Page 26 of Tops
The guard cracked a smile before looking down at me. “We are literally part of security, Nessa. Of course, we know who you are. My twin brother Roy,” the guard said, gesturing to the other guard. They didn’t look exactly alike, but I could see the resemblance now that it was mentioned. “I’m Troy,” the first guard continued. “But I was trying to say that Roy was part of your class security team. He told me all about you and Nik in the parking garage.”
I felt the burn on my cheeks, as I knew they were bright red. We were not in that compromising of a position other than me melting into Nik’s arms.
Fuck.
Okay, I saw their point.
“I’m here to have a word with Tanner. It’s urgent, or else I would have waited,” I said with a calm, relaxed tone. My cheeks might have betrayed me, but this time my voice did not. Maybe some of this give-less-fucks really had its advantages.
The twins smiled at each other before parting the curtain and allowing me passage into the stairwell to the loft. I had a feeling Tanner was in his office. I ran up the steps on my tiptoes, being quick and quiet, while also realizing I was barefoot. But it was more than that. I hadn’t bothered to change out of boxers and a loose t-shirt. My arms crossed my chest as I realized lounge attire also meant no bra.
Crossing my arms only attracted more attention to the area. I had to hope the bagginess of the shirt hid it well enough. Hannah freely went out of the house without bras. She’d always been trying to get me to try it, particularly in the summer.
I fluffed out the front of my shirt before opening the door to the loft and heading right for Tanner’s office.
Tanner
She didn’t bother to knock before bursting into my office yet again. This time she wasn’t falling ass over tits, either. Shame really. Bet that loose shirt would come all the way off if she leaned too far. It bothered me she wore such ill-fitting clothes and always looked like she had just rolled out of bed. She didn’t even try, and my cock twitched in her presence.
I had never wanted a woman in the way I wanted Vanessa Reeves Harlow. I hadn’t expected the immediate attraction I felt for her when she stumbled into my life. Accusing me of the one thing I held most sacred. My sexual tastes might not be to everyone’s palette, but there was a need for trust and safety.
There was just one problem. She was a virgin.
While that wasn’t a problem for me, per se. It did throw a bit of a wrench into some other unique aspects of the kind of relationship I was interested in.
“I need a word with you,” she bit, sitting in the same chair as last time. She brought her feet up onto the seat and curled them around her. I had noticed she did that when she sat on the couch too.
“You have a phone,” I suggested, holding mine up for reference.
“Is there really a threat to my life, or is this some big game you came up with to kidnap me?” Her words didn’t make sense, no matter which way I rearranged them.
“What?”
“I know you, Nik, and Colten are involved in some illegal stuff. I just want to ensure that this whole thing isn’t some trick to kidnap me.” There was a slight waver in her voice. She was used to masking, but even the best ones could slip under the proper pressure.
I was, after all, a master at masking. No one was interested in seeing who I was underneath this façade other than Nik and Colten. They knew who I really was, and they were just like me.
“You don’t have that high of clearance to get the rest of the information on our business practices. Mr. Colten Black will assure you that everything is perfectly legal. Running both an exotic club and a fetish club from the same venue is tricky business. That’s why some days are for Tops and some days are for Bottoms. You have now experienced both.” There wasn’t a crack in my mask while I calmly explained my entirely legitimate and legal business to her.
“Then why do you need a detective as a partner?” she accused, thinking we needed a dirty cop to clean up our messes.
“Nik heads the security detail for the entire business, finding retired police officers and veterans that want a little cash doing security. The safety of our staff has always been a cornerstone of our founding principles.” I gave her a curt smile as I watched her mind flop around like a flounder out of water. Her mind got wrapped up in erratic conspiracy theories often, it seemed. She wasn’t that far from the truth either, not that I would confirm her suspicions.
“Oh,” she said, visibly deflating in the chair as her shirt hung so limply that she looked like she was sitting inside a pile of laundry.
“And why aren’t you wearing any of the clothes I bought for you?” I asked her, forcing her eyes to meet mine with my tone. She went to speak, but I started before she could. “Let me guess, you thought it was bought with dirty money.”
“Actually,” she started, narrowing her eyes rather than lowering them in submission. “Actually,” she began again after rethinking her tone, “they cost too much.”
My mind needed a moment. I wasn’t expecting that to be the reason, not after finding out that Nessa was living in New York City off a back-home bank account. It didn’t sound like the money was invested in anything substantial, meaning it must have been quite a sum.
“I wasn’t asking for you to buy them. The clothes are already paid for. Purchased for you as a provided amenity while you uproot your life. I can have alternates arranged if you prefer a different brand name.”
“I prefer my own clothes. I don’t want any from you. Don’t insult my clothes either. I happen to like them and feel comfortable in them.” Her back was straight again as she fought hard to stand up for herself. It made me want to crack a smile.
I enjoyed watching her find her hidden, brazen nature. Letting go for a while must have felt liberating to someone like her. “I apologize if that sounded offensive. But you shouldn’t walk around Bottoms dressed like this, or you will attract far too much attention.” This time I did smile. She had no idea what she had just done, and the confused look on her face confirmed it.
“I can’t walk around in this in my bedroom?” She sounded horrified. I couldn’t tell her that the only thing I wanted her walking around in was rope and candle wax.
