I get to work making the drink, and when I set it in front of him, I manage a smile.
“Here you go.”
He sips, then licks his lips, and my stomach tightens.
“That might be the best old-fashioned I’ve ever had.” His voice. Jesus, it’s deep and rich and makes my nipples pucker, and I have to swallow hard because this guy is dangerous for my libido, and he’s a customer. I might beallowedto mess around with the members, but that doesn’t seem like a good idea.
I’ve been working at this job for about two hours…and I’d like to keep it.
So I wink at him and try to keep my hormones under control. “Of course, it is. Flag me down when you need another.”
Six
ROME
Icouldn’t stand watching her through the screens anymore, so I came down to the lounge to see her in person. I needed to get closer to her, to be in her orbit. To see if the attraction was just as strong when she’s mere feet away from me as it was through the video feed.
It’s stronger.
When I sat down, I made it clear to Rita that I wanted to observe without the new woman being made aware that I’m her boss. Of course, Rita didn’t bat an eye. She’s been with me a long time and is used to my odd requests.
My firefly was gorgeous on screen, but she’s absolute perfection in person. Her curves have drawn the eye of every man in this lounge. Any one of them would haul her into a privacy room to fuck her if given the chance.
I want to pull my gun from the small of my back and shoot every one of them.
Yet I can’t blame them for it. As she bustles back and forth behind the bar, that orange top sways and lifts, giving me a small glimpse of her soft skin.
It’s late enough in the evening now that most members have moved from the lounge into the playroom, so the bar is slowing down. My firefly laughs at something Max says, and he pats her on the back.
Touch her again, and you’ll lose your hand, Max.
She returns my way and flashes me that bright smile. Her eyes are green with flecks of gold. Her lipstick is long gone, but her lips are plump and pink and beg to be wrapped around my cock. She’s twisted her hair up into a messy bun that none of my employees would ever wear on the job, but it looks perfect on her.
“I’m Lulu,” she says with a smile as she approaches. That smile brings light into my cold, dead heart. “Can I get you another?”
I nod. I never drink more than one when I’m here, but I want to watch her make my drink.
“You got it. What’s your name?”
“Rome,” I reply, and she nods as she takes my empty tumbler and sets it in the sink, then reaches for a clean one.
Before I can say anything else, she turns and reaches above her head for a bottle on a top shelf, granting another view of her gorgeous fucking?—
Bruises. New and old, marking her entire rib cage.What the fuck?Is that a scar on her lower back?
Before I can question it, I’m off my stool andbehind the bar. Lulu startles, glancing around in alarm, those green eyes wide, while backing away from me.
“Stop.” My voice is hard, and she stops moving, but her face is full of fear now, and that pisses me off almost as much as the bruises. I don’t want her to fear me. “What happened to your ribs?”
She frowns, and suddenly, Rita’s by her side, patting her on the arm as if to comfort her.
“Wh-what?” Lulu asks.
“The bruises,” I say again.
“Oh.” Lulu frowns and then cringes. “I’m sorry, I’m sure that’s not something any of the customers want to see. Don’t worry about me, I’m making you that drink now.”
“I don’t give a fuck about the drink,” I reply and step closer. “I want you to answer me.”
