by Adele Niles
“I’m A—”
“Cody!”
A man’s voice cut me off. The handsome stranger tensed, looking back toward his friends. One of them was being held back by security, but kept trying to swing at another guy.
The stranger sighed. “I have to handle this. I’ll be back.”
And he was gone, walking around me without looking back.
I watched him go, mouth half-open. He collected his drunk friend and left, leaving me alone.
Damn.
* * * * *
I didn’t dance again tonight, thank God.
Maybe Max understood that it wasn’t what I was here to do—I was a waitress, not a performer.
But still, the tips were incredible. The men stayed respectful, and at the end of the night, I counted my tips to find I’d earned three hundred dollars.
More than I earned in a week at the pub.
Jessie looked at me and grinned. “Not that bad, huh?” We sat backstage in the dressing room, drinking a couple of beers before heading home.
“Not that bad,” I agreed. “Pretty amazing, actually. I can pay rent now!”
She laughed. “That’s all I want. And I’ll keep working on Max to keep you off the dance rotation, okay? I told him you weren’t a dancer. He shouldn’t have done that to you.”
I shrugged. “It wasn’t that bad, really. Maybe I’ll pick up some moves while I’m here. You’ll have to teach me how to do that body-wave thing.”
“A body roll?” She demonstrated, moving her spine in ways I could only dream of.
“Yeah, that’s it.” It was a sexy move, one I wanted to learn.
“I’ll teach you,” she said. “Tomorrow?”
“Maybe? I have that class in the morning, and then work.”
“Right, right. Well, we’ll make some time, okay? I promise, I’ll get you bumping and grinding like a pro.”
I laughed. I would never be able to do it like a pro, but a little more skill wouldn’t hurt.
Chapter Six
Cody
I was right—going out with Dylan had been a mistake.
The sunlight hurt my eyes. I was tired, my head throbbing.
I hadn’t been drunk enough to throw up, but still.
Dylan was faring much worse. He’d texted me this morning to let me know that, even though he’d puked twice and couldn’t open his eyes enough to drive, he was on his way to work in a Lyft and would run the meeting for me.
That still made me nervous.
If I went out with them again, I needed to lay off the alcohol.
And, oddly, I wanted to go out again.
I wanted to go back to Bounce.
I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about that girl. She was gorgeous. Not much of a dancer, but a stunning woman with beautiful eyes. Her body was perfect—exactly what I wanted from a woman. I wondered what the rest of her face looked like. The mask had hidden too much.
The way she’d bounced on that stage had made it impossible to think of anything but her riding my cock.
She was still on my mind as I turned into the parking garage, parking in one of the spots my permit allowed for.
I hadn’t gotten her name.
She had started to tell me, and then Dylan had tried to pick a fight with somebody.
I had no idea how to find this woman, and it was all I wanted to do.
I grabbed my laptop bag from the passenger seat, sighing as I left the parking garage. It took me a few minutes to find where I needed to go.
And when I checked my watch, I saw that I was running late. This wasn’t at all the way I wanted my morning to go.
I walked into the room. It was already packed, only a few empty seats.
Shit.
For a second, I just looked at the students.
“Sorry,” I said. “I—uh. Traffic.”
I put my computer bag on the counter and turned to the whiteboard. I grabbed one of the markers and popped it open.
“I assume you all did your reading.” I didn’t look back, moving to another spot on the board and starting on a list of bullet points—topics from the homework to discuss in class.
The door opened.
I didn’t look.
“You’re late. You received the syllabus over email, did you not? You know that means a zero for your class participation grade.”
I heard the student, a boy, mumble an apology.
“Front row. Sit there.”
“Yes, sir.”
He walked across the classroom and sat down in an empty chair.
The sound of his feet on the floor made my head pound.
How was I going to survive today?
I turned on my heel, gaze fixed on the student. He looked up at me, wide-eyed.
“Just so you know, that doesn’t fly in the real world. If my employees can’t be bothered to let me know they’ll be late, I send them home. If it happens more than once with no valid excuse, I fire them. Got it?”
The kid looked at me, clearly nervous.
He wasn’t going to make the cut.
This was how I was going to find new talent, new people with a mind for business. New people who could handle the pressure of working at my firm.
And this guy was definitely not it.
Chapter Seven
Autumn
Poor guy.
I hadn’t even looked at our professor yet. I hadn’t expected a business class to be run by such a hardass, but here we were.
I scribbled notes frantically in my notebook, trying to keep up.
This was the last class I needed to finish my master’s degree. I just had to pass this, and I was done. I could find a real job, quit waitressing, and move on with my life.
The instructor got quiet, opening his laptop bag.
I lifted my head.
I gasped out loud.
It was him—the guy from the club, the one who’d given me my first tip.
The one who’d made me feel so sexy.
He opened his laptop and typed on it for a moment before lifting his head.
