“I’ll do my best,” I promised.
As if he realized it was time to play, Mav whispered something in Sam’s ear and walked off the dance floor. I watched as he flagged down the bartender, who set down a glass of water in front of him. He scowled, obviously not thrilled by those who weren’t drinking. The little shit had better get used to it, because there was probably more booze flowing tonight than there would be any night after this, but his tips would only be influenced by his attitude.
“Hey beautiful,” I greeted Mav as I slid onto the stool next to him. “I haven’t seen you around here before.”
Mav looked over at me, fluttering his false eyelashes in what I was sure he meant to be playful. I stifled my amusement, knowing that wouldn’t do anything to settle his nerves.
I dragged one fingernail down his forearm as I leaned closer. “Are you shy?”
“N-no, Sir,” he answered, his voice wavering with anxiety. “And th-this is m-my first time here.”
“Oh princess, you look scared to death,” I mused, inching closer, plastering my body to his side. “Have you ever been out in the city?”
“N-no,” he stammered. “How did you know?”
I bent down so only he could hear me. “Are you kidding me right now? You’re dressed like you pulled your outfit out of thePretty Womancollection. You’re totally Vivian, but inside, I’d bet you think you’re Kit De Luca.”
“So, are you hoping to be my Edward?” He turned to face me, resting his elbow on the edge of the bar. I jumped when Mav slipped his fingers inside the opening of my button-down shirt, stroking the fabric slowly. “Because if you’re hoping I’ll drive you home tonight, you’re in for a surprise. Unlike Vivian, I don’t know how to drive that type of stick.”
Okay, so not what I’d originally planned on happening tonight, but I could work with this. Mav was playful. I liked it. “Oh, but are there other sticks you do know how to control?”
“Show me the cash and I’ll drive you places you’ve never even dreamed of going tonight, Edward.” He pressed his chest against mine, tilting his head back. “And lucky for you, I havenoissues with you putting your mouth wherever you want it.”
“Lucky me,” I mused as I tangled my fingers through the back of Mav’s hair, yanking his head back. My mouth crashed over his, and I heard a hoot from someone on the dance floor. I didn’t fucking care if we had an audience at this point. I pulled a stack of twenties out of my back pocket, stuffing it in the edge of his lacy little bra. “If you need more than that for the night, you’ll have to tell me.”
Mav slid his hand into mine and didn’t bother counting the cash. “Lead the way, big boy. We can discuss the finer points once we’re somewhere a bit more private.”
Oh hell, I hadn’t counted on him sinking into the role of dirty little seductress quite so thoroughly. I couldn’t make out a single face as I led Mav around the backside of the dance floor to the quieter end of the bar. Most of the guests entered the private area from the other side, which meant we’d have less traffic to get through here.
I led Mav into a room that was decked out with a four-poster bed and a chaise lounge. It hadn’t been my original idea, but I was going with the flow here. I flipped the sign outside the door to OCCUPIED and closed it behind me. As soon as we were alone, I slammed Mav’s body against the wall, pinning his hands over his head. “What’s your name, sweet thing?”
“I-it’s… Do I have to tell you? It’s not like we’re going to fall madly in love,” he protested. “You paid for me, so I’ll do whatever you tell me to.”
I clamped my teeth down at the base of his neck, licking the flesh that was captured in my mouth. He whimpered and I let him go. “When I’m buried deep inside that pretty little ass, I want to know what I’m supposed to yell out.”
Mav went still as stone. He pressed a hand to my chest, pushing me back. When I looked down at him, he was practically shaking.
“Okay, time out.” I scooped him into my arms and settled the two of us into the overstuffed chaise lounge. “What’s going on, princess? Tell me what spooked you.”
“It’s not supposed to be like this. I don’t want you to think I wasn’t having fun because I totally was,” he rambled. I rubbed my thumb over his cheek, hating myself when I felt moisture there. “But could we… Maybe we don’t…”
“You don’t want me to fuck you?” I offered when he struggled to come up with the words.
“Not here. Not like this,” he admitted. “It’s stupid, but everything we’ve done has been unlike anything before. I don’t want you making love to me to be some cheap game. I want it to be real.”
“Oh, princess, nothing in my life has ever been more real than when I’m with you,” I reassured him as I hugged him tighter. “You make me feel things I didn’t think were possible. And I’m sorry if I hurt you. You threw me off my game from the moment I walked up to you at the bar, and I let my dick do the thinking for a while.”
“You make me feel things, too,” he admitted. The only light in the room shone from a nightstand next to the table, but that was enough for me to see the streaks his makeup left down his cheeks. “Did I ruin tonight, Daddy?”
“No, princess,” I promised him, wrapping him tightly in my arms. “If anything, you made it even better, because now I know you’re strong enough to make me stop when I screw up. I already assumed you were, but now we both know for sure. What do you say I ask Jack if it’s okay for us to get out of here?”
“But you wanted to play,” he argued.
I cupped his face in my hands, leaning forward so our foreheads touched. “If I’m lucky, there will be plenty of time for us to explore every room in the club. But tonight, I think we need something different.”
Tonight, I wanted to lay Mav out on the bed and worship him. I didn’t want to cut things short the way I had every night up to now. I gently swatted his hip and he stood. I slipped my hand into his and led him out of the room. We’d be back when the time was right, but this wasn’t a night for pretending to be anyone other than who we were. John and Mav. Daddy and his princess.
13
