“I think I’m going to puke.” She turned back to the mirror where their eyes met again. All the color drained from her face. She sprinted toward the bathroom and slammed the door behind her. A few seconds later, the toilet flushed, followed by the sound of running water. When she came out, she avoided his gaze.
“You don’t have to do this, Karly. We can leave right now, if you want.” His fingers curled with the urge to grab her by the hair and drag her to safety. "You’re not cut out for this.”
“You mean, I’m not hot enough or sexy enough?” Her frown cut him. “Just because you’re not attracted to me, doesn’t mean other men aren’t.”
“That’s not what I meant. I’m crazy attracted to you. You’re the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen,” He clenched the back of his neck with one hand, squeezing the tense muscles. “It’s just not you.”
“It’s five hundred dollars,” she whispered as she fiddled with the top of one stocking. “Five hundred dollars. Do you know what I can do with that money? I need this.”
“Fuck the money. If you don’t want to do it, then don’t.”
“I want to do it. I need to do this.” She grabbed her purse and crossed the room to stand in front of him. Her eyes blazed with determination and resignation as she dug into the purse and came up with a one-dollar bill and some change. “You don’t get it, do you? This is all I have.” She thrust the money into his face. "This is it. There isn’t any more. I’ve only eaten once in three days. I’ve got debt up to my eyeballs. And there's Emma.”
Her voice broke, and his gut clenched at her despair. Her pain became his pain. He felt it when her shoulders sagged under the weight of it. If only he could make it better, somehow protect her from all the worry. He’d do anything to see her sunny smile again. He craved it like a man dying of thirst in the desert.
Lifting her chin, she threw the money back into her purse then clicked it shut. “I’m a big girl, Randy. I don’t need you to give me a lecture. I didn't ask you to come here. If you want to leave, then go.”
He took her chin in his hand and turned her face up to his, sliding his thumb across the soft skin of her lips, fighting the urge to kiss some sense into them. When his gaze locked with her eyes, their remarkability caught him off guard. The irises were soft gray like a dove’s wing, startling against the thick fringe of her lashes.
“I don’t want you to regret this tomorrow,” he whispered. “And I think you will.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve got this.” The plush lips curved into a smile, more confident this time, and she turned to enter the bachelor suite through the adjoining door. He watched her go with a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.
“Get a fucking grip, dude,” he muttered beneath his breath. “You’ve done this a hundred times with a dozen different girls. This will all be over in a couple of hours, and you can get the hell out of here.”
The minute she passed over the threshold, every male in the room homed in on her like vultures circling prey. The other dancers seemed tired and dull next to Karly’s exuberance. The strawberry blond hair, swinging hips, and school-girl outfit made a scintillating combination. Like a pro, she circled the room, trailing fingertips over chests and arms with the bright smile he'd come to cherish, a smile meant for him, only this time it was aimed at someone else.
Most of the men were in their mid-thirties with beer bellies and wedding rings on their fingers. Karly circled in on a clean-cut young man wearing a dress shirt and necktie. The dude’s eyes lit up when she shoved him back into a chair and straddled his lap with a toss of her hair. She was good, Randy thought. Too fucking good for his comfort.
“Careful, stud, your fangs are showing,” Cheetah, the woman in charge, brushed behind him, her heavy breasts grazing his back. He’d played bodyguard for her girls plenty of times and knew she ran a class act. It should’ve made him feel better but didn’t. Neither did the dollar signs in her eyes as she watched Karly. “She's a natural, isn’t she? Great eye contact for a virgin. I have to say I’m impressed. I can get her more work if she’s interested."
“She’s not,” he replied, eyes glued to Karly, and gently nudged the woman to the side.
Cheetah laughed and shook her head, moving back into the party.
Karly circled the young man’s chair and began to slowly untie the knot of her blouse. His face flushed bright red. Although his hands rested on his thighs, his fingers twitched like he wanted to touch her. Randy tugged at his shirt collar, feeling choked. Karly dropped the shirt to the floor, revealing a lacy white bra and the upper swells of her breasts. She turned her back to the guy, hooked her thumbs into the waistband of the skirt, and tugged it down with a flirty glance over her shoulder. The skirt crumpled and slipped to the carpet at the precise moment Randy’s control snapped.
