37. CHAPTER 37
37
IVAN
“I don’t like it when you work there,” Tyler complains as he watches me get dressed. Lev wants me to cover Desire this afternoon, as we have a delivery arriving and he can’t make it. Little did I know this would cause problems. A new thing I have learned about Ty since he moved in, is that he is jealous. Very, very jealous. I very rarely need to be at the club, and since Ty has been around, I have only been there when it is required.
“Tyler. I’m gay. Those dancers do nothing for me, you know this.”
“But they like you, that's the problem.”
I do up the zip on my pants and put my belt on and look at him sulking on the bed.
“How do you know they like me? You’ve never been to the club.”
“Aaron told me.”
“Of course he did.”
He sighs dramatically and it does a lot for my inflated ego.
“Come with me. It’s a weekend, you’re not busy. You can enjoy the show and see for yourself what it’s like there.”
“And have it paraded in my face.”
“Tyler…I like MEN. M.E.N. I like cock.”
“I know!”
“Anyway, shouldn't I be the worried one? You’re the one who’s bi.”
“I only like you. But wouldn’t it upset you? Me watching naked women dance?”
“No. Because they know they would be dead if they even looked at you like that. And you know that I would punish you to within an inch of your life, sweetheart.”
And I fucking mean it. I’m possessive of Tyler, but have no need to be jealous as I know I can take care of the problem.
“Okay, I’ll come. Just for an hour. Will any of the others be there?”
“Simon.”
“Great. The chatty happy one of the bunch.”
“He’s always been like that. Just ignore him. He’ll be spending most of the time watching the door waiting for Carlos anyway.”
“I heard Jules talking to Kai about that. I haven’t met Carlos yet.”
“He’s a nice enough guy.”
“You like him?”
“Fucking hell, Ty. Go get in the damn car and wait for me. Christ, I never knew how jealous you were.”
“Not jealous. I just care.”
Tyler walks past me out of the room and I finish getting ready, which only takes five minutes. When I arrive downstairs to grab my coat and keys, Jules speaks to me.
“What's wrong with Tyler? He stomped out of here and ignored me,” Jules says.
“He’s annoyed that I have to work at the club. Jealous of the girls, so I’m taking him with me.”
“Good luck with that,” he says, and pats me on the shoulder as he walks down the hallway to the back of the house.
I walk out and get in the car where Tyler is sitting, waiting for me. I don’t say anything to him as he’ll work it out when we get there, that he has nothing to worry about.
Forty minutes later we are sitting in the club, in the back of the room. I have a bottle of water and Tyler is drinking a vodka soda to calm him down. It's always a little slow in the afternoons here at Desire, the clientele tend to be the older groups who come in and spend their precious money on the girls fulfilling their dirty little fantasies. It's around eight o'clock when things get busy and the real money comes in.
“So, not as bad as you thought?” I ask.
“Actually I’m glad I came. The images in my head were far worse.”
“I told you.”
“Hello Ivan. I’m not intruding, am I?” a smooth velvety voice says. Carlos.
“Hey Carlos. Take a seat. This is my man, Tyler. Tyler, this is Carlos. He works with us,” I say, taking another gulp of water. Carlos has another woolen coat on today, but this one is a deep red, with a black scarf. Very classy.
“Nice to meet you, Tyler,” Carlos says, reaching out to shake Tyler’s hand.
“You too,” Tyler says in response, and sits back in his chair.
“What brings you here today? On the hunt for Si?” I ask, and Carlos grins.
“I needed to get out of the house. My father is causing headaches that I don’t need.”
“Any luck getting your brother?” I ask.
“Yes. But now that problem is mine and I want nothing more than to snap his neck,” Carlos snarls.
“You want to kill your brother?” Tyler asks from beside me, shock written all over his pretty face.
“Yes.”
Tyler looks offended by that response, but he did ask. If he wants to accompany me to work, this is what he will have to get used to.
“This should cheer up your day,” I say to Carlos as Simon approaches us.
“What the hell are you doing here again? Are there no other strip clubs for you to visit?” Simon says, standing over a laughing Carlos.
“I like it here. The women are very beautiful,” Carlos says and it wasn’t the best answer for our firecracker Simon.
“That's news to me, I thought you liked men. You’ve fucked nearly all of them in a ten mile radius.”
“Why does it bother you who I fuck or how many?” Carlos says, and Simon literally growls.
“I don’t give a fuck who you screw.”
“I think you do,” Carlos says as he stands and walks up close to Simon. A fingertip away from touching. I look quickly at Tyler, who is as enraptured by this performance as I am. We are practically holding our breath, waiting for the next move. These guys are fucking toxic.
Carlos then runs his index finger along Simon's jaw and it's like Simon has gone into shock that Carlos has touched him. He doesn't move. I don't think he is even breathing.
“I think you care very much, little lion,” he says, and fuck me did that low commanding voice sound sexy. But not to Simon, who has gathered his thoughts, and pushes Carlos in the chest.
“Don’t ever fucking touch me.”
“Careful, Simon. You already owe me one favor, push me again and I’ll have Dima agree to let me have you at my beck and call for a week.”
Simon gets up in Carlos’ face, ready to fight.
“Drop dead, Carlos. I’d rather have my right hand cut off than be near you.”
And with that low blow, Simon rushes away towards the back office, disappearing from sight. Carlos however, bursts into a fit of laughter.
“You are one fucked up individual, Carlos,” I say, and he turns to leave.
“See you around, boys,” he says over his shoulder and leaves the club.
All Carlos needed was his dose of Simon to get him through the day.
“Explain it to me, does Simon hate or like Carlos?” Tyler asks.
“I think Simon hates him because he wants him. I’m not sure why. But that will be fucking explosive when it happens.”
“Are you sure? I get the feeling Simon would kill him if he touches him.”
“Shit like that is foreplay to some, sweetheart.”