God, what a fucking tool I was. There was really no way to get a good look at her, but I was aroused by the idea of her. No. It wasn't the idea. It was the memory. It was the feel of her slim body slick and ready for me, and the taste of her as she ate at my mouth like it was her last meal—or her first. It was all those good things that washed over me in a welcome flood.
Hoots roused me from my reverie, and when I tore my gaze from the shadow of Winter, I saw the cause. The stripper had moved down the T-shaped stage to stop close to us. She dropped down and spread her knees wide. Her hands slid down toward the apex of her thighs, driving everyone at the table wild. Henry jumped up, placed two fingers between his lips, and let out an ear-piercing whistle. Me? I was irritated she was blocking my view of Winter.
Winter was avoiding me, but here in this titty bar, I had an advantage she didn't. I was a paying customer, and she was… God, who knew what she was doing here.
"Don't do anything I would do," Adam murmured knowingly as I pushed away from the table.
"Where would the fun be in that?" I gave him a wry half grin and moved toward my target. A man in black slacks and a dress shirt stood near a short hallway to the side of the bar. Winter had disappeared down that hallway when I first arrived. Since then I'd seen a variety of men and workers slip away after talking to the guy at the entrance. Most strip clubs had rooms where a patron could buy a private dance—or more, depending on the club.
"What's up?" the man asked as I approached.
"Just taking a breather."
"Our dancers not doing it for you tonight?"
"It's noisy and crowded. I think it's more the atmosphere. Maybe you have someplace quieter where I could sit and still enjoy myself?" I pulled out a twenty.
He swiped it out of my hand so fast I almost forgot I’d held anything.
"I've got a seat in the back." He jerked his head down the hall. "You could have some one on one."
"That'd be nice."
"You have someone in mind or just a general preference?"
"How about that one, right there?" Winter had come up to the bar, resting her tray on it. The bartender leaned close to take the order. I pointed to Winter.
"Sorry. She's waitstaff. They don't do private performances. How about Ruby? I mean, all those Asian girls look the same, and Ruby's got more upstairs." He gestured toward his chest.
I wondered if he'd ever said those words in front of Winter. She'd probably deck him.
"No, I like the more natural look. She's it for me. I've had a bad few months, and she's the one who’s going to make it better." I pulled out a hundred dollars. "How about it?"
He looked at the money and then at Winter for a long time. Finally he shrugged. "I’ll ask her, and if she agrees, fifteen minutes."
"Fine."
"Go on back. Second door on the left."
The second door on the left revealed a small room, no bigger than a closet, lit with red lights. It had one armless cushioned chair toward the back and a side table. I hadn't yet settled in when the door slammed open. I jumped to the side to avoid getting hit by the flying wood, and I hid a smile so I didn't get struck by the angry girl at the door.
She was vibrating with emotion. Nearly levitating from it. If she slapped me, I'd welcome it because it would be a response. Finally.
"I can't believe you did that."
"Pay for you? Come to the strip club? Wonder why you’re here? What's so unbelievable about any of those things?" She stood there, the door open, with curious people wandering by. I took her by the arm and gently moved her inside and shut the door. When the door closed, a red bulb above the frame came on and music, stripper music, poured into the room.
This was Winter's cue to strip, but as much as I wanted to see her naked again, I wanted her to talk more.
"Let me out," she demanded, trying to dart around me to grab the knob.
Ignoring her request, I leaned against door. "What are you doing here?” As if I had to ask. I knew it had to do with Ivy before she even opened her mouth.
She pressed her lips together and then with a mulish expression, spat out, “Ivy’s sick. I’m covering her shift.”
I couldn’t prevent my snort of disbelief, but the last thing I wanted was to talk about her sister. “You’ve been ignoring me."
"There's nothing to talk about."
"The hell there's not." I said those words as mildly as possible, but I couldn't hide all my anger and frustration. She looked away. In the red glow, she looked demonic in an impossibly hot way. Her slender legs were encased in black crisscrossing tights, and she wore the same tiny shorts as the blonde who served us. The thing around her torso made her small waist even tinier and pushed her little tits into plump pillows that begged to be bitten and licked.