by K. L. Jessop
“You’re still working in a strip club.”
“And I’m still the same person I was when I saw you a few nights ago. But I wouldn’t expect you to understand that, being a man and all.”
Okay so now she’s pissed. Walking over to the other side of the room, she kicks off her heels and like a magnetic force, I’m over there in three strides wanting to change how I’ve made her feel. I clasp her wrist and her back straightens against my chest, her bare arse inches away from my hands. “I’m sorry,” I murmur “But why this? Why here?”
The heat radiating from her is scorching, yet it’s not from anger. The tightness in her stance falters as if my touch has silenced the wrath of what’s lying under her fiery surface. She turns her head to the side but hides her eyes from me. “Because I need the money and if men like you want to throw that away on cheap dances and half-naked women than I’ll happily be a recipient of it.”
I brush my hand over her hip and I run my nose along the rim of her ear. Her chest rises, and I feel her clench her fist under my grip on her wrist.
Jesus Christ, she’s killing me.
“But you can do better than this.”
Turning quickly, she pulls away from my grip and fire returns in her eyes. “And you can easily walk out of that door if this bothers you so much. Now, I’m working, Lucas, so you can either sit your arse down so I can do what you came here for or you can get the fuck out.”
Her sudden irritation has me wondering what it is that’s really bothered her: the fact I’ve thrown questions her way about her choice of employment, or the fact she now has to dance for me. Because no matter how hard she tries to hide it, I know the effect I’m having on her, and I believe it’s that she has the issue with.
“Where do you want me?”
She points to the single chair in the centre and I make my way over. The sexual tension in the room has just stepped up a gear as silence falls between us. Adjusting my jeans to ease the tightness against my fly, I watch her re-enter the small room behind the white transparent curtain that’s covered in silver sequins, and I can’t help but smirk when I see her throw back a vodka shot. Her black hair falls down her back, finishing just above her thin waistline. I spot tattoo number three on the opposite thigh: an anchor covered in black and shaded flowers with the words ‘Reckless and Brave’ placed in the middle. I guess that sums her up in every way, only I want to know what’s made her be brave.
“I have rules,” she announces, that strong sense of confidence now back as if I’m just a stranger. She walks behind me, and I turn my head, keeping her in view. “You keep your hands behind your back. No speaking, kissing, biting or touching. If I want you to touch me—which I don’t—I indicate it at all times and when I want you to stop. You stop. Understand?”
I grin, knowing full well she’s begging me to touch her. “Is this your speech for all you clients?”
“Just answer the question.”
“Got it, Ms Doe.”
She presses her chest against my back as her arms reach down to take my hands, placing them behind the back of the seat.
“A little erotic,” I tease but get no reply. The volume of music is increased and Britney Spears ‘Gimme More’ begins to play. I can’t help but smile, wondering if the lyrics are more of a declaration from her, but the moment I feel her fingers entwined in my hair, I’m lost.
Electricity, shoots within me as she lightly massages my scalp, threading her fingers through my thick hair before eagerly pulling my head back. Her hands slowly smooth over my shoulders, down my biceps before coming back up and running down my chest. Walking around my left side, she stands in front, her back facing me. Parting her legs, she slowly bends forwards, giving me a perfect view of that bare arse as she smoothes her hands down her thighs. I growl, fighting the urge to stroke myself over my jeans to ease the ache. She turns and parts my legs at the knees, placing both hands on the chair between them as she rolls her upper body into my chest, never taking her heavy, lustful, eyes off mine. Every move is sultry, controlled, and incorporated to the beat that is becoming a blur.
My hands are clenched tight in place, and I’m wanting to respect her wishes of not touching, but I don’t know how long I can hold out. She’s yet to straddle me and the air is already incredibly thick. She comes to the side, parts her legs once more and seductively drops, locking eyes with me as her hands glide down her waist, stopping at the tip of her black lace. I can’t take anymore. When she rises and steps away, I break rule number one. I grab her wrist, twisting her around quickly and grasping her thigh for her to straddle me. She fights the temptation for a second but doesn’t move away, giving me the perfect opportunity to snake my arm around her back. I pull her into my chest as she begins to grind against the bulge of my jeans and my hands trail up her waist, stopping just below her full breasts that sit perfectly in the cups of her corset. Her head falls back, and I feel a moan vibrate under her ribs. It’s satisfyingly dangerous and it takes everything in me not to rip off her lace and fuck her in just her stockings. Pushing her upper body back with the flat of my hand against her stomach, she leans into my hold. The trust she has in me is empowering as she breaks eye contact and lets my hand trail over her waist, feeling the lace under my fingers that are desperate for it to be her skin. My entire body is on fire, my mind is taken to a place of no return. My lips are a fraction from pressing against her skin, and her thighs tighten against me when I glide my hand from her neck down to the hem of her thong. And when I push all limits and run the tip of my tongue from her collarbone all the way up her throat, I feel her tremble under my touch. For the environment we’re in, and the meaning behind her role, there’s nothing cheap or tainted about what we are doing now. It’s pure lust and seductive. Maybe even forbidden.
