tie down, hoping she likes what she sees.
“I spent a good hour being briefed on that.”
“Tell me what you’ve learned.” She walks past me, and I turn to look at her big beautiful ass making that tutu wiggle.
“You’re allowed breaks to sit down and rest.” She nods as she peeks over her shoulder. “You aren’t allowed to gamble or drink.” She nods again as she goes over to where I was sitting. “You’re not allowed to touch me.”
“Bingo.” She winks as she places her tray on the poker table and turns to face me. “So you’ve rented out this whole room to have me all to yourself, and you can’t lay a finger on me.” She nibbles on her lip. “Are you disappointed?”
“Yes.” Her brows draw together as I shove my hands in my pockets. “I don’t like being told what I can and can’t do. Especially when it comes to something I want.”
“What on earth are you going to do in here all night?” She looks around and then laughs. “I’ve never seen this room empty before.”
“Spend time with you.” That answer seems to surprise her. “Talk to you.” My eyes slowly go up and down her body. “Look at you.”
“I’m glad I dressed for the occasion.”
“You dressed like this because you knew I’d see you.” She doesn’t deny it as she looks away. “You knew I’d like it.”
“I hoped you would.” She trails a finger over the back of the seat as she circles the table closer to me. “I haven’t stopped thinking about you.”
“Yet you refused to take the night off to be with me.” I try not to sound angry at her refusal, but I can’t.
“Sorry, I can’t lose this job. What if you get a little taste of me and then decide you don’t want it? The stakes are too high for that kind of gamble.”
“You don’t know me, but you’ll soon find out I’m not easily dissuaded.”
“Do you think part of your desire is because you can’t have me?” She’s so damn close I can smell roses again. “You want me because you can’t have me.”
I match her steps until her ass hits the table behind her. “Make no mistake, Ember, I’ll have you.”
She swallows hard as I hold my hand up next to her face. I’m so close to just brushing my fingers along her jaw, but I let it drop and take a step back. My heart is racing and all the blood in my body has pooled in my dick, but I force myself to take a breath and put distance between us.
I’ve never been so affected by anything before and the sight of her is my undoing. Then she looks at me with those big brown eyes, and I want to fall to my knees and worship her.
Can’t have her? I will fucking own her.
“Why don’t we start with a drink?” I offer.
She takes a second to straighten up and take a breath. She presses a hand to her stomach and nods like she’s ps
yching herself up.
“Scotch?” I shake my head and she smiles.
“Water. You got me in trouble last time.”
“Are you hungry?” She pours my water and grabs a menu.
I let my eyes move over her and greedily take in every inch. “Starving,” I sigh and then sit down at the table. “But I’ll have to wait.” She sets my water in front of me and then I point to the empty seat. “Sit.”
“It’s not my break time yet.” She glances up at one of the many, many cameras. “We’ve got eyes on us.”
I motion to one of the dealers on the other side of the room and he lights up the countdown clock on the wall.
“You get fifteen for every hour on the floor. Your shift started an hour ago.”
She laughs as she takes a seat in the chair directly in front of me. She crosses her legs, and I stare at them for a moment before I shake my head.
Her cheeks flush as she uncrosses them but keeps her knees tightly together. For now.
“Do you gamble?” I nod to the table and she shakes her head.
“No, I’ve seen it destroy too many lives. I’ve never played a chip in my life.”
“Good girl.”
Her cheeks flush again and she looks away. “Do you drink?”
“No, and for the same reason. No drugs either.”
“Are your legs sore?”
The question surprises her. “Why do you ask?”
“Is that a yes?”
“That’s a maybe.”
“You kept switching feet when you were standing and now while you’re sitting you keep rolling your feet like you’re trying to stretch your calves.”
“I may have gotten a little overzealous at the gym today.”
My jaw tics as I wipe away the water droplets on my glass. “I thought I told you not to go.”
“You’re bossy.” She’s teasing, but I don’t smile.
“You’re perfect.” She drops her eyes and tries to hide her smile, but I lean forward to get her attention. “Why change something that’s flawless?”
“I have plenty of flaws.” I can hear the deeper meaning in her words, and it’s my turn to shake my head.
“Maybe your one flaw is that you don’t see yourself clearly.” I lean back and stare at her legs and wish I could trace the edge of her garter belt. The elastic is pulled tight on top, and I wonder how it would feel against my tongue.
“You don’t even know me,” she whispers, like she can’t believe she’s admitting it.
“I know all I need to.” I lick my lips and take a drink of my water. “Stop fighting me.”
She looks away for a second as if making a decision, and then I see her knees spread just a little.
“Good girl.”
“You’re a lawyer,” she throws out, and I nod.
“How’d you figure that out?”
“I asked around.” She shrugs like it’s not a big deal, and I feel one corner of my mouth turn up.
“Find out anything good?”
Her knees widen just a bit more, and the way she’s sitting next to the table, it would be hard for a camera to pick up.
“You’re rich.”
“You knew that.”
“You’re single.”
“True.”
She smiles like this is a fun game to her. “You don’t like to gamble.”
“True again.”
“You’re friends with some people high up in this casino.”
I lean forward on my elbows and her knees part even farther this time. “How else do you think I got this room all to myself?” I reach out to touch her but clench my fists to stop myself. If anyone sees me lay a finger on her, I’m out. John made it clear he couldn’t do anything to stop them if that happened. “How else do I know so much about you?”
