Page 34 of Take Me, Sir

Dalton and Juliette stepped through the crowd a moment later, and the expression on my brother's face said Dean hadn't earned any brownie points for bringing me here tonight.

Too fucking bad.

“Dalton, Juliette, good to see you both.” Dean's tone was overly polite.

Dalton made an annoyed sound as he scowled at the floor. Juliette, however, smiled at both of us. They didn't seem to be fighting, at least. While I appreciated her support, I didn't want my problems with Dalton to become an issue in their relationship.

“What do you think, Kyndall?” She gestured around us, then spoke to her sister and Cross, “It's her first time in a club like this.”

I flushed, and Hanna gave me a sympathetic look.

“It can be a little overwhelming at first,” she said. “Just relax and have fun.”

“Dean will take care of you.” There was a warning in Juliette's voice that said if he didn't, he'd have to answer to her.

Hanna leaned close and put her hand on my shoulder. “I'm fairly new to all of this, too, so if you ever need to talk, I'm here.”

Dalton took a step toward me, but Juliette's grip on his hand held him back. She looked at me as she spoke, “We're going to check out a VIP room.”

“And we're going to dance,” Cross said as he wrapped his arm around Hanna's waist.

The other couples moved off, and I felt some of the tension go out of Dean. Without a word, he used the hand on my back to steer me through the crowd over to an elegant flight of carpeted stairs. He angled himself behind me as we went up the stairs, as if he didn't want anyone catching a glimpse of what was under my skirt.

“We're going to watch tonight,” he said as we reached the second floor and he fell into step next to me again. It was a bit quieter up here, and definitely less crowded.

“Watch?” I frowned. I wasn't sure what I'd been expecting, but watching hadn't been it.

“Trust me,” he said with a hint of a smile.

A beautiful redhead came toward us, her gaze sliding over Dean with clear lust in her eyes. Before I could be annoyed, she looked at me the same way.

“Are you two wanting to play?” Her voice was husky. “I can be as good, or as bad, as you like.”

The smile Dean gave her was kind, but not sexual. “Thank you, but no.”

“If you change your mind,” she looked at me, “come find me. We could have a lot of fun.”

She sauntered away, and Dean started walking again, as if these were the sorts of conversations people had every day. I followed him over to a small, shadowed alcove. A sort of chaise sat there, turned so that we could have a clear view of the stage below, but no one up here could see us unless they came right over. He sat down, stretching one leg along the back of the chair while the other foot stayed on the floor.

“Sit.” He gestured to the spot between his legs.

I did, flushing as I leaned back against him. “Do you know her?”

“Know who?” he asked as he wrapped his arms around my waist.

His breath was hot against my ear, making me shiver. “The redhead,” I said.

“No, but I've seen her perform.”

“Perform?”

I felt him smile as his arms tightened around me. The music changed slightly, and I heard murmurs coming up from below.

“See the stage down there?”

I nodded.

“Just watch, love. This is the best way for you to see what my world has to offer...and if you want to be a part of it.”

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