Our eyes met.
“I, um—” He paused, reached for a bottle of water on the table, and took a drink.
I lowered my head.
He probably didn’t recognize me.
And even if he did, he probably didn’t feel the same now, in normal lighting. I didn’t have makeup on. I was in jeans and a hoodie, worn-out sneakers. Nothing glamorous.
But still—how was I going to survive this class? What if he came back? It was bad enough that I’d spent one night grinding on a stage in front of the professor. Last night, he’d said he’d come back to see me. If he followed through with that, I’d have to drop the class.
I couldn’t face him like that every day.
I sank down in my seat, head bowed low over my notebook.
Just focus, I told myself. Focus on the lecture, not on him.
Class ended an hour later. I was sure that my anonymity had held up; he hadn’t noticed me at all, hadn’t called on me for anything.
It was a blessing. I hated talking in class, anyway.
Everyone else started to pack up, so I followed suit. I had to hurry, anyway; I needed to make it to the pub for the lunch shift, and then I had another night at Bounce ahead of me. My car was packed with all of my clothes for my different jobs, but I didn’t have much time to mess around. I needed to get going, fast.
Footsteps came toward me.
I glanced up.
Oh, no.
It was him.
He looked at me for a moment.
His expression was blank. I couldn’t tell if he knew who I was or not.
“I saw that you just joined the class today. I’m Cody Gray.”
I swallowed. “Uh, hi. I’m Autumn. Autumn Jenkins.”
I couldn’t help myself—I gave him a once-over. He was dressed in a nice suit; it looked like he was going to the office after teaching.
But nothing could conceal the bulge in his pants
.
It made me remember last night again, the way I’d bounced on the stage for him to see.
My mouth felt dry.
“Autumn. Nice to meet you,” he said. “If you need any help catching up, feel free to email me.”
I nodded, glancing around.
We were alone in the classroom.
I wanted to throw myself at him.
But instead I threw my bag on my shoulder and nodded. “Yeah, I will. Thank you. I, uh—I gotta run.”
I turned and bolted.
He hadn’t recognized me.
Or he was too polite to say anything.
Or…
Or he wasn’t attracted to me when he was sober.
I made it to my car, putting my head down on the wheel.
There was no reason for me to be upset, but here I was—close to tears.
No. No time for that.
I had to get to work. I had to pay rent. I had more important things to do than worry about whether some guy liked me or not.
Chapter Eight
Cody
Autumn Jenkins.
I couldn’t get her off my mind. She was a gorgeous girl, even if she was a little shy.
But that was a line I couldn’t cross. Being attracted to a student was one thing.
Pursuing it was another entirely.
Definitely a breach of ethics.
Which, considering the subject of the class, was ironic.
But it was strange. Yesterday had been her first day in class. I knew that for sure. But something about her was familiar.
I couldn’t figure it out.
I was thankfully distracted from my thoughts when Dylan walked into my office. He was still a little ragged around the edges, eyes half-open and ringed with dark circles. But he smiled, leaning into the door of my office.
“Hey man, night two is tonight.”
“I don’t know about that, Dylan.” I looked him over. “You look like you’re still suffering from last night.”
He shrugged. “I’ve had better days. Worse ones, too. It’s all good, man, just part of the party. Pick you up at nine?”
“I think I’ll sit tonight out.”
“What? C’mon, it’ll be fun. Like last night.”
“Right—last night. When you tried to fight a security guard at the strip club.”
“Okay, that was stupid. You’re right. But I won’t do it tonight.”
I gave him a skeptical look.
He smiled at me. “Pick you up at nine?”
“Fine. I’ll go out again tonight. But that’s it. I can’t do every night.”
“All right. Do tonight and I won’t ask again.”
“Tonight, then. I’ll be there.”
* * * * *
Starting in upscale bars was nice, at least.
I sat at the table, enjoying the last of another bourbon. Dylan was drinking hard already, as were some of his friends.
I was only letting myself have one tonight.
I had something in mind.
I’d be setting off on my own, most likely, but that was fine. Preferable, honestly.
Because I was going back to Bounce.
I was going to find the girl from last night.
I was starting to get a little suspicious of something, and wanted to find out if I was right.
My moment came when Dylan grabbed my shoulder. “Hey, we’re gonna go to a club. Dance with some hot chicks.”
I nodded. “Have fun, okay? I’m gonna head out.”
“What? Already?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I have an early day tomorrow.”
Dylan groaned. “You’re no fun.”
“I’m lots of fun. Just not tonight.”
I reached into my wallet and removed a fifty, tucking it into his hand. “Have fun. On me. Don’t get stupid.”
“Okay, man. Well, thanks for coming.”
I nodded. After paying my tab, I called a car and was out.
* * * * *
I walked into Bounce half an hour later.
Last night, we’d gone straight to the stage. Tonight, though, I hung back. A gorgeous black woman spun around the pole onstage.
