His mouth brushes against my ear. “Tell me what you want, Red, and I’ll see what I can do.”
He grows beneath me. My heart pounds against my ribs so hard, I’m sure he can feel it vibrating in my chest. His fingers graze my arm, barely touching me like a feather caressing my skin, but it sends an electrical current straight to my core.
The bouncer, Joe, locks eyes with me, straightening his waistcoat as he bounds towards us. I hold my finger up to signal that I’m all right and push myself from his knee.
“I want freedom.” With clammy palms, I collect the bottle and tuck the tray under my arm as I scurry away. Afraid if I stay in his proximity any longer, my knickers will catch fire with the heat pooling in my centre.
“Everything all right?” Sasha cocks an eyebrow while pouring another pint. “I saw that little lap dance.”
I roll my eyes and dig my fist into my hip. “I fell on him, okay? It’s these ridiculous heels.” I lift my foot. Even after working here for the last few months, I still can’t get used to them.
“You fell for him more like. I’ve seen the way you look at him.”
I scratch at my neck. Is it that obvious? “You can’t deny he’s attractive.”
“I’m not the one in denial. You are.” She continues to serve from behind the bar, and I collect my little notepad and pencil, ready to do my rounds. Lifting my head, he’s still watching me, ignoring the dancers on stage, mindlessly rotating the glass between his fingers.
Dressed all in black, he’s like a predator camouflaged in the shadows, patiently waiting for the right moment to strike his prey. A solitary animal, hunting alone. Only he wants me. Must be mating season.
A smile spreads across my face. I tear my eyes away from him and focus on my next table, but he’s still on my mind. With the heat gathering between my thighs, I’m not going to forget about him anytime soon.
3
DOM
Red is all I see. She’s all I’ve seen for weeks. Only it’s not her hair that haunts my nights, it’s the colour of her blood on my hands. I have to protect her at all costs. And if that means sitting in this fucking joint night after night, then so be it.
I lift my glass to let her know I’m ready for another drink. The whiskey takes the edge off. But I only allow myself one. She knows my routine now. With a nod of acknowledgement, she fills a glass of sparkling ice water.
There’s a nervous smile and a twitch in her lip as she saunters towards me on her heels. I relax in my seat, creaking the leather as I enjoy the view. My cock perks up at the site of her jiggling tits with each bouncing step, and I have to remind myself to focus on her face.
“Quiet tonight, huh?”
She sets the drinks on the table. “There’s some famous band playing at the Parlour tonight. I think everyone’s there.”
I cover her hand with mine before she collects the silver tray. “Have a drink with me.”
She chews on the inside of her cheek. Her fingers curl around the apron tied to her waist. “I can’t, I’m working.”
“I’ve watched you for the past half an hour, making yourself look busy. Nobody is going to say anything if you take the weight off for five minutes.” I pull out a chair.
She worries her bottom lip, glancing between me and the chair.
I pat my thigh. “Or you can sit on my knee again if you’d prefer.”
She drops in the chair with a sigh. “This seat is fine, thank you.”
I slide the glass of water over to her. She takes it, gulping it down in one go.
“Thirsty?”
“Parched.” Her brows pinch as she turns the chair towards me. “What are you doing here? Like why do you come here every night?”
“I could ask you the same thing.” My fingers itch to touch her, but instead, I scratch my jaw.
She frowns at me. “I’m working.”
“So am I.”
