The rich combination of acoustic and synthesized sound coming from the band reached out to her, but she shook her head, stretching up to say into his ear over the noise, “Too crowded."
He nodded and guided her back toward the bar. He had just leaned over the rail to order their drinks when a voice rang out. “Rogue!"
Lindy and Michael both turned to see a man in the best made tacky suit Lindy had ever seen coming down the bar towards them, his hand extended. “Rogue, babe, how are you?"
"Can't complain, mate,” he said, gripping his hand firmly. “How about you? Bitch queen keeping you out of trouble?"
The larger man rolled his eyes. “Constant thorn in my side. And you know I love it.” His smile was enough to light the whole room. Lindy was entranced as he turned his attention to her. “And who is this delicious young thing?"
She offered her hand. “Lindy James."
"Well!” Ugly Suit Man took it and bent his head to place a courtly kiss on the knuckles. “Enchente, Lindy James. Allow me to introduce myself, since your date has such a tragic lack of manners. I'm Cosmo. Cosmo Rockland."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Rockland."
He chuffed. “Please. My mother was Mr. Rockland. Call me Cosmo. And you,” he turned back to Michael, who had just taken out his wallet to pay for the drinks he had ordered during this exchange, “put that away. You know your money's no good here. If the boss lady found out I was making you pay for your drinks..."
"I'd probably rip your ears off,” came a low, throaty voice from behind them. Lindy turned her head in time to see a sultry brunette drape herself over Michael. She was one of the most stunning women Lindy had ever seen. Tight black leather pants and a brilliant red silk tank held up by the thinnest of straps displayed her lush, curvy figure perfectly. Her brilliant red hair flowed in loose waves around her face, framing her sultry dark eyes and voluptuous lips, painted a glossy red to match her top. She looked like molten sex.
And she was kissing Michael.
It wasn't deep or aggressive, or even all that sexual. But it was an intimate, familiar caress.
Lindy had felt jealous before, felt the cold, angry fingers of it prod through her mind. But now it boiled and raged in her, a visceral, palpable thing. She wanted to snatch Michael away and slap this intruder, stake her claim and draw blood for the trespass.
Instead she just stood there, insecure and threatened as this woman pawed her ... Lindy stopped. Her what? It wasn't as though she had any claim to him, any right. She was married to someone else, and he would be leaving in a week, free to move on.
That thought twisted the knife the redhead had plunged in her gut.
"You never call, you never write,” the other woman was saying to Michael with a smirk. “What's a poor girl to do?"
"I'm sure you kept busy,” he smirked right back at her.
She cocked her hip. “Yeah, that's me, busy, busy, busy. It's good to see you, Rogue. It's been an age."
"You too, pet. But you look great."
"Feel pretty great, too.” She nodded toward Lindy. “Who's the cutie?"
"This is Lindy James,” he said, taking Lindy's arm to draw her closer. “Lindy, I'd like to introduce you to Eve Davies."
The woman held her hand out unselfconsciously. “Pleased to meet you, Lindy James. Old Rogue here doesn't bring girls around very often. Good to see you getting’ around again, tiger,” she addressed Michael. “You're a sexy guy. It's a shame to see you keeping it in the box."
He raised an eyebrow.
She just laughed. “In a manner of speaking. God, I hate your uptight British slang!"
"So, Eve, you and Michael are old friends?” Lindy interrupted, trying awkwardly to draw the other woman's attention.
She looked confused. “Who's Michael?"
He nudged her lightly. “I am. And Lindy's the only one who gets to call me that, so don't get any ideas."
"Uh-huh.” Eve looked at the two of them appraisingly before answering Lindy's question. “Yeah, I've known Rogue for, what, eight years?” She looked to him for confirmation. At his nod, she continued. “We've gotten drunk together, he's bailed me out of jail more than once. If that's how you define friendship...” She shrugged.
Despite her tough words, Lindy sensed a thread of vulnerability, and it touched her through her jealously. Michael called her a friend, and Lindy knew from having met Diana just what that friendship meant to him. She couldn't believe that he would bestow it lightly. She took a deep breath and smiled. “Yeah. I would. That's exactly how I'd define friendship."
