Page 13 of Chains of Obsession

“And these runners… are they experienced in handling a gang of that scale? Since the Dellers are good at staying off the radar, I assume their team and connections must be strong,” Jacques comments.

“They’re not,” Aidan quickly blurts out. “If they were, I wouldn’t be here offering you this deal.” He leans in. “You can make a lot of money.”

I move my head from side to side, putting on a show of contemplating the price. “Let’s see…” I hum.

Suddenly, all the lights dim, and a low roar of cheers and applause fills the room.

The air fills with static energy, and as if a magnet attached itself to me, I cast my gaze to the stage, where a single spotlight shines on a glittering pole right in the centre, at the very tip of the stage. Every single chair placed around the stage is occupied. Jac continues grilling Aidan, but his voice fades out as sensual music starts flowing through the speakers, and the LED screen lifts to reveal a petite, toned woman. A pink spotlight shines directly on her as she slowly moves forward, shadowing every curve of her body donned in lacy lingerie. I’m captured by the way she moves across the stage. Fluidly dragging one tall heel in front of the other, the muscles in her legs flex with the movements.

My breathing picks up as she runs her hands up her body and through her gently curled hair, my eyes trailing every movement she makes. Stretching her arms up and outwards, she lets her locks brush the curve of her perfectly round ass as she tilts her head back, and I’m fucking mesmerised by the sight before me. Her plump mouth tilts up in a smirk, looking straight forward, as she grabs onto the pole. It doesn’t look like she’s paying attention to anyone. Just a blank stare, like she’s not even in the room.

The chorus starts, and I realise the lyrics of the song are very fitting to the spell she’s cast on me, because I couldn’t take my eyes off her even if I tried.

My hand comes up to the collar of my shirt, gently tugging it further away from my neck as I swallow, my skin feeling flushed.

I zero in on her and the way she moves, everything else around me fading out until it’s just her.

But I’m not focused on how her ass bounces when she moves or how she runs her tongue up the pole, putting on a seductive show.

No.

While seductive she may be, there’s an undertone of sadness in the way she dances. Something that goes deeper than just putting on a show.

I can’t see her face clearly from this distance, but I fucking wish I could. I’m savouring every glimpse of her between motions, and I’m overwhelmed by the feeling of wanting to know this goddess hanging upside down, gripping the pole with her legs. Which is… concerning, because I’ve not had any interest in women for the last few years. They throw themselves at me all the time, but they’re good for a quick fuck and nothing more. Precisely what Penelope was.

My chest heats as she gets on all fours, flipping her hair around and snaking her torso in a smooth wave, biting her lip.

Fuck.

The sight of her has blood steadily creeping down to my cock. But now is not the time or fucking place.

I know Jacques and Aidan are talking, but I can’t hear a word they’re saying.

Watching the way she sensually smooths her hands along her body has me imagining my own roaming those curves.

The pole spins as she wraps herself around it. She stretches her neck back, and my fist clenches as I try to stop the thought of what it would feel like to have my hand wrapped around her slender neck.

She opens her eyes mid-spin and catches my gaze for a split second, her eyes momentarily widening. A second that almost has me standing up and getting closer to the stage, if only to get a glimpse of her beauty.