As before, she was ready for the song. In a crucifix position around the pole, she lunged into movement. He wasn’t sure how she was aware of the songs he picked, but there was no doubt that she carefully choreographed every single one of them in detail. Spreading his legs wide apart, Markus cupped his erect cock, slightly rubbing it over his trousers. She was splendid. Her long toned legs crossed and uncrossed, the muscles tensing as she exerted force to hold herself up on the pole. His mouth watered. He could hardly wait to feel those strong legs around his waist. Suddenly, he realized that she was almost halfway through the third song and she hadn’t lost a single scrap of clothing. Markus chuckled. Maybe that was what the clerk had tried to warn him about when he demanded that she dance for him. Interesting, a stripper who didn’t strip. Or maybe she did but only after the third song? When she danced for him in the intimacy of their bedroom, she’d dance naked. Lust ran amok in his veins as he watched her performance.
The rhythm of the song switched, but the so called Frost Princess didn’t miss a beat. She raked her nails over her breasts, down her flat abdomen and back again. Markus squeezed the head of his leaking cock. Fuck, how he wanted her. She eased herself to the floor, one leg spread to the side and making him have visions of what her pussy would look like.
Effortlessly, she lunged, swinging her outside stretched leg around the pole and lifting her knee of the floor into a spiral spin. Even through his passion-induced haze, Markus admired the art in the dance. She executed every step with careful precision and little exertion. She was poetry on legs. Frost Princess didn’t dance. She glided through musical notes like a drop of water over an iceberg. Would she also glide against his flesh as he pounded into her? His animal growled its frustration. It wanted to be closer to her.
“Soon,” he whispered. Her head snapped up as if she’d heard him, or maybe it was only the song. Hugging the metal rod, she ground against it sensually, jumped and spread her arms back into her initial position. The curtains closed.
Languidly stretching, Markus couldn’t stop the grin that pulled at his cheeks. His fangs slipped out, scraping his bottom lip. Finally, the time had come to hunt. Rolling his shoulders, he rose to his feet. His leather shoes barely made any noise as he wound his way to the back of the locale. Noises filtered through closed doors: music, moans, groans, swear words, but he paid them no heed. He followed his nose. Her scent called to him above the putrid smell that lingered over the filthy place where she worked. Her fragrance was sweet and flowery, like the mountain in early spring. That was precisely what had attracted him the first time. He’d stepped outside of the office building, ready to head home when her smell hit him. Home. He had turned around and followed her, instinctively knowing that the girl with black jeans, blue hair that curled over her shoulders, and a t-shirt that hugged her body like a second skin was the one for him. Not even for a moment did he stop to think or analyze the situation. He simply followed. Skirting tourists and locals, cars and bicycles, she’d led him deeper and deeper into the old quarter of the city. Sometimes he got so close he all but had to reach out and touch her. Other times, she’d slipped past him, and he’d thought he’d lost her, an utter sense of despair crawling into his heart at those moments. Then her scent had reappeared, and he followed it again. She was ice and flowers, strength and vulnerability, passion and tenderness. His beast wanted to bury itself deep inside her and never let go. He didn’t know who she was. He only knew that she had to be his. Finally, she had stopped and entered “Edgar’s Doll Shop XXX Strip Club”. Anger like he hadn’t felt in years swept him into the store without thinking. He’d demanded to see her. The clerk had offered him a dancing room and here he was, but she didn’t belong here. She belonged in his bed, under him, around him, moaning, writhing as he took her in every way imaginable to heaven and back. She belonged in silk and satin sheets, in luxury and style, on his arm and laughing, that blue hair snapping in the wind. He vowed that he would make sure that this particular doll left the house never to come back.
Markus stopped before the red door at the end of the long hall. Running his tongue across his teeth, he made sure they were back in place before turning the knob.