CHAPTER 45
IT WAS easier than Karly thought it would be—the men were respectful and happy to have the rapt attention of a few pretty girls. She singled out the young man with a tie because he looked nervous. They shared a smile before she slid into the routine Josh had shown her. They’d spent all afternoon practicing it, and she had it down to memory. As she untied the white blouse and eased it off her shoulders, she closed her eyes to absorb the beat of the music, sinking into the oblivion of the sultry rhythm.
After a deep breath, she hooked her thumbs into the skirt and slid it down her thighs inch by inch, the cool air whispering between her bare legs and belly.
“That’s it. We’re out of here.” A rough hand curled around her bicep and almost yanked her off her feet. She turned to find Randy glaring down at her with fire in his deep-set eyes. He flung his coat around her shoulders and dragged her across the room.
“Wait. What the hell?” Confused, she stumbled after him.
“Hey, what are you doing? Let her go.” Her subject rose from his chair and reached for Randy’s arm. The angry light in Randy's eyes set the guy back a few paces. He towered over all the men in the room and, by his fierce expression, itched to throw a punch at one of them.
Randy pointed two fingers at the man. “She’s done here. Stay the fuck out of this.” His grip on her arm tightened to the point of unpleasantness, raising her to her tiptoes as he dragged her into the adjoining room. “Grab your shit and let’s go.”
“Will you at least tell me what’s going on?” Confused, she stood frozen in the center of the room as Randy stuffed her things into her duffel and shouldered the strap.
“Put these on.” She had worn blue jeans and a sweater to the hotel. Randy threw them at her. “Do it. Now.”
His chest swelled with each breath. He held the last one before exhaling. A muscle ticked in his jaw. The man could be intimidating when he chose, and this was one of those times. She wasn’t afraid of him, though, especially when he was in the wrong.
“No. Not until you tell me what’s going on.” She lifted her chin and glared at him, arms crossed over her chest.
“So help me God, Karly, I will throw you over my shoulder and carry you out of here if I have to.” His chest heaved with emotion, his eyes blazed, and she believed he would do it. He lowered his voice to a gentle whisper that curled her toes. "Just do it, baby. I’ll explain later.”
The door flew open, and Cheetah stormed into the room, eyes ablaze. “What the fuck, Randy? That was completely unprofessional.” She turned to Karly with frazzled irritation. “We aren’t finished here. You were barely out there fifteen minutes.”
“Get out, Cheetah. She’s done.” Randy took a menacing step toward the woman. “This is none of your business.” They glared at each other for a long moment before she stepped back and nodded.
“Fine. But I’m not paying her,” Cheetah said with a wave of her hand as if shooing away a fly. “And you won’t be getting any more work from me.” The door slammed shut behind her.
Karly stared at Randy, cheeks flooded with the heat of anger, the breath heavy in her lungs. His broad shoulders turned in her direction, and his unapologetic g
aze leveled on her with uncomfortable intensity. Their eyes locked in a battle of wills.
“You had no right to do that,” she said, her voice low and trembling.
With a heavy sigh, he said, “I said I’d watch your back, and that’s what I’m doing.” The tenderness in his eyes grew as he bent his head over hers and tugged her to him, folding her into his arms. “I’m protecting you from yourself. From doing something you’re going to regret.” The beat of his heart thumped beneath her ear as he held her tight. When he spoke, his voice brimmed with emotion. “You are so much more than this, Karly."
The heat of his body seeped into her. His lips brushed over the top of her head. She wanted to be mad at him, but it was difficult when his heart beat beneath her ear. Her tension ebbed away within his embrace. As much as she hated to admit it, he was right. She didn’t want to be there. Not really. With a small sigh, she wrapped her arms around his waist and breathed in his clean scent.
“Well, you really fucked that up,” she said into his shirt.
