Page 20 of Garnish with a Candy Cane
Not okay, actually. I permit her innocent kiss on my cheek rather than the bruising kiss I planned, claiming her in front of her customers, because there’s no way in hell I’m leaving her in this place. I’ve agreed to her terms, and now she’s going to have to agree to mine.
Once her tiny feet hit the doorway to the backroom, I slide out my phone and dial my best captain for him to gather every available man for the greatest assignment they’ve had in their lives. Once he understands my orders, I stride to the woman I assume to be the manager the way she delivers instructions to four girls in short skirts gathered around her.
I cut in front of a tall blonde whose ass cheeks hang out of her skirt and ignore her accurate description of asshole muttered under her breath. I know what I am and don’t waste time arguing the point. Holding up a thick stack of hundreds between my thumb and forefinger, I ensure she understands how serious I am. “I’m bringing in a party of twenty. I want all the tables cleared in Noelle’s section for my group.”
Like a little kid cartoon I almost expect dollar signs to blink in her big blue eyes as her mouth falls open and her head bobs, confirming she understands who I am and what I demand. “Yes. Yes sir, M-Mr. Toscani.”
With the tip of a long red nail, she points toward the middle of the horseshoe shaped bar surrounding the stage and then the six highboys behind the currently dark platform. “This is her area.”
My girl must be good if she’s earned the most lucrative area to cover. Once again, Noelle surprises and impresses me. I grin to myself, and the blonde smiles back nodding a little too enthusiastically with the mistaken belief I intend my admiration for her. I school my expression to the one I present bastards before I give my torturer the approval to begin tormenting them, and she takes the hint. Newfound fear dulls her features, and her plump body jerks in her haste to turn away.
Thick but agile, she moves like her ass is on fire to bark out commands to the name caller chick I cut in front of and the bored looking bartender before hustling to the three losers plopped on stools closest to the dancers. With a few animated gestures on the manager’s part and grumbles on theirs, they pick up their watered down drinks and stumble to the end on the right side despite their protests. The waitress who called me on my shit earlier brings fresh jack and cokes for them and when the boss lady confirms they’re on the house, all the complaints stop for them to settle in and throw back heavy swallows of their complimentary cocktails. Not like the lushes haven’t been here for hours already with their glassy eyes and unsteady gaits but that’s not my problem. My focus remains on my Duchess.
I slide into my own seat and wave away with a dismissive flick of my hand to the waitress who seems to have warmed up to me now that she knows who’s in charge. She doesn’t earn my gaze or my attention. I don’t want her. I don’t want booze. I don’t want anything or anyone but Noelle.
Her confused expression when she steps out onto the main floor with her apron tied tight and a round tray in her delicate hands makes me smirk like the pompous bastard that I am when I jump to my feet. Unable to resist, I cup her elbow when she reaches me and haul her as close as I can with us still clothed. I nuzzle her neck and breathe her in before I tell her the truth that will get her all rowdy. “I’ve invited a few friends to join me for drinks.”
“You want to watch the strippers?”
Hurt, that hurts me a fucking million times worse, draws down her sweet face. Fuck! “No Duchess. I want to watch you.” Confusion replaces her pain since she doesn’t dance – thank fuck for that – and I have to clarify my intentions before this turns into a shit fest I can’t recover from. “I might have agreed to the two weeks’ notice but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to protect you. I go wherever you go.”
Realization brightens her face until she shakes her head, seemingly at war with what she wants versus what she mistakenly believes is right. “You don’t have to do that. I know you have better things to do than–”
“No.” Fuck that shit. As gentle as I can manage with her bursting with doubt, I tug her against me. “Nothing is better to me than being with you. I want to be here. I’m not leaving. So don’t argue with me.”
She releases a long breath, more calming than aggravated, and nods. Even better – she smiles. Huge and pleased. All her earlier disappointment vanishes completely. “Okay, I’d like that too.”
I understand why from the men leering at her from other tables. Only, once again, she’s oblivious to the attention and doesn’t realize how fucking alluring she is or that she needs my protection.
“Can I get you a drink?”
She’s cute, keeping up her duties while I want to drag her out of here and fuck her til dawn. “Yeah, Duchess, bring me the best scotch this dump has.”
“Coming right up.”
Just like my furious cock for letting her walk away with the glorious sway of her hips enticing me. While she places the order, my guys start to make their way in and to her section. Nods of approval and assertions of appreciation are thrown my direction. A night of alcohol and pussy paid for by the boss always earns gratitude which I use to my advantage to thank them for their loyalty. A double win. Well make that a triple win for Noelle. She’s going to earn a ton tonight and won’t have to put up with any assholes grabbing for her. Well except for me of course.
A chuckle rumbles in my throat from her shock at my team filling the tables, and she hustles to bring me my drink, barely brushing my cheek with a kiss before she makes her rounds. With the fear of death instilled in them, they’re respectful, despite the location, and keep their eyes and their hands to themselves as instructed. No one looks at her, which seems to confuse her. She keeps going like the trooper she is, scribbling down their requests and fliting back and forth between the bartender and us. After four trips, I gently circle her wrist and pull her breathless body onto my lap. “You’re fucking incredible, you know that?”
The pink flush spreading across her cheeks makes my cock twitch under her thighs and she squirms, only driving the iron rod deeper between her cheeks.
“Thank you. But you know I’m supposed to be working.”
I slide out my card to ensure the manager knows I’m good for whatever my guys want. “I understand, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to steal every second I can with my girl.”
She blushes even more, and I fight the urge to carry her out of here. “Run a tab for me and then come back so I can tell you what I want next.”
With a glance to my untouched glass, she smiles a shy smile at me. “I already know what you want.”
The little tease giggles and hops off my legs, almost running to the cash register. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she wants me to chase her. Which I gladly will tonight and any other time she attempts to get away from me. I stare at my beautiful prey while she settles up what we’ve spent so far and grabs another tray full of drinks.
Fuck if I’m not a lucky bastard. She’s magnificent with the utter joy radiating on her dazzling face. A growl I can’t suppress rumbles in my throat from the realization other fucking men get to see her pleasure. That’s my smile – not theirs. Meant for me – not them. Generated by me – not motherfucking them.
She stalls in her steps when some bastard at a table in the neighboring section brushes his fingers on her shoulder to get her attention. I guess he’s going to have to learn how to live without his hands.
I’m on my feet in an instant with my Glock aimed at his brainless head, yet can’t stop the bullshit playing out in front of me when the idiot next to the fucker grabs her waist and attempts to pull her closer to him. He’s going to have to learn to live without handsandlegs.
Unbalanced from the yank toward him, Noelle wobbles and the glasses crash to the floor. Fuck me if my Duchess defends herself and gets an elbow to his gut shocking the hell out of the both of us. She’s an angel yet still savage when necessary.