Chapter Two
Sophia took a long gulp out of the cool water bottle. She rolled her neck in an attempt to relax, but an uneasy feeling kept crawling over her. Eyes closed, she took in a deep breath. Anxiety curled deep in her stomach and settled like a heavy piece of lead as the smell of sunshine and winter filled her lungs. Her eyes snapped open, and she shivered. How could it be possible? She’d sniffed the scent earlier in the street but had lost it once she came into the old part of the city, but now it was back, stronger than ever and coming closer. Her pulse sped up, and juices coated her panties. Heat flooded her cheeks. That had never happened before. She’d been dancing at the Doll House for three years, and she’d never once been aroused. Today, though, every part of her system was alert and wanton. She’d tried shrugging it off, ignoring the consistent clawing in her chest as she usually did, but to no avail. Something was happening.
The door creaked loudly as it opened, but she didn’t pay any attention to it, assuming it was one of the girls. She glanced at the clock—though none of them were due yet. Her jaw dropped as she lifted her gaze to the mirror and saw the reflection of the most gorgeous man she’d seen in her life entering the room. With him came the scent of the mountain, fresh and crisp. It was the fragrance of liberty. Her mouth dried just as more liquid rushed to wet her panties. Her vision swam, the man becoming a blur. Her breathing became heavy.
“No.” She ground her teeth together and rolled her hands into tight fists as she fought against the pins and needles that tore over her. She fought to control her breathing, but every time she inhaled, his scent filled her lungs. It was intoxicating and overpowering all at once. The thing inside her squirmed and clamored.
“Please leave.” She ground out the words.
The man did not respond, nor did he move. Her system fought against her, like a caged animal bouncing from wall to wall. She shuddered. It was stress, anxiety, nothing else. Covering her face with her hands, she recalled where she was and what was at stake. After a few seconds, her pulse began to fall and her breathing steadied, whilst her vision cleared. When she lifted her head again, she found him still there, watching her. She stared back from across the mirror. Hands trembling, she grasped her water bottle tightly and took a sip. He was sinfully handsome. His pinstriped suit fit him like a glove, molding to a lean body. His attire was immaculate, from the expensive leather shoes and belt to the green kerchief in the front pocket of his jacket. She drank some more, her gaze roaming to his face. He wore his hair long and pulled into a braid. A few golden strands had come loose, the only sign that he was human and not some sort of god. High cheekbones, straight nose, and angular jaw made him look like he’d been carved by a sculptor, whilst his rosy plump lips and vivid green eyes seemed to have come out of the mind of a painter. Her heart lurched as he met her stare across the glass. Quickly, she looked away. Whoever he was, he didn’t belong here. Every inch of him screamed rich and important.
“Can I help you?”
“Frost Princess.”
There was no question. He knew who she was and more. Her stomach flipped, the few contents she’d eaten that day stirring unpleasantly.
“Who are you?” She turned around in her chair to face him.
“You know who I am.”
The hairs on her arms prickled in warning as his smooth, dark voice washed over her.
“No, I don’t know who you are. Please leave. You aren’t really supposed to be here, you know?” Sophia managed a small smile, attempting to be nice even as a sense of fear gripped her.
The Nordic god didn’t budge.
“Didn’t you hear me?”
He shrugged, observing her quietly as she stood.
“Listen, I don’t want you to get into any trouble.” She paused, words failing her as she realized he was taller than
she was by several inches. Not a short woman by normal standards, finding a man who could overpower her like he could made her weak in the knees. As if he was guessing her thoughts, he grinned cheekily. Her pulse jumped, and the impulse to simply go to him was paralyzing.
“You really have to leave,” she murmured.
He took a step toward her. Sophia shuddered. There it was again, the sweet scent, this time mingled with something else. His walked toward her slowly, the fluidity of his movements reminding her of a large cat.
“You have to leave, too, princess.”
His gaze swept over her body, lingering in certain spots that made her neck burn and her pussy clench. He took another bold step, his grin becoming positively devilish.
“Go where?”
He reached for her, but she leaped aside, ready to run for the door. He was on her in an instant, pressing her back to the wall and holding her hands above her head in a tight grip.
