StriporTreat

by Jana Mercy

  “Oh.” Now Gray pinned her, hoping he could distract her and possible get her to slip, maybe give him something to go on. “You two an item?”

  “I don’t think that’s any of your business. But for the record, I sign his paycheck every two weeks. Just the same as I sign yours.” Her shrewd expression warned not to push the issue. Definitely something there. He’d suspected as much.

  “Fair enough.” He strode across the room and sank into the uncomfortable vinyl chair that apparently wasn’t made for a man of his size.

  “Sophia’s going to be hurt by all this, isn’t she?” Madame Genevieve’s soft question surprised Gray.

  “All this?”

  “You.”

  “I’d never intentionally hurt her.”

  “How can you have any kind of a relationship when you’re a drifter? A man without roots and probably running from something or someone? Perhaps running from a past you don’t want to face?” Madame G’s gaze narrowed. “You’re only half the man she’s used to, you know.”

  “I have all the parts that count.” What she said was true he supposed. But he took offense to her calling him half a man. And he wasn’t running away from his past. More like choosing to face it every single day.

  “So I’ve heard.” Madame G cackled, apparently quite pleased with his comeback.

  His head jerked up. “Sophia’s talked to you about me?” That surprised him. He wouldn’t have thought Sophia the type to kiss and tell.

  “Like I told you yesterday, she didn’t have to say a word. I could see it on her face.”

  “See what?” Did he really want to know the answer?

  “That she’s falling in love with you.”

  What?

  “You’re wrong. Sophia isn’t in love with me. She knows we can’t have a future together.” He’d been clear from the beginning on that point. He didn’t want her love, nor did he believe Madame G. This was a ploy, a trick on their part to try to muddy the waters so he wouldn’t be able to see the plain truth—that they were guilty. Or at the minimum Genevieve Walker was. “This is just an infatuation on her part.”

  “A romance on the rebound?” Madame G baited him.

  What was she talking about?

  “Rebound?” Had that just been a hook rammed through his jaw?

  “From her ex-fiancé. Her ring finger hasn’t been bare for a full month yet.”

  What the? That hadn’t been in the initial report he read on Sophia Walker. Somebody screwed up majorly if they missed a fact like a broken engagement.

  “She was engaged?” He hated like the devil that he asked. He could almost hear the gears spinning while Madame G reeled him in. Not that he wanted to know for him. No, his curiosity stemmed from the case. Was this fiancé involved in the drugs being moved through Heavenly Hunks?

  No matter. She was single now. He didn’t care how long ago she belonged to another man. He didn’t.

  “She was engaged to a prominent Atlanta businessman. I know for a fact she’s still in contact with him.”

  “How do you know that?” Oh yeah, he was hooked but then a good agent should scope out all the facts and Madame G seemed more than willing to tell him all she knew. On this subject, anyway.

  “She’s mentioned him several times. She talked to him on the phone for quite a while this morning.”

  Sophia talked on the phone with her ex after spending the night making love—having sex—with him?

  His jaw clenched. “She told you this?”

  “Yes.” The woman’s self-satisfied smile grated on Gray’s nerves. She picked at him. Distracting him from why he came to her hospital room. And, hell, if she wasn’t succeeding.

  “Sophia’s a free woman. She can talk to anyone she chooses.” But the thought of her belonging to another man, talking to her ex so soon after leaving Gray’s bed, burned up his insides. Now he understood how she felt when she spied on the conversation between him and Joey.

  “You used to be better at it.”

  “At what?” Gray asked, not following Madame G’s train of thought.

  “Lying.”

  Whoa. Back up. “What are you talking about?”

  “Like I said yesterday, you’re different. Before you were too intense, aloof and you were a damn good liar.”

  “Dare I ask what you mean by that?”

  “Dare away. You’re the proverbial bad boy. Every woman wants to tame a bad boy. Especially one who looks like you.” She shrugged. “So I hired you. Really didn’t expect you to stay a full month but I figured the customers would enjoy the view while it lasted.”

