Strip Tease (6 page)

“I really want the man she works for,” he
muttered.

“Why are you so intent on bringing down
Billy Diaz? What did he ever do to you?”

He glanced at her, his eyes flaring with
anger. “I can’t talk about it right now,” he said, his voice low.
“Let’s get inside before it starts raining again.”

Looping his arm through hers, Nate slowed
his pace as they walked up the steps that led to the double doors
of the building. Her entire body tensed at having him so close and
she released a slow breath, trying to calm her rapidly beating
heart.

She didn’t know how she was going to survive
the night being with him. His tangy, masculine scent lingered in
the air, on his skin, making her dizzy. His devastating good looks
were hard not to notice. He’d probably turn a nun’s head.

Right about now, she wished she was a nun,
locked in a convent far away from temptation. Sin. She had a
feeling indulging in sinful activities with Nate would feel oh, so
good.

A giant man held one of the double doors
open for them, his eyes shielded by dark sunglasses. “New
here?”

Nate nodded, his face a blank mask. “Trent
told me about this place.”

“Good deal.” The man smiled at Janelle,
revealing blinding white teeth. “Enjoy your evening.”

Sweet smelling smoke from an invisible fog
machine surrounded them as they entered the building and Janelle
coughed, waving her hand in front of her face. The place was
packed, the crush of bodies making the room stifling hot and she
longed to tug the scratchy wig off.

“Let’s go find a booth.”

Nate grabbed her hand and led her through
the throng of people. She had no choice but to follow him, enjoying
the sensation of his big hand engulfing hers. Electricity seemed to
flow from his palm into hers, making her shiver.

“Would you care to be seated?” A tiny woman
appeared before them, her delicate face covered in a red sequin
mask, big blue eyes blinking up at them.

“Please.” Nate’s voice was gruff, his gaze
meeting Janelle’s for a quick second before he looked away.

She wondered if he was uncomfortable with
the blatant sexuality that surrounded them. The woman who led them
to their table was scantily clad, wearing a black satin and lace
corset, frilly drawers and a black garter belt with sheer black
stockings. Her firm butt cheeks shook with her every step and
Janelle had to admit she was sexy.

What did the straight laced detective think?
Not that she knew for sure if he was straight laced but still. He
acted like he had a stick up his ass most the time.

“Here you are.”

The woman turned and swept her arm toward
the empty booth. It was small, intimate, a single candle glowing on
the round wooden table and the seats appeared to be covered in moss
green colored velvet. “I hope you enjoy the show. It begins in
fifteen minutes.”

Janelle slid into the booth first, surprised
and delighted by the plush softness. Nate joined her, dangerously
close since the booth was so small. His thigh pressed against hers
and she jerked away from him, tugging on the hem of her dress to
cover herself as much as possible.

“Care for something to drink?”

Their hostess smiled, her ample breasts
pushed so high in the tight corset Janelle swore if the woman made
one wrong move, she’d see nipple.

“Ice water,” Nate answered.

Humph, figured. Did the guy know how to
loosen up? “Do you have a martini menu?”

The hostess nodded, tucking a strand of dark
blonde hair behind her ear. “We do. May I recommend the chocolate
martini? It’s our bartender’s specialty.”

“I’ll take one.” Janelle smiled and the
woman smiled in return, licking her lips suggestively.

“Perfect,” she purred before she sauntered
away, her hips swaying provocatively.

“I think she was flirting with you,” Nate
said, a stunned expression on his face.

“I think so, too.” Janelle glanced around,
staring at the gigantic round stage that dominated the room. Green
velvet curtains hung closed in the back, a single spotlight shone
on the center of the stage and she wondered what kind of show was
scheduled for tonight.

Would Ginger be performing? Was she even
here?

“This place is nothing like Billy D’s,” she
said.

Nate sat up straight, tugging on the snug
collar of his shirt. “That’s because it’s, uh, a fetish club.”

Janelle blinked. “What?”

“Yeah, it’s a fetish club. They have theme
nights, sometimes they have BDSM performances, burlesque troupes,
all kinds of stuff.”

“How do you know this? Have you been here
before?”

