CHAPTER 2 #2
Clearing my throat, I shifted my weight onto one foot. “You need to leave before I call the cops because one, my dad is unemployed, so you being his colleague is complete bullshit, and two… you’re just really annoying,” I explained and his eyes dropped down to my bare legs.
Intently, he dragged his eyes up my body and suddenly, my arms wrapped around my stomach as my heart raced in my chest.
He stood up and I immediately grabbed my robe to my left. I threw it on and he put both hands behind his back. “Where’s my dad?” I eyed him down.
“Donuts,” he easily replied, stopping mid step. I couldn’t help but smile. “Sweetheart—”
“Okay, enough with the pet names,” I dragged out my vowels, looking at him in annoyance.
“Are you going to tell me your real name?” he asked and I scoffed.
“Hard pass,” I faked a smile. “I’d rather not be in one of your weird fantasies,” I shot back and the corners of his eyes wrinkled as his eyes narrowed in on me. “Or on the list of your ‘ next victim ’.”
“ Sweetheart it is. And you think I’d fantasize about you ?” Like anyone else would want him.
“Oh, I’m sure with your charming personality and kind, loving demeanor, women line up at your door,” I drawled, making my sarcasm known. “Wouldn’t be surprised if I’m the first woman actually interacting with you.”
He continued taking slow, steady steps towards me and my legs felt heavy, preventing me from moving. “There’s no way my father let an asshole like you, into our home,” I shook my head.
“You’re brave to call a man an asshole when you’re standing half-naked in front of him— alone .”
“Yeah, and you’re stupid to assume that I’m afraid of you,” I lifted my chin, staring up into his eyes. “And also, maybe it’s ‘cause you’re not really that intimidating,” I shrugged my right shoulder. Yes, he is! Shut up.
He simply stared back at me and I swallowed hard. The fear that sparked inside of me really despised my smart mouth right about now.
“Really?” The question was obviously rhetorical as he eliminated the space between us. I took a step back but he matched my step every time until my back hit the wall. Please don’t be a weird, creepy guy. Pretty, pretty please.
I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, ready to leap out as he slowly lowered his face to be in line with mine, leaving a good few inches between us.
He placed his palm flat against the wall, directly behind my head.
As he moved his face closer to mine I moved my head back and felt the back of his hand against my head.
“You seem pretty intimated by me.”
I cleared my throat. “Maybe just a little,” I murmured, trying to keep my voice steady and he caged me in with both hands on the wall. The air between us had shifted to something darker.
“Are you nervous?” he taunted.
“No. I just don’t like you—”
He shot back fast. “You don’t know me.”
I grinned, effortlessly masking my fear. “Well, that says a lot about your attitude, now doesn’t it?”
Not once did he break eye contact. His eyes were a stunning green with brown around the irises. They made me nervous. I hated that they made me nervous. He gently took my chin in his hand and lifted my head so that our gazes stayed fixed on each other.
“What were you doing at the club last night?”
My eyes darted from his eyes to his lips repeatedly. I kept my answer as vague as possible, mirroring him. “I was working.” He slightly tilted his head to the side, pinning me with a knowing look and I let out a short sigh. “I’m a bartender.”
His voice lowered to a murmur and my stomach churned in response. “ Liar .”
“Fine. I’m a bartender and a dancer. Happy?”
My stomach knotted as his thumb gently swiped across my chin. The coldness below my bare feet snaked around my calf, forcing my legs to go numb. I kept my tone flat. “You can’t tell him. My dad doesn’t know about this.”
“Know about what exactly?” he feigned utter confusion.
“That you caught his daughter pole dancing. My dad’s extremely overprotective over me, and I would hate to find out what he’d do to some guy watching me dance half-naked,” I said, hitting his hand off me. “Or that I dance at the club.”
His tongue slowly poked out, sliding across his bottom lip and he shrugged his shoulders. “Hm,” he nodded and turned around to leave. Hm? HM?
I grabbed his bicep, immediately stopping him. My hand barely wrapped around his entire bicep, drawing my eyes to his arm. Damn . How hard does this man hit the gym? Who is he? Dwayne The Rock Johnson’s long lost brother?
A beat passed and I yanked myself out of my own thoughts. Focus, Nirah . “Did you hear what I said?”
He looked down at my hand wrapped around his arm before our eyes met. “If you don’t keep this from him, I’ll tell him you watched me like a perverted stalker, and God knows he’ll believe me over you.”
In a firm manner, he pulled his arm away from me, turning his body to face me entirely.
For the first time today, I was intimidated by his tall figure. He stepped closer—with burning eyes of disapproval—but I stepped back with every step he took.
He walked toward me until I was backed up against the wall—once again. “ Don’t threaten me. You’ll lose that game.”
His tone was a low growl and I fist the hem of my robe in my hands—holding them down at my sides.
“I don’t care what you call it, just don’t tell my dad that I’m a dancer.”
His cold demeanor dissipated before my eyes and unease barked up my spine. He smirked as though a light bulb of malicious blackmail just went off. “Thank me for last night and he won’t hear a word from me.”
Ultimately, my brows drew together in confusion. “What? Last night…?” I trailed off.
“Almost there,” he mused as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, and I turned my head to the right in thought. Goosebumps spread across my skin at his touch and heat seeped into my veins.
What does he… last night! His eyes. His scent. His voice.
My eyes grew wide and my head snapped to him. Last night…
“You were the man who… No . Forget it,” I said, making his smirk vanish. “I thought I made myself clear yesterday. I didn’t ask for your help.”
“If you don’t thank me, I’m going to have to go and tell your father what you’ve been up to,” he shrugged his shoulders and I narrowed my eyes at him. He didn’t seem like the tattle tale type. I could tell he simply wanted another brick added to his already ginormous tower of an ego.
“I’m a grown woman. My father doesn’t dictate my career choices.”
“Well then…” he trailed off and took a step back, allowing cold air to settle between us. He turned around and said, “I’m sure your father would be thrilled to hear about the amazing choices his daughter makes—”
“No!” I cut him off way too quickly for my liking. He stopped walking and I sighed. Asshole . “You would do anything to satisfy your ego, wouldn’t you?”
He turned around to face me, crossing his arms over his chest. “Yes.”
A faint groan left my lips and I swallowed my pride. “I guess… I could learn to be thankful for what you did.”
I noticed his tongue rub the inside of his cheek. There was momentary silence as he stared at me with a look of interest.
“You’re really good at what you do,” he nodded his head toward the pole.
“Yeah, well, I kind of gathered that from all the men throwing hundred dollar bills at my eight inch heels,” I sarcastically smiled and he scoffed.
I heard my dad’s car pull up and my body tensed as I looked out my window. I heard footsteps receding and my head shot to the stranger that had just left.
“You’re keeping my secret, right!” I called out but no response. Dammit .