Strip Tease (7 page)

“Hey.” His sharp bark halted her from
turning completely away. He smiled, resting his hands on his hips.
“Want to get together after the show? Have a drink? It’ll be on the
house.”

“Oh, thank you, but I’m afraid I have to
decline. I came with someone.”

“You can ditch him if you want. He’ll find
someone else real quick, don’t you worry.” He winked. “Not that
you’re replaceable or anything...”

Just the idea of Nate’s hands full with the
curves of another woman made her want to scream with jealousy. “I
don’t think so, but thank you anyway.”

She left the bar, unease filling her. They
weren’t going to find Ginger here, she could sense it. Something
told her Ginger wasn’t here.

But she had to keep looking. Heading toward
the opposite end of the club, she spotted a partially open door
that lead backstage. If she could sneak back there, maybe she’d
find out something.

She came to a stop, shaking her head. Damn
it, how she wished she’d brought a photo of her sister. She didn’t
even have a picture of Ginger on her phone. It would’ve make things
a lot easier.

As she drew closer to the door, she could
see a group of women in matching costumes running around
frantically, as if positioning themselves in anticipation of the
start of the show. Janelle peeked around the door, trying to catch
a glimpse of their faces.

“Hey, get away from there. The show is about
to start.” A sharp jab in the middle of her back made Janelle
straighten with a yelp. She turned to find their hostess glaring up
at her, her hands resting on slim hips.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I was curious to see what
the dancers were wearing.” Janelle smiled, silently cursing her
luck. Now she had to deal with little-miss-horny again.

“They’ll be out later. Then you can ogle
their costumes all you want.” The hostess took Janelle’s hand and
led her away from the door. “I think you’re lost little girl.”

Janelle restrained the urge to roll her
eyes. Letting go of the hostess’ hand, she followed her. Damn it,
she’d almost made it backstage.

“No one is allowed to wander around during
the performance, and it starts in less than two minutes. We need to
get you back to your table.” The hostess waved an impatient hand,
scurrying along at a rapid pace, despite her five-inch heels

Janelle hurried after her, she could feel
the front of her dress slipping with every step. Glancing down, she
found her breasts were practically hanging out, especially since
she wore no bra. She’d have to adjust her dress when she got back
to the table.

In front of Nate. Would he be tempted?
Didn’t all men enjoyed a flash of cleavage?

You don’t want to tempt him. You don’t want
him, period.

Her mind screamed in protest, but her body
was revved up and ready for action—specifically from Nate.

God, she was pitiful.

“Here you are.” The hostess stopped at their
table, her voice a naughty little singsong as she smiled at Nate.
“Don’t worry. I left her in one piece for you.”

Nate glared at Janelle as she sat down, his
brows drawn together. She blatantly yanked on the straps of her
dress, adjusting them and he watched her every move.

“Don’t tell me you fooled around with that
waitress,” he growled.

Her mouth dropped open. “What? No! I was
trying to get backstage when she caught me. The show’s about to
start and she said no one’s allowed to wander around so she brought
me back here.”

“Really?” A dark brow arched and Janelle had
the sudden urge to screw with his head.

If he wanted naughty, wanted to believe
she’d do something with the hostess, then so be it. She’d give him
an earful.

“Why? You don’t believe me?” She lowered her
voice to a sultry tone. “Does it excite you, the thought of me
being with another woman while you watch? Are you into the kinky
stuff, Detective Banks?”

Hell. The man provoked her and she couldn’t
help herself. Thinking she’d fool around with some oversexed
waitress, how dare he?

Nate watched her, his gaze intense, his lips
parting as if he were about to speak. He didn’t say a word and she
literally squirmed in her seat.

God, he made her uncomfortable.

“Say something,” she whispered harshly. “I
know you want to.”

Reaching out, he touched her, drew his
finger down her cheek, along her jaw. “I don’t want care what
you’re in to. But tonight, you’re with me, and you’re going to play
by my terms. So remember, I don’t share. And I definitely don’t
watch. I’d rather participate.”