The girl from last night wasn’t around.
I frowned, leaning back against the wall to wait. A girl in a pink bikini asked me if I wanted a dance; I declined. Another girl offered me a drink, but I declined that, too.
I wanted what I had come for.
But if she wasn’t here, then I had no reason to stick around.
Chapter Nine
Autumn
I grabbed Jessie as she walked past the bar.
“Do you have a sec?”
She looked at me and nodded. “I was just coming to find you! What’s up?”
I pulled her toward a quiet corner. “Jessie, oh my god! My professor was here last night!”
“What? Did he recognize you?”
I shook my head. “No, but—but he’s the hot guy! He’s the hot guy that was right in front!”
She gasped. “Are you serious?”
“Yes. I’m freaking out. What if he comes back? I don’t think I can do that again!”
“What, see him?”
“No, dance!”
Jessie made a nervous face.
I stopped.
“Why—why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because, uh, I was trying to find you to tell you that somebody was looking for you.”
I groaned.
“In room six,” she said. “Down that hall. Are you up for it?”
“Okay.” I sighed heavily. “All right. Let me go get this over with.”
She smiled faintly. “Good luck.”
I nodded.
I needed it.
I walked down the hall to where the private rooms were. They were still monitored, still under the tyrannical authority of blue laws, but they were quiet. I took a deep breath and opened the door.
A group of guys were there. They looked college-aged, dressed in snapbacks and polo shirts.
They looked at me in confusion.
One of them looked at the one next to him. “That’s not Jasmine.”
The other guy nodded. “Yeah, uh, we asked for Jasmine. Not you?”
I blinked. “Oh, I—sorry.”
Wow.
I closed the door, heart in my throat. That wasn’t the reaction I’d wanted. Granted, I didn’t want to be going into a private room at all, but I felt sick from the way they’d looked at me.
I knew I wasn’t built like a dancer, but damn.
I lifted my head, taking a deep breath. I wasn’t going to cry, I told myself. I focused on the door across from me instead.
There was a large six stenciled on the front.
I blinked.
I turned and looked at the door I’d just come out of.
Five.
How had I gotten that turned around?
I pulled myself together and took a deep breath, crossing the hall and opening the door to the room.
It was him, my professor, again.
He sat on the couch in the private room. A bottle of champagne was open on the table in front of him.
There was only one glass, currently in his hand.
I hesitantly closed the door.
I wasn’t wearing a mask tonight. There was no way he wouldn’t recognize me.
“Autumn.”
My name sounded so good when said it.
I bit my lower lip. “Hi.”
“I thought it was you. I apologize for not saying anything after class.”
I shook my head. “I’m glad you didn’t.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, that would’ve embarrassed me.”
“Hm.”
He took a sip of his champagne.
I swallowed. “You…wanted to see me?”
“I did. You’ve been on my mind since last night.”
“Oh.” I didn’t know I’d made that much of an impression. But knowing he’d been thinkin
g about me was a hell of a turn-on. “How did you know I was here?”
“I saw the other girl. I asked if you were here and she said yes.”
“Oh.”
I wasn’t sure whether to thank Jessie, or kill her.
I moved closer, biting my lower lip.
On impulse, I reached for his glass. He let me take it.
I drank down the rest of what was in it.
He chuckled.
I put the glass back in his hand. “Um, what can I do for you, since you’re paying?”
“Sit. Talk to me.”
What was I supposed to talk to him about? He was my professor, and a well-known businessman in town, and not somebody I needed to be fooling around with.
But I melted every time I looked in his eyes.
Maybe a little fun wouldn’t hurt.
Maybe…
Maybe he could actually make me come.
I sat on the couch beside him.
Cody poured more champagne and offered me the glass. “Here. I intended to book this room for the rest of your shift, so…”
Shit, that was a lot of money.
I took a sip.
It was delicious, now that I was just sipping it.
Cody put his hand on my knee.
I didn’t pull away.
It felt good. It felt right. I wanted him to touch me.
I wanted him to do so much more than touch me.
“What made you switch into my class?” he asked.
I laughed. That wasn’t where my mind had been, at all. “I need one more business credit to finish my masters.”
“Ah, I see. Not because I made such a good impression last night?”
I laughed again. “I mean, you definitely made a good impression. I won’t lie.”
“Good. That’s what I wanted.” His hand traveled a little further up my thigh.
As we talked, I fell under his spell. He was charming, sexy, and well-spoken. He shared his champagne with me and touched my legs, quickly getting me stirred up.
I wanted him.
I found myself leaning closer, wanting him to keep touching me.
He took the champagne glass from my hands and had a sip.
And then he leaned toward me.
I tilted my head.
He pressed his lips to mine.
Heat surged through me. I groaned against his mouth.
Nobody had ever gotten me this close to an orgasm before.