  Gray wasn’t sure he liked being referred to as the “view” but he supposed it came with the territory of working at a strip club.

  “You stuck around longer. I haven’t figured out your game. Odd, as I can usually crack even the toughest nut.” She grinned mischievously, her mouth drawing slightly to the left. “Figuratively speaking, of course. A woman like me knows to be gentle when the situation calls for it.”

  “I’m sure,” Gray agreed, ignoring her innuendo. “Go on.”

  Not that he wanted to hear her inaccurate psychobabble but maybe she’d say something useful to the case.

  She took a deep breath. “As I was saying, you’re the wandering type. Don’t stay in one spot long enough for any roots to grow. So why are you still at the club? Not that I’m complaining. You’re a fantastic bartender and the women go ga-ga over your fanny but you have an ulterior motive for being at my club.” Her gaze locked with his. “That’s what I can’t crack.”

  “My motive?”

  “Yep. Your motive. I’d ask if you’re a fugitive from the law but you wouldn’t tell me if you were and honestly, other than for Sophia’s sake, I don’t give a damn if you are or not.”

  Gray sank back, bumping his head against the hospital wall with a light thump. “You hired me even though you think I’m hiding from the law?”

  If she thought him a criminal, would she take him into her inner circle? Reveal whatever secrets she hid?

  “It crossed my mind that you might be in legal trouble but I never could convince myself of that. More the opposite.”

  “Oh?” He’d never blown an undercover deal. Never. Yet he was screwing this one all to pieces.

  Madame G shrugged a deep purple silk covered shoulder. “I get the impression you live by a code of principles. Ones you set for yourself. If you thought the right thing to do involved something illegal, you’d do so without blinking. But if you ask me, you’re hiding from something far more frightening than the police.”

  He waited, wondering what she’d say.

  “Yourself,” she said.

  * * * * *

  Sophia sank against the bar. What a night. And tomorrow night would be worse. Saturday and Strip or Treat.

  “I know it’s late but do you want to drive out to the lake?” Gray asked.

  She whipped her head around to stare at the man helping her lock up the club. The last customer had left fifteen minutes ago and the crew still cleaned and closed things down. “To the lake?”

  It was after midnight. He didn’t really want to go to the lake, did he?

  “We could take my truck and ride around, take in the sights, pass the time with whatever comes up.” He gave her a suggestive grin and her fatigue melted.

  “Uhm, sounds promising.” She liked the way he thought. Ever since she’d seen him bent over, searching through his truck, she’d fantasized of them playing in the back of his truck.

  He waggled a black brow. “I put a couple of blankets and pillows in the front seat earlier.”

  Sophia’s breath caught. “What are we waiting for?”

  She locked her fingers with Gray’s, enjoying the callused roughness and strength clasped against her smaller, softer hands.

  “Guys, we’re headed out,” she called to the few remaining crew. “Lock up when you leave and I’ll see you tomorrow evening for Strip or Treat.”

  God, she couldn’t be
lieve it was so close. The night Gray would take off his clothes on stage. They’d chosen a costume and he practiced every day. Elvis grudgingly gave him thumbs up earlier in the day and said it was a good thing Gray looked like God’s gift to women since he couldn’t dance. Personally, Sophia didn’t think he was that bad. But Elvis was right. Once Gray took off his shirt, not one woman would care if he could dance or not. They’d be too busy mopping the drool from their chins.

  “Tired?” Gray asked.

  Had she sighed? “A little.”

  “A lot?” He cut his eyes toward her, his face unreadable.

  She shrugged. “It’s been a long day but I’m not backing out, if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “We could go to my apartment. Save the trip to the lake for some other time. I understand if you’re too tired.”

  They stood in the parking lot, next to his truck. The crisp night air howled, promising winter’s approach. Perfect Halloween weather.

  “I don’t think I’ll ever be that tired.”

  He pulled her to him and kissed her fingertips. “Good thing you feel that way, or I’d have to change your mind. I’ve got my heart set on that trip to the lake. Been thinking about you and me in the moonlight all day.”

