Page 43 of Killer Kiss

I fucking needed them tonight. It was the weekend, so it would be the biggest night of the week. I hadn’t found anyone to go home with all week, and my wallet desperately needed the top-up. If I didn’t make rent tonight, the odds of doing it any other night would be slim to none.

I wasn’t scheduled to perform until later in the evening, so while Eve and Lyric did their thing on the main stage, and Phoenix did his in the smaller room, I played waiter. Though strolling around the club and handing out drinks didn’t tip as well as dancing did, I still enjoyed it. It was a break from my norm, and getting to keep my pants on for a while was a nice bonus.

The stream of customers increased after the clock hit ten, and by eleven, the place actually had a bit of a buzz about it. Eve winked at me from the stage, her sultry performance face firmly in place, but the wink was a clear, ‘Holy shit! We’re actually busy.’

I grinned back at her.

Only for it to fall a second later when the baby eater herself walked through the doors.

“Fuck. Off,” I muttered, putting down my drink tray and striding to the door where Ophelia stood gazing around at the place. I stopped in front of her and jerked my head toward the door she’d just walked through. “Out.”

She rolled her eyes. “Do you still have your panties in a twist over this afternoon?” Her gaze dipped over my chest and stomach, following the line of hair that ran beneath my jeans with her eyes. “Or are you not wearing any?”

I shook my head. She thought she was so cool. So sophisticated and in control.

But I’d seen the effect my body had on her. I knew how to use that. I leaned in, my lips brushing the softest part of her neck, the bit right beneath her earlobe. “Care to find out?”

I didn’t miss the sharp intake of breath before she shoved me away. “Don’t do that.”

I laughed. “You came to my club, Ophelia. You know I’m a stripper. You came for the show, just admit it.”

Her cheeks went the prettiest shade of pink, but I pretended not to notice.

It took her a good thirty seconds to get herself under control before she came up with a reply. “Actually, I came to apologize.”

I folded my arms across my chest and stared at her.

She stared back. Eventually, when I didn’t fill the silence, she huffed out, “Well? Do you accept my apology?”

“I didn’t actually hear one.”

She glared at me. “You know what? This was a mistake.”

She whirled around, but without any conscious thought, I instinctively grabbed her wrist and hauled her back. She stumbled on her heels, and I caught her arms, steadying her.

She was pissed. But some part of me liked it and couldn’t help antagonizing her further. “I don’t know where you grew up, but around here, when someone breaks into another person’s house and accuses them of kidnapping and holding a woman hostage, with zero actual proof, an apology actually sounds something like, ‘Augie. I’m really fucking sorry I was an uber asshole and broke into your home and accused you of shit you would never ever do. It’s me. I’m the problem. I have no boundaries and I think the entire world revolves around me and what I want. I can’t help it. I’m a spoiled little Providence princess and I know no better.’”

She tried to remove her wrist from my grip, but nah, I wasn’t having that. She fucking owed me that apology. I wouldn’t let her go. Of course, if she’d truly wanted me to, I would have, because contrary to her shitty ideas, I actually would never hold a woman against her will, not even this one who seemed hell-bent on insulting me at every turn.

But my gentle grip did the job, and I knew in an instant she didn’t really want to get away from me.

I couldn’t help the way that sent a spear of pleasure through me.

Fuck, she was pretty. Her brown eyes were so big, lined with dark makeup that made them seem black in the low light. Her lips were full and sweet, and when she bit the bottom one my dick kicked hard in response. Her hair was so long and glossy, falling down her back in waves that I just wanted to wrap around my fist and…

“Fuck,” I swore beneath my breath, letting her go before I ended up with a raging hard-on I couldn’t dance with. “Whatever. Go.”

The roles reversed so quickly I couldn’t stop it. Her fingers clutching my arm, drawing me back toward her. Our gazes slammed together, and fuck if my breath didn’t completely disintegrate with the sudden urge to drop my mouth down on hers so I didn’t have to hear whatever she was about to sass me with.

But when she opened her mouth, her voice was softer than I’d ever heard it. “I really did come to apologize. I’m sorry about today. I was out of line with what I said. I know you love Fawn and you would never do anything to hurt her.”

The reminder of her sister sent a stabbing hurt through me. I had no romantic feelings for Fawn. She was the little sister I’d never had, and I would do anything to have her back here right now.

Yet I was standing here, thinking about how it would feel to run my tongue along Ophelia’s lips, to feel them part beneath mine and let me in.

I stepped back, putting distance between us. “Fine. Your apology is accepted. Whatever. See you around.”

She refused to let me go. “Augie, stop. Wait. I meant it. I really am sorry. I know I made you uncomfortable.”

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