Page 51 of Inflame Me
I don’t know whether to be flattered or run the other way. “Thanks?” It comes out as more of a question than a comment.
“You sure are innocent. No wonder Rhys is drawn to you.”
“I told him what you said about him having someone else in his bed. I told him that I don’t do that. It’s either me or not.”
“Shit,” Princess grunts. “Oh, well. Good for you. I hope for your sake that it works out that way.”
I’m a bit confounded, but power on. “You think he can do it?”
She shrugs. “No idea.”
Bang, bang, bangcomes to the outside of the door, and my eyes dart to it.
“Princess, open the fuck up. I need Tanner.”
Rhys. I don’t know whether to be nervous or excited. He has me all twisted in knots.
“Come in,” Princess yells, and the door flies open, crashing into the wall. “Damn, be careful. Cruz hates to have to replace doors.”
“You’re lucky all I’m doing is blowing your door off,” he growls, and with the shiver going down my back, I don’t know if I’m excited or afraid.
“I know. I know. Tanner already told me. At least it’s out of the bag, and you both know what you’re getting yourself into,” Princess says as he stalks into the room.
He points at Princess. “I’ll have Cruz deal with you.” Those eyes meet mine as he pulls me from the bed by my hand. “Come on,” is all he says as I wave bye to Princess, and she stifles a giggle.
He pulls me down the hallway.
“Rhys, where are you taking me?”
Two seconds later, we are in his room, and he has me up against the door, his lips on mine, devouring me. I melt into him. Shit, he can kiss. What was I supposed to be thinking? Forget it.
The hardness of the door behind me makes this feel erotic and different. I’ve never had a man who needed me so badly he had sex with me against a door because he couldn’t wait. This would make twice that he’s blown my mind doing these things.
Down on all fours, he takes me hard and rough. I love every second of it. So much so, I pass out.
“HOLY SHIT,” I whisper, walking into Studio X, the strip club that Princess runs. She insisted that I come with her tonight since the guys had club business and asked Ma and Cooper to stay with my mom. I didn’t balk at the idea, because truth is, Princess is kind of scary, and I’m glad I’m on her good side.
The entire place is blood red and black. It gives off almost a classy feel, if that is possible for a strip club. Men line the floor around the stage. A woman with only a thong and a small scrap of fabric over her breasts works the huge stage while other women work the small side stages on either side of it. They line the whole back wall of the place. A huge bar with tons of people lining up to get orders is on the other. Small tables and chairs fill the space, and lights flash every which way with a spotlight on the dancer on the big stage.
“Welcome to my baby,” Princess says, pulling me out of my amusement. “This is X.” The smile on Princess’s face is huge, showing me her pride in the place, and I can see why. Men hold up money like it’s scraps of paper they found lying on the floor. Some are even throwing it at the dancer as she moves near them.
Between the whistles and the music, my ears are thumping hard.
“Come on. Let’s go see if Blaze in the back.” She walks toward the back of the space as I follow quickly through a heavy, velvet curtain where a guy nods at Princess and looks me up and down, assessing.
“You new here?” he asks in a deep voice, and my eyes widen.
He thinks I’m coming to strip here? No way. I would never have the guts to get out there in front of all those men and expose myself. Between my ass and tits, I’m not sure I would fit the profile.
“No,” I say, making his smile falter.
“Shame. With an ass like that, I’d love to give you a ride,” he says just as Princess steps in his face.
“Doug, this is Rhys’s woman.”
The man’s entire body stiffens, and his mouth opens and shuts, but no sound comes out.
“You want me to tell him you’re hitting on his woman?” His head shakes emphatically. “Then do your job and keep your fucking hands to yourself.” Princess growls exactly like the guys do when they are pissed off. Guess growing up there did turn her into one of the guys.
