Chapter Six
Charley
Loud voices out in the hallway startle me awake. It’s nothing new, except I’m at Elegance, and I fell asleep on the couch in my practice room, which I’ve come to start calling it. The lights are dim so it looks like no one is in here.
The male voice is loud and angry and the female voice is placating but as always not taking any shit. It’s Beast and Ellie. They don’t usually talk to one another like this. What on earth is wrong? I don’t think I’ve ever heard Beast raise his voice.
The door is ajar and I peer through. There is another room opposite this one but the door is further down the hall. The shouting dies down but they’re still talking. Has something else happened? Like what happened with Stella.
I step out into the hall, wondering if I should check on Ellie. It seems impossible to believe Beast would hurt her but I haven’t forgotten who these men are, they can be dangerous. It’s a bad idea but my feet don’t listen and I move along the hallway.
Something scrapes on the floor and Beast grunts.
What the hell? I get level with the doorway and my mouth drops open.
It’s some kind of games room and Ellie is lying back on the pool table, her skirt hiked up around her waist, her legs wrapped around Beast’s waist and his naked ass is clenching as he thrusts into her.
He’s doing it so hard the pool table is moving.
For a second I wonder if he is hurting her, but she starts to moan and reaches out, clawing at the felt on the table. Her eyes are closed, she is clearly into it. Beast is like an animal, this is the first time I’ve ever understood his name.
Someone grabs my arm and drags me away from the doorway and I come face to face with Nashville. He doesn’t look happy, but he doesn’t say a word as he pulls me away from where the fucking is starting to get louder. Neither one of them seems too concerned about keeping quiet.
Nashville guides me back into my room and closes the door. “You get off on watching people?” he lifts a brow.
“No!”
Oh God, I was just standing there watching them. My hand goes over my mouth at that realization and I’m mortified Nashville saw me. I haven’t gotten over his comments the other day about me not belonging. In fact, I was pissed about it for far too long to be normal.
“I thought he was… They sounded like they were arguing and I wanted to make sure she was alright.”
“Ellie can hold her own.”
“I know that.” I drop my hand. “I didn’t expect that they would be doing that when I went to look.”
“But you figured you would stay and watch?”
“Will you please stop saying that? It was like seeing your mom and dad screwing. I froze.”
Nashville laughs and when I ask what’s so funny, he says nothing and puts his hands on his hips, glancing back at the door. The laughter fades and he gets a concerned look on his face. He can’t deny it, there is something odd about this.
“Sometimes it happens,” he breaks the silence. “It doesn’t mean anything. They’re both consenting adults.”
Lily has mentioned some of the girls give extras. I can’t help but wonder if it’s expected that they’re available when these guys want them. And they don’t pay…
“It doesn’t mean you have to do it,” Nashville says, like he can read my mind.
“I know that. And I wouldn’t…” I trail off, remembering the first time I laid eyes on him. He’d been in the back room getting blown by someone.
That shouldn’t make me squirm, squeezing my thighs together. It should gross me out.
“Don’t read too much into it. Ellie and Beast have a long relationship, they understand one another and sometimes, when one of them needs something, they’re there for each other.”
“He needs rough sex?”
Nashville laughs again. “It’s not unheard of, I don’t particularly want to see one of my friends’ asses, you know. And I won’t judge if it’s your thing, but you gotta ask if it’s okay first.”
“Oh my God, stop,” I turn away and grab my bag.
“I’m kidding,” he takes a step closer. “I’m sorry, it’s just been a weird day, and this wasn’t what I planned on seeing, I’m sure you’re the same.” He scrapes a hand through his hair, ruffling it up. “Let’s not speak of it again, let them think they were alone.”
“Oh, don’t worry, I have no intention of letting them know. I’m embarrassed enough that you know.”
“I won’t tell anyone.” Nashville makes a key locking gesture by his mouth then fake throws it over his shoulder. “What are you doing in here anyway?”
I’ve kept it to myself that I’m practicing a different kind of dance, Ellie told me not to say anything about coming in here but he is looking around like he suspects I’m up to no good.
“I dance in here, out of the way.”
“Like what you were doing the other day?”
“Yeah, but… different.”
“You’re not much of a straight talker are you?”
“Around people I don’t know, not really.”
“Ah, you know me.”
“Do I though?”
He grins. “We’ve had a couple of conversations, I’ve watched you dance, which was incredibly impressive by the way, and I felt bad about what I said to you.”
“You don’t have to feel bad. It wasn’t anything I haven’t heard before, like you said. It’s just hard to wrap my head around getting a compliment, but feeling like I’m letting people down at the same time.”
“That does seem like it would suck.”
A flush burns through my chest at that word coming from his lips. I clear my throat and check my watch. There is still a while before opening time.
“Sounds like they’re finished.” He’s right, it has gone quiet out there. “Might be safe to leave.”
Right, leave. Not stand here getting all flustered because a man said ‘suck’. A gorgeous man, with a beautiful smile and kind hazel eyes that always seem to be laughing.
My gaze lowers to the vest and the patch over his chest. Sergeant-at-arms. I’m not sure what it means but Lily said most of the bikers who come in are high up in the club. Before I make an ass of myself I grab my rucksack and sneakers and walk past him to the door.
When I pull it back, Ellie is walking along the hallway and pauses, surprised to see me. She looks beyond me and sees Nashville. I’m not sure what she is thinking but her eyes narrow minutely, then she walks on. Then Beast comes out of the room and sees me standing there.
“What are you doing here?” he asks, his voice gruff.
“She was helping me with something,” Nashville says, coming out of the room.
