“Uh, I’m Ed.” He licked his lips. “I saw you dancing before.”
“You did?” Frankie molded himself to the man, and I laughed into my glass as Ed’s gaze turned passion-drunk. “Did you like me? Want me to give you a private dance? Just the two of us?” He whispered in Ed’s ear and rubbed against him. Dude didn’t stand a chance.
At Ed’s nod, Frankie took him by the hand and walked away, no doubt taking him to one of the private rooms in the back for a little one-on-one time. He glanced over his shoulder and threw me a wink. I raised my glass to him.
“Later, José. Gotta go make some more money.” I downed the rest of my drink and shouldered my way through the crowd to get back on the stage. When I hopped up on the platform, my gaze instinctively went to the stranger’s table, but it sat vacant. Guess I didn’t have to worry about thanking him personally now. The tension drained from my body, yet I was left curiously empty. The music swelled, and I shook myself. I was here to dance and make money. The world would know I could live my life without anyone’s help. A frenetic energy invaded me, making me move faster and faster.
My hips gyrated, and I whipped my head from side to side, the ever-present smile on my face stretching my lips to the breaking point. Despite my proud words and the strong face I put on for my friends, I was scared. Scared of failing, of living on the street. I loved the guys here, but I wanted something else. A home. Security every night that someone cared. I didn’t like the groping, the touching, the treating me like a showpiece. Tyler would have understood; he’d felt the same way. Even when he was a go-go dancer for Marcus, he’d never lost sight of his dream. But I didn’t have a Marcus as a savior to whisk me away and fall in love.
I only wanted to be loved.
The song ended. Winded from the dancing, I needed to use the restroom. From what José said, I calculated I’d already made James a hefty profit and could afford a break for a moment. I descended the steps from the stage and got swallowed up by the crowd, allowing a few cuddles and picture-taking with the men I passed.
“Hey, sweetheart.” A heavy hand dropped on my shoulder. “Come gimme a dance at my table. Or better yet, let’s go to the back.” Without waiting for my response, he yanked me close and cupped my ass, thrusting his hard dick in between my thighs.
“Stop it.” I pulled away from him. Sweat dripped down his jowly face, and unknown stains decorated the front of his suit. How’d this pig get in here? James needed to have better control of his customers. “Get off me. I’m on a break.” I walked away toward the back of the club where the dressing rooms were. A quick piss and a minute to myself, and I’d shake this weird mood that had come over me. I turned the corner into the dim hallway.
“Aw, you want Daddy to make it rough? I can do that.”
The pig had followed me and pinned me up against the wall, holding me by the neck.
“Baby boy wants a spanking?” He flipped me over as if I weighed nothing and whacked me hard on the butt. I yelped, and a red rage descended over my eyes.
“Fuck you,” I spat out, then spun around and kneed him in the crotch. Hard. Satisfaction poured through me as he sank to the floor, moaning in pain. “Touch me or anyone else here, and I’ll make sure you’ll never walk again.” My legs shook, and my ass stung where he’d hit it, but I managed to walk past him with my head held high. It wasn’t until I reached the door to the dressing room that I realized I was crying. I pushed the door open and flung myself into a chair, huddling my legs to my chest for warmth.
The door opened, and I sat up quickly and wiped the wetness off my cheeks, unwilling to let anyone see me this emotional. But it wasn’t Frankie or Cort who came to see where I’d disappeared to.
It was him.
My handsome stranger. Here. Alone with me in the dressing room.
I lifted my chin. “I’m sorry, but customers aren’t allowed in here. You have to leave.”
Ignoring my statement, he closed the door behind him and stood, his face impassive, expression hard and fierce as if hacked out of granite.
“Did he hurt you?”
The softness of his voice surprised me. It didn’t reconcile with his large, imposing presence. Forgetting my previous statement, I gazed up at him from my seat, and not wishing to be at a disadvantage, stood.
“You saw what happened?”
“I did.” A twinkle lit his startling blue eyes. “You handled it perfectly.”
“Fucking asshole. He’s lucky I didn’t kick him harder.”
“The kitten has claws, I see.”
A smile curved his stern mouth, and he looked younger and impossibly attractive. A rush of desire hit me, but I couldn’t fall prey to it or him.
“I’m not a kitten, and if you think I need a protector, you can forget it. I can take care of myself.” I’d had to all my life.
“I don’t want to be your protector.” Fire replaced the smile in his eyes. “Did you like what I sent you?” He licked his lips. “Are you wearing it?”
I should have been scared. Being alone with him here could be dangerous, even though my instinct told me he’d never hurt me. But whether to listen to my body or my heart, I hadn’t yet decided. Wordlessly, I took several steps until I stood only a few feet in front of him. I peeled back the top of my shorts, exposing the frothy lace. The sparkling crystals caught the light. He reached out with a finger, then halted in midair.
“May I?”
My dick shifted in my thin shorts, and though it was impossible not to notice my rising desire, he waited for my response.
“No.”
Startled, he dropped his hand, and I waited, tense and nervous, my heart thundering, regretting my decision to get closer. Would he hit me? Hurt me? Who knew I was back here? He could do what he wanted to me and then be long gone. My mouth dried, sweat broke out under my armpits and ran down my neck. I took a step back.
He quirked a brow and shifted on his feet. “You’re right. You’re no kitten.” With another penetrating stare that lit my insides on fire, he turned and walked out the door.
