Watch Me

by Shayla Black

  With a shaking hand, Shanna shoved the door open and entered the cool, air-conditioned space of Sneak Peek. At night, the club still had that golden shimmer. But instead of the homey warmth it conveyed during the day, a shimmering glow now illuminated the club. It sparkled and glittered like old Hollywood, except this classic glamour provided the backdrop for today’s beautiful people to have dazzling sex.

  Del and Alejandro had created a perfect ambiance.

  Just past the club’s front door, wall-to-wall bodies gyrated to a suggestive techno beat. Couples grinded, intimating sex vertically. In fact, one couple against the wall, shielded by the man’s long leather duster, probably was having sex. No one seemed to notice or care.

  The bar beyond was crowded with people drinking their liquid fortification. Several men crowded around a woman downing shots as if they were waiting for her to give one—or several—of them a sign that she was ready for more personal action.

  The whole place oozed sex.

  She so didn’t belong here. Sex had never been her thing. She’d had it, of course. A college boyfriend had been her first, but he hadn’t had much experience. Nor had he understood her dancing. They’d spent the relationship fighting because he assumed she was sleeping with her partner at the time, which she hadn’t been.

  A few years later, she’d had a one-night stand after a wedding. Stupid—and awful. Downright bad sex.

  Jonathan…utter disaster—right on the dance floor they’d practiced on for years. She’d clung to him out of desperation. He’d taken her body as if exorcising some demon. The whole episode had lasted less than ten minutes. And created twelve months of pure havoc.

  By tonight’s end, if she wasn’t careful, she would be adding Alejandro to her short list. She’d said she wouldn’t have sex with him. But she wondered… Would failing to let loose in a club like this rouse her blackmailer’s suspicion? Shanna couldn’t let this opportunity slip past her without making the most of it. She had to ferret out this jerk before the California Dance Star.

  But that wasn’t the only reason she contemplated surrendering to Alejandro. He tripped her trigger in a way she’d never experienced. Maybe she could enjoy herself—just this once.

  Then again, did she really have the strength to resist such a sinfully sexy man, especially when he lured her with an offer to fulfill her secret exhibitionism fantasy? He made her feel sexual, made her believe that he understood her. Admitting that fact was uncomfortable, but even when Ali annoyed her, he turned her on. Maybe the chemistry between them was worth exploring.

  And maybe she was out of her mind.

  Crossing the room, Shanna was conscious of male eyes following her. God, why had Alejandro sent her this sheer halter top, held in place by nothing more than two little bows, along with a matching wrap-around skirt? Why had he insisted she wear a skimpy outfit in shades of soft creamy-gold that blended in with her skin?

  “Hi,” a voice whispered in her ear. She turned to find a guy with dimples and incredible blue eyes visually eating her up. “Dance?”

  Okay, he was attractive. Who was she kidding? He was gorgeous. The way he looked at her made her burn. But to dance with him? Touch him? Hmm. The thought of getting physical with this guy—with most any guy—wasn’t quite as tempting. For her, it was always that way.

  Except with Alejandro.

  “I—I…”

  “She’s spoken for tonight.”

  Alejandro. She recognized that deep, slightly accented voice caressing the back of her neck. And the tingle that shimmied up her spine when he wrapped his arm around her bare midriff in a gesture designed to lay his claim.

  Dimples shot her a brief look of regret. “Sure, Mr. Diaz.”

  “She’ll be around later, in the chrome room.”

  That information perked Dimples up. He raked her with a lingering glance. “Sweet. I’ll definitely be watching.”

  Before Shanna could protest, Alejandro urged her forward, to an employees-only entrance, and shut the door behind them. The decibel level went down about a thousand percent.

  She whirled to face him “You invited him to watch us?”

  Shanna was glad she’d managed to parlay her shock into actual words quickly. Because once she saw his casual black shirt unbuttoned all the way down the front, exposing a healthy glimpse of hard-steel pecs and smooth bronze skin, she lost her train of thought.

  “Yes, I did. He is one of the newer regulars and he was here last week. Think of him as a potential suspect.”

