Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
With wide eyes, she quickly shut the door behind her and flipped the lock. “What are you doing in here?”
“I figured you blowing me a kiss and winking at me on stage was an invitation.”
In a way, it was, but not for him to pay for a private dance. If he really wanted a personal dance from her, she would’ve done it for free.
And definitely not in this club.
He cleared his throat and rubbed his palms down his denim-covered thighs. His thick, powerful thighs. “Soooo... should I call you Mistress?” He followed it with a wicked grin that sent all kinds of naughty ideas running through her head.
She laughed. The man was a breath of fresh air after dealing with Saint the Taint. “Are you into that?”
He jerked up one eyebrow. “Are you?”
“No, it’s just an act, like everything else I do on stage. My performances are meant to get the men worked up and their blood flowing. They tip better and I’m usually booked solid for private dances afterward.”
“I’m not going to lie. I fell for it, hook, line and bullwhip. It got me to crack open my wallet for a private dance.”
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“There’s a difference between have to and want to.”
True. He wasn’t forced to do anything. He had paid for her time and was sitting on that red couch of his own free will.
“How much time did you buy?”
“They don’t tell you?” He didn’t hide his surprise.
“I normally deal directly with the customers, except for when they book while I’m busy on stage. Honestly, I’d prefer to deal with it myself because then I can control the situation and also what was promised.”
“I was promised that you wouldn’t dance for anyone else tonight.”
Her lips parted and a small puff of air escaped. “That had to cost you dearly.”
“It would if it was true but, unfortunately, it’s only my fantasy. When I asked, I was told five grand.”
“What?” burst from her. “Five grand to book me for the rest of the night?” That was ridiculous.
He nodded. “That was my reaction, too.”
“You don’t have to pay for me to spend time with you, Rez. I would gladly do it for free.”
He frowned. “Why? This is how you make a living. Don’t shortchange yourself.”
“Of course this is my job, but I figured we were friends.” She considered anyone friends of Mel and Finn as friends of hers. Especially the guys who worked with Finn. While the couples’ relationship wasn’t very old, what they had was solid. They complemented each other perfectly.
Finn had no problem with Mel being a former stripper or with her dream of owning her own gentlemen’s club. He fully supported her dream and most likely would help make it happen.
Sapphire could only wish to find a relationship like that. One made of love, loyalty and respect.
Her relationships tended to fail due to men being insecure with her getting naked in front of others, whether on stage or privately in a VIP room. Because of that, she had given up trying. She hoped once she retired from the stage, she’d have better luck.
But really, in the end, she didn’t need a man to make her happy or for her life to feel complete. She was perfectly fine by herself. She loved to be independent and live her life the way she wanted to live it.
Fuck everyone else.
“Is that what we are?” he asked, yanking her from her thoughts.
Shit. Oh, that’s right, they had been talking about being friends. “I assumed so. Am I wrong?”
“No…” he answered carefully. “No, you’re not wrong. Like I said the other night, any friends of Mel and Finn are friends of mine.”
“I appreciate that since I enjoy talking to you whenever you come in and also the couple of times I’ve hung out with you over at Mel’s place. It’s refreshing to have a conversation that isn’t all about my tits and ass. Or have to constantly deflect offers of a date or being a ‘kept’ woman. Or even for a night in their bed.”
“Damn. There went my plans. Because your tits and ass are definitely worth talking about.” A grin curved his full lips and he shrugged, then pretended he was about to get up. “I might as well just leave, then.”
She rolled her lips inward in an attempt to appear serious. “You’re here now. You might as well get your money’s worth.”
His amusement quickly fled. “You’re worth a lot more than what I paid, Phire. In fact, you’re priceless.”
Her step stuttered on the way over to the small computer screen that controlled everything in the room. The lights, the music, the temperature. The best feature of the system used to be the emergency button. But Sapphire really doubted anyone would come to her rescue anymore if she pushed it. It set off an alarm at the bar and in the dressing room. But at this point, she could only count on Cherish and Porsche coming to help, if they were working.