“No, you haven’t. I’ve been away. But how about now?” His golden-brown eyes gleamed like a lion’s, and he pulled me close, cupping my ass and giving it a squeeze. “I like what I see.”
I opened my mouth to answer when I heard the clipped, almost angry voice of James behind me.
“I thought I managed to make myself rude enough the last time you came here that you’d get the hint and not come back. What are you doing, Malcolm?”
Still held in the man’s arms, I turned to face my boss. For a man I knew prided himself on remaining calm and unruffled under any circumstances, James’s fierce expression shocked me. He looked ready to spit bullets.
“You guys know each other?”
“Hardly,” James said in a voice that could cut through steel.
“Really, Jamie-boy. Don’t lie to the man. Why, in a way, we’ve almost been intimate with each other,” Malcolm drawled in a low voice filled with sex and amusement. “Wouldn’t you say?”
Face flushed and eyes blazing fire, James took a step forward, and I knew he was about to let loose on Malcolm.
“No. I wouldnotsay. You disgust me. I pity any man you touch. Now stay away from Frankie. Stay away fromallmy dancers. Leave.”
“You don’t mean that, Jamie,” Malcolm said almost absently. “Why hate me? It’s Stuart who cheated on you. I was just the hard dick. One of many, if my guess is correct.”
My head spun from ping-ponging back and forth between them, but at Malcolm’s harsh words, James paled, and I sprang to his defense the best way I could. I pushed my way out of Malcolm’s arms.
“I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I can’t help you. I’m booked for the night.”
Malcolm pulled me back against his chest and whispered in my ear, “Don’t believe everything you hear.”
Malcolm might smell good, and damn, he was fine as hell, but loyalty meant everything to me, and James had mine.
“Gotta go.” I whirled away and danced over to a table full of my regulars, who waved me over.
“Frankie, baby.”
“Hey, sweetie.” Carl, a hot and sexy Greek guy with the blackest hair and eyes I’d ever seen, held out his arms. “Me first. Gimme a kiss.”
I straddled Carl’s lap and started to shimmy while he ran his hands up and down my back. Where Austin never allowed people to touch his ass, I didn’t mind—if they were respectful about it. A few squeezes could earn me an extra twenty bucks per dance, which by the end of the night added up.
“Gimme your phone number, Frankie. I wanna take you out on a date.”
“Sorry, Carl. I got a boyfriend.” I wondered if he and Cort would get along. “What about my friend up there?”
Carl glanced over my shoulder. “Who, Zorro?” Laughing, he nuzzled my neck. “No thanks. He looks like he wants to stick a knife in my back. And I don’t like blonds, cowboys or not.” He licked and sucked at my earlobe. “I like hot, cute Italian men like you.”
“Well, right now you got me.” I rocked my pelvis into him, the thick prod of his cock pressing into my thigh, and I sped up my dance. I rolled my hips and smoothed my hands over his chest. From past dances I recalled he liked that.
“Ahhh, Frankie.” My skin would sport some major bruises later, but from all the bills his friends were tossing at me, it was worth it.
“Good, baby?” My crown had slipped, and I adjusted it before standing.
“Mmm-hmm.” His head lolled to one side, eyes half-closed. “Hold on a sec.”
Hell, I wasn’t going anywhere. I was hoping for a nice tip. “I’m here, baby.”
He dug into his trousers and drew out his wallet. I watched as he pulled out a bunch of bills. “Here, take it all. You’re my favorite guy here, and I wanna make sure I take care of you.”
Trying hard to contain my excitement, I took the bills and stuffed them into my shorts.
“Me next, Frankie.” A thin Asian man with a gold earring took my hand and kissed me. “Come over and dance for me.”
I fluttered my lashes and draped my arms around his neck. “I’m ready, Andy.” With a gentle push, I sat him down and sat on his lap, and for the next half hour I bumped and grinded against the rest of that party. By the time I’d collected all my tips, I could barely walk from all the bills between my legs.
