“Ready for this shit to be over,” I say with a small smile. But it’s the truth. I’m so ready to be done dancing. Although, I like staring at Shayne the whole time I do. There’s just something about her, and when I’m on stage and she watches me the way she does it turns me on more than I’ve ever been.
I like having her eyes on me.
Axel smiles, squeezing my shoulder before he heads to the curtain.
“Why are you so happy? You hate dancing the most.”
Axel just winks at me as he opens the curtain, and slides through it to get the women all lathered up with his moves. I cross over to the curtain, waiting for my cue, wanting to get our dance done, so I can smuggle Shayne up to my office for the rest of the night.
I head out, and spot Shayne immediately. Her eyes drink me in, and I dig it. The good thing about having the Trifecta onstage is the bar is empty of customers. Since the grand opening, I watch Shayne as I dance, but tonight it’s different.
This dance is for her.
I’m laser focused on her. Every move I picture it being just the two of us. She shifts on her feet, leaning against the bar, her body gravitating toward me. I’m positive if the bar wasn’t between us she’d end up right in front of me.
My hips move slower, making all my movements more pronounced. Her breasts heave as she gulps for air. An evil smile forms on my face. I’ve got her. I’m just worried she might have me, too.
The song ends and Shayne appears like she’s panting. For an added bonus, I wink at her before disappearing behind the curtain.
“That was intense,” Axel says, throwing me a towel.
“Shut up.”
“We’re just happy for you. We worry about you being all alone while we’re happy and in love and all that shit,” Ben says, wiping down his oiled-up abs.
“I’m fine. I don’t need love like you do. You’re reading into something that isn’t there. Shayne’s just the first woman you’ve seen me talk to in a long time, and you’re already planning our wedding.” I toss my dirty towel in the hamper, push the door open with more force than necessary.
I erase the scowl on my face as I move to the bar. One of the number one rules is when you’re on the floor you look available and happy. When you’re in the crowd you are performing, making the women think you’re just within reach.
As I make my way to the bar, I try to figure out why my brother’s giddiness makes me feel so angry. I am lonely without them living at home, but I’m happy they found their soulmates. This club is my soulmate.
I reach Shayne and she looks even more tired, and guilt hits me hard.
“Ready?”
She nods, mumbling to Eddie and the rest of the bartenders before walking around the bar. She’s leaning against the wall as we walk up the stairs, the strength sapping out of her with each step. More feelings surge inside me, clawing at my throat, needing a place to escape as it bubbles up. The raw need to protect her is suffocating.
Shit, my brothers were right. I hate it when they’re right. The fact I only tried to fight it for less than an hour proves just how much she has burrowed under my skin. It has nothing to do with being alone, and everything to do with the simple fact, Shayne is mine. And I want nothing more than to claim her up against this wall in front of everyone right now.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
I shake my head when I notice we made it to my office door. “Sorry, just lost in thought.”
She studies me for a moment before I key in the security code and we both step inside my office. It’s a nice office with a leather black couch in the corner. My desk has a three monitor computer sitting on top, and I have a few of the security camera feeds tied into one of the monitors. There’s not really any decorations except for the small potted plant Clara insisted I put on my desk to make the place look more ‘homey’ as she called it. But professional is what I call my office. The lighting is soft as I lead Shayne inside. “Do you need your laptop or can you access everything online?” I ask her.
Shayne’s smile turns upside down at the thought of having to walk back down the stairs to retrieve her stuff.
“Why don’t you take a seat? I’ll go get it for you.”
“No, it’s fine.”
I motion toward the couch for her to take a seat. “I need to talk to Ben about something anyway. Just rest for a second, I’ll be right back.”
When I get back to my office, Shayne is curled on the couch asleep. Putting her laptop and purse on my desk, I grab the blanket I keep in case I don’t want to drive home and drape it over her tiny body. She mumbles, sinking into the couch and I tuck the blanket around her.
I watch her sleep. Her even breaths are hypnotizing. I force myself back to my desk to finish up my work. Because I want nothing more than to cuddle up beside her on that couch right now.
7
Shayne
Something heavy is on top of my leg. I wiggle my foot, trying to get out from whatever is holding me down. Sleep is yanked away from me when I open my eyes to a dark unfamiliar surrounding. I sit up when I hear a distinct male groan.
“Stay still.” The voice is deep, full of sleep, and unmistakable as to its identity. What happened?
“How?” I can’t even form a coherent question.
We’re on Damien’s couch in his office. His head is on the opposite side of mine, but our legs are a tangled mess in the middle. I untangle our legs and plant my feet on the ground.
“You fell asleep when I went to get your stuff.” Damien drags his hand through his thick black hair. I have to swallow as lust pulls against my throat. I mean we did it in the back of his SUV, an office couch would be an upgrade. “I felt bad for keeping you up all night, so I let you sleep. I was going to wake you up after the club closed, but I got tired and must’ve fallen asleep too.”
“Oh.” Is all my sluggish brain can come up with.
Damien grins at my response. My stupid cheeks heat up from the sound. “You can use Clara’s bathroom to freshen up if you want. I’m going to take a quick shower.”
Damien gives me the code to get into Clara’s office. Her bathroom is equipped with an enormous shower, and I sigh at the thought of hot water. Knowing Damien is taking one I figure I have time for a quick one. Then, I’m thinking of him naked just across the hall. My nipples pebble and there’s an ache growing in my core at the thought of him all soapy and hard. I attempt to get my body to calm down, but naked Damien is too much for my imagination.
I take a quick record-breaking shower. I’m glad I have a change of clothes and toothbrush in my backpack. I’ve been sleeping in my car more often, since I’m late on rent and my roommates are not happy. I’m so far behind on life, I’m thinking of ditching the apartment all together and living in my car to save money.
I really messed up my life when I was younger, and now I’m paying for it...literally. My brothers helped as much as they could, but they were stuck with our parents' debt after they died. I should have helped out more. But instead I didn’t handle things right, and racked up credit card bills, student loans, and everything else you can imagine.
Sometimes I wish I was more like Damien. Able to work hard right from the start. I bet he never went wild and wasted away money and time like I did. No, I bet he’s always been in control of his finances. Must be nice.