by Laura Day
He smelled like stale cigarettes and his hands kept ending up in places they weren't allowed. I thought I spent more time fending off his straying hands than I did dancing. But again, he tipped well.
Mercer was a welcome sight as I stepped out of the room – and yes, he was standing right there. As if he was a bouncer himself.
I grabbed him by the arm and pulled him away, “You can't do that. They'll think you're stalking me.”
“They already do,” he said with a shrug. “Not like anyone has done anything about it.”
I pursed my lips and looked around. The bouncers were too busy with my last customer; maybe they hadn't noticed Mercer, but still.
“You need to be more careful,” I admonished him.
“No, you need to be more careful.” His voice was stern, a little too harsh for my liking.
Placing my hands on my hips, I shot him a look – a look that my friends liked to call the Death Glare. But if it did anything to get my point across to him, I didn't see it.
“I'm not the one with an abusive ex out to find me,” he reminded me.
Good point.
“But I have a job to do,” I said. “And you can't do whatever it is you're doing if you get banned from the club for being a creeper. So tone it down, please? For me?”
“You don't realize – ”
“No, you don't realize how much I need this job, okay?”
Mercer just stared at me. A serious look in his eyes, and a frown on his face, but he was still as sexy as ever. Even when he was acting more like a father than a...lover? Customer? Whatever the hell he was to me.
“You're sexy when you’re angry,” he said.
At that moment, I wanted to smack the shit out of him, but a part of me also wanted to press my body against his and show him how sexy I could be. Not that he didn't already know. Although last night was awkward, it was the first time, in a long time, for me and I was just getting back in the groove.
Hopefully, he knew that.
“If you really want to keep me to yourself, you need to pay, Mercer. Just like everyone else here.”
And just like that, out came his wallet. “Another lap dance? Pretty please?”
I sighed. A lap dance? Or something more?
“Listen,” I told him, leaning closer and whispering so that only he could hear me. “I'm not a hooker, remember?”
“And listen to me, Val,” he whispered back. “I know that, and you'll never, ever be treated like a hooker when you're with me.”
A chill ran up my spine when he spoke, even as his hot breath warmed the side of my face. Closing my eyes, it would just be too easy to fall into his arms, but not here. Not in public.
“Fine,” I said, taking his money. “But just a lap dance.”
But my body knew that was a lie.
***
The second time, we didn't even pretend to not know what we were doing. Mercer undressed me, and I undressed him. Instead of sitting down, he pressed me against the wall of the room, lifting me up so that my legs were wrapped around his body before he shoved himself deep inside of me.
We were doing this again, against my better judgment. And it felt so fucking good.
Mercer held me against the wall, his hands cradling my ass as he fucked me, thrusting in and out with such precision and force – I felt like he might push me through the walls and out the other side. But I was helpless, caught between him and the wall, my body held up in the air by his strength.
“Just a lap dance?” he murmured in my ear with a knowing laugh.
“Fuck you,” I said.
“I think you already are.” He bit my bottom lip, burying his cock deeper.
Words were lost on me, but my head fell forward as I cried out.
I shuddered and spasmed, my body experiencing one orgasm after another as I lost all control. He took all the power away from me, and I loved it. Some part of me loved being submissive to him. His kisses, his nibbles, his scratches – he could no wrong. My body was on fire, electrical shocks firing in so many directions. Each touch, each thrust, sending me further and further into oblivion.
I knew I shouldn't be doing this again – but I also never wanted it to stop.
Mercer's hands slipped a little on my ass, just as his thrusts became more erratic. I knew what that meant, so I wrapped my legs tighter around him with my arms around his neck and held on for dear life. I clenched my pussy around his cock as he continued to pound into me with overwhelming force.
“Oh shit,” he said between clenched teeth. “Oh fuck, Val. I'm...”
He didn't have to finish his sentence. I knew he was cumming; warmth filled my most inner parts as he came inside of me – his body shivering as he shot out his load. Together, we enjoyed the pleasures of our bodies literally cumming together.
“God, you're amazing,” he panted.
“You're not too bad yourself.”
“That thing you do – with your pussy – where you can squeeze and release? I mean, what the hell?”
He was breathless, his hair was all over the place, and sweat dripped from his forehead, but he was sexier than ever.
“What can I say, I have many talents.”
“That you do, Val,” he said, letting me slide down the wall to balance on my feet. “That you do.”
Chapter Fourteen
Mercer
As we parted ways at the end of the night, I had to wonder – how could I be sure Val was safe after she left the club? I didn't know where she lived, so I had no way of watching her there. I could follow her, sit outside of her goddamned home at all hours of the day and night – but I had to sleep sometime.
