by Ellen March
He sucked at her lower lip, his hand covering her breast. One she swiped at it, the zing from her nipple to clit obliterated all thought. “Mmmm.”
Then reality returned. “I can’t do this.” She closed her eyes, waiting for the yelling to start. For pity’s sake, she’d led him on, let him strip and finger her, and now she was saying no?
“What?” He reared back, resembling a cobra ready to strike.
“I can’t. I don’t know you, not really, and I’m not ready to ….” The tears came again, blurring her vision. “I’m sorry but it’s just … oh Christ, I’m so sorry.”
“Hey, hush, if you’re not ready then I won’t force you. No way, no how, baby.” He rolled over and cradled her in his arms. “Don’t cry, Savannah. There’s no need.”
“I’m sorry.” Hell, she was a gibbering idiot.
“Hey, don’t be. It will happen when you’re confident and ready. Okay?” He tilted her head and kissed her, a soft chaste touch on her lips. Not the panty-soaking, gut-wrenching one that had her squirming in his arms.
She dragged in a long sniff. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“Of course not,” he lied, debating on a cold shower. “Well, maybe a bit, because I’m brick hard.”
She snaked her arms around him and snuggled into his body. It was so much better than tossing her vibrator into the drawer and lying there alone. She felt him tense and hesitate.
A wave of relief washed over her when he wrapped his arms around her and drew her close.
Into him.
She released a long, low breath and closed her eyes. “This is, well, I can’t explain it, really. I’ve never cuddled in bed.” Then giggled. “Bit different with my plastic friend.”
Neither have I, thought Micah but bit down the words. He couldn’t believe he was actually doing it. How it felt so right. Even though his erection was still painful.
“It’s so nice to actually lie here, and well, kind of relax.”
Micah didn’t respond. He was still shocked that he was actually welcoming the closeness, something he usually abhorred. He’d always hated clingy females. So what was different about her?
Savannah didn’t move, couldn’t raise her lids. She was exhausted, yet excitement still rumbled in her stomach. That her Adonis actually fancied her—enough to want to make love to her, even. And then she thought of the bitch …. She knew she’d have to suss out what it took to run the place.
Before sacking her.
Savannah tried not to shiver. She was becoming a hard-headed business woman. She was also a jealous shrew who was staking her claim on Micah.
“You know you don’t have to pretend to be gay anymore,” she muttered tiredly. Savannah wasn’t used to late nights or early mornings. And the sexy hands-on she’d experienced left her feeling replete and shattered.
“Why?”
“Because I’m the owner, and I get to say what I want. First to go is that idiotic policy.”
“Think Charu will find it an interesting revelation.” Instead of a warm body, next to him was a cold draught. “What the hell?”
Her temper exploded and her mouth kicked in. “So you’ll be bedding her next? Is that what you’re trying to say? Because I didn’t let you, you’re already moving onto the next piece of ass?”
He watched her kneeling beside him, uncaring of her semi-nudity, her hair so mussed she’d give Medusa a run for her money. A grin tugged at his lips. “You’ve no need to be jealous.”
“I’m not. I just don’t share, okay? Now choose.” The lazy tiredness had evaporated.
She didn’t mince words, he realized as his arm snaked out to grasp her. Snatching her to him, he rolled over and pinned her thrashing body down with ease. “I already did. Why do you think I’m lying here with you?”
She stopped and stared up at him, considering his answer.
“If I wanted Charu, I had plenty of opportunity.” He conveniently left out the bet and the fact that the only reason he hadn’t screwed her was because Rio would have found out. Also, the forthcoming weeks would be delightful. Hopefully they’d be making love on a nightly basis, once he’d persuaded her to allow him. His arrogance made him certain she wouldn’t be able to withstand his charm for long.
She fussed around, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth. “Can you get off me? I can’t breathe.” Savannah pushed at the rock-hard wall of flesh.
Micah relaxed and flipped onto his back. Fetching her with him, he coiled her in his arms and couldn’t resist stealing a kiss from her swollen red lips. “Now sleep, baby.”
