Page 43 of City of Salvation

One, I liked making Dex laugh.

And two, even though he said the most outlandish shit that had everyone else laughing, he didn’t laugh often.

Now I was staring at him, racking my brain for memories of him laughing. My musings were cut short when the newbie was dumb enough to open her mouth again.

“Aren’t you going to do anything about her?” she asked, her eyes wild. “She tried topunchme. Crazy bitch.”

Dex’s laughter came to a dead stop. “What did you call her?” His tone was cold. “Get the fuck out. Pack your shit and find somewhere else to dance.”

The girl’s mouth opened, probably to argue, but Dex cut it off before it began. “You’re not too bright, are you? Get the fuck out before I let Nikki go. I’m already regretting saving your face the first time. I only stopped her because I didn’t want her hurting herself. I don’t care if she fucks you up. She probably has a good reason.”

Now the girl was shaking like a leaf. I almostfelt bad.

“You got a robe or some shit?” Dex said in my ear. He was so close I could smell the alcohol and mint on his breath, and I had the urge to turn my head and see what that combination would taste like on my tongue. “Nikki?” he prodded when I still hadn’t answered.

“I’m sorry. What?” I asked.

Dex chuckled and repeated his question. “Do. You. Have. A. Robe?” He punctuated each word as if that would help my comprehension.

I rolled my eyes at his antics. “I didn’t hear you, asshole. And what do I need a robe for?”

He released the arm he had around my middle. My bare skin instantly pebbled up with the loss of his heat.

How had I not even realized he was still holding me?

“Because,” he moved around to where we were facing one another, “you can’t walk out there dressed in a thong and a sheer bra.”

I snorted. “That’s, like, the whole point of what I do, Dex.”

Crystal walked over to Dex, holding out a silky piece of fabric with plumes of feathers along the bottom and at the sleeves. He took it, making her blush as he thanked her and winked.Thatwas why I didn’t want him walking through the dancers’ entrance. He was far too fucking charming.

It has absolutely nothing to do with me not liking him showing other women attention. Nothing.

Because that would suggest Iwanted Dex’s attention.

And I most certainly did not…

He held the thing open, staring at me expectantly. “Put it on, Nikki. You’re not dancing tonight.”

“Like hell, I’m not,” I said with a chuff. “What? Are you going to pay me for tonight?” I instantly regretted the words when I saw the glint of challenge in his eyes. He prowled toward me—it was the only way to describe his movements—sending a thrill of anticipation through me.

What the hell waswrongwith me?

Dex moved behind me once more, assisting me in putting on the silky garment. I was used to having men help me out of clothes—I had never experienced how intimate it was to have someone dress me. A shiver of excitement ran through me as the fabric caressed my skin. I was so entranced by the whole moment that I didn’t even bother resisting, lying to myself that I would just take the robe off after he was done.

The coarse hair of his beard rubbed against my cheek as he leaned into me, reaching for the two open sides from behind. His fingers brushed the skin right above my hips, a featherlight touch that had my head swimming.

“Ask me nicely,” he purred into my ear, grabbing the two strings of the robe and securing them in a knot at my front.The thin material was the only barrier between his hand and my stomach, and I had to bite back a moan at the contact.

“What?” The word escaped me as little more than a breath.

A warmth brushed across the side of my face. “Ask me nicely to pay you for tonight, spitfire, because I will. I’ll cover whatever you would have made. Hell, I’ll even double it,” he whispered, his voice low and seductive.

His strong arms dropped away, leaving me feeling bare even though I now wore more clothing than a moment before. I noted how turned on I was, when he’d barely touched me—nothing beyond that initial contact when he’d held me back. But we were so close that if I leaned back just a bit, our bodies would practically meld together.

I turned to face him, neither of us moving back. We were almost eye height when I was in my shoes, but he still had a few inches on me. His attention was intense. I wanted to look away, but he had me pinned in place.

“You need to release some of that built-up tension, Nikki.”

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