Page 20 of Burning Your Lies

I shake my head. “I can’t ask you to do that.”

She smiles with more conviction. “It’s not like I have anything to do, or anyone to see. Maybe Elise can help me apply for a few jobs.”

I pull her into a hug, and when she can’t see my face, I grin. “Thank you so much. I’ll pay you double what I paid Maria.”

She pulls away. “That’s not necessary.”

Holding her hands, I plaster on my best charming smile. “I insist. You’re saving me in ways you could never understand.”

11

Huxley

The strip club isalive with music and cheers. I scan the dark room and eye the drunk men who are fixated on the women dancing on the stage. I walk closer and stand front and centre. I want to see her face when she knows that I’ve found her. A fiery rage engulfs me, my fists clenching tightly as I imagine her here, dancing for these despicable men.

The blonde on the stage is topless and shaking her ass. She grins at me before crawling towards me. She pulls on my tie. “What’s your name, sexy?”

“Married,” I remark.

Her fake nail runs down my cheek. “Aren’t you all?”

The blank expression on my face has her recoiling away. “Get off me.”

My rejection barely makes her flinch, because she’s onto the next man.

I impatiently wait for Savannah to come onto the stage.What if she’s doing a private dance?My fists curl.I’m going to kill whichever bastard was unlucky enough to pay for that.My fingers unknot when she walks onto the stage. The relief is short-lived because that outfit leaves little to the imagination. There is no way the neon orange mini top and skirt aren’t lingerie. The deep plunge has her breasts bulging out. While the surrounding men can only fantasise how soft they are as they jiggle, onlyIknow the reality. The skirt, if you can call it that, barely covers her ass.

I know she’s seen me, but she parades the stage and pays attention to everyone but me. Her long black hair sways in tune with the music. Savannah sits on the chair, centre stage. With a sexy grin, she spreads her legs and gives everyone a view of the pussy she said wasmine.And then finally, she looks at me. A wink in my direction and then she’s walking towards me. Her arms wrap around my neck. “Hi, husband. Enjoying the show?”

I’m in no mood to play. “Get off this fucking stage right now.”

Her back is pressed against me and her head rests on my shoulder. “Who’s been your favourite performer?”

My hands grip her hip. “I’m not fucking playing with you.” My vision is red andfucking neon orange.“Don’t make me kill all these people.”

I feel her smile. “What did they do?” she asks with innocence.

My lips press against her ear. “I don’t fucking share.”

She’s back to standing in front of me. “Your mother should have taught you better. Speaking of your mother, she’s picked a date for our reception party.” She swings her hips as she walks towards the pole.

Then, like everyone else, I am captivated by Savannah. She twists and turns around the pole in ways that shouldn’t be possible for a human. Her body glows with sweat as she slides up and down, teasing every one of us.

I snap out of my reverie when a leering man helps to pull her skirt down her legs. And then she’s in that top, which is basically a bra and a fucking sheer thong. The men cheer. And that cheerturns to booing when I jump onto the stage and throw her over my shoulder.

“The back, on the left,” she directs without me asking.

A man stops us. “Don’t make me call the police,” he threatens.

“Private dance,” I scowl.

“He’s my husband,” she explains as I storm away.

I slam the door shut and put her on the ground. The small room doesn’t make it any easier to breathe through my blind anger. My skin tingles with uncontrollable jealousy. Only my breathing breaks the silence.

Savannah stands a few steps away from me with a grin. “What do you want, sunshine?”

I want to scream at her. I want to punch something. I want to go break the hands of the man who pulled her skirt down. I want to gouge out the eyes of every person who watched her on stage. “I’m going to kill someone. And it will be your fault.”

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