“Don’t you think you should return to your room?”
“No, I’m comfortable here.” His fingers doodled a pattern on her arm. “And I promise, no hanky-panky.” He frowned when she scrambled from the bed and shot into the bathroom.
“You okay?” He tried not to groan as she returned wearing a large T-shirt that dropped halfway down her thighs. It didn’t help that the words slashed across it said, I’m a horny little devil. “What’s that monstrosity?”
“My nightie, and you make sure you keep your pants on. That’s the deal, okay?” She stood beside the bed, scrunching her toes in the carpet. Though she made a good show of defiance, he could see the uncertainty in her quivering lips and furrowed brow.
Well, it was pretty obvious he wasn’t going to be writhing over her, pumping into her tight pussy tonight, but he wouldn’t turn down a chance to cradle her lush body. “Okay, now get into bed.”
She crawled into his arms and blinked up at him, her lids drooping. “Yeah, but don’t forget my terms. No sharing.” Savannah, he discovered, was determined to get the last word in. She wriggled and huffed before resting her head on his chest. In seconds the slow breathing of sleep overcame her.
Sleep was a long time coming for Micah. He was doing something he never did with a woman.
Holding her in bed.
With a worried frown, he wondered just what it was about this scruffy woman that was causing him to act so out of character.
Chapter Nine
Savannah groaned and tried to snuggle in, her path blocked by a large body. Finally she glanced up at Micah.
“Morning, honey, thought you’d never wake up.” His hot gaze drifted over her body. He’d watched her for too long, and was hard. Her T-shirt had risen up and his eyes dropped down to her pussy, at the enticing shadow of a tempting bush beneath her lace panties. His tongue flicked out, and unable to resist, he bent and slowly licked her parted lips. “I’m hungry.”
“Go help yourself to breakfast. I’m too tired to move.” She closed her eyes again, determined to block out the light.
“I meant I’m hungry for you, honey. Can I persuade you to have a shower with me?”
“Nope.”
He nuzzled her throat, and a splurge of goose bumps fluttered over her body. But then exhaustion claimed her. A morning person she wasn’t.
“You sure I can’t get around you?”
“Certain.”
“You’re a hard woman,” teased Micah, actually enjoying the fact she wasn’t falling all over him. Okay, he admitted it was one-sided, and somehow he had to get her to see the error of her ways. But in the meantime, it was fun, the hunt and the chase making his eventual conquest of her body all the more special.
And she would give in. His only worry was how he’d feel once she did.
***
Charu eyed Savannah with a stab of jealously. There was most definitely something up, but she didn’t know what. Sitting in the small office, she’d given up on her search for the elusive book. She knew who had it.
She shot her a glare. “So, what do you think of it here? Is it what you’d imagined?”
Savannah gave a short grimace, unsure what to say. Instead shrugged her shoulders noncommittally.
“Well, your first problem has just come up. Our burlesque dancer has just phoned in sick.” Charu enjoyed passing on the bad news.
“So?”
“It�
��s expected. That’s one of the acts that most attracts people. Besides, with the club, well, needing every string to its bow, we need to keep the punters happy.”
“Then hire another one?” Savannah said, unsure of the problem.
“I doubt it,” Charu said. “They’re like gold dust, at least the good ones.” Again she carefully studied Savannah, enjoying landing a problem in her lap. “Have you got any suggestions?”
Charu had checked out Micah’s room in the morning and was pretty pissed to find it empty. Because there was only one other room free, and that was the fat girl’s.
And her temper tipped over.
“Is that routine vital?” Savannah couldn’t figure out why one woman would be so important.
“Yep.”
“Then I’ll do it.”
Her gaze hooked over Savannah in shock. “You what?” Charu tried to keep the laughter from her voice.
“You heard. You need a burlesque dancer, then it will have to be me. We can’t disappoint the crowd, can we?” As usual, her impulsive mouth opened before her brain engaged. But this was her business and she wanted to succeed. Besides, she reasoned, no one would actually see her body.