"Friends help you move,” Cosmo interjected. “True friends help you move bodies."
They all laughed at the surreal platitude before Eve turned on Cosmo. “Don't you have work to be doing?"
"I'm gone, boss. Lindy, it was a joy meeting you.” He kissed her cheek as he squeezed her shoulder. “Rogue, my friend, you take care now.” And with a wave he disappeared back into the crowd.
"So,” Eve turned to the two of them, “you guys came for the dancing?"
"Actually,” Michael said, draping his arm around Lindy, “I was hopin’ to give Lindy an art lesson in Pearl."
Eve's eyes widened in surprise. “An art lesson? Downstairs? Interesting class you're teaching there, Professor."
"Lindy's a professional artist,” he explained. “I'm just helping her get a broader range of experience to draw from."
Lindy couldn't resist interjecting. “Michael's big on new experiences."
Eve barked a laugh. “I'd imagine. Yeah, go ahead down. You know the back way. I'll have a table and drinks waiting for you. I have to be down there in a minute anyway. My house manager is out with a sprained ankle tonight."
"Thanks, pet. See you down there."
He used the arm around Lindy's waist to guide her around the end of the bar towards the back as Eve leaned over the rail to speak to the bartender. They went down the back hall, past the bathrooms to a door marked “Staff Only. No Admittance.” It was this door Michael pulled open and held for her, revealing the stairs behind.
She paused at the top of the stairs and looked at him coolly. “You're wearing her lipstick."
His fingers snapped to his mouth, pulling his fingertips away to look at the crimson stain there before rubbing more firmly with the heel of his hand. “Better?"
She shrugged her shoulder and started down the stairs.
Halfway down she stopped, turning to face him. “Have you slept with her?"
He stopped, his foot on the step below hers so their eyes were even. She could see the amused, puzzled look on his face. “Are you jealous?"
In answer she grabbed his head and kissed him, covering all the places Eve touched with her own mouth.
His arms were instantly around her as he returned the kiss hungrily, one hand tangling in her hair, the other smoothing over her back. Their mouths slid over each other, tongues meeting eagerly as he backed her up against the wall, pressing his body into all her sensitive places. “Yes, I slept with her,” he murmured in the moments their lips were apart. “A couple of times, eight years ago. She offered me things no man could resist. And I was young and horny.” Lindy captured his mouth again, shutting him up until he moved to her neck, one hand grasping at her breast. “I figured out pretty quickly she needed a friend more than a lover. I got out of her bed and I haven't been back. I promise."
She let him return to her mouth, rubbing eagerly against him in apology. He ground against her, but pulled back a moment later. “Shh, love. I'm not taking you here in a public stairwell."
"Then take me home,” she begged.
"You'd like that.” But he stepped back. “But you've got a lesson pending, so your green-eyed monster will just have to wait."
"For your one eyed monster?"
"Exactly.” He stroked her covered mound with the bulge of his erection, sliding his mouth over hers one last time before nudging her on down the stairs. “Get on with you, vixen."
She pout
ed, but continued descending the steps. “Yes, master."
"Oh, no, Miss James,” his voice came, low and seductive from behind her. “That's a whole ‘nother set of games you aren't even ready for. Yet."
The promise of his words set her whole body trembling.
Chapter 33
The interior of Pearl differed from Corpus Delecti as much as was humanly possible. The subdued lighting accented jewel toned hues of purple and blue and russet. The place looked voluptuous, like a sultan's harem, with low couches and silk cushions for seating and enormous brass trays on low legs for tables. And everywhere the establishment's namesake could be found. Pearls roped the chandeliers, beaded on the upholstery and cascaded out of the simple candle centerpieces. There was only one word to describe the place.
Decadent.
They were met at the end of the service hall by a tiny little waitress dressed almost demurely in black trousers with a belt of pearl ropes around her waist and a silk vest that didn't quite meet in the middle, revealing cleavage and navel but not much more. She escorted them through the crowded room to a table where their drinks were already waiting for them.