  His voice brought her gaze back up to his face, where a hint of a smile played. The bastard knew she’d been staring at his chest.

  She needed dispassion, not lust. Focus. “He had no idea who I was. No concept that I’m Kristoff’s partner.”

  “Not that he let on. But if he was guilty, why would he tip his hand?”

  Good question. One for which she had no answer.

  “You are not required to play this scene. Do you want to change your mind?”

  He was wrong; she was absolutely required to play this scene, at least if she wanted to win the competition and hold that trophy in her hand after sixteen years of hard work. But that wasn’t the only reason. If she wanted to find out if Alejandro had been right about her desire to exhibit, she had to go through with this. And if she wanted to know if she could actually feel pleasure in this man’s arms… Well, then she couldn’t chicken out.

  “Just lead the way.”

  With a slow nod, Ali grabbed her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze, then led her down the hall. Despite her nerves, Shanna had a hard time ripping her gaze from his tight ass, displayed so mouth-wateringly in black slacks. The view alone made her want to jump him. That had to stop. This sexual hunger wasn’t like her. Being too into him wasn’t a good idea, either. She wasn’t into flings, and a guy who co-owned a club like Sneak Peek probably wasn’t into relationships.

  Tearing her gaze away and focusing on her surroundings, she noticed they filed past some open doors containing offices brimming with computers manned by staff members. A wall clock said it was ten `til nine.

  The butterflies in her stomach were head-banging and had set up a rave. She wondered if she was going to throw up before she and Alejandro got started.

  He stopped in front of a door. “Relax. You will be fine. We’re going to handle this together.”

  “Why are you being nice about this?”

  He cocked a brow, the strong angles of his face dusted by shadow and stubble. The frankly sexual stare he sent her made Shanna suck in her breath.

  “Certainly, it has not escaped your notice that I want you.”

  How could it when the thought thrilled her so much? She shook her head.

  “Good. I also want to catch the scum taking advantage of our members. You want to catch him, too, so Kristoff’s video doesn’t fall into the judges’ hands. It is a win-win for us both.”

  “Is that the only reason?”

  He shook his head. “I suspect you’re not the untouchable bitch you wish me—and everyone else—to believe you are.” He shot her a wolfish grin. “But I intend to find out tonight for sure. Personally, I think we will be very hot together.”

  Before she could protest and slap up the armor he’d verbally stripped away, he thrust the door open and walked through.

  They entered the room she had observed the Master and Slut use yesterday. Only things had changed. The chrome bed had been pushed to one corner, at the edge of the stage. The rest of the furniture had been moved out, leaving a large amount of the painted concrete floor well lit and totally empty. The bedding had changed as well. Luxurious white and silvery linens with fluffy pillows dotted with beads and tassels decorated the bed, looking sumptuous on top of the downy blanket. A far cry from yesterday’s stark black sheets.

  “What’s this?”

  “I thought you would be more comfortable if we changed the room up to something softer. Something more…you.”

  Normally, she would protest
his judgment that she was soft. But he was right; the look of the room did reflect her more. She wondered how much of her he already saw.

  Against her better judgment, she was touched. “Thank you.”

  “You are very welcome. Come with me.” Alejandro tugged her to the edge of the stage. Deep in gray shadows, she saw a lone, imposing figure.

  “Hi, Shanna.”

  “Del?”

  “Yes. We’re ready to go. How are you doing?”

  She resisted the urge to press a hand against her fluttering belly. It would reveal too much, make her look vulnerable. She already felt too much that way for comfort. “Fine.”

  “Good. The security cameras have been positioned to watch the audience, specifically the corner in which we think the last video was made. The lighting in the audience is a bit brighter, so the cameras can capture whatever is going on. None of the cameras will be pointed at the stage, and Alejandro will take care of you if something unexpected happens. Security is through that door.” He pointed to the door without a handle. “Just knock, and they’ll let you in immediately.”

  Wow, they’d thought of everything. “Thank you.”