A shuddering breath escaped her when his
finger dropped from her face. His words knocked any sense she had
straight out of her head. She’d wanted to mess with his mind and
instead he just blew hers. Without a doubt, he’d be controlling in
bed. Intense and focused, bringing her insurmountable pleasure
again and again and again...

“Did you find out anything about Ginger?”
she asked, desperate to change the subject, switch her focus to
anything else but the sexy man sitting too close.

“No, not really. I asked around, talked to
the doorman briefly but got nowhere. How about you?” He appeared
surprised by her abrupt change of subject.

Janelle shook her head. “No. No one has
heard of her.” The lights dimmed once more, blanketing the large
room into complete darkness. “I guess it’s starting.”

“Come here.” Nate hauled her close, slipping
his arm around her, his big warm hand cupping her bare shoulder.
She shivered at his touch, her entire body humming with pleasure at
the contact. “Let’s enjoy the show.”

Janelle’s curvy body fit neatly against his,
her heat enveloping him, her sweet scent tantalizing. Nate tilted
his head and sniffed, trying to be subtle, desperate to breathe her
in. The bad wig and silly mask looked damn good on her.

Everything looked good on her.

He’d never admit it, but the little
waitress’s words made him jealous. Janelle’s slightly disheveled
state when she’d returned to the table had thrown him. Made him
wonder if they really had wandered off, engaging in a quick
embrace.

Nate shook his head. Her accusing words had
provoked him, turned him on. Immediately a vision of the two women
wrapped around each other had flashed in his mind.

He wasn’t lying. He didn’t share. No matter
how hot and willing the women were, that sort of thing didn’t fly
with him.

But indulging a fantasy of the mind? Well
now, that was more than allowed…

“Let go of me,” she said through clenched
teeth, her entire body tense.

“No. Come on, Janelle, relax. We have to
portray a certain image.” He gently stroked her bare shoulder, his
fingers lingering, and she shivered. She had the softest skin. Was
she as soft everywhere? Would she let him map her body with his
hands, his mouth?

“No one is paying attention to us. You don’t
have to pretend you want to touch me.” She glanced up, her eyes
fierce beneath the mask. Damn, if she only knew the truth. What
would she do if he kissed her?

Nate took a deep breath, tearing his gaze
from her. He needed to gain some control. They were in the middle
of a club and he was on duty. Not the right time to indulge in a
beautiful woman who tempted him beyond reason.

The waitress magically appeared before their
table with another chocolate martini on her tray. “For you to enjoy
while you’re watching the show. Have fun, you two.”

She set the drink in front of Janelle, shot
Nate a wicked smile and then buzzed away.

“What did she mean by that?” Janelle’s
expression was inquisitive.

Nate shrugged, unable to concentrate. It was
as if he were living in another world. All thoughts of finding
Ginger had disappeared, the investigation, Billy D, all of it. He
could think of nothing else but this soft, sexy woman sitting
close, looking like his every fantasy personified.

He could probably blame it on a lack of any
sexual interaction for the past few months. Hell, he could blame it
on this club, how the place literally reeked of sex, but he knew it
was more than that.

There was something vulnerable beneath
Janelle’s tough girl exterior. A hint of sadness, as if the weight
of the world sat on this woman’s shoulders, and for some odd
reason, something he wasn’t quite ready to understand, he wanted to
be the one who helped relieve her troubles. If only
temporarily.

The music faded and the velvet curtains
parted. The spotlight grew until it shone upon a couple who stood
in the middle of the stage. A woman, tall and thin, was dressed in
a black bra with gold detailing and a pair of miniscule black
panties.

Nate couldn’t help but admire the woman, her
long legs enhanced by garters and sheer black stockings, her feet
clad in the highest red shoes he’d ever seen. Multiple long
necklaces made of glittering black stones hung from her neck and
clung to her voluptuous chest. She wore an elaborate mask over her
face. It was embellished with brilliant peacock feathers that stood
like a crown above her eyes.

The man was dressed in a white dress shirt
and black pants, his head shaven completely bald and a simple gold
mask covered the upper half of his face. He was big and
intimidating, nearly twice the size of the woman.