Rogue barely registered any of it.
Lindy was jealous.
The implications were overwhelming.
It took all of his restraint not to do exactly what she had asked, take her home and worship her, reassure her, pour his heart out into her tiny little hands. But if he was careful, if he was cautious, he now knew he had a chance at something he hadn't allowed himself to consider.
Maybe he could win her for himself.
His heart pounded even thinking about it. He had a week, a week to convince her how much better off she could be with him. He needed to think, though. He needed to try to see the big picture before he chose a course of action. Best to stick to the design for the evening. Play tonight; plan tomorrow.
He leaned forward and kissed her lightly, just enough to ground himself.
"What was that for?” she asked, a bit bemused.
"Do I need a reason?"
"Apparently not.” She picked up her drink and sipped it. “This is a nice place."
"You like it?” He rolled a mouthful of whiskey around his tongue.
"Yeah. It has a nice ambiance. Do they have live music?” she asked, indicating the proscenium jutting out into the room.
He resisted an evil smirk. “There should be some performers coming out any time."
Almost as if on cue, a bluesy piece of music started drifting out of the speakers, and a young woman strode out onto the stage. She was dressed all in black leather, from the micro mini-skirt to the bustier to the short waisted jacket. Her strawberry blonde hair fell around her shoulders in ringlets and her lips were painted an almost black red. Her body moved sinuously in rhythm to the music as her hands lifted her curls luxuriantly to fall down her back. She slid her arms out of the jacket and cast it aside, leaving her arms and shoulders bare above the scallops of the bustier. When her hands dropped to the zippers on the sides of her skirt, Lindy spun to face Rogue, away from the stage. Her eyes were huge and a beautiful blush was sweeping over her face.
"You brought me to a strip club?"
He waggled his eyebrows at her lasciviously.
"Why?” She tried to sound indignant, but he could hear the faint touch of curiosity in her voice.
"Three reasons.” He set his drink down and moved so they sat knee to knee as he bent his head close to hers. “First, the owner is my friend and I wanted you to meet her."
"Eve."
"Eve."
"The friend who shops for lingerie for work."
He tapped his nose. “Right in one. Second, I do actually have something I want you to see that might help you with your art. And this was the best place to demonstrate it."
"And third?” she asked, shifting her eyes surreptitiously back to the now nearly nude dancer up on the stage.
"Because, little miss prim and proper, I know your secret."
"What secret?” Her chin went up, challenging him, her eyes flashing.
He leaned closer to her ear. “That the sight of barely dressed people doing shocking things excites you."
She smacked him in the chest, but he just chuckled and grabbed her wrists, running his thumbs enticingly along her pulse points. “Look at her, Lindy.” He let his voice drop into the low, resonant pitch he knew made her weak. “She wants you to watch her. And you do, too, don't you?"
"Michael,” she breathed.
"Am I interrupting?"
He muttered a soft curse as he twisted his head to see Eve standing behind him. But he released Lindy's arms and patted the seat next to him. “We were just getting started."
She straddled the bench and leaned back against the arm, legs spread wide. “So, Lindy, what do you think of the place?"
"It's ... nice,” Lindy finally replied. Rogue could see her reacting to Eve's blatant sexuality. The jealousy was rising, but he thought he saw a bit of curiosity as well, wondering what it would be like to be so open and raw.
"For a topless bar, you mean?” Eve didn't sound offended. “Not what most people expect. No pole, no lap dances, no bump and grind, no dark, smoky atmosphere. Not a lot of single guys. We're kind of the art house of the New York strip scene. Hell, half my girls are in the dance programs at NYU and Columbia. Even have one Julliard ballerina."
"How did you come up with the inspiration for it?"
"I danced in plenty of those other joints, just to stay alive and off the streets, you know? But after seein’ enough, I started to think I could do it better. So I took some business classes and then found a softhearted club owner to take me in. Cosmo was an easy mark, let me rent out the basement space. I was makin’ a profit inside of six months, and within two years I was makin’ more than Cosmo was upstairs."