Val was walking to her car, and I watched her from a safe distance. Here was my chance. I could follow her home – but instead, I rushed over to her, putting my hand on the car door before she could open it.
“Wait,” I said.
She turned to me and cocked her head sideways with a strange expression on her face. “Yes?” she said. “I hope this is important, I have to get home to my – I have to get home.”
“It's important, trust me,” I told her. “I have an offer for you.”
“An offer?” She raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. “I'm listening.”
“You need to hide, Val. Move somewhere – somewhere secret. Somewhere no one can find you.”
Val laughed, sounding tired. “Move somewhere? You think I just have the power to up and move? I barely can pay the measly rent on my crappy hotel, much less move somewhere else, just like that.”
“What if I can help you?”
“Help me with that?” she asked, scanning my face as if she was trying to read my mind. “And what do you get in return? Because I know you're not going to just pay my rent and let me live somewhere without owing you something. That's not how this world works, Mercer.”
“I don't want anything,” I said, and it was true. “Only you.”
“Only me? So like, you get to sleep with me anytime you want?”
A smile passed across her lips, but she looked away, staring off into the distance as if she didn't want me to see the look on her face. It gave so much away. She wouldn't mind sleeping with me; I could see it in her eyes.
“Somethin' like that,” I said with a half-smile of my own.
Val was quiet for a long time, too quiet. She wouldn't look at me so I couldn't tell what she was thinking.
“Let me think about it,” she finally said.
“Val – ”
She held up her hand, stopping me mid-sentence. “It's not as easy as it looks, Mercer. I have baggage. Stuff you don't know about me. Stuff you might not be willing to accept about me too. I can't just expect to move and suddenly live happily ever after. I have to make sure this is the best thing. Not just for me, but for everyone.”
“I'm not worried about myself.” I leaned in for a kiss. “I think I can take care of anything you throw my way.”
She shrugged and turned, resisting my lips. “May
be so, but I can't just jump headfirst without, at least, thinking about it.”
“Fine,” I said, taking my hand off her door. “Do what you want, but please, give it some serious thought. I can and will keep you safe, and I might be the only person who can.”
Val stopped, and I thought perhaps she was going to agree to my deal on the spot. But instead, she got in her car, waved at me as she backed out, and headed toward the parking lot exit.
My blood was boiling. Was she really so naive and stupid to believe she'd be okay on her own? I hopped on my bike and attempted to follow her home, rage brewing within me. I followed her to a dimly lit hotel where she parked in a spot.
“Mercer, please – ” she said, getting out of the car and looking ready for a fight.
But I wouldn't let her. I pressed my lips against hers and kissed her, long and hard, pushing her up against the car. My hand moved up her skirt, touching her inner thighs.
“You know you want this, Val,” I insisted. “Why turn me away?”
“It's not that easy, Mercer.”
“It doesn't have to be so difficult either. Be my girl, I'll keep you safe. Trust me, I can handle any baggage you have. I probably have worse.”
“I doubt it,” she said, biting her lip and looked at the hotel.
“Please, Val. It's the only way to keep you safe.”
“The only way to keep me safe?” she asked, meeting my gaze. “Do you know something I don't, Mercer? Am I truly in danger?”
How could I put it without freaking her out more? I couldn't tell her that I was the one sent to kill her, it wouldn't help the situation, but she needed to realize the real danger she was in.
“Yes, Val, you are, and it’s not safe to leave you here alone.”
Chapter Fifteen
Valencia
I kept thinking about my baby – what was best for Laila? Mercer seemed genuinely concerned, but I had more than just me to worry about here. I looked over at my hotel room’s window then back to Mercer, trying to decide if he could keep us safe. I hardly knew this man, why did he care so much? And better yet, how did he know so much?
The look in his eyes told me he was speaking the truth, he was worried about me. Little old me. I knew what Ricky was capable of, and just thinking about running back into him again sent chills down my spine. Having someone like Mercer there to protect me, well, it would be like a dream come true. But again, how did he know so much?
“I'm not sure how much time we have,” he said, his voice barely a whisper.
He watched every car that pulled into the lot and kept a close eye on anyone who dared walk toward us. Something was going on.
“Tell me what's going on Mercer,” I demanded. “Please?”
His eyes darted to a car that parked a few spots behind me. He watched it, not answering me for a few seconds.
“Please, Val. Trust me. Get your things and let's go. Now.”