The woman slowly wound around the man, her
arms circling his back, one leg coming up to wrap around his hip.
The man reached out, one meaty hand holding her leg in place as he
thrust his groin against hers.

The music resumed, its beat heavy, sensual,
almost tribal. The spotlight changed color, casting the couple in a
soft golden haze. They began to dance, swaying to the beat, their
gazes locked, bodies entwined.

Janelle grabbed her new drink, gulping from
it, her hand trembling when she set it back on the table.

“Are you all right?” He whispered the
question close to her ear, wishing the wig was gone. He wanted the
real woman, not this fake one they’d both created.

She blinked up at him from behind the mask,
her lush lips parting in surprise. “I’m fine, a little
thirsty.”

“Just checking,” he said with a smile. He
trailed his fingers along the slope of her shoulder, down her arm,
then back up again.

She didn’t protest, which was a good thing.
Returning her attention to the stage, she watched the couple
continue their sensual dance, but Nate only had eyes for her.

He wanted her. He wanted to know if she
liked hard kisses with thrusting tongues or slow, soft lingering
kisses that lasted for hours. He wanted to know what it would be
like, buried deep within her, having her wrap around him like she
didn’t want to let go.

He wanted to know if she was loud in the
throes of an intense orgasm or if she was restrained.

An instant erection surged against the fly
of his pants and he shifted in his seat. She noticed, turning
toward him with a questioning look, and he smiled at her, hoping
she wouldn’t say anything.

She didn’t. She rested her hand on the
inside of his thigh instead.

Nate grimaced. What the hell? The woman was
trying to kill him. Not that he’d protest. Her touch was light yet
her palm burned hot against his thigh. Her fingers played with the
inside seam of his pants, flicking at it once, twice, three times.
He tore his gaze away from her, desperate to get a hold of
himself.

He needed to change the direction of his
thoughts and try to forget the woman of his newfound dirty dreams
was touching him. Arousing him.

Turning to watch the happenings on stage, he
realized his mistake.

The woman’s arms were wrapped around the
man’s neck and her head was thrown back, her chest like an offering
to him. The man took it, the bra already tugged down below her
breasts, her rosy nipples long and hard as he twisted first one
then the other between his fingers. The woman gasped at his rough
touch and the man pinched her nipples even harder, making her cry
out. In pleasure or pain? Nate couldn’t quite tell.

He swore he could feel the entire crowd lean
forward in anticipation, collective breaths held as they waited for
the man’s next move. Nate leaned toward the stage as well, his
breath lodged in his throat, his entire body hungry for what he was
watching.

Hungry even more for the woman whose hand
was slowly sliding farther up his thigh.

A rip sounded, loud and harsh in the quiet
room as the man tore the delicate bra from the woman’s body and
threw it off the stage. The black necklaces lay in stark contrast
against her pale skin and the man curled the end of one necklace
around his fist, tugging on it until it tightened around her neck
and the woman moaned.

“Do you think they’re going to have sex up
there?”

Janelle’s breathy question rang in his ears,
vibrated throughout his entire body. She didn’t sound offended. No,
more like she was curious, maybe a little aroused. Rapt in watching
the performance, seemingly entranced by what unfolded in front of
her, her hand kept stroking his thigh almost absently, making his
hard on stand at full attention.

If she moved her hand up maybe another inch,
she’d be touching him right where he wanted her.

He broke out in a lusty sweat just thinking
about it.

The woman on stage went down on her knees
before the man, her hands stroking his torso, her heavy breasts
swaying with her movements. Her hands slid around the man, cupping
his buttocks and she pulled him toward her, pressing her face
against the front of his pants.

“This is unbelievable. I can’t believe
they’re doing this,” Janelle murmured.

“I’ll say. Let’s get out of here.” He
couldn’t take it anymore, couldn’t take Janelle touch him while it
was all unfolding before them on the stage.

The unmistakable sound of a zipper being
drawn ripped through the air and Nate released his hold on Janelle,
trying to slide out of the booth. The little show was getting way
out of hand.