He snorted with amusement. “Yeah. So I did. We’ll figure it out, okay?” He gently released her and stepped back, rubbing the back of his neck. The depth in his eyes as he drew in a shaking breath caught her off guard. He blinked and when he opened his eyes, they were steely gray and emotionless. The tenderness was gone from his voice. “Get your stuff. Let’s go.”
CHAPTER 46
A HANDFUL of stars littered the night sky as they drove back to her apartment. Randy said nothing throughout the entire trip, his face lit by the blue glow of the dash lights, expression fierce. Her fingers clenched into fists, the nails cutting into the palms of her hands. The few times she ventured to speak to him, he responded with terse one-word answers. It felt like the longest drive of her life. Relief flooded through her when her apartment building loomed into sight. He turned the truck onto her street and parked at the front entrance then walked with her to the door, hands shoved deep in his pockets. A sharp wind whistled around the corner of the building, ruffling Randy’s hair and cutting straight through her coat. She shivered and clutched the lapels tight around her neck.
“Do you want to come up?” she asked. She stood on the top step while he stood on the walk. The difference in elevation brought them eye to eye. Or would have, except he stared at the door behind her, the steps between them, or the air over her head——anywhere but at her. “I think we need to clear the air, and it’s cold out here.” The plethora of questions in her mind sparked the beginning twinges of a headache.
He didn’t answer.
“You act like you’re pissed off at me when I’m the one who should be upset.” The expression on his face darkened. She glared back at him with equal intensity. “Look. You don’t get to fuck up my night then walk away like it’s my fault." With her index finger, she poked his massive chest. “Now start talking, mister.”
A smile ghosted his lips as their eyes met. The heat in his eyes took her breath away. For the first time, his gaze was unguarded and brimming with emotion. In one motion, he gripped the back of her head with one hand and her hip with the other, slamming his body into hers, dominating her with his size and strength. Surprise squeaked from her lips as he crushed his mouth to hers.
There was nothing easy or gentle about this kiss. His tongue, tasting of cherries, plunged into her mouth, ravaging all the deepest recesses and demanding her surrender. The strength in her legs faded as he clutched her tighter, bending her backward. Instead of trying to escape, she melted into him, her soft body conforming to the long lines of his. Her fingers tangled in his hair. A growl started deep in his throat as he ground his hips against hers, the hard ridge of his cock sharp against her belly through the fly of his jeans.
Cars drove past. Someone whistled and shouted for them to get a room, but their catcalls were lost in the fog of euphoria. She forgot where she was. The streetlights and stars faded into the darkness of night. Nothing existed outside of her and Randy. His heat chased away the cold. She struggled to get closer, to crawl inside him and never come out.
With a grunt of irritation, he released her and pushed her away as if burned by her touch. They stood staring at each other, chests heaving, and hearts thumping, their breath forming steamy clouds in the winter air. A deep furrow formed between his brows. He rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding her gaze. Finally, he turned toward the street, his back to her, shutting her out.
“Randy, look at me.” She touched his back then dropped her hand when he flinched. “Or not. Whatever. I’m going to talk anyway.”
He didn’t move but his breathing quieted as if he were waiting to hear her words.
“You’re making me crazy, Mackenzie. You can’t drag me out of the hotel and kiss me like that…like I mean something to you…then push me away. All this back and forth is exhausting.” His head dropped as he exhaled loudly, evidence her words hit their mark. “I'm not asking for you to love me or be my boyfriend or for anything more than right now. I want you to look at me and tell me you feel something between us so I know I’m not crazy.” She wrapped her arms around her waist and stamped her feet to stave off the cold. “Am I crazy? Is it just me?”
His head came up, studying the myriad of stars overhead. Although freezing cold, the night sky was clear and bright with a half-moon casting blue shadows on the snow. She couldn’t see his face, but she felt the churning of his thoughts and emotions.
“What if I can’t?” The words sounded half choked as he spoke. “I'm not the kind of guy to go around spilling his guts and getting all mushy and shit.”