“You like to look at me,” she counters, and I nod.
“You like to tease.” My voice is low as she spreads her legs, and her skirt inches up so high I can see the pale pink of her panties. “Fuck.”
“True,” she whispers back to me, and I look up to her eyes.
Just then the timer chimes, and she pops out of her seat.
I curse as I lean back in my chair and drink my water just so I can crunch the ice instead of my jaw.
She fans herself like she’s sweating as she takes a few steps away from me. I know the distance is what we need, but damn, do I hate it. I would lay her out on this table and fuck her in front of the whole goddamn casino if I got my hands on her right now, so maybe it’s good that I have to be on my best behavior.
We spend the next six hours playing this game. When she’s on her feet she walks around and tells me about herself. She wants to go to cosmetology school and do hair, and she wants a golden retriever. She tells me all about her favorite movies and music, and I encourage her to keep talking. I roll chips across my knuckles as she tells me all these perfect details I commit to memory, but when the clock chimes, she’s mine.
She takes her seat, spreads her legs, and then it’s her turn to ask the questions. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t tell her while I stare at the wet spot on her panties. It’s gotten wetter and wetter the longer we’ve been doing this.
When the clock chimes for the final time, it means her shift is over. I stand up and push my stack of chips to the dealers, who have thankfully given us as much privacy as possible on the opposite side of the room all night.
“Thanks, guys, that’s all for you. I appreciate it.” They thank me as they exit the poker room and then I look at Ember. “I’ll meet you out front in ten minutes.” I want to lean in and kiss her, but we’re at the finish line now. “Don’t make me wait a second longer.”
“I’ll be as quick as I can.” She smiles as she hurries from the room.
We’re almost there.
Chapter Nine
Ember
I debate swapping my heels off for my flats, but these are four times hotter. And hopefully I won’t be wearing them much longer. My skin feels tight and hot and my whole body is humming. I don’t know what he’s done to me but he’s going to fix it. How could sitting and talking to someone for hours turn you on so much that you think you’re losing your mind?
I grab my purse and my coat out of my locker, but my stomach drops when I hear my name.
“Ember.”
“Shit.” I’d totally forgotten about Neil.
I look over to see him staring at my ass, and irritation hits me. This outfit isn't for him, but he sure is enjoying it whether I want him to or not.
“I don’t have all day.” He taps his fake Rolex, and I slam my locker closed.
I’m ready to get this over with and be done. I don’t want to keep Rogue waiting. Or maybe I do. What would he do if I took my sweet time? I’m sure he’ll do something that will both piss me off and turn me on.
I walk toward Neil’s office, and he’s standing in the open doorway. He motions for me to enter but doesn't move, so I’m forced to brush up against him to get by. He grabs a piece of my hair and gives it a small tug. I go to smack his hand away, but he’s already dropped it. He closes the office door, and I take a seat in one of the chairs in front of his desk.
I don’t get how I can be in trouble. I haven’t broken any rules, and I should get a goddamn medal after tonight. Rogue too because I baited him all night. I loved the irritated, pissed-off look he got when he couldn't touch me. A few times he almost broke when he reached out but somehow managed to stop himself. At times he was so close I could feel his warmth on my skin.
I get an uneasy feeling when Neil closes the blinds to the window in his office. It faces where employees walk by to get to the casino floor or their lockers.
“I have to meet my ride.”
Neil turns the lock on the door, and I spring to my feet like a fire has been lit. He turns around and leers at my body before zeroing in on my chest. I know what I’m wearing is provocative, but it’s our uniform, and for fuck’s sake, he doesn’t have to be a creep abou
t it. In some weird way I feel violated.
“I can take you home,” he offers.
I’d have to be dead in his trunk for that to ever happen. “No, I have a ride.”
“Sit,” he orders me.
“I can’t. My ride is waiting for me, so if we can move this along…” I push. I’ll never get why all the girls around here have a crush on him.
“You got a mouth on you for someone that’s already on thin ice.” I suck in a breath so I don’t lay into him and really lose my job.
“I’m sorry, but did I do something wrong? I wasn't aware I was on thin ice.”
“Don’t play coy. You’re not the brightest, but you’re also not that dumb.”
Ouch. That stings a lot more than it should coming from him.
“You're on probation for ninety days after you’re hired. We can let you go at any time for any reason.” He takes a step closer to me. It takes everything in me not to take one back. I’m not going to let him know he’s scaring the crap out of me. “Now sit down.” He points to the chair.
My eyes flick to the door, but he’s still in the way. If I scream, someone will hear me, but he grabs my arm before I can do anything. He jerks me to him, and I stumble forward.
“You didn't have to throw yourself at me. I was going to give it to you.” He presses himself against me, and I can feel his cock against my stomach.
“Stop.” He keeps moving and pushing me backwards until I feel the desk against my ass.
“Do you like putting up a fight? Is that what gets you off? I'm down.” He tries to press me down onto the desk, so I put my hands on his chest and shove as hard as I can. He stumbles back and lands in the chair while I make a dash for the door.
I turn the lock and start to open it, but he slams it shut and pins me between his body and the door.
“Let me go,” I grit out, and he moves his mouth closer.
“You’re just a teasing cunt, aren't you? Fine, you’re fired.”
I knew that was coming and after this, I had no plans on coming back.
“Move.” I try to push back, but he’s stronger than me.