  “It sounds like letting you change my mind might have been fun. Just how would you go about making me see the folly of my ways?” Tingles of awareness shot through her as he sucked her pinky into his mouth. “Interesting.”

  “I’d use all my powers of persuasion.” Gray nipped her fingertip.

  “Just what are your powers of persuasion?” As if she didn’t know. The man’s persuasiveness boasted the stuff legends were made of.

  “I’d charm my way into your pants.” His hand slid down her back to cup her blue-jean clad bottom. She really liked how the soft denim caressed her body but not as much as she liked the way Gray caressed her. He growled. She smiled. Apparently, he liked her jeans too.

  “Charm?” she asked, knowing all he’d have to do was say the word and she’d strip naked for him right now in the middle of the parking lot.

  His breath warmed her palm that he held close to his mouth.

  “Mm-hmm. I’d whisper sweet nothings in your ears until you’re susceptible, then I’d use my tongue to convince you into sharing the night with me.” His cheek brushed across hers as he nuzzled her neck, blew those promised sweet nothings into her ear, his moist breath causing her to shudder. “All without saying a single word.”

  “I’ve changed my mind. I am too tired. Way, way too tired.”

  His intricate tracing over her ear never paused. “Pity,” he murmured. “Guess I’ll need to persuade you after all.”

  His mouth closed around her earlobe and he sucked with slow tenderness. The blood coursing through her veins bubbled and boiled like a witch’s cauldron, threatening to burst free.

  “Gray.” She stumbled backward and would have fallen to the pavement if not for his grasp around her waist. “Let’s go to the lake so you can charm me properly.”

  “Yes ma’am.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Gray took a winding gravel road to the private overlook of Percy Priest Lake. An overlook he knew like the back of his hand since he owned the surrounding woods. Foolish to take Sophia to where he lived—really lived—but she’d never know who owned the land and the spot was perfect for what he had in mind.

  Just as the night was perfect.

  Millions of twinkling stars dotted the inky blue sky. The moon, full and bright, reflected off the water, providing a view second only to the woman next to him. The woman he promised Madame G he’d protect. And he would.

  Despite everything, he believed Sophia was innocent but his gut instinct told him she hid something. And he couldn’t be sure sex didn’t cloud his perception.

  Backing the truck into where the bed faced the lake, he parked. He switched the ignition to off, left the keys dangling and turned to the quiet woman staring down the dark path they’d just driven over.

  Even in the moonlight, he could see her excitement matched his. If they didn’t hurry, they’d never make it out of the truck. Which could provide some interesting, albeit cramped, possibilities.

  No, he wanted the late October night blanketing them as they made love. Wanted nothing between them and heaven except the wonders of the universe. Crazy but he felt an urgency in making love to Sophia tonight. When the sun rose to announce the new day everything would change between them before it rose again.

  Halloween. A day for ghosts and hauntings. Is that what the dawn would bring? Ghosts from the past to haunt his present? If sources were right, the case would bust wide open tomorrow night. Would he be forced to arrest Sophia? Her aunt?

  “What’s wrong? You shivered.”

  He shook his thoughts away. “Nothing.”

  Opening his door, he jumped from the truck and practically ran to the passenger side. Taking his hand, Sophia stepped down. So soft, he thought, as he held her close. The woman was wonderfully soft. Just right for holding.

  She melted against him. Her flowery perfume drifted to his nostrils, mingling with the crisp scent of dying leaves, of the lake water. A ruffling of dry leaves blowing in the wind whispered through the woods bordering this part of the lake. The wind carried a chill but they’d soon be too hot to care.

  Gray already didn’t care. Not about anything but Sophia and what they would share. One last night. If all went according to plan, tomorrow they’d close the case. Then he’d let Sophia go.

  “You’re quiet.” She tilted her face to stare at him. Moonlight touched her features, giving her skin a milky glow, making her hair appear as spun gold. Her lips parted and her free hand cupped his jaw. “Tell me what you’re thinking, Gray.”

