Page 26 of Strip Search

My face was probably neon red. I hadn’t heard that term before. “Very altruistic of you to check those out for me,” I said, getting up to pace the room. I went through songs I liked in my head, so I could find one to dance to so I could lose myself in the dance again.

He put a hand over his heart. “I’m willing to sacrifice to aid a damsel in distress.”

“You are a prince among men.”

“Most people think I’m a cocky bastard. Besides,” he said sobering. “We responsible siblings have to stick together. If I could save you the heartache I would. Sometimes I wish I could wrap Amie in bubble wrap, so she doesn’t get hurt.”

“You’re a good brother.”

“Not really,” he said. “But I’m trying.”

“Do you have any requests?” I asked, twirling around the pole.

“Music on,” he said. “Play ‘You Can Leave Your Hat On.’” He tossed me my white leather cap.

I spent the rest of the hour trading dances with him and sipping tequila. He was a good dancer and really rocked Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love.” I pretended not to notice his slight limp and, at the end of the hour, he poured himself a large glass of tequila and rubbed his knee.

“Be a luv and send in Maya for me, will you?”

I nodded. “Thanks for everything, Darcy. You were my first and I’ll never forget you.”

He pretended to leer at me. “You can stay if you want and I’ll show you some more firsts.”

“I can’t keep all of this,” I waved my hand up and down his body, “to myself. That would be selfish.”

“There’s enough of me to go around.” He winked. “We’ll find your sister.”

I had to get out of here before I started to cry again. I nodded and opened the door. And nearly walked smack into a man’s chest.

“Miles,” I said in surprise when he cupped my elbow. “I need to get Maya.”

Miles pressed a button on his earpiece. “Maya to room three,” he barked.

“Everything okay, mate?” Darcy asked from inside the room, looking at the two of us curiously.

Miles pulled me closer to him. “Maya will be right with you.”

Darcy raised his glass to us. I gave him a quick wave before Miles whisked me down a corridor and into a large office. He closed the door behind us.

“Is something wrong?”

Miles whirled to face me. He was really close. I took a step back and hit the solid wood of the door. He placed his hands on the door next to my head. The heat coming off him singed my skin. And for the first time in an hour I remembered I was naked except for two stickers on my nipples and a frothy piece of string and beads that barely covered my lady bits.

“How was it?” he rasped.

I swallowed hard. An hour with Darcy and I wasn’t even a little bit aroused. Two seconds alone with Miles and I was dying for him to rest his hard body against me. Heat and menace radiated off him in waves. He was blocking me from leaving and I was afraid if he didn’t move I was going to embarrass myself by kissing him silly.

“My calves are killing me,” I said and looked down at my leg, hoping he’d inch back and look too. No dice.

“You were incredible. Top-notch.”

I flushed. My heart pounded. He liked it. He liked my dancing.

“You’re fired.”

“What?” I shrieked. “Why?”

“I’m not spending another hour like the last one.”

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