Page 3 of Colin

“Oh, I know! Be right back.” She took off across the room and skated across the area in front of the stage, which looked like a dance floor, though it was currently empty. A glimpse of her platform shoes could be seen beneath the ruffling of her skirt as she moved.

“How does she do that?”

Andy smirked knowingly. “Practice. And lots of it.”

I would have to agree. Andy wore combat boots with his outfit, but I wore sneakers. Walking in heals was a big no. Even Andy’s boots were too high for me. I preferred Chucks, and Andy had said they’d be fine for my outfit since I wanted to look like a boy, not a sub. And apparently, there was a distinction there, though I wasn’t sure what.

Even though this was a BDSM club, that’s not what I was after. Andy should know I wasn’t into that, and he knew what was involved at the club. He’d subbed for several men in this club. He even said they’d had him naked on stage at some point. I didn’t want to imagine that, especially when the cross he’d probably been strapped to was currently taking center stage up there. I shook my head to knock loose those thoughts.Ick!

Desirée returned with a tall, slim, older man with a dark mustache and thick dark hair. He wore a halter like Andy’s, onlyhis was thicker and spanned across a broad, hairy chest. “This is Vick Petrov. He’s more your speed, hotshot.” She winked at him.

Vick leered. “So nice to meet you.” He had a slight accent that Colin suspected was Russian or from Ukraine or something else from Eastern Europe.

We shook hands when Andy introduced me, and Vick had a firm shake without squishing my fingers. But his attention made me feel like a prized bull at a meat market. In over my head? Wasn’t that my earlier thought? Yep. Andy and Desirée basically pimping me out only made it worse.

“Maybe we can dance?” Vick asked.

“Dance? No one said there would be dancing.” I didn’t know how to dance. I’d never beenthatguy. I was not a cute twink who could confidently grind against someone. I’d never even gone to dances during high school. My throat started to tighten, and my palms felt sweaty.

“When the music starts, yeah?” Vick nodded toward the dance floor in front of the stage.

Andy leaned over and spoke quietly in my ear. “Hey. Don’t worry. Just hold on and let him lead you.”

“Oh…” I wasn’t sure about that. In fact, I wasn’t sure about anything anymore. What had I gotten into? But surely, dancing with Vick didn’t mean anything. I could back out. I could say no. “Okay. Maybe a dance then. Sure.” I tried to smile, but it felt weak and fake. I wasn’t interested in Vick, and dancing felt like leading him on.

I glanced over at Mr. Lazarus and caught his gaze. The man tipped his head toward me, sending the warm fuzzies running around in my belly. I smiled shyly and looked down at the table, completely intimidated. But Vick thought that shy smile was for him and proceeded to brag about it to Desirée. My head snapped up. I wanted to deny it, but Andy elbowed me and rolled his eyes.It didn’t matter. It didn’t mean anything. I would roll with it and see what happened.

Vick bought me a drink, but I was too nervous to drink it. I hated making chit-chat, and Vick nodded entirely too much, like a bobble head. I didn’t like the man, but he was nice and apparently rich or well-off. Desirée said he did something with financial investments and gave a big phony wink. Giving him a chance didn’t mean I had to sleep with him, right? I followed when Vick grabbed my hand and led me to the dance floor.

We faced each other, and Vick grabbed one of my arms, forcing it around his neck. Then he slid his hand under my hair at the nape. His other hand went straight to my ass. Oh, I did not like that one bit. Other dancers around us had similar poses, and many of them had their hands all over their partners. Some were grinding together to the beat of the music, which I totally expected but didn’t want to do. Could there be anything better than sweaty, half-naked bodies writhing together on the dance floor? Probably, but I couldn’t think of anything else. I let Vick pull me a little closer. I still wasn’t grinding on him. “I love your hair, pretty boy.”

I wasn’t entirely sure that what we were doing could be considered dancing, but everyone else was doing something similar. I could try. I moved against Vick’s body and closed my eyes. Rourke Lazarus’s face came to mind, though. I hadn’t gotten a good look at the man, but from what I saw, he was handsome, dressed well, and he had looked right back at me. But I shouldn’t be thinking of another man while dancing with Vick, should I?

“Excuse me.” I opened my eyes at the sound of someone else’s deep, rumbling voice. And stared right at the man I had been thinking about as if my thoughts alone had conjured him. “Can I cut in?”

Vick said, “No, mind your own business.”

At the same time, I said, “Yes.” My voice was breathy as I held out a hand to Mr. Lazarus. No way was I passing up this chance.

Vick stormed off the dance floor, but I hardly noticed as I was pulled into the arms of a stranger. He smelled earthy, like herbs, maybe basil and sage, with a sweet hint of lavender floating over it. Despite the delicate scent, it was still very masculine. I licked my lips, hoping for a taste as well.

“I’m Rourke,” he said, pulling me to him. Unlike Vick, he kept his hands in respectable places. One rested at the center of my back, the other on my shoulder. We were pressed together but not tightly. Rourke’s movements flowed with the rhythm rather than the gyrating obscenity displayed elsewhere. He had class. Style.

“I know. I’m Colin Turtle.”

“So nice to meet you.” He leaned down closer to my ear and rumbled. “I didn’t want that guy taking advantage of you.”

I shook my head. “I’m not letting anyone do that.”

“And yet he was practically groping you. Isn’t this better?” He swished his hips and rocked me to the side and back.

“I think so, yes.”

We danced another moment, Rourke leading me around the floor until the song changed. Rourke let go but grabbed my hand instead. “Don’t let him touch you like that. Okay?” Then he kissed my knuckles.

Wow. Such a gentleman. Romantic. He floored me, and I could only nod.

Rourke let go and walked away without a backward glance. I wanted to race after him. Throw myself at the man’s feet. He was protective and confident, and I had felt safe in his arms. Standing there alone in the middle of the floor made me feel vulnerable by contrast. I reluctantly returned to the table where Andy and Vick chatted. Probably about me.

---