  “How beautiful you are,” he answered truthfully. Why lie? She had to see the truth on his face anyway. “About how much I want to look at your body unveiled with the moonlight dancing on your skin.”

  Her smile practically reached out and caressed him. “Since when did you turn into a poet?”

  “Since I had proper inspiration.” He laughed a little self-consciously. Poets weren’t overly manly, were they? He pressed his hips and his very manly, very hard cock against her belly. “Lord knows you’re a work of art.”

  “Me?” Now she laughed.

  “Yes, you.” He traced her facial features with his gaze, then stepped back to finish his perusal of her body. “By the way, I like the jeans and top.”

  “I bought them yesterday.”

  “You were quite the little shopper yesterday afternoon, weren’t you?” He didn’t need light to know her cheeks glowed pink. “I’ve been impressed by your purchases.”

  “Thank you. So far, I’ve been impressed with my new wardrobe’s results.” One corner of her mouth lifted as she shot him a secretive glance. “Especially my lingerie.”

  “The sexy black garter number last night?”

  “That. And hopefully the other new stuff too.”

  “Other new stuff? There’s more?”

  “You’re a big boy.” She shrugged. “Figure it out for yourself.”

  Oh yeah. He’d happily do some exploring. Just the thought that she wore another sexy number beneath her jeans and blouse made him a very big boy.

  “Come on.” He pulled the blankets and pillows from the truck. “Let’s enjoy nature’s bounty.”

  She giggled as she climbed into the back of the truck and helped spread the thicker of the two blankets over the bottom of the truck bed. He tossed the two pillows toward the cab, sat on the lowered tailgate, pulled off his shoes and crawled onto their makeshift bed.

  Sophia sank onto the blanket and removed her shoes. Tennis shoes. He could barely wait to discover her other purchases. She snuggled next to him and he wrapped his arm around her. Perfect.

  “This is nice,” she murmured, her face pressed against his chest. Could she hear the thudding of his heart? How it raced in anticipation of what the night would bring?
>
  “It gets better,” he promised.

  Her head lifted. “Oh? How?”

  “Like this.” He kissed her. Softly and with reverence. Hot and demanding. All the emotions swirling within him poured into his caress of her mouth.

  “Gray,” she moaned, arching into his touch. Her fingers tangled in his hair, twisting, tugging. Not painfully but certainly with possession.

  “What?”

  “Make love to me.” She rained kisses over his mouth, his chin, his neck. “Please do the things to my body that only you can do.”

  Did she know what her heady request did to a man? To him? He’d show her. That and more.

  He slipped his fingers inside the cotton of her shirt and tugged the material. She rose onto her elbow, helping to free her body. Air lodged in his throat at the shimmery purple bra barely covering her breasts. She’d been hiding that all night? What a shame.

  Did her panties match? God, he hoped so.

  Impatient to find out, he unsnapped the catch to her jeans, slid down her zipper and shucked the denim over her hips. He paused when the material bunched mid-thigh.

  Sweet Jesus alive.

  Her panties matched. What little there was of them.

  “You like?” An all too feminine gleam shone in her eyes as she stood and finished the job he’d started.

  “Whoa.” The word whooshed out as a gasp when the moonlight reflected onto the shapeliest moon he’d ever been fortunate enough to view. Crotchless panties last night. A thong tonight.

  His breath came in ragged jerks as he stared up at her. He’d been right. The moonlight did bathe her body in heavenly perfection. Images of the way she looked standing on the bar, dancing for him, merged with the goddess appropriately towering above him.

  He rose to his elbows and whistled. “You should go shopping more often.”

  She giggled again. “I have to admit, I had fun trying to figure out which items you’d like to see on me.”

  “You chose well. Although, it might have been more appropriate to figure out which items I’d most enjoy taking off you.” He grabbed her fingers and pulled her to him. Straddling his waist, she knelt above him.

  “I never thought of it that way.” She dropped a quick kiss on his lips. “So, how does this outfit rate? Do you want to take it off?”