“What the hell?” Her knee lifted to strike him fully in the groin, but he was quicker. Fully pressing his length against her, he held her prisoner. The bulge in his trousers rubbed against her stomach, and she bit back a moan. This wasn’t right. It shouldn’t be, yet his warmth against hers felt so good.
“What’s your name?” He leaned into her neck and nuzzled her. Sophia moaned, arching her body into his. Fuck, she had to keep a cold head. Compressing her lips into a thin line she tried to reason with him.
“Frost Princess. Now, why don’t you release me? The next girl is due in a few minutes, and when she finds you here she’ll call the police.”
He laughed. Dark and sexy, it reminded her of melted chocolate.
“I don’t care for the police, Frost Princess.”
She sighed. Another lunatic that believed she needed saving. When Edgar told her to choose her stage name, he’d warned her to pick something friendly that men could appreciate. One of her workmates, Anastasia, had suggested “Princess”. After a few months, her reputation as a slow stripper and a woman who didn’t sell her assets for any price got around and she began to be called “Frost Princess”. Unfortunately, many men missed the Frost part and went directly to the princess that needed saving part.
“You might not care, but I do.”
“So nice of you to care.” He brushed his lips against her cheek tenderly.
“Aren’t you presumptuous?” She glared at him as he pulled back to look at her face, chuckling. Sophia gasped. The green in his eyes had cleared slightly, the pupils dilating into slits.
“No.”
“Why not?” He leaned towards her, licking his lips like a hungry cat about to take his first taste of a bowl of milk. Her lips parted, expectantly. Her eyes slid shut. His soft breath caressed her face.
“Sophia?” Sasha’s voice cut through the haze in her mind. They broke apart. “Sophia, what’s going on?” She glared at the man, distrust in her eyes. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, all is fine. He—” she waved her arms in his direction, dread curling in her belly as she realized she had been about to kiss a man she didn’t know, “—was just leaving.”
“Of course.”
Bowing to both of them, he headed toward the door. Sophia watched him leave with mixed feelings. The ball in her stomach was back in full force, curling and wriggling, demanding he come back and finish what he started. As he reached the door, he turned around. A sensual smile spread over his lips causing liquid fire to coat her panties again.
“Don’t take too long, Sophia. I burn to watch you dance again.” With a curt nod in Sasha’s direction, he closed the door behind him.
Sophia remained rooted to the spot, only sitting down at Sasha’s insistence.
“What was that all about? Who was he?” Her friend kneeled before her and grasped her chin, forcing her to look at her instead of the door. “Are you okay? He didn’t force you or anything, did he?”
Sophia shook her head, sliding her gaze back to the door. He’d left. She’d wanted him to leave and he’d done so, but he’d left behind a yawning gap in her chest that yearned for him. She was empty, bereft, lost, alone.
“We only just met.”
She only realized she’d said the words aloud when Sasha turned to look at her.
“I thought as much. You should have screamed or something.” Grabbing Sophia’s water bottle, she handed it to her.
“Drink, you look shaky.”
Sophia drank obediently, her thoughts running in a thousand directions. Who was he? How had he found her? Was he one of them? Sweat broke over her skin as the question popped into her mind. Yes, of course he was. She’d seen it in his eyes, but it couldn’t be. It didn’t exist. She balked as pain sliced through her from the inside. It was only her imagination. Anxiety. Panic attacks. She’d been avoiding them for years, ever since the incident when she was eighteen. Sophia rubbed her eyes. It didn’t matter. He was gone now. She had to get back outside and dance, release some of the pent up energy still cursing through her. Aware that Sasha was still observing her, she smiled.
“I don’t know who he was,” she finally said. “I guess some sicko, as usual.” Sophia shrugged. “He wanted me to go with him.”
“And you said no?”
“Sasha!”