  “We will start slow,” Alejandro assured her. “Right now, just you and me. Del will watch. As you get comfortable, he’ll open the door. Hopefully, your blackmailer will be waiting to get in.”

  Del watching them. Other strangers staring. Now came the hard part. And the arousing part. She wished the thought of Alejandro touching her didn’t turn her on…almost as much as she wished the thought of a crowd seeing their every move didn’t make her blood race.

  But it all did. Unbearably. And Ali knew it.

  Shanna bit her lip. “O-okay.”

  “Good.” Alejandro smiled, something that both set her at ease and made her heart trip. In one look, he managed to both calm her fears and rouse her body.

  Shanna couldn’t shake the feeling this night would be unlike anything she could possibly have imagined.

  She glanced at Del. He was a big shape sitting in the dark corner, his head cocked, his arms crossed over his chest.

  “Focus on me, querida,” Alejandro murmured. “Only me.”

  She gave him a shaky nod, and he tugged on the hand he was holding, pulling her body into his.

  “Dance with me.”

  “D-dance?”

  He nodded. “Just dance.”

  After a quick snap of his fingers, music filtered through the room, a soft but spicy Latin tune, perfect for a rumba. In fact, it was the music they had danced to just a few nights before.

  As Alejandro led her into a basic, her body brushing his with every step, her feet moved automatically to the beat. His unbuttoned shirt fluttered as he moved, offering tantalizing glimpses of hard pectorals, flat, brown nipples, hints of dark hair. Her mind whirled with possibilities.

  “You recall the exact music we danced to the other night?”

  “I never forget a thing about you.”

  She melted—on the spot. No man had ever taken such an interest in just her, been so keenly attentive.

  Shanna relaxed against him and drifted into the dance. He sensed it and spiced up their steps. After a sharp turn in his arms, her nearly bare back rested against his half-covered chest, his hot breath on her neck, her hips gyrating against his erection. His palm flattened against her naked belly, which flared hot with arousal at his hot touch.

  She turned her head, glancing over her shoulder at him. His fiery gaze was full of challenge as he slowly caressed her until both of his hands came rested on her hips. Then he guided them in a movement that was pure, raw sex.

  “Del is watching us. Watching you. Getting hard for you,” he whispered.

  “No,” she protested automatically.

  But her blood flashed hot at the thought.

  Alejandro turned her out in a sharp spin and brought her crashing into his body again, then into a deep dip.

  Her gaze snapped up to his. His face loomed dominant, masterful. “Yes.”

  Her nipples went hard.

  As he brought her up slowly, he curled one hand around her nape. The other he flattened between her breasts…before slowly shifting to press over one soft mound. He teased her nipple with a soft touch.

  Shanna sucked in a breath. Desire dropped like a bomb into the pit of her stomach. That strong face of his—all hint of teasing, of reassuring, of politeness—gone. In his place stood a man who meant to have her.

  While he fitted his hips against hers and rocked, his lips collided with hers. A brush, a slide, a taste. Shanna followed his lead, shocked at the way her heart accelerated like a race car’s, zooming to hyper-speed in seconds until it pounded in her ears. He tasted of coffee and man and aggression. She opened to him, aching for him to sink deeper.

  Instead, he spun her out. She whirled away from him on instinct.

  The rumba was the dance of love…but there was teasing involved. The woman hesitating, the man pursuing. Somehow she knew Alejandro loved to pursue.

  The last thing she should do was make her surrender too easy for him.

  She walked away, hips swaying, head held high. For a moment, she focused on Del. He leaned forward in his chair, his posture tense. His fingers clutched the chair in front of him. She smiled, writhed, and caressed her way between her breasts, down her belly, skirting her aching sex to caress the tops of her thighs. She heard Del’s indrawn breath when the music paused.

  Feminine power, heady and amazing, crashed into her. This was why she loved dancing, knowing she could make men want, people feel, just by watching her body.