When the music dies off, it’s replaced with heavy pants and heat as I bring her back to me. The temperature between her thighs is scorching. Grabbing my face with both hands, her breath beats against mine. Nose to nose, our eyes lock in deep ravenous hunger, yet confusion, mystery, longing and innocence flood her smoky greys, which seems ironic because there’s nothing innocent about the club she’s working in. I’ve never been so hot or felt such a deep connection with someone just by touching them like this. The chemistry, the emotion, it’s so foreign. What makes it more real is I know the feelings are shared.
“Tell me you felt that?” I ask breathlessly, sensing her heart vibrating through me. I want to kiss her and never let her go, but instead, I plead one last request. “Please, tell me your name?”
She searches my eyes, her slim hands still holding my jaw. She goes to speak but stops herself, drawing her brows together a little as if she’s still trying to comprehend what’s just happened, until finally she whispers. “You need to go.”
Chapter Ten
Victoria.
My skin is still burning with hot, intense tingles that coat my body like the plague, my heart pounding so hard it makes it difficult to breathe and my mind running wild with everything this man is doing to me. Never in my life have I experienced anything like this. No man has ever affected me in the way Lucas has.
Since the very beginning, everything about him—his smell, his touch, the hardness of his muscles under my hands—has engulfed me with a powerful surge that’s placed me under his spell. I feel him everywhere, under my fingertips and right into the depths of my soul, and it’s terrifying me as to why this is happening. I knew he would break my rules, and from the moment the music started, a part of me had wanted him to. The moment that he did, I become intoxicated with a heavy lust and the escape he always delivers. His awareness and touch drives me into a sense of freedom I’ve never experienced before but it’s overpowering me nevertheless.
I don’t like it.
But the need for wanting more doesn’t erase from my thoughts, and running from him again is likely to be impossible. I remove myself from his embrace and head for the door, not liking the coldness that suddenly clings to my skin, but
he needs to leave. I can’t have him around me any longer as I need to collect my bearings and try and figure out what the fuck is happening. More importantly, I need the ache he’s enriched between my thighs to fade.
“That’s it? You’re just going to walk away from what just happened?”
“Your time is up. I’ve done my job; I’ve delivered what you came here for. Now you need to go,” I order, avoiding his eyes. He sighs heavily, making his way towards me and causing butterflies to take flight in my stomach, a feeling that is instantly cut dead when he pulls cash from his wallet. My stomach churns and I turn my face away as the reality of what this is hits me with a heavyweight. I don’t feel dirty, but right here at this moment, I’ve never felt so ashamed of myself. I know I shouldn’t feel this way because what we’ve just shared goes way beyond this job, but when he offers me enough cash to cover the rest of my shift, irritation quickly forms in my chest, making the whole situation all too real.
“I can’t accept that.”
He tilts his head to the side. “Why? After all, that’s what I came here for, isn’t it?”
“Lucas, I don’t want your money.”
“Because our little rendezvous has got your head spinning?”
I need to draw a line on the proximity but as he comes in close, his manly fragrance—a mixture of citrus, body wash and Lucas—fills my senses as he cages me against the wall with his big frame. My strength falls with every breath. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Dipping his head to my neck, his warmth spreads over me when his words hit my ears. “We both know that that was more than work. And we both know that this isn’t over.”
I hold his powerful gaze when he places the money in the palm of my hand, closing my fingers around it.
“I don’t regret a thing we’ve just shared. And you shouldn’t either.”
With that he leaves, taking every trace of his being with him and leaving the room feeling empty and cold. I release the breath I’ve been holding for what feels like a lifetime and run my fingers through my hair, trying to regulate my sprinting heart.
What the hell is he doing to me?
Going to the back room where I compose myself before each session, I pour myself another shot of vodka. I’m not much of a drinker, but I need the respite and for these desires that have comsumed me to be nothing more than a mind-blowing fantasy rather than a physical encounter. The last time I felt such a rush racing through my body like the one I’m experiencing now was the time I was high on substances that controlled my darkness. But what started out as the occasional fix, quickly become much more, and I know with Lucas I’m already out of my depth. He is my weakness and it’s only a matter of time before he has me losing my strength altogether.
Chapter Eleven
Lucas.
I’ve lost all form of concentration since walking out of the club. The hum on my body that was left from her intensity has stayed with me for hours, not even easing a fraction when I headed for home and jerked off in the shower. Her eyes, those strong hues, haunted me as I ran my hand over my lathered body before taking my thickness in my hand. I’ve not offloaded myself over a woman in years, yet these past couple of weeks, I’ve been like a teenager in high school. The way her body fell into my touch was like magic, the way she looked at me, was intoxicating. All form of resistance was gone in seconds as she let me caress her body like I’ve been doing it for years. After going home for a shower and a change of clothes, I grabbed my car keys and drove back through town, stopping at the takeout hut before parking right outside The Scarlett Lounge to wait for her. Now that I know where her nights keep her, I’ll be out here as much as possible to walk her home. She can’t run from me now.