She rested her hand on his back. This time he didn’t flinch. After a second, he turned around to face her, staring down at her with frustration. He took her hand and held it in both of his, rubbing the back with his thumbs, shifting his gaze to their hands. The conflict within him showed plainly on his face. Her heart ached for him.
“It’s okay,” she said and tried to hold back the disappointment from her expression. He couldn’t give her what he didn’t possess. She knew better than anyone. “We can be friends. But you have to stop kissing me like that.”
“Like what?” He peered up at her through his lashes, thumbs still caressing her hand, a ghost of a smirk on his lips.
“Like you want me,” she said. “Like you care.” She floundered, too frustrated to find the proper words and unable to concentrate with her hands in his.
“You’re right,” he said after a brief silence.
More disappointment. This had all been a huge mistake. She’d projected her own feelings and emotions onto him, inventing something where it didn’t exist, wishing so desperately to have him care when he obviously didn’t. Embarrassed and angry with herself, she tried to tug her hand from his. The strong fingers tightened their grip and held her in place.
“You’re right,” he said again. “We need to go upstairs and talk about this.”
CHAPTER 47
BY THE time they climbed the stairs to her apartment, Randy’s mood seemed to have shifted again. He helped her remove her coat then pulled off his own and tossed it onto the chair next to the television. Without saying a word, he took her hand and led her into the bedroom. Tiny butterflies unfurled in her stomach at the touch of his calloused palm against her smooth one. This was the Randy she’d grown accustomed to, confident, virile, and in charge.
“Um, I’m not complaining, but I thought we were going to talk,” she said.
He stopped next to the bed and sat on the edge with her hand still in his. The mattress dipped beneath his weight as he tugged her to stand between his spread knees. “We’re going to talk, alright,” he said. “After.”
After? After what? The only sounds in the room were the ticking of her alarm clock on the nightstand and her labored breathing as she tried to wrap her mind around this latest development.
“Like I said, I’m not good at emotions and shit, but I can show you.” As he spoke, he brushed his lips along the tender flesh beneath her ear, his deep voice vibratin
g against her neck. “Right now, all I can think about is how I’m going to sink balls deep into you and make you come over and over.” Tiny shocks of electricity jolted into her belly as he punctuated his words with tiny licks along her neck. “Let me show you how I feel about you.”
Oh, wow. Just wow. He didn’t seem to have any problems expressing what he was going to do to her. His words set her on fire and left her mouth agape.
While she stared at him, he released her hands and reached behind his head to grab the collar of his shirt. In a smooth motion, he pulled it off to reveal the swell and hollow of pecs and abs, and thick veins crossing over swollen biceps. The lines of the tattoo on his left arm curled over sinew and muscle, undulating with his movements. He placed his hands behind him on the mattress and leaned back to give her a better view.
She’d forgotten how luscious his body was. The trail of hair leading from his navel into the waistband of his jeans was darker than his other hair, almost black. Above his belt, the delineation of oblique muscles formed a sexy V at his hips. Below his belt, the impressive swell of his erection bulged beneath his zipper. Next to his flawless physique, she felt more than a little inadequate.
“Randy, you’re beautiful,” she whispered and hoped he saw the sincere appreciation in her eyes. Slowly, she skimmed her fingertips along the line of his jaw where the stubble tickled like plush velvet, traced the black lines of his tattoo as it curved around his neck. When she lifted her eyes to meet his, he swallowed audibly, the long muscles of his neck contracting with the effort.
“So are you,” he said. His lips curved into a small smile as his eyes darkened. “I want to watch you undress for me. Just me and no one else."
His gaze locked with hers. She dragged in a ragged breath, unbuttoned the sweater, and tossed it on the floor. The jeans came off next, her fingers stumbling over the buttons of her fly before tugging them down with a wiggle of her hips. Breaking their stare, his gaze followed the denim as it fell to the floor then dragged up the length of her body and back to her eyes. She stood before him in bra and panties and waited for him to say something.
Felony Romance Series: Complete Box Set (Books 1-5) Page 47
