FIVE
KITTY
There was something powerful about a man who knew what he wanted. A real man who did exactly what he said. I’d heard all aboutif he wanted to, he would, but if I was honest, until Jonas, I’d never experienced it.
Being in its presence was mystifying.
For the first two weeks, if I was honest, I was waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop. For some kind of truth to come out. Or for him to change how he acted around me.
But nothing shook the man. And trust me, I tried. I unashamedly poked at him with attitude, not mincing my words or attitude, even when I didn’t have to. But my big guy was unshakeable.
The way he looked at me, the way he touched me, showed me how much he loved me. It made my pulse spike. A lot had changed and yet not much had all at the same time. We still read in what I now called the Kitty Room after finding out he had designed everything in it just for me. The perfect height thing I’d noticed during that first lap dance? Not a coincidence. He’d thought of every detail. I still danced on stage. Men might see me, but no one could ever touch me.
Only Jonas.
I was his, and he was mine.
After that night I confronted him and we confessed our feelings, we’d been inseparable. Until tonight. And maybe that was why my nerves were getting the better of me? I had the day off from the club, and instead of spending it together, I was at the gym his brother owned, with Jade and Maryanne. Opal, Jade’s sister, was supposed to meet us, but she’d canceled last minute, something I knew bothered Jade.
“You’re not eating,” Jade mumbled, and I made a face as I stared at the gross-tasting granola bar in my hand.
“This tastes like grass,” I said, unable to hide my disgust.
“That’s because it is. Kind of,” Maryanne chimed in. Her bright blue eyes widened when they caught mine.
I had no idea why Jade pushed us to hang out with her.
It was evident the girl was going through shit, but she didn’t talk about whatever issues she had. She hadn’t changed, either. At the club, Maryanne still looked like a terrified rabbit about to scamper off if anyone saidboo. I had no idea why she was getting under my skin the way she was, but we’d become friends. Mostly.
“Yeah,” I muttered and sighed.
I didn’t have to look at Jade to know she was staring at me witha be nicelook in her eyes. Instead, I stared at the wheat-based granola bar Jade had insisted we needed to try from the juice bar at the gym because it was good for us and tried to ignore the way my stomach rolled at the sight of it.
“How about we get some smoothies? My treat,” I offered and knew Maryanne was already shaking her head. It was close to impossible to get the girl to agree to anything. I knew because for some reason, I’d tried to help her out these last couple of weeks. I’d even spent a morning at the club to show her some new moves on the pole before the club opened.
“That sounds good. Maryanne, do you like raspberry or blueberry more?” Jade asked, and I couldn’t stop the smile on my face. That was my friend and her bleeding heart.
“Oh, umm, blueberry, but?—“
“Blueberry sounds good. How about two of those?” Jade cut in. I hid my smile just as my phone vibrated.
“I’ll go order them. Why don’t you guys go get us a table?” I suggested, getting in line as I checked my cell.
Jonas: Fuck, you look good.I glanced around trying to tag the security camera he must be looking at me from only to realize just how many cameras there were at the gym.
For a quick moment, I wondered if that was normal, Jonas and his brothers being, well, them. From everything Jade had told me about Lucas, he had the possessive stalker side to him as well.
I shook my head. He didn’t have to be in the building for me to feel his eyes on me like a touch. The whole him watching me and sorta stalking thing would have freaked any other sane woman. Maybe something was messed up in my head because it didn’t scare me. I found it endearing. I liked how possessive and obsessed he was when it came to me.
Me: How did your meeting go?
I typed and pressedSend.
What I really wanted to say was that I missed him and ask when the hell he’d be back. But I didn’t dare. I didn’t want to come off clingy. My walls were down, but it had only been two weeks. A girl had to keep some stuff to herself.
A big body moved close behind me, heat hit my back, and before I could turn around, a muscular arm banded around my waist. I stilled.
“Excuse me, pretty lady, you think I could buy you a drink?” the all-too-familiar masculine voice whispered roughly in my ear, and I relaxed.