Savannah tried to remember the steps from the evening dance classes she’d gone to, trying to lose weight. After two weeks she’d quit when they were asked to turn up in sexy gear and strip before hiding behind a fan. Up until then, she’d practiced fully clothed, struggling to control the set of feathered critters.
Charu wanted nothing more than to laugh outright. They’d be disappointed all right. Big style. She was looking forward to the farce.
***
Micah sat in the kitchen, sipping a strong coffee. His thoughts were on the woman who had turned his world upside down. He’d never been refused before. Then he looked up at his “stalker,” as he’d nicknamed her.
Charu moved towards him, a grin snaking across her lips. “Well, I’ve heard it all now.”
He took a sip of the black liquid. “What are you talking about?”
“Our boss doing a burlesque dance tonight?” Grinning full out, she gauged his reaction. His face paled and hardened as his eyes blew a cold frost over her.
“What?” He didn’t like what he was hearing. No way was Savannah baring her ass.
“Charlotte can’t make it. Our boss is doing the dance routine. It’s the most popular spot so she’s offered to fill in.”
The scrape of a chair creased across the room. Micah didn’t finish his drink. His temper rising, he went in search of Savannah.
Like hell, she was stripping.
When he found her it wasn’t good. She was on the stage gyrating like an out-of-control firecracker.
“You,” he shouted, “get your ass down here and now.”
“Wait a sec. I’m trying to get into the rhythm.” Savannah swirled and undulated, missing another step. Then she glanced at Micah, who was seriously pissed off.
“Get down here now before I drag you off the stage.” The cords stood out against his throat and he struggled to breathe.
She stopped her gyrating and stared at him. “I would ask what side of the bed you got out of.” A naughty grin creased her lips. “Except I know.” Savannah stopped and strolled down the set of steps towards him.
She didn’t miss the anger that radiated off him. He was one huge testosterone-fuelled mound of evil. Then she decided to remind him of his position. “Don’t forget who’s the employer here. I’ll give you a clue: it isn’t you.”
He strode towards her in sharp, rapid strides. “Forget your high-handedness. No goddamn way are you stripping, you got that?” Micah scrubbed a shaking hand through his thatch of short hair. He couldn’t understand why it pissed him off so much, except it did. No way was she standing naked on a stage.
Savannah glared up at him. For once she was her own boss, and she was not about to start taking orders from him. “What I do has nothing to do with you, have you got that?”
“Yes it has,” he growled. “It has everything to do with me.”
“Whoa, just because we spent the night together, albeit sleeping, doesn’t give you ownership rights. So quite frankly, you can go take a hike.” Her anger took hold at his attitude. She knew she was cutting off her nose to spite her face, but she wasn’t giving in to him.
“I don’t want you on that stage, stripping.”
She stung him a sweetly syrupy smile. “I won’t be. I’ll already have my clothes off and I’ll have a fan to cover me. I’ll just shuffle them around a bit, give teasing glimpses.”
“Savannah,” he yelled as she turned to walk away, “if those sodding fans drop, I’ll kill you.”
She paused and spun around. “If one drops, I suggest you catch it as you’re so concerned.”
Micah paused for a second, sucking in snatches of irate breaths. Then he stormed off.
Savannah stared after his departing back.
He was jealous. Until another arrived, he could also be embarrassed, she reasoned.
Chapter Ten
For the remainder of the day, Micah stayed away from Savannah. His temper wasn’t simmering, it was exploding. He couldn’t figure out why, except that no way did he want her body on display. Realizing he was acting territorial and possessive, he didn’t care.
What riled him was her parading around in front of other men’s lustful eyes.
Since the moment he’d wanted to sink into her depths, he’d dreamt of her mouth covering his shaft. She was his, if only for a short period. And he’d be damned if she was showing her ass to any other male.
