Python(28)

He trails off and I look at him, my eyes asking him to explain more.

I mean, is he telling me this is more than just a strip club?

More than just a sex club?

Seriously, what is it with people and grand plans lately? Why can’t we just have good ol’ fashioned simple fucking sex?

Sorry.

I’m still a bit scattered from everything, ya know?

Austin continues. “Safe from everything out there in the world,” he says to me. “From judgment, from shame, and from things way worse than that. This is a haven for the most beautiful creatures on Earth, Destiny,” he continues, and I believe every single word of his.

He’s really passionate about Python, and it’s not like when someone is passionate about a business. To Austin, Python is much more than just a business.

“But… Why would the commissioner have trouble with that?” I ask, tying my brain into knots as I try to find an answer to my own question. There’s none that I can see.

“Some people don’t like women to be as free as I want them to be. And some people… Well, let’s just say that some people not only don’t understand what I stand for, but they actively oppose it. The commissioner is one of these people.” His answer is a vague one but, for now, it’s more than enough. My fears have been soothed, and I’m back to believing that there’s going to be a way out of this mess I’m in.

“You’ve built something great,” I tell him, squeezing his hand in mine as I look into his eyes. These bright smart eyes of his. “I see it every time I walk in here.”

His lips curl upward into a gentle smile—not a grin, but a true tender smile—and he squeezes my hand back. “It’s not enough to see it, Destiny,” he tells me, “you have to feel it.” With that, he pulls me toward the stairs at the end of the room and walks up, pulling me after him. He isn’t going to make me walk on stage, is he?

“Austin, what are you--”

“Let me show you,” he cuts me short, whispering as he pulls me onto the stage, my heart racing so fast I can’t even think, “the power of Python.”





12





Destiny





The moment Austin steps under the spotlight, everyone falls silent; I guess it’s not every day that Mr. Python himself walks on stage. He pulls me by the hand, leading me right toward the center of the stage, and then lets go of me. My heart is racing, and I can barely think straight; what is Austin going to do?

I narrow my eyes into slits, but I can’t see a thing. The spotlights are focused on both Austin and I, and the bright lights blind me to everything else. I just hear the hushed voices of the women in the crowd, anticipation dripping out of every single word. I don’t think I have ever felt such tension at Python; this is a special event, and not just to me.

“Let’s give them something to remember,” Austin tells me, and then leans into me and, running one hand through my hair, whispers. “I sure am going to give you something to remember,” he says, and I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Grinning, Austin turns on his heels and walks to the edge of the stage. He opens his arms and looks up and, even though I can only see his back, he looks like a God to me.

Moving slowly, he takes his hands to the collar of his shirt and, grabbing it, he pulls on it harshly. The moment he does it, there’s a loud sound coming from the speakers, the deep rumble of the bass and drums as a sensuous music starts. The crowd buzzes with excitement as the buttons in his shirt pop out, baring his ripped pectorals and hard wall of abs. I can’t help but walk toward him and, before I can stop myself, I’m pressing my body against his, my eager fingers resting right over his abs and slowly running all the way up to his pecs. The crowd cries out, the women trying to live through me as I feel Austin’s body; they’re probably thinking that I’m part of the show. They have no idea that this whole show is meant for me.

I run my fingers down the side of Austin’s body and, when I meet the hem of his pants, I slide my fingertips over his leather belt and only stop when I find its buckle. My fingers work with precision as I open it and then pull the belt out from its loops. Folding it upon itself, I snap the two ends together with a dry sound, and then hand the belt to Austin. I don’t know why, but I want him to use that belt on me… Exactly how, I don’t know. He takes it from my hands, and then my fingers go back to the front of his pants; I pop out the button on top, but before I can grab his zipper and pull it down, Austin turns on his feels to face me, the folded belt still in his hands. The look in his eyes makes my insides clench, and my heart starts racing at a furious pace.