Page 14 of Hounds Ascend
I laugh nervously. "I like the way she moves. She's got talent, she isn't just some whore trying to get attention because she's taking her clothes off. She can move."
"I agree. I was never a fan of strippers, but the talented ones, ones like her, catch my attention. It's fascinating, in a sense."
"She has a great body, too."
"Eh. She's alright. She's no Lilly Summers, but...you know." Cass shrugs and the amusement in his voice doesn’t go unnoticed by me. The fact that he’s more concerned with me than the half-naked woman moving seductively on the pole makes my heart flutter. I squeeze his hand before looking around the room, my eyes searching for Clayton. When I come up empty, my brow creases as I turn to face Cass.
"What?"
"Where's Clayton?"
"He's around here somewhere. We have plans for lunch with him tomorrow, which will probably mean dinner because he's on biker time."
"Biker time, huh? Somebody needs to tell Scott about biker time."
Cass’s laughter catches me off-guard, making me jump,which only makes him laugh harder.
“Easy, trigger. You’re with me. I won’t let anything happen to you as long as I’m around.”
Cass wraps me tighter in his arms, tucking me under one. My shoulders instinctively relax in the comfort of his arms. I forget where I am for a moment until the song playing ends and Dance by Big Sean and Nicki Minaj bursts through the speakers around the clubhouse.
The crowd around us roars and I can’t help but turn to see what the blonde on the pole is doing. She’s slipped out of the black lace bra she was wearing and has climbed up to the top of the pole, holding on only by her thighs while spinning downward quickly towards the stage. I’m so focused on the woman on stage, I don’t see Micah and Raven walking up until Raven speaks.
“Hey! Y’all made it!” Raven cheers.
“Thanks for inviting us.” I reach out to hug Raven as Micah and Cass start their own conversation.
“Is it always like this around here?” I ask.
“Only on days that end in Y.”
“I don’t know how you do it.”
“I’m still kind of new around here, but it hasn’t taken long for me to fall in love with this lifestyle. Growing up, bikers always intrigued me. I just never thought I’d end up in love with one.”
She shrugs her shoulder nonchalantly, as if we were talking about the weather or what to serve for dinner. I think about what she said for a moment.
“I can relate. One hundred percent. I’m new to this, too. But I wouldn’t give it up for anything.”
“I heard what happened to you. Micah told me when he found out.” Raven’s eyes dart away from mine. I can see the pity in her eyes, and it immediately makes me feel uncomfortable. Shame and embarrassment wash over me. I don’t need people feeling sorry for me. It could have been so much worse than it was, and I’m grateful that all that happened that night was a swift beating.
“It wasn’tthatbad. Not bad enough to make me walk away from the man I fell so madly in love with.” I sigh, stealing a glance in Cass’s direction. He and Micah are a few feet away sitting at the bar, both with beaming smiles, talking like they’re long lost relatives that haven’t seen one another in years.
“That’s honorable, you know. So many women would’ve run for the hills the second they were free. Not you, though. You’re good for him, Lilly.”
It was my turn to beam with pride. “I like to think so.”
Micah strolls over with a shot-glass filled tray balanced on his hand. He lowers it between Raven and I, exhibiting four shots. Two are a milky-cream based shot and the other two are a golden brown. Girly shit and whiskey. I want to protest at the girly shot I know is for me, but I realize it has been a long time since I had a shot that didn’t make my nose burn so I think better of complaining.
“Thank you, you’re too kind!” I exclaim, snatching up one of the shot glasses with the milky cream. Raven takes the other oneand Cass lifts one of the whiskey shots. He gives me an amused glance before Micah grabs his own shot and sets the tray down. He then raises the shot glass in toast.
“To the most loyal family I’ve ever had.”
We clink shot glasses before taking them in unison. I’m determined my shot was a Buttery Nipple. The butterscotch in it is sweet and welcoming, just what I needed to give me a little more pep in my step because the clock is ticking, and I’ve been up since the crack of dawn.
I don’t know how Cass is still going strong. He’s got to be exhausted. As if he read my mind, I hear him say goodbye to Micah.
“We’re going to crash, brother. It’s been a long fuckin’ day and a shower and bed sound so good right now.”