***
Savannah hadn’t missed the anger that spun off him. Hell, she’d have to be brain dead not to. Yet, a nagging worry rubbed at her. She was terrified she’d make a mess of it. This was her business now, she reminded herself. Though she couldn’t quite admit it, dancing burlesque had always intrigued her, the act of stripping and tantalising.
The fans allowed her to hide her body. She didn’t have the confidence to do a full striptease, to shed down to her underwear before picking up the fans. That was why she’d packed night classes in after two weeks. And then, she’d only been in front of women.
Now she was following the pioneer Sally Rand. Okay, she conceded, not quite. She intended on titillating but hiding her body. No way was she scaring her punters away.
Deliberately avoiding Micah, she passed the time searching Kitty’s room. So far she had come up with nothing of interest.
For now she’d leave it, but tomorrow she intended on resuming her hunt. There had to be something here that would reveal more about the woman.
***
The night sped on too quickly. Nausea roiled her stomach. She hadn’t seen Micah all day—he’d carefully avoided her. Savannah had checked on Charu, relieved to see she was still around, yet she couldn’t stop worrying that she’d been sneakily bedding him.
Savannah sat in her bedroom, clutching her rebellious stomach. She wanted to do this, to tease and titillate, to have men liking her, but without seeing her body.
What she wanted was a man willing to show her what sex could be all about, with his hands and mouth. And she shuddered.
Suddenly the door to her room opened, and she turned. Savannah knew who it would be. Her dark glaze crossed into his stormy blue.
Each action was stiff and contained as he came towards her, a simmering volcano ready to erupt. “I don’t want you to do this.”
She raised her head, facing him. “It’s not up to you, is it?”
“Anna, I’m warning you.” He sucked in a glut of anger. Micah stared down at her, seeing how she glared back at him.
She wasn’t afraid.
“Warn all you like, but you’ve got nothing to do with me. You can’t tell me what to do.” She paused at his raw fury. “Don’t forget, I’m the boss and you’re the hired help.”
“Fuck me, but you’re a bitch.” His anger was overtaking his common sense. “You wanted to know about Charu?” he challenged.
She spun at the name of her. “And …?”
“You go out there, and I’ll screw her. You got that?”
She glared at him and hitched in a deep sigh. “I’ve got it all right, you horny bastard. You do what you like.” She paused and then vented her jealous rage. “Carry on, do what the hell you want. In the meantime, I’ll find another man.” She threw him an evil glower. “And it won’t be you. So shut the door on the way out.”
His eyes darkened from blue to a murky navy, the shock that scrolled over his face fading. Yet the fury still blazed in his eyes. Micah didn’t move. Instead his raw anger burned over her. “You’ve got your wish, bitch. I’m out of here.”
As the door closed quietly behind him, the truckload of tears made their entrance. A steady stream of misery trickled down her cheeks.
She wished she could contain her temper, take back the words. But it was too late.
***
It was time. The music was the reminder.
She sidled nervously through the crowd, keeping her head bent. She didn’t want to face Micah and his anger. Finally she reached the small changing room to the rear of the stage.
Through the Tannoy her name dropped down on the screen above. Thankfully she’d finished being sick. Her stomach roiled and rebelled at what she was putting it through. On unsteady legs, she teetered towards the stage. Savannah hoped she wouldn’t fall off her high heels. It was fortunate there were a number of them of all shapes and sizes backstage. She’d rummaged through the lot, finally finding a pair that fitted her.
Savannah was terrified, but the emotion that kept her focused was her uncontained fury at Micah.
He was going to be so sorry if he so much as looked at Charu, let alone anyone else.
Savannah stood centre stage in the dark, bollock naked. The soft feathers of the fans tickled her skin. She prayed to God she wouldn’t drop one, or else the club would be shut down at one glimpse of her chubby body.
The music began, and her body started to gyrate. She was relieved that she couldn’t see anything except the glare of light that blinded her. Yet she could feel Micah’s eyes; they burned into her. Savannah tried to remember the short spate of lessons from so long ago. Some of it came back to her; the rest she made up.