I turned and saw a rough looking man standing near the car. Nothing seemed off about him – he looked like a typical resident of the place. But he just kept standing there, not really watching us, but facing our general direction.
“Do you know him?” I whispered to Mercer.
“Just get your things, now.”
It wasn't a request this time. He wasn't asking. Something in his voice told me that I needed to take it seriously. My heart raced as I fumbled for my keys and rushed toward the room while Mercer waited outside.
Kelly was asleep on my bed when I came in, while Laila was asleep in the crib beside her. Nudging her awake, I tried to act calm.
“Hey, I'm home,” I said, my voice a little shaky.
Kelly's eyes opened, and she appeared groggy. I started putting a few things into my overnight bag, and that caused her to sit up.
“Where you are going?” she asked.
“It looks like I’ll moving out of this dump at last,” I told her, running into the bathroom to get my toiletries. “It's a long story, but I'll be in touch soon, okay?”
“Is everything all right?”
Was it? How was I supposed to know?
“Yeah, everything is fine,” I lied, putting on a fake smile. “I just got an offer to move somewhere better, that's all. Somewhere safer for us.”
Kelly didn't look convinced at all. Hell, I probably didn't look convinced.
“At this ungodly hour?” she questioned.
“Crazy, I know, but it's going to be much better.”
I reached into my purse and pulled out the money I owed her, throwing in a little extra for getting home later than usual. Thanks to Mercer, of course.
“Don't worry hon,” I said. “I'll still need a sitter, and you're the only one I trust with my baby girl. I'll give my address as soon as I have it.”
Not buying what I was selling, Kelly pulled me down next to her on the bed, holding my hands in hers. She was younger than me, just by a couple of years, but sometimes it felt like we were worlds apart. She grew up in a different world than I did. She’s experienced a life that I could only imagine.
“Val, if you're in any trouble at all, please, let me help you.”
Sweet Kelly. She couldn't help me. She knew a little about Ricky, but not the full extent of it. I wasn't about to talk about it now, much less mention that I could be in danger. I didn't want her to worry about me.
“I'm fine,” I said again with a smile. “I promise.”
Kelly didn't look so certain, but I pushed her out the door as quickly as possible, my heart pounding the whole time. What if that guy was here for me? Did Mercer know who he was?
I put Laila in a baby carrier across my chest, grabbed her collapsible crib, and my bags, and walked out of the hotel room.
But Mercer was nowhere to be found.
Neither was the guy who'd been watching us.
Chapter Sixteen
Mercer
I followed the creeper as he walked around the hotel, watching him closely. He wasn't familiar, but I didn't know Ricky or anyone else associated with him, so how would I know? Better to be safe than sorry. He stumbled into a room, talking with a woman inside.
“Where the fuck have you been, Jim?” she screamed.
Hell, maybe that's why he wasn't so eager to go inside. I wouldn't be either if I had that yelling at me when I came home.
I turned and saw Val standing near her car, looking around anxiously. Poor girl. I scared the living daylights out of her for nothing. As I walked toward her, she slammed the trunk and shot me a look of pure rage.
“Where the hell were you?”
At least it wasn't, “Where the fuck have you been?” I guess that was something.
“Following the guy. He's staying here, not a threat.”
She looked relieved. “Glad to hear it, does this mean – ”
“No, you're still coming with me. Follow my bike.”
Val nodded and climbed into her car. I hopped on the bike, made sure she was ready to follow me, and then drove off, leaving the dingy, shitty hotel behind.
***
Handing Val the keys, I told her which unit to look for. I had to park my bike around back; somewhere no one could see it. I let her have the garage for her car – better to keep it off the street.
As I stepped inside the apartment, Val turned to me, her eyes wide, “You live here?”
“Not exactly,” I said, shutting and locking the door behind me. “This place is off the radar a bit, I only use it for emergencies.”
“Emergencies? You have those often?”
I shrugged. My eyes moved toward the corner of the living room. A crib.
Val saw me looking at it and walked over. She picked up a baby, holding it in her arms.
“I told you I came with baggage,” she said, biting her lip. “Mercer, meet my daughter, Laila.”
Shit. Not only was I in charge of protecting Val, now I was protecting her daughter too. The tiny, little thing couldn't be but a few months old. Laila’s eyes opened and stared at me, full of
wonder.
It scared the shit out of me.
But what could I say? Tell her that her child wasn't welcome here? That I'd protect her, but not her kid? How come no one – not Val, not Bates – mentioned a kid? Did Ricky even tell Bates there was a baby involved? Hell, was it even Ricky's? And was I supposed to kill the kid? Did Ricky's fee cover that second assassination?