  Then she glanced over her shoulder as Alejandro prowled closer, shedding his black shirt, leaving it forgotten on the floor, as he neared. Powerful bronze shoulders snagged her gaze. His hard-muscled chest narrowed into six-pack abs dusted with a treasure trail that disappeared into the waistband of his pants. The enticing view made her mouth water. But the look on his face…hungry, unrepentant, demanding, made her shudder with want.

  Damn, she was staring—and loving it.

  Alejandro stopped directly behind her, so close she could feel the heat of his body. Even though he didn’t touch her, he sucked her deeper into his sexual web just by being near and sharing the rhythm of the dance.

  Suddenly…a tug, a brush of his fingers. The little halter top fell to the floor at her feet.

  Leaving her naked from the waist up.

  Instinctively, she reached up to cover her breasts with her hands. Alejandro slid his palms down her arms, skin to skin, until his hands covered hers. He rocked against her ass, his erection insistent at her lower back. He planted teasing kisses down her neck, across her shoulder.

  Tension tightened in her belly. Resistance melted.

  Then he forced her hands down, over her ribs, down her belly, right over her swollen, aching folds. His hips swiveled to the music, moving hers in time—grinding her clit into her fingertips.

  “Jesus,” Del muttered from the audience.

  His voice slammed through Shanna’s head. Sensation exploded. She gasped as a riot of feelings tore through her, leaving fire in its wake. Her knees melted. Her head fell back to Alejandro’s bare shoulder. Her eyes closed as she moaned.

  One of his hands swept across her abdomen again, soft, slow…inching up, up... Until Alejandro claimed her bare breast, his palm burning her sensitive flesh.

  Del watched their every move, his gaze riveted to Alejandro’s hand moving over her skin. Shanna knew Del saw her arousal, knew he wasn’t missing the fact she was spiked up on need and desire. Aching. And it only climbed higher, knowing that Del couldn’t peel his eyes away.

  Her nipple poked Alejandro’s palm. She arched into his hand as his thumb teased the hard tip.

  “Touch me,” she whispered.

  “Every last inch of you.” Alejandro’s mouth strung a fresh line of shiver-inducing kisses up her neck.

  Suddenly, he grabbed one of her hands, twirled her out, then reeled her back in, her chest crush
ed to his. Slowly, he eased her away in a rumba rhythm.

  His hazel eyes flared as he drank in his first clear glimpse of her bare breasts.

  “Such hard, pink nipples. I’m going to enjoy making them red.”

  Her heart all but stopped before pounding again. “H-how? By pinching them?”

  He reached between their bodies and slid blistering palms over her breasts. His thumbs cradled their aching tips as his fingers closed in and pressed, jolting her with a flash of pain, followed by a haze of pleasure.

  “That is one way.”

  “And b-by sucking them?”

  His gaze was like an inferno burning her up as he dipped her back over his arm, arching her breasts toward his mouth, fusing their hips together. God, she could feel every inch of his thick erection pressing right against her sex. She ached in a way she never had before and never believed she could.

  Then he lowered his head and sucked her nipple into his mouth.

  Hot. Wet. Wild. Thrilling. Sensations screamed through her body as he suckled her, his mouth pulling, tugging, creating friction that zipped right from her breast to her clit until pleasure tightened, converged, pounded at her body.

  Shanna clutched his shoulders, praying the sensation would never end.

  After a long, lingering lick, Alejandro eased away from her breast and stood her upright again. “That is another possibility.”

  “Do you… W-would you bite them?”

  He didn’t even answer, just bent to capture her breast in his mouth again, the hot silk of his tongue over the sensitive bud giving way to the tug of teeth—and a bolt of pure fire straight down to her sex.

  Oh god.

  “Yes!” The word slipped out of her mouth. Surrender in one syllable. She knew it. So did he.

  She was going to give him anything—everything—he wanted tonight.

  Alejandro straightened and smiled down at her. That expression captured her, but he enthralled her when he slid his fingers into her hair, scattering the pins holding her French twist everywhere, and ravaged her mouth.

  Need, impatience, aggression, the promise of unbelievable sex—it was all there in his kiss. His tongue stroked hers and stoked the fires licking inside her, sending her higher and higher.