Total pages in book: 18
Estimated words: 16504 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 83(@200wpm)___ 66(@250wpm)___ 55(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 16504 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 83(@200wpm)___ 66(@250wpm)___ 55(@300wpm)
“I’m glad you’re here,” Carina said softly.
I ascended her body and made it to her mouth just in time to watch her swallow and lick her lips—a sign of arousal but also nerves. Of course, when I met her eyes, nothing showed except bold sexiness.
“I wouldn’t let my job make me miss this,” I assured.
“Your job? Is this not your job?” Atlas asked. I’d been so focused on Carina that I had a whole ten minutes of blissful ignorance—a break from the fiery heat he kept pouring gasoline on.
“It is, but only when I want to.”
“And what do you do when you don’t want to work here?”
“Sit at home with a glass of wine,” I answered.
“Sounds boring.”
“Which is why I work here part-time.”
“Part-time?” he asked.
I almost laughed, realizing how little we knew about each other despite knowing how he felt inside me. He was taking advantage of our current intimate group to get the information I refused to give at dinner. Part of me wanted to shut him down again but having Carina and Ian listening so closely kept me in check, not wanting to explain later why I was being so cold.
And as much as I hated to admit it, maybe, just maybe, something in me wanted to give a little more about myself. It had to be the night—the thrilling, adventurous atmosphere urging me to give in. It was the only thing that made sense to explain my weakened defenses.
“I have a big girl job that takes up most of my time elsewhere.”
“Then why add this on top of it?”
I searched for a polite answer, but why bother. It didn’t help that my body pulsed for more, more, more. It didn’t help that every time I met his gaze, I imagined falling into the dark depths of the ocean with him, letting him have all control.
“Because I like to fuck.”
The over-confident gleam flickered with shock, sending waves of victory through my veins.
But just as quickly, the shock faded into a more devious smirk than before. I’d thought I was winning, but in reality, I’d handed him a weapon that may defeat me.
His tongue dragged across his lip. His chest rose as if trying to inhale me from the short distance. He looked ready to pounce.
“I love this song,” Carina said.
I latched onto the perfect interruption, not knowing how many more saves I had left.
“Wanna dance?” I asked Carina.
She looked to Ian, who gave a subtle nod before standing.
Time to perform.
I held her stare as she closed the small distance between us, taking in the soft, dark waves caressing her shoulders. I sank into the deep blue waters of her eyes and imagined how soft her full lips would be on mine. I softened my body to match hers, wondering how far she’d go.
Usually, customers couldn’t touch performers, but Carina took my suggestion from the other night and asked Daniel to create a special fantasy for her and Ian. Since I performed with both men and women and knew the couple well, Daniel came to me.
She slid her hands up my arms and around my neck, pulling me in. I lost myself in the soft touch—almost.
Despite my best efforts, Atlas’s attention sat around my neck like a hand, letting me know he was still there. I should’ve tried harder to push him out, but honestly, having him watch me with Carina only made me hotter.
I liked being watched. I liked being watched by him.
Something about his stare—his whole being—pulled at me in a way most didn’t. It was so different and left me unsure anymore if I wanted to pull it close or shove it away. The alarms started again. On the one hand, I liked the way he looked at me. Like he’d fuck me all week but never stick around. On the other hand, something about the way my body couldn’t ignore him had me wondering if maybe I wouldn’t want him to go.
Which was how I knew that truly giving into him, letting him have all control, would be like being cold and walking into fire. It’d feel so good—so warm—but it would burn me in the end.
Chapter 4
Atlas
Leaning back in my chair, I was the definition of a man relaxing without a care in the world. Like my hand wasn’t squeezing the tumbler of amber liquid so tight I feared it would shatter at any moment.
And when I caught Amara glancing my way out of the corner of her eye, I almost lost it. She wanted me to watch—she liked it. Fuck, this woman would be the end of me. Hell, she almost killed me after she walked away without even finishing what we started.
I’d spent the last week in Cincinnati looking around every corner, hoping to catch a glimpse of her dark hair and sassy mouth. Then Ian briefly mentioned we’d see her tonight, and I hadn’t been the same since. When was the last time I’d craved a woman for more than a night or two? Never.