Rogue leaned over to explain to Lindy, “Eve bought out Cosmo's interest in Corpus Delecti last year."
Eve waved it off. “He's happier. Hated the paperwork. Now he can focus on developing talent and enjoying the party."
"How did you get approval for this? I can't believe this area is zoned for adult entertainment."
"Ixnay on the legals in front of the shyster, sister,” Eve said, jerking her head towards Rogue. “What he doesn't know keeps me outta the slammer."
"Oh.” She looked flustered. “I'm sorry, I..."
"No sweat. Rogue's a gem. He'll lie through his teeth for me as long as he doesn't know the truth."
"So it's not really lying, is it?"
Eve looked at her appraisingly. “No, I guess it's not.” She looked like she was about to add something when there was a loud crash from behind the bar. “Dammit! That had better not have been tonight's delivery. Excuse me, you guys.” And Eve rose to stride purposefully towards the voices now arguing in the vicinity of the crash.
Lindy turned to Rogue, looking thoughtful. “Was she dancing when you met her?"
"Yeah.” He took a swallow from his glass. “I think she had been for a couple of years."
"But she was, what, eighteen or nineteen?"
He shrugged. “She looked ... older. A lot older. Things had been bad for her at home. Didn't get much better after she left."
Lindy was quiet for a long time. “You have a lot of women friends."
"Guess the blokes are all threatened by my manly presence,” he smirked.
"Or else you're such a woman you can only make girlfriends."
He leaned forward until his mouth nearly rested on her ear. “Am I not man enough for you?"
She caught her breath and shook her head faintly.
"Do I need to remind you how much of a man I really am, Lindy?"
She hesitated, making him chuckle. “Come ‘ere, love.” He drew her to sit between his legs, her back resting against his chest, his thickening cock nudging against the curve of her behind. “Feel that?” he murmured in her ear. “Remember how good it makes you feel?” She nodded slowly, and he could tell without seeing her th
at she had gone glassy eyed. His heart thudded in his chest, but he continued on. “Behave yourself or you won't get it again.” It was an empty threat and they both knew it, but she responded anyway, a slight jerking of her body against his. “Time for your lesson."
"What kind of an art lesson can you give me here?” Her words were erratic as she tried to retain control of her breath. “I had life drawing. I know how to draw naked women."
"'S not about that,” he said as a slender brunette came out on stage, moving aggressively to an old Prince tune. “Your stuff is good, but it's very static. So we're gonna look at muscles in motion. No, Lindy,” he commanded in her ear as she turned away when the dancer dropped her skirt to reveal tight lacy little briefs of rich blue. “Watch her. Watch how the muscles in her legs flex just before she takes a step.” He dropped his mouth to the side of her neck and felt her pulse fluttering there. “Every movement is anticipated by muscle shifts just before and weight shifts just after.” He slid his finger lightly along her shoulder. She shivered, but never took her eyes off the dancer, who had just finished unbuttoning her blouse, exposing the matching lace push-up that exposed the curved tops of her breasts. “See how the tendons across her shoulder flex just before she raises her arms? How the muscles in her ass tighten and her weight shifts slightly as she takes a step?” He dropped one hand to her thigh to toy with the hem of the little red cocktail dress she had worn. “What else can you see?"
He could feel her breathing against his chest, heavy and rapid as she fought for words. “Along ... her ankle."
"Mm-hmm.” He stroked his cheek lightly along her soft hair.
"And the muscles over her back contract on the side she's turning toward."
"Very good.” She arched back against him as he spoke into her sensitive ear. “And watch the way her calf twists when she pivots."
She sagged back against him.
"Lindy.” He wrapped his arms around her, losing himself in her arousal.
"Oh, Michael, I ... I have to...” she pushed away from him. “I'll be right back.” She rose unsteadily on her low heels, turning to kiss him a bit more intensely than she'd intended, he thought, then moved off in search of the facilities.
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