“Once. There was a fight here a couple of
years ago and I was called to it. The place is pretty clean, really
not much trouble. Everyone understands what it’s about and they
give each other the proper respect.”

Hmm. She’d never heard of Temptations and
she was once considered part of the industry, though more on the
fringe. “So what’s the theme tonight?”

“I have no idea. Everyone who works here is
wearing a mask, so that must have something to do with it.”

She watched couples walk by, most of the
women draped in satin and lace or sexy lingerie, many of them also
wearing masks. The men were nondescript and Janelle wondered if
might be some sort of ladies night.

The lights dimmed, the color changing to a
muted red and it cast the cavernous room in a fiery glow.

“I want you to go look for your sister.”

“What?” Janelle leaned forward, barely able
to hear him, and she stared at his sexy mouth as it moved. Music
started, a sensuous beat that throbbed. More people were arriving,
filling the many booths at a rapid pace.

“Before the show starts, I want you to try
and sneak backstage, see if Ginger’s there.” Nate stared at her,
his eyes glittering in the darkness. “Just real quick, try and be
discreet. Maybe ask about her if you’re comfortable.”

“Isn’t questioning people supposed to be
your job?” Fear trickled down her spine.

No way did she want to wander around this
place looking for her sister. The air practically vibrated with
sex. And it wasn’t as if she was subtle in the blazing red
dress.

“You’ll be able to slip past people a lot
easier than me. You’re beautiful. They’ll let you have anything you
want, even in that wig.”

She warmed at his compliment, grasping at
the top of her head, tempted yet again to tear the stupid wig off.
She felt ridiculous. “I look like a fool.”

“No, you look sexy. Very sexy. Look, if
Ginger sees me, she’ll bolt. She’d be too surprised to run if she
saw you. I’ll wander around too, ask a few questions.” His eyes
pleaded with her, those sensuous lips stretched into a glimmer of a
smile.

“Fine, I’ll go.” She was about to slide out
of the booth when their hostess appeared, a martini glass on her
tray. She placed the glass in front of Janelle with a flourish and
a giggle.

“Enjoy. The glass is rimmed with chocolate
sugar so make sure and—lick it off.” The waitress smiled, a
seductive gleam in her eyes. “I’m sure you’ll love it.”

“Thank you.” Janelle kept her gaze trained
on the glass. She could feel the tension coming off Nate in
tangible waves. He didn’t like the way the waitress acted toward
her.

“This is for you as well.”

Janelle glanced up to find the hostess
handing her a black velvet mask, soft red feathers fanning from
either side. She took it from her, their fingers grazing and the
woman shot her a come-hither look.

“The theme tonight is ‘What the Lady Wants’.
If we’re so inclined, we’re supposed to reveal our deepest, darkest
fantasies,” the waitress explained.

Janelle studied the beautiful mask, gulping.
If she was going to reveal her deepest, darkest fantasy, then she’d
have Nate naked and sprawled across that stage. With her on top of
him, licking every inch of his delectable flesh, drawing his cock
deep into her mouth…

Her face flushed. She could feel the heat
crawl up her cheeks.

“What’s your fantasy, sweetheart?”

Nate’s sexy drawl filled Janelle with
jealousy. Every time he talked to her, he was short and to the
point. No flirting whatsoever.

The hostess moved closer to Nate, her free
hand cocked on her slim hip. “To be with another woman while her
man watches. It’s something I’ve always wanted to try. I just can’t
find the right couple.”

Nothing subtle about her fantasy
. The
hostess was starting to scare her.

“We can’t help you with your little
fantasy.” Nate grabbed Janelle’s hand, lacing their fingers
together. “I don’t share.”

Her heart tripped at the contact. The
constant touching was going to kill her.

The hostess mock pouted. “What a shame.
She’s beautiful. You two are a gorgeous couple.”

“Thank you.” Nate jerked Janelle closer and
she braced a hand on his thigh to keep from falling into him. She
curled her fingers into the fabric of his pants, the heat of his
firm, muscular flesh burning her palm.

“Let me know if I could be of further
service.” The hostess smiled and walked away.

“Holy shit, she looked ready to gobble you
up,” Nate muttered, releasing her hand.