I rest against the car bonnet and wait. A few of the other girls exit the club as the night air is filled with humidity and thick clouds, leaving the sign of possible rainfall in the air. With any luck, my raven will finally let me take her home, but I have a strong feeling that could change given her reaction when I left. I saw how overwhelmed she became with my presence, and I also saw the deep state of regret that washed over her when I took the cash from my wallet. It gutted me that I made her feel that way. That was never my intention, and despite what happened between us, she was still doing a job that I was willing to pay for even before I realised that she was the one that would be dancing. But above all of that, I’m no fucking idiot because behind that shield she’s protecting herself with, I know she wants me, and I know she’s fighting it.
I feel her presence before my eyes find her. She's standing on the top step of the club entrance, her head is tipped back looking up towards the sky and her eyes are closed as the coolness of the drizzling rain that’s now falling hits her face. I want to know what she’s thinking—if she’s thought about me since I left like I have her.
“You alright there, Raven girl?” I see her tense from the sound of my voice that travels across the street.
Keeping her eyes firmly on the sky, she says, “Keep this night time stalking up and I’ll have to take out a restraining order.”
Sweet baby, Jesus.
If it’s not her body I want to fuck seven ways till Sunday, it’s that Goddamn sassy mouth. “A little harsh.”
She lets out a long exhale, still not looking at me. “Why are you here, Lucas?”
“I thought you’d be hungry.” I hold up the reason for my stop at the takeout hut and gesture the bag towards her as her eyes glance in my direction. A small smile tugs her lips and a sight of gratitude fills her face.
“You got me some chips?” It’s more of a statement than a question, but one that has her slowly moving towards me. With each step, the electricity thickens once again. She stops a foot away, raising a brow and trying to act as though she’s not impressed. “I hope you remembered the Ketchup?”
“Two sachets and all added with extra vinegar, just like before. And also…” I hold up the bottle of water and she grins.
“Oh wow, you really came prepared.”
“Believe it or not I am quite the gentleman at times.”
“My name is Tori.” The words slip from her mouth like a beautiful song, her eyes widen as if she had no control over saying it.
The smile I try to suppress fails me. “Finally! I knew I’d get it out of you soon enough, Tori.”
She rolls her eyes. “Just shut up and give me my damn chips.”
I laugh, handing over the bag for her to dig in.
Tori.
Tori. Tori. Tori. Tori.
Shit me, I feel fantastic, all over a fucking name. I have to stop the urge from running up and down the street shouting from the top of my lungs that I finally have a name to the woman that’s turned me into an over-possessive man on heat. With her resting herself on the side of the car, we talk about nothing in particular as she eats, offering me the bag every now and again. Once she’s finished, I watch her every move as she walks to the other side of the road to throw the chip paper and empty bottle into the rubbish bin. I watch her with interest as she takes her phone out of her jacket pocket, giving it a check and smiling hard at whatever it is that has her so engrossed. Placing the phone away, she steps back towards me before stopping and scanning over the black Audi A5 Convertible as though she’s just realised I have a car. “Nice wheels.”
“Thanks, she keeps me busy.”
“I didn’t know you drove.”
“I didn’t know you danced,” I shoot back playfully, immediately regretting it when I get a look of displeasure. I shove my hands in the pockets of my jeans when she reclaims her position at the side of me. The silence that has fallen between us is both sultry and unclear as I try to comprehend what it is about this woman that has me in spirals when I’ve barely even touched her, but I come up with nothing other than she’s simply addictive. A light band of raindrops has formed a halo over her jet-black hair as she focuses on the heel of her shoe that she’s currently digging into the ground.
“You broke club rules tonight, Lu
cas,” she murmurs.
I question myself for a moment. Should I have stopped? Did I take things too far? No, everything that happened between us was on mutual ground. She is only saying this to try and protect herself from whatever it is that she’s forever running from. “The only rules that I broke tonight were your own, Tori. And you know as well as I do that they were going to be broken sooner or later regardless of where we were.” I push myself off the car and stand in front of her. The tautness of her stance appears once again providing that strong barrier she likes to place between us. Only this time it’s about to be fucking torn down.
“I need to take you to my place.”
“And why do you need to do that?”
I step closer, brushing my lips against her ear. “Because I need to make you mine.”
Leaning back, she tilts her head to the side narrowing her brows. “You don’t want to fuck me, Lucas. You just want to fuck the lap dancer that got you hard.”
I completely cage her in, placing my hand on either side of her and pressing myself against her, letting her feel just how much I want her. Her breath catches, and I hold her gaze, speaking with honesty and an intensity that won’t make her question me again. “You see that’s where you’re wrong. Because I’ve wanted you since I first laid eyes on you outside Rubies, and it was the same the night after, and that morning on the beach. I’ve wanted to be inside you, feel every part of you around me from that very moment and I’ve thought of nothing else since. I don’t want the woman of the role you played in there, Tori.” I point back to the club without turning. “I want you.”
Her lips part but quickly close with a hard swallow. Her heart ricochets against me as her pupils dilate. I lean in close to her ear, letting my finger brush along the panel of her neck. “What are you so afraid of?”
“I’m not afraid of anything right now.” The confidence in her words fail as they come out breathlessly.