Page 9 of Loup Garou
Exavier coughed, clearly taken aback by the woman’s comments. If he thought that was bad he’d never make it through the session. Susan had the ability to make even me blush. That was hard to do.
“The offer to meet me in my office still stands.” Before I realized it, I had hold of his large, warm hand. Some piece of me wanted to comfort him. While I was amused by his discomfort, I was also slightly bothered by it. I couldn’t explain the feeling. And yanking my hand away now would only draw attention to it. “Do you want to meet me in a little bit?”
“I’m…umm…good,” he stammered, looking a bit pale. Exavier cupped my hand gently and caressed my wrist with his thumb. It was something that generally occurred between two people who felt comfortable around one another.
I didn’t know him, so why did I enjoy the tiny caresses and feel so at ease with it—with him? “Stay close and I’ll do my best to protect you from the horny housewives.”
He took a large step towards me, pushing his muscular body against me. I sucked in a sharp breath and went to put distance between us. I needed air. I needed him. Exavier slid his arm around my waist and held me close. Effectively trapped, I stilled.
One of my class members cleared her throat. “My inner arms were sore for like two days. I’m thinking this class is working. I’m waiting to be able to move my breasts without touching them. I have no clue how you manage to do it, Lindsay.”
“Onto any subject but making your breasts move.” I clapped my hands. “What mix would you like to listen to?”
Exavier caressed my hip gently and chuckled softly. “I’d like to see that trick.”
I ignored him. “Which routine, ladies?”
They all cast me a “guess” look. Dorothy, another woman who had been coming since I opened the place, smiled wide. “Go with the belly-dancing one. Gina was onto something when she made you that mix.”
Susan laughed. “Do you remember when we all went out to the strip club and the one guy pulled Lindsay on stage? She did her best to weasel out of it until you told them to play that song. The one she seems to zone out on.”
They all snickered while she continued talking. “I thought we were going to have to pull her down and beat the living hell out of those eight sexy men in G-strings who came rushing out to dance with her.”
Hanging my head, I sighed. “Anyone have any naked pictures of me we can share with the group? They might embarrass me too. Better yet, naked baby pictures. Embarrassing childhood moments? Come on. I once walked into a tree because I was too busy staring at a boy I had a crush on when I was, like, five. I split my lip open and ended up crying. He was kind enough to hold a cold compress to it but I really wanted a kiss. I’ve got at least a hundred equally mortifying memories. Want to hear them?”
Exavier grunted and rubbed his body against me. I should have been offended or taken aback. I wasn’t. I was horny. “I, for one,” he whispered, “am all ears.”
I turned to face Exavier, ending up wrapped even tighter in his arms. Our gazes locked and for a moment everything around me faded away. I knew him. Somehow, I knew in my heart we’d crossed paths at some point in my life. I just wasn’t sure when or where. Reaching up, I touched his face. The urge to be near him was so great I couldn’t deny it. What was wrong with me? I didn’t make a habit out of rubbing against men I’d only just met, and I certainly didn’t keep telling myself I knew them when it was clear I didn’t.
His warm breath moved over my cheek and for a minute, I could do little more than stare up at him. His blue eyes seemed to call to me, demand that I look into them. If I didn’t know better, I’d have sworn Exavier had mesmerized me. Whatever he’d done, he’d made it so that I instantly liked and trusted him. Not many people could make that claim.
“Hey,” he whispered. My body responded to the very sound of his voice.
This isn’t right. Snap out of it, Lindsay.
Coming to my senses, I took hold of Exavier’s muscular arm and grabbed a handful of CDs from the shelf near his head. I handed them to him. “Here, make yourself useful and do something other than make me think of you naked.” I froze. Had that really just come out of my mouth?
He arched a black brow as a cunning grin crept over his handsome face. “Naked, huh?”
Yep. I’d said it.
Deciding it was best to just avoid discussing the topic of him being naked, I shoved the CDs at him. “One of those is marked LG mix. It’s the one we’re looking for. Just push play and we’ll be set.”
“Just push play,” he said softly. “Mmm, I think I can handle that. I have to admit, I’d rather play the part of the pole or hear more about you picturing me naked. Maybe we could even swap embarrassing childhood stories.”
“The part of the pole, really?” Grinning, I glanced back at the room full of women. The class was full, meaning I had over thirty students. Thankfully, the room was large and accommodating. “So, which one would you like hanging on you? They all seem interested. I’m sure all you have to do is make your intentions known and you’d have at least ten volunteers.”
“Very funny.”
“Thanks.” I winked. “I do try.”
“No,” he leaned into me, “you come by it naturally.”
Walking away, I left him standing there, the entire time praying it was my ass he was fixated on. I knew if positions were reversed, I’d be staring at his, and I can guarantee my thoughts would be anything but pure.
Putting my arms above my head to stretch, I winced as pain shot through my body. My shoulder especially hurt. My run-in with a group of bad guys the night before had left me broken and battered. With supernatural blood pumping through my veins, I healed quicker thanothers. It didn’t mean I didn’t hurt like hell though. “Ready to warm up?”
“Rough night, Lindsay?” Betty asked.
