Page 8 of Unrequited (Woodlands 4)

"I've got a seat in the back." He jerked his head down the hall. "You could have some one on one."

"That'd be nice."

"You have someone in mind or just a general preference?"

"How about that one, right there?" Winter had come up to the bar, resting her tray on it. The bartender leaned close to take the order. I pointed to Winter.

"Sorry. She's waitstaff. They don't do private performances. How about Ruby? I mean, all those Asian girls look the same, and Ruby's got more upstairs." He gestured toward his chest.

I wondered if he'd ever said those words in front of Winter. She'd probably deck him.

"No, I like the more natural look. She's it for me. I've had a bad few months, and she's the one who’s going to make it better." I pulled out a hundred dollars. "How about it?"

He looked at the money and then at Winter for a long time. Finally he shrugged. "I’ll ask her, and if she agrees, fifteen minutes."

"Fine."

"Go on back. Second door on the left."

The second door on the left revealed a small room, no bigger than a closet, lit with red lights. It had one armless cushioned chair toward the back and a side table. I hadn't yet settled in when the door slammed open. I jumped to the side to avoid getting hit by the flying wood, and I hid a smile so I didn't get struck by the angry girl at the door.

She was vibrating with emotion. Nearly levitating from it. If she slapped me, I'd welcome it because it would be a response. Finally.

"I can't believe you did that."

"Pay for you? Come to the strip club? Wonder why you’re here? What's so unbelievable about any of those things?" She stood there, the door open, with curious people wandering by. I took her by the arm and gently moved her inside and shut the door. When the door closed, a red bulb above the frame came on and music, stripper music, poured into the room.

This was Winter's cue to strip, but as much as I wanted to see her naked again, I wanted her to talk more.

"Let me out," she demanded, trying to dart around me to grab the knob.

Ignoring her request, I leaned against door. "What are you doing here?” As if I had to ask. I knew it had to do with Ivy before she even opened her mouth.

She pressed her lips together and then with a mulish expression, spat out, “Ivy’s sick. I’m covering her shift.”

I couldn’t prevent my snort of disbelief, but the last thing I wanted was to talk about her sister. “You’ve been ignoring me."

"There's nothing to talk about."

"The hell there's not." I said those words as mildly as possible, but I couldn't hide all my anger and frustration. She looked away. In the red glow, she looked demonic in an impossibly hot way. Her slender legs were encased in black crisscrossing tights, and she wore the same tiny shorts as the blonde who served us. The thing around her torso made her small waist even tinier and pushed her little tits into plump pillows that begged to be bitten and licked.

"You said all you needed to that night."

"I didn't say enough, clearly, because you've been avoiding me." I dug my fingers into my biceps because I was itching to drag her against me and remind her why she shouldn't be ducking me. "That night was damn good for both of us, and don't try to lie and say it wasn't. I felt you coming all over me. Repeatedly."

Even in the red light, I saw her flush, and she looked away, biting her lower lip slicked with dark red lipstick.

"It should never have happened."

"Because why?" I’d wracked my brains after the first few ignored phone calls and came up with a big zero.

Winter stared at the wall. “Because of my sister.”

“That’s a weak excuse. She doesn't have anything to do with us."

She sighed and ran a hand over the side of her head, a gesture that signaled she was nervous and uncertain. "There is no us, Finn. There never will be. I want you to leave me alone."

I closed the space between us. Winter was short, and even in her fuck-me heels, she only came up to my Adam's apple. I tilted her chin up. "That's not happening. That night, Winter…shit, you gave me a gift, and I want to talk about it."

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