When the lights go down, I turn my attention to the center stage. Voodoo cranks through the sound system as five girls float from the ceiling with aerial silks.
Color me impressed.
Perfectly synchronized, the girls twirl and spin on their way down in moves that are as graceful as they are sexy. Suddenly, I find myself wondering if Bastian and Rory didn’t turn this place into a Burlesque show instead of a strip club. It’s beautiful, but I’m not here for art. The hedonistic caveman in me wants ass and tits. With any luck, this case of blue balls caused by lush, wheaten curls and eyes the color of my favorite Macallan will be remedied at the end of the night.
But even I can’t deny the sex appeal of five scantily clad women floating from the ceiling. I just hope the scanty becomes naked soon.
My eyes linger on the stage farthest from me, taking in every movement and motion before moving to the next. I sip on my water, watching with interest, my eyes feasting on the delectable bare flesh of each woman, until they find the stage closest to me, just as the girl spins to a halt.
And I lose my breath.
To loosely quote Humphrey Bogart: Of all the strip clubs in the world, I had to stumble into hers.
To say this is unexpected would be an understatement. She doesn’t seem the type. Or she didn’t until this moment when I realize the girl’s body moves like a vision.
When our eyes lock, I see her pale flesh turn a beautiful shade of crimson. She doesn’t falter,though. Her steps stay perfectly in sync with those of the other girls. Or so I assume since my eyes won’t leave hers.
Those heavenly golden tresses fly around her face wildly as she moves her body with control and strength. Her eyes stay fastened to mine. Trepidation and fear fill them—and maybe a hint of lust—as she gyrates her hips in a bewitching circle that has me imagining her on top of me.
I watch with rapt fascination as she seductively climbs to the top of the pole. Legs that don’t make sense on someone so small wrap around the slim metal as she uses strength that defies logic to lean back, tossing her top to the ground as she hangs upside down.
I am done. My brain has melted. All the blood in my body has left every other organ in favor of one particular muscle that is now acting as my heart.
I haven’t been a virgin since I was twelve, but fuck, if she so much as breathes on me right now, I’d make the most desperate virgin look like he has staying power.
I sit, unmoving from that seat for four hours and dozens of dances. The only one that I care about is the willowy blond with the wild mass of curls.
When the last show ends, I’m out of my seat, heading to the backdoor. I walk through the crowd, rather uncomfortably since my pants feel about two sizes too tight, right past the two bouncers that are shielding the backstage area. I hear the giggles and murmurs of the girls behind the dressing room door along with my name once or twice.
Once I’m out the door, I prop myself against the building. Right across from the door. I want to be the first thing she sees when she comes outside.
They begin filing out of the building, one by one—well, actually in groups of two and three. I fight the urge to roll my eyes at their giggles and whispers like they’re a bunch of teenage girls walking through high school hallways.
When Delaney comes out, she shakes her head at me with a big smile. “I figured you’d be out here waiting.”
I cringe, thinking she must believe I’m waiting for her. “I—uh—Del—”
“I knew the way you watched her that something was up. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you react that way to a woman.”
I tilt my head, wondering exactly what she thinks she saw. Because the only thing I knew was I had never been so turned on in my fucking life. I blame it on the fact that I haven’t had a fix in three weeks, and it’s been even longer since I got laid.
“How do you think I reacted?” I ask, curious about what she thinks she saw.
“Interested, Madsy. You were actually interested. Not just looking for a quick fuck.”
“Nah,” I grin as I pull a pack of cigarettes out of my pocket. “I’m still looking for a quick fuck.”
“If you say so,Mads, but you should know she’s not the kind of girl looking for a quick anything. She’s kind of had her heart broken.”
My chest tightens when she tells me what I already suspected. It’s why I know I need to stay the fuck away from her because all I have to offer is a quick fuck. “She tell you that?”
“No. But I heard her on the phone once. Her ex,I think. I don’t know what he said, but she couldn’t quit crying. Kept asking why she wasn’t good enough.”
“Fuck,” I hiss, dragging my hand through my hair.
“Exactly. She’s not in a place for anything,” she tells me,then gets quiet for a second. Gears clearly turning in her mind. “Although, maybe a quick rebound with the hottest man on the planet will boost that self-esteem of hers.”
I laugh even though it doesn’t feel funny. In fact, the idea makes my stomach flip. I don’t have anything to offer, but I also don’t want to be her rebound. I want her to see how fucking gorgeous she is and how absolutely desirable, but I don’t want to come in second place to anyone. Not again.
