Page 17 of Only Me
9
Zeke
“Casey!” I stomp through the empty club, back to the hallway leading to the office. My foot makes contact with the door, and it swings open, the round knob lodging into the drywall on the other side. “I told you not to get out of bed.”
My Spitfire rolls her eyes, and yeah, my cock jumps to attention. I think the twenty minutes it had gone soft between finding our bed empty and getting to the club is the longest it’s relaxed since first laying my eyes on Casey three days ago.
“Zeke, I love you, but you can’t keep fucking me into a coma so I can’t come to work. We have a business to keep afloat. One I care about.”
Anger and a little bit of guilt swirl in my gut because I don’t want her here. Not when it’s closed and especially not when it’s open. Just the idea of her being in this place where men come to gawk at naked women makes me want to crush things with my bare hands.
“I knew I should’ve made you take a shower with me.” I hadn’t thought she noticed I’d been trying to keep her so preoccupied with my dick that she couldn’t come to work. But apparently I’m not as sly as I think I am. “I hate the thought of you around men like the one grabbing you a few days ago.”
Her face softens, and a little measure of guilt creeps in. “I get it, I felt the same way when I saw that woman all over you. But this is our business. A strip club might not seem like something to be proud of to most people, but this is Luther and Murray’s legacy. I can’t let it slide because you don’t like me being around other men.”
A deep growl works its way up from deep inside. Frustration like I’ve never known threatens to overwhelm me, and for the first time, I need to take that frustration out with my fists. But never on my Spitfire. The nearest wall would do though.
“Hello, lovelies. I couldn’t help but hide right outside the door and listen to every word you said.” Something about the man that just barged into the room is familiar, but I can’t place it, and I refuse to let another man around my Casey.
Taking a giant step toward the newcomer, I back him into the wall. “Who are you?”
The guy is short and thin with a shiny bald head and twinkling brown eyes. The grey suit he wears clings to his lean frame, and the bright pink shirt underneath is open at the collar. He’s not a threat in any sense of the word, but I won’t take chances with my woman.
“Good morning Farm Boy, not had your Wheaties yet?” That voice. The nickname, it has something in the back of my mind wiggling to click into place, but I can’t quite get there.
Casey’s soft hand on my shoulder calms my possessive instincts slightly. Slightly. “Back off, Zeke. It’s Zsa Zsa.”
I know my eyes are widening and my jaw is on the floor, but hell if I can stop the shocked reaction from playing out in real time on my features. “The DJ? But aren’t you… I mean I thought you were...”
“A woman? Thanks, hun, good to know I can still pass with the laymen of the world. When not in heels you can call me Justin.” He reaches his hand out, but instead of shaking my hand, he holds his up in an obvious sign that I should kiss it, which I don’t.
“Sorry, only skin I kiss is standing behind me being stubborn.”
Justin smiles, his cheekbones popping out in stark relief, and suddenly, there she is Zsa Zsa without the big hair I now realize was a wig and pounds of makeup. “Good man. I think I have a solution to your little possessive problem.”
Recovering from the shock of finding out the man before me is the same as the woman teasing me mercilessly three nights ago, I cock one eyebrow at him.
“After all those women flocked in here to get a look at our new boss, I got a rather brilliant idea, if I do say so myself.” Justin huffs out a breath onto his manicured nails and rubs them across the soft fabric of his suit jacket. “Let’s diversify. Ladies night is featuring an all-male revue. Magic Mike without all the bad acting and plot.”
Rage boils up inside me. Even in the backwoods of Amish country we knew about Magic Mike. No way am I letting a bunch of oiled up, smooth talking, dancing men near Casey. My fists clench at my sides. Every muscle coils ready to spring as if hordes of male strippers will walk through the door at any moment.
“Okay, Hulk, simmer down. Our dear sweet Casey won’t come anywhere near the guys. That will be our arena. You and I will hire and manage all-male performers. Casey and I will manage all the female performers. Casey will not interact with the men and Zeke won’t interact with the women. Both of your roles will be entirely behind the scenes, and you’ll both leave the premises before the threat of bare nipples and butt cheeks are even a possibility.” Justin fans his hands out at his sides and waggles his fingers around. “Tada, problem solved.”
“Enough with the jazz hands, Justin. There’s one major flaw in your plan. We still have to be here at night to manage the club. It would be impossible for me to avoid our male customers or Zeke to avoid the rabid females that would come to the male revues.” Before Justin can answer her, Casey keeps on talking. “And if we switched off nights, then we would never see each other, and now that I’m having sex I’d like to keep having sex.”
That shouldn’t embarrass me. I’m not ashamed of what Casey and I do behind closed doors. But still, I’m not used to the frank way these people talk about sex. Not having it be a taboo subject will take some getting used to.
“Darling, I’m disappointed in you forever doubting me. The solution to your problem is right here.” With a flourish of his hand over his head and twirl, Justin bows at his waist. “You will promote me to club manager, with a sizeable pay increase paid for entirely by the amount of money lady’s night will bring in. You all manage the behind the scenes. I manage the front of the house. As Zsa Zsa, of course, she is a staple here after all.”
We both laugh a little, but when Justin doesn’t join us, it becomes clear that he’s serious.
He weaves his hands together and puts on a much more serious face than I’ve seen in the few times we’ve interacted. “I’ve worked here fifteen years; I know as much about the business as the two of you combined. I love the club as much as anyone. I can handle any angry patron with pizazz and calm. I’m married to your head of security, so you know they like me.” He focuses on Casey. “You found your person, darling. I know you want to make babies and do all that family shit you breeders love. This club is my baby. Let me help you grow it.”
I glance over at Casey and my heart races to see she has one hand caressing her lower stomach as if there might already be a baby there. I know it’s too early to tell, she’s explained to me how that all works. But still, even the chance makes my entire body swell in excitement and possessiveness.
“I know I’m new, but I think it sounds good. I want to still be a part of something my uncle loved. But I don’t ever want to see anyone naked but you. And the other way around.”
Casey bites her lip, and I can see it’s hard for her to let go of control. “I want to have weekly meetings to discuss how things are going in your new role, and annual reviews. The whole thing. And you’ll have to help us hire your replacement as DJ, you won’t be able to do that and keep the place running smoothly.”