Janelle pushed away from him, grabbing the
martini and drinking half of it in one gulp. She needed the alcohol
if she was going to be able to make it through tonight. “This place
is intense.”

“Sorry.” Nate winced, rubbing the back of
his neck. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

“You didn’t. You’ve been nothing but a
gentleman.” And it was true, he had been. For the most part.

But the look he just shot in her direction
made her think he had other, less-gentlemanly intentions toward
her. “I should’ve warned you.”

“I’m a big girl. I can handle it.” She
lifted her chin, hoping she looked strong.

Nate chose to ignore her last statement.
“Are you ready to go look for Ginger?”

“I’m a little nervous now. That woman was
ready to attack me.” Janelle smoothed the synthetic hair away from
her face, trying to calm her frazzled nerves.

“You’ll be fine. Just put on the mask and
look around for a few minutes. She’ll leave you alone, don’t worry
about it.”

Janelle slipped the mask on, adjusting it so
she could see. Nate watched her, eyes smoldering. He licked his
lips, his tongue dragging across his lower lip doing strange things
to her insides. She scrambled out of the booth, desperate for some
distance.

“You look like a completely different
person,” he said, his voice husky, his gaze drifting over her.
Prickles of awareness washed over her heated skin at his unabashed
appraisal and she wished she’d had more to drink.

She was in for a long night.

“Is it true, what you said to her earlier?”
She didn’t know why she asked.

“Is what true?” He glanced up, his dark
brows drawn together.

“That you don’t share.” She’d enjoyed
hearing the possessive tone in his voice, the way he drew her to
him and held her close, though she knew it was faked.

Would he be possessive in bed, demanding?
Would he consume her, show her in no uncertain terms that she
belonged to him and no one else? The idea of belonging to him,
being possessed by him sent a thrill coursing through her that was
hard to deny.

His eyes flared, never leaving hers as he
shook his head slowly. “I never share. What’s mine is mine.”

“Right. I get it,” she said weakly, aroused
beyond belief. Her nipples were hard aching points, rubbing against
the silk of her dress since she wore no bra and her panties were
soaked. All because of what he said, how his demanding words made
her feel. “I’ll be back.”

Janelle rushed away before he could say
anything else. Not like she’d become his. No man had ever tried to
take over her life—she wouldn’t let them.

Her earlier thoughts of Nate possessing her
dissipated and logic set in. She wasn’t a piece of property to be
bartered over and traded at whim. She left that sort of thing up to
her sister and a long time ago, her mother who’d believed the
promises every sleazy man had made her.

Not Janelle, though. Never her.

The club buzzed with the low murmurings of
conversation, the clinking of glasses accompanied by the sexy beat
of the music. Janelle headed toward the bar, her gaze darting in
scattered directions, hoping for a glimpse of Ginger.

Everyone was dressed up, especially the
employees, making it hard for her to truly see anyone. Women wore
elaborate masks covered in glitter, sequins and feathers, clad in
revealing lingerie, Janelle felt downright overdressed in
comparison.

Approaching the bar, she pasted on her most
seductive smile, flashing it at the bartender when he turned.

“Hi, there.” He winked, propping both hands
on the edge of the counter. “What can I get you?”

“Oh, I’m not thirsty.” She threw back her
shoulders and thrust her chest out. His eyes dropped immediately to
her displayed cleavage. “I’m looking for someone.”

“Honey, I can be of service to any of your
needs.” The bartender grinned and Janelle had to admit he was
cute.

Though he wasn’t nearly as gorgeous as the
man who waited for her.

“I’m looking for a woman. I think she might
work here.” She caught a flicker of disappointment in the man’s
eyes.

“Go on.” He nodded his encouragement.

“She’s about my height, blue eyes, pale
blonde hair,” Janelle continued. “Her name is Ginger.”

Frowning, he slowly shook his head. “Doesn’t
ring a bell, and I’d remember a woman named Ginger. But hardly
anyone who works here goes by their real name, darlin’.”

“Oh.” Disappointment filled her. Why would
she think she’d find her sister with the first person she
questioned? Talk about hopeful. “Well, thank you anyway.”