Her friend laughed. “Sweetheart, I know you don’t like taking men to bed for a profit, but damn, now that the scare is over I’d take that hunk to bed any day, freak or not. By the looks of him, he probably pays well, too. Damn.”
The thing inside Sophia growled in obvious distaste. She brushed off the emotion and got to her feet.
Sasha took a swig of her drink and nodded toward her cell phone. “You should probably call Edgar and tell him what’s going on. Hot or nor, that guy could be dangerous.”
Sophia sighed. For some reason she didn’t want to tell anyone about what had occurred. She didn’t want the sexy man kicked out. She wanted to go out there and perform knowing that his eyes were on her every move. Unfortunately, Sasha’s expectant face obliterated that thought.
“You’re right.” Quickly, she dialed and explained the situation to Edgar. She sank back on the chair as she hung up. An overwhelming sadness took over her at the knowledge that she’d never see the handsome stranger again.
“What’d he say?”
Sophia forced a smile to her lips and checked her makeup in the mirror. “He said he’d deal with it and to get back to work in ten minutes.”
Chapter Three
Anger coursed through his veins. He had to admit the man at the front desk had quite the nerve. He’d come to inform him that Sophia had accused him of attacking her and that hadn’t been in their original deal. Markus’s hands balled into fists. The wily man had then told him that if he wanted to take the girl for a ride he’d turn his other cheek but only if he gave him more money. The urge to beat the man to pulp had been almost overpowering. Bloody bastard. He couldn’t help but wonder how many of his girls he’d sold for a reasonable price. Markus forced himself to focus on the glass window and the closed curtain. If he kept thinking about the idiot he’d go after him, and that wasn’t what he or Sophia needed at the moment.
Where was she? The colorless bulb on the machine taunted him. Worry ate at his gut. What if she had left? He shook his head. No, she wouldn’t have, not with that bastard at the door. He’d probably told her to get back to work as soon as he’d dealt with him. As if on cue the light bulb turned green. Markus’s heart skipped a beat, and relief swept over him. She was there.
Eagerly, he slid a coin into the machine and picked a song. The curtains slipped open. His breath caught in his throat. She’d changed attire, substituting the short shorts for a black silk thong and thigh high stockings attached to a garter belt and a matching black corset tied with purple lace. His mouth watered. The music was playing, but Sophia didn’t budge and he knew with certainty that she knew he was there. They hadn’t even kissed, and yet the connection was already established. She was the one for him, and he was the one for her.
He moved closer to the glass, observing her features. Wonderment mingled with fear. Why fear? This was a glorious moment: two souls finding each other. There was nothing to fear. Clearly, that was not what she was thinking. His instincts kicked in, and he was running out of the room and down the hall. Turning a corner, he almost crashed into her.
Her eyes widened, and she scrambled backwards, running in the other direction. Markus grinned. The beast inside him growled its approval. It would be a short chase, but there was nothing he enjoyed more than a good hunt. He stalked her slowly, watching the way her hips swayed as she scurried away from him on her precariously high heels. His muscles bunched and rolled as the animal in him fought to come out and pounce on its prey. All she had to do was try to shout for help and he’d be on her before the word could cross her lips. She didn’t utter a word. He followed her into the room he recognized as the place she’d been dancing on. Quietly, he shut the door behind them.
“What do you want from me?”
Markus brushed some invisible lint away from his suit and adjusted his sleeves.
“To see you dance.” He smirked. “In front of me, on top of me, beneath me. In every position you can imagine, princess.”
Sophia shook her head. There was no shock in her porcelain face, only denial.
“Why not?” He crossed his arms over his chest. “I know you want to dance with me.”
She shook her head, stubbornly refusing him.
“If it helps, I can insert a coin in the machine.”
A spark of outrage shone in her eyes. “No. You—”
“Yes?”
“Damn it, stop interrupting me. Edgar—”
“Sold you off to me, Sophia. Said I could do with you whatever I wanted for a few more dollars. I take it no one has bid for you before, Sophia, or that scumbag would have auctioned you off long before.”
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