On stage, the incubus took a bow while onlookers tossed crumpled bills at his feet. Cherry waved and blew kisses to the audience before prancing toward the wings, leaving a stagehand to sweep up the small mountain of money.
“He puts on a good show,” Luxe quipped.
“Definitely,” I replied. “It’s nice to see some real talent.”
The petite demon harrumphed. “Excuse you. I’m the realest talent in this club.”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course.”
His lips quirked in a smile as he glanced toward the now vacant stage. “Do you like him?”
The words crawled over my skin. Clingy. Clumsy. Juvenile.
Worse than that, they were inappropriate. I wasn’t the kind of man who “liked” a stripper. That delusion was for the gullible—for those who convinced themselves this was anything but a job for every dancer in this place.
These were demons making deals, just like I did. I knew the game.
And I wasn’t about to get played.
Still, I decided to give Luxe a measure of grace by responding, “Seems like it would be difficultnotto like him. Quality hire. You can tell Maz I said so. But I need to be going.” Pushing to standing, I smoothed down my suit coat and slacks.
Luxe leaped up after me. “What’s the rush? He’s coming back.”
I hummed through a nod. “Good. You can show him some other rooms. And customers a bit more lively than me.”
When I stepped toward the door, Luxe slid around to block it. “Do you reallywanthim seeing other customers?” He tipped his head, and the dainty chains looped around his horns sparkled. “Especially lively ones?”
My frown returned in force. “I don’t know what you’re getting at.”
I moved to bypass him, but the smaller man wouldn’t be dodged.
“You can talk to him, you know,” he pressed. “There’s no charge for that.”
Why the hard sell? I may have let my poker face slip earlier, but that didn’t mean I was an easy mark. And like I’d told Livingston, this wasn’t that kind of establishment.
“My driver is waiting,” I said while making one more bid to exit.
Before I reached the door, it opened, framing the incubus perfectly between glass panes. His gaze darted from me to Luxe.
“Cherry,” Luxe greeted him. “Mister Beckett was just saying how much he enjoyed your performance.”
Cherry’s eyes widened. The smile that had been dazzling under the spotlights was shy now, a flash of fanged teeth and a blush.
“Oh,” he said. “Thank you.”
Did he know how fucking cute he was?
Luxe clapped his hands delightedly. He craned his neck to peer past Cherry into the area outside, where the other executive suites were bustling.
“Looks like I’m needed across the way,” Luxe said. He made a dramatic show of tugging up his billowing sleeve and checking his wrist for a nonexistent watch before winking at me. “You have a little time left on the clock, Becky. Why not make the most of it?”
With that, he was off. Skipping down the catwalk toward the next room over and leaving me alone with the incubus who I definitely, most certainly, did not like.
CHAPTER
FIVE
Zephyr
