Page 31 of Valley

Margie shook her head and said, “Just be careful with him. Something is off. I overheard him threatening Sean to stay away from you last night. It’s strange he’s being territorial and yet is letting you go.”

“Of all the damn nerve,” I snapped, anger flaring up. “After what he did! How could he have the audacity to scare other men away?”

“That’s a man for you,” Margie said seriously. “Men throughout history have found reasons to be raging assholes. Nothing ever changes.”

“Well, he had no right,” I said, pulling open the door with more force than necessary. “I’ll talk and go out with whoever I choose. It’s none of his business.”

Margie chuckled. “That’s the spirit. Just don’t back down.”

Feeling more confused than ever, I pushed into the dressing room to get ready for the evening. The first chance I got, I was going to tell Jarrod to stop whatever it was he was doing. I hated confrontation, but it had to be done.

“WAS THIS SOMEsort of fucking test?” I growled,my grip tightening on the glass in my hand. Sean and Madeline were pushing my limits, and I was about to explode.

With the fear of Kezia and my need for Madeline constantly on my mind, lack of sleep, and Madeline’s fucking dancing, I was on the edge. Seeing her fawn over Sean made me want to tear him apart. I didn’t care who got hurt in the crossfire. Madeline had three performances tonight and was waitressing in between. She didn’t even look my way; her smile reserved for that piece of shit, Sean.

I’d had enough.

I hid in the closet behind the stage, waiting for her to finish her last dance. As soon as she stepped off the stage, I grabbed her and pulled her into the darkness, pinning her against the wall. “What the hell, Jarrod?” she gasped, trying to push me away. “Let me go!”

“We need to talk,” I growled, unable to resist pressing my lips against her neck. Her scent was fucking intoxicating. “What the hell are you doing with Sean?”

“You don’t own me!” she hissed, her eyes burning with anger. “I can talk to whoever I want, be with whoever I want, and it’s none of your business.”

“Stay away from him,” I warned her, my cock straining against my pants as I pressed myself into her. “You don’t want to find out what happens if you don’t.”

“Why are you doing this to me, Jarrod?” she pleaded, her voice breaking. “What did I do to you? You were with Val, and yet you act like we’re together. It’s all so crazy.”

I didn’t have an answer for that. I couldn’t explain the fucking mess that was Kezia. Instead, I pushed my erection into her and growled, “It doesn’t matter. All that matters is I still want to fuck you.”

“You bastard,” she cried, her knee connecting with my balls and shoving me away. She threw the door open and stormed out. “Stay the hell away from me, Jarrod, and that goes for my apartment. You show up again, and my dad will shoot you!”

I watched her go, my cock still throbbing with pain. Fuck, I needed to get a grip. Why did I fucking say that? I adjusted myself and took a deep breath, trying to calm down. But all I could think about was Madeline’s sweet body and the way she tasted. I needed to have her, dammit. She was mine and my mind wouldn’t accept anything else.

Even a knee to the nuts didn’t stop my need for her.

I made my way back to the heart of the club, my eyes scanning the room for Madeline and not seeing her. She’s probably getting ready to leave since it’s the end of the night and that fucking Sean will walk her out. “Hey baby, want to try again tonight?” Val purred, hugging my side.

“No,” I said, moving away to get ready to run stragglers out of the club so I could leave.

“Why did you lead me on?” Val snapped from behind me. “Is it because of Mandy? I saw you and her coming out of that closet. Snipe might be interested in that information.”

This bitch was trying to threaten me. I turned to her and snarled, “Go ahead, tattle tits. I don’t give a fuck.”

Her face fell as she turned on her heel and hurried away from me without responding. I shook my head and got back to work. My mind was on one thing and that was Madeline. I couldn’t leave her alone and I didn’t know what I was going to do.

I HURRIED DOWNthe hallway and into the dressing room,my heart pounding from my encounter with Jarrod. The door slammed behind me, startling the other girls. Their eyes snapped to me in alarm. “Sorry,” I mumbled, dropping my head and rushing into the bathroom, shutting the door softly behind me.

Gripping the sink, I stared at my reflection in the mirror. Mandy stared back at me, the stage persona I wore like a mask. With shaking hands, I turned on the water and scrubbed my face, desperate to wash her away. I needed to see Madeline again, to regain control and perspective. Jarrod’s harsh wordsechoed in my mind, making me feel cheap, dirty, and utterly confused.

I dried my face with paper towels and sat on the toilet, burying my face in my hands. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until a knock on the door reminded me I wasn’t alone. With a determined breath, I stood and opened the door to see Cherry standing there. “I was getting worried. You okay?” she asked. “You look pale.”

“It must have been something I ate,” I lied. “I’m not feeling well.”

“Lucky for you it’s time to go home,” she said with a concerned smile before stepping into the bathroom.

As I gathered my things, a realization hit me like a cold wave: I needed to find another job. The money was good here, but the kind of men I attracted while dancing would never see past my body to the real me.

Mr. Right would never come into my life as long as I was Mandy.

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