“Uh huh.” Max nodded, his green eyes shifting back to Cole. “Well, if that was youraudition, you’re hired.” He chuckled but seemed genuine.
“I’m with the boss,” Gino said as he leaned against the bar in just his G-string. He brushed a glistening dark curl out of his face and grinned, flashing a perfect set of white teeth. “You arehot.” He pointed toward the crowd of men slowly dispersing. “And we know you can stir up a crowd.”
A nervous laugh escaped Cole. “I don’t think I can take credit for that.” He glanced at Gabe, then at Dane. “It was mostly them.”
“Like fuck,” Gabe snorted, shaking his head. He dragged a palm over his face and exhaled hard, making the others laugh. “You wereon fireout there, baby. Don’t pretend you weren’t.”
“I have to agree with Gabe,” Dane chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “You were burning up the floor. You’re a natural.”
“I don’t—” Cole started when Max cut in.
“Youare,”the boss said. “I know dancers. And you’ve certainly got what it takes. Move that floor show to the stage on a Saturday night, and you’ll be raking in the big bucks. This is a high-class club that attracts high-class patrons withdeep wallets. Give them a good show, and they’ll reward you handsomely.”
Cole’s system was still on fire, and he wasn’t sure he should be making any big decisions in his current state. One thing he did know was thatperformingin front of the crowd of men hadn’t made him feel self-conscious, as he’d thought it would — it hadturned him onand excited him in ways he’d never experienced before.
“You can take some time to think about it,” Max said. “Whenever you decide, just let me know.” He smiled. “No pressure, but I do think you’d be a great asset to the club.”
“Thank you,” Cole said quietly. “It’s a nice club. I…” His eyes flicked to Gabe, then back to Max. “I like it here. I’ll think about it.”
“Good enough.” Max stood and patted Cole’s shoulder in what felt strangely like fatherly affection. “I’ll talk to you boys later.” He left the bar and crossed the floor to the far side of the club, where he entered a room, closing the door behind him.
“His office,” Gabe said.
“So…” Gino leaned toward Cole, a flirty smile on his handsome face. “Are you going to dance for us again?” He sidled closer, trailing a fingertip over the curve of Cole’s bicep. “You can dance with me on stage, see how you like it up there.”
“Uh…” Cole swallowed hard and smiled uncertainly. “I think I need to take a break. I’m kind of…” He glanced at Gabe again. “… overheated.”
Gabe gazed at him. “Me, too,” he murmured.
“Same,” Dane said. “In fact, I think I’ll step outside and get some air.” He grabbed his shirt from the dance floor and headed for the club’s entrance.
“Well…” Gino grinned, shrugging. “Guess I’ll go back to the stage now that there aren’t any distractions.” He laughed and walked away, leaving Cole and Gabe alone.
Moving closer, Gabe pressed the back of his fingers to Cole’s cheeks. “You’re still a little flushed.” His tone did nothing tocoolCole off. Gabe gently brushed his fingers down Cole’s neck, then lower between his pec muscles. Cole shivered, though he was burning up inside. “Maybe you need a…” Gabe shrugged, his baby blues gripping Cole’s stare. “… cool shower.”
Honestly, a cool shower sounded wonderful right now. But he sensed that wasn’tallGabe was hinting at—and that only fueled the fire inside.
“We have showers here in the club,” Gabe murmured. “In the back… off from the dressing rooms, if you so… desire.”
Gabe’s fingers moved lower, his knuckles caressing Cole’s tense stomach muscles that quivered beneath the stripper’s tender touch. Cole looked into his blue depths as he slowly covered Gabe’s hand, fingertips softly grazing his palm. Their fingers slowly laced, and Cole realized he was breathing faster, his heart racing.
“Why don’t you… show me?” he whispered.
“Show you… what?” Gabe stood before him, their bodies nearly touching.
“Whatever you think…” Cole swallowed, his breath shaky. “… I need to see.”
A slow smile spread across Gabe's face, the kind that made his eyes darken to midnight blue. He leaned in, his warm breath fanning against Cole's skin before his lips—soft yet insistent—grazed the sensitive corner of Cole's mouth, the contact arcing electricity through every vertebra. Gabe's mouth traced along the sharp edge of his jaw, leaving a trail of heat that prickled Cole's skin before finally reaching his ear. “That's a risky statement, baby,” he whispered, his voice a rough velvet that vibrated through Cole’s entire body.
Cole’s heart pounded so fiercely that he could feel his pulse in his fingertips where they pressed against Gabe's damp skin, eachthunderous heartbeat sending blood rushing south. He tilted his face, causing his parted lips to brush the delicate shell of Gabe's ear, inhaling the intoxicating blend of cologne and clean sweat. His tongue flicked out to taste the salt of exertion on his skin. “I can be a risk-taker, too,” he breathed, his voice dropping to a tone he barely recognized as his own as Gabe shivered against him.
CHAPTER 9
I can be a risk-taker, too.
A shiver ran through Gabe from his scalp to his toes as he closed and locked the shower room door, then moved behind Cole. He gently grasped his waist, his fingers sinking into Cole’s feverish flesh, and pressed his mouth to the nape of his neck, parted his lips, and tasted his damp, salty skin.
His heart raced so intensely he could feel it pounding through his chest wall and into his pectoral muscle. Gabe edged closer until his chest was flush against Cole’s warm, tacky back, and his hard crotch pressed firmly to Cole’s ass.
