Page 27 of Bound By Threads
She starts her warm-up, rolling her shoulders and loosening up as she stretches her legs. Her movements are fluid, just like they always are, and I watch the tension in her body melt away with each movement.
It’s like watching poetry come to life, and I spend my days waiting for her to come in to work just to get a glimpse since I have no excuse to go around to Archer’s house with him gone.
He’s home this weekend, and I know from the messages he sent me that he’s dying to get back to Lottie and get eyes on her again. Pictures never seem to do her justice.
Archer doesn’t know what she does. The stripping is our secret, and now that he’s home full-time, I know he’ll find out.
I tap away on my phone, checking in with the security team for tonight, ensuring all exits are covered, but my attention keeps drifting back to her.
I can’t help it — Lottie Reyes is magnetic, like gravity pulling me in, and I’m too damn stupid to resist.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see one of the guys at the bar staring a little too long at her. Mike, the new trainee. I don’t like the way his eyes are lingering on her, like he’s imagining things he has no right to be. It twists something in my gut, something I’m not ready to decipher.
I push off the podium and walk over to the bar casually, pretending to adjust my jacket. I stand close enough to see him shift uncomfortably, his gaze still glued to Lottie, before I knock his drink over with a nudge of my elbow.
It spills all over his lap.
Perfect.
I turn just in time to catch the words he was about to spout forming on his lips, but I raise an eyebrow. His lips move. “Sorry, man, didn’t see you there.”
I smirk and sign.“Too busy staring at Siren?”Reed, who’s trying to hide his smile, translates for me.
Mike hesitates, glancing back at the stage where Lottie is touching her toes, stretching. “She’s something, isn’t she?”
My teeth grind, and I lean in slightly, making sure he knows I’m not kidding. I sign,“She’s off limits.”
Mike looks at me. “I can be quite convincing.”
I’m not worried in thinking he would have a chance; no one touches her unless she allows it, and I make sure of that, but something about the idea of Mike touching herlike thathas my blood boiling. I turn to Reed and shake my head.“He’s done.”I gesture, moving my hands fast enough that he knows I mean business, and leave, wanting to be closer to Lottie.
Her eyes flicker to me, and I feel a sense of relief when I see the trust in her eyes. She knows I’m watching like I do every time she is dancing on that stage, not trusting anyone else with her safety.
That’s why I got this job, after all.
Lottie continues to stretch,the muscles in her legs flexing as she slides into a split with a fluidity that tightens my chest and trousers.
I don’t think I will ever get enough of this.
I pull out my phone again, send Archer a quick message that everything is fine with Lottie, and check in with the manager about the girls’ lineup for tonight so I can ensure I’m out here at the same time as Lottie.
Lottie moves closer to the pole, her hands circling the metal. She’s focused, her eyes locked onto the pole as the music starts, the bass thumping the floorboards under my feet, but her eyes keep drifting to where I’m standing every few seconds, like she’s making sure I’m still here.
“What’s wrong?”I sign.
Her gaze flickers, and she stops moving, turning her full attention to me.“Just thinking about things. You know...”She shrugs it off and twists her torso into a deep stretch.
I tilt my head, signaling I want more than just a quick answer to brush me off. I know her better than that after being in her life for two years. Lottie needs to talk about it, or she’ll retreat into herself and be lost for a few days, hiding behind a calm façade that she’s perfected.
She drops her arms, straightening slightly, her gaze avoiding mine. When she finally meets my eyes, she signs,“It’s nothing you haven’t heard before. It’s just... Archer’s coming home, and I’m happy.”
“But?”
“But I’m scared. Every time he comes back, he’s different...”Her hands still for a moment, hesitant.“Darker.”
I nod, understanding. Every deployment takes a little more from him, leaving something behind in its place. Each time he returns, he’s colder and more brutal, and the way the shadows creep into his eyes when he looks at Lottie—like he’s remembering something—scares even me.
“I get it, but nothing will change,”I try to reassure her.