“What?” his attention goes off me.
“Yeah, a lightbulb blew out, she helped.”
“A lightbulb?” Beast clearly doesn’t believe him.
“Yeah, we fixed it. Charley was just going to get ready for work. And you and I need a chat.”
“Not now.”
“Yeah now,” he says. “Nero asked me to come see you about a package you got.”
Beast glares, turning his head away. “I don’t have time for this.”
“Sure you do.”
I don’t know what is going on, but it’s none of my business. While they continue their weird stare off, I walk away and head to the dressing rooms.
Weird stuff happens here all the time. It’s crazy. Whatever that whole situation was, I’m not going to bring it up, to anyone. Especially not to Ellie.
Who is waiting in the dressing room when I walk in, making me draw up short.
“You’re in early.”
“I was getting some practice in.”
She stares, and I blink but keep my mouth shut. After a few moments she nods and leaves the room. I really need to find somewhere else to hang out during the day. Or just lock myself in the dance room and not come out till I absolutely have to.
My shift goes by fast, I don’t see Ellie or Beast again for the rest of the night, and I’m even more disappointed that Nashville isn’t around either. It’s dumb of me to attach to anyone, I’ve learned that the hard way. Lily has been a good friend which has helped.
When all the patrons have gone and the doors are locked, the lights come on and the cleaners come in to do what needs to be done. One by one the girls leave too, Walker seeing them out as usual. I decide to take advantage of the shower after all the dancing and the long shift.
Walker isn’t around when I leave the dressing room, which is fine because I feel safe in the car park with all the security.
It’s starting to get cold, so I pull my wool cardigan tighter around me, reminding myself I need to get a warmer coat.
At least the window in the car is fixed.
The heater is slow to start, but it’s not a long drive.
In the car, I turn the key and all I get in response is a click. Shit. I try it again a few times, with the same outcome. “Damn it,” I groan and put my forehead on the steering wheel. Why does this keep happening? Just when I start to get on an even keel something else goes wrong.
I could open the hood and look inside but that would be pointless, I know nothing about cars. A frustrated cry spills out of me as I keep trying to turn the engine over but it's just not starting.
A knock at the window startles me and I clutch my chest. It’s Walker.
He steps back as I open the door and offers to see what he can do.
I stand back, shivering as he tries to get it started but nothing is happening.
He looks under the hood after it takes us a while to get the lever to work to open it.
I’ve never been more embarrassed.
“It’s your starter motor.”
“What does that mean?”
“A mechanic will have to fix it, sorry Charley this car isn’t going anywhere tonight. I can arrange a ride for you.”
“Ah, that’s okay, I can Uber,” I say quickly. Anyone giving me a ride will see where I live and I can’t let that happen.
“You’re not getting an Uber at this time of night.”
I’m startled again by the new voice and turn to see Nashville strolling towards us.
“It’s fine, I do it all the time.” Lies. I can’t afford to get an Uber.
Walker tells him what’s wrong with the car and shuts the hood. He eyes Nashville who tells him all is good and he can head back inside.
“Come on,” Nashville says and walks away towards the rear of the lot. When he realizes I’m not following he stops and turns back to me. “You’re not getting an Uber Charley, I can give you a ride.”
“But, I’m really fine…”
“I’m really not fine with you getting into a strangers car. Let’s go.”
It takes me a second to move but I follow him, then come up short when he stops at his bike. “You’re kidding, right? You want me to get on that over an Uber.”
“It’s more exciting,” he laughs. “Don’t you think?”
“Uh dangerous you mean?”
“Nah, it’ll be quicker too and I’m done arguing, so here,” he grabs a helmet and hands it to me. I stare at it like it’s some kind of alien item. “I’ll help,” he steps up close and takes it back, then raises the helmet.
I’m about to protest again when he pushes it down and everything goes dark for a moment, he flicks open the visor and grins, tipping my head up by shifting the helmet. He tightens it and clips me in, then takes my purse and stows it in the little bags on the side of the bike.
“What’s the address?”
Shit. I can give him a fake one nearby and walk the rest of the way. I tell him the name of the street, he frowns but nods and gets on the bike, then helps me on behind him. It feels super weird and I’m also more than a little terrified.
Nashville grabs my hands and pulls them around his middle. I’m not stupid, I know I need to hold on but I figured I’d grab his shoulders.
Nope, he warns me to hold on tight, then starts the bike. I jolt a little when he moves and grab at his clothes.
“Relax,” he says. “You’re squeezing the shit out of my thighs.”
Oh Jesus, I loosen my grip on his legs.
“You’ll be fine. Just keep hold and lean when I lean.”
Easy, yeah. Right. We set off and go through the security gate. As he picks up speed, I cling to him, put my head down and keep my eyes shut the whole way. It doesn’t take too long and when we stop, I all but fall off the bike, only that he catches my arm I don’t land on my ass.
He helps me with the helmet and I thank him.
“We’ll get your car fixed up tomorrow.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Don’t worry about it, I’ll sort it for you.”
“Nashville-”
“Stop arguing, and get inside, it’s late, and it’s cold. Where is your coat?”
“I didn’t realize it was going to be this cold,” I lie.
He nods and tells me to go. Shit, I pick a house and run towards the door, pretending to take out my keys.
I wave for him to leave and after a moment, he does.
“Fucking hell,” I lean against the wall and count to fifteen, until I can no longer hear the bike.
When I’m sure he’s gone, I hurry down the block and around the corner to my actual home. Thank God he left. I’m embarrassed enough.
And not just about where I live. Being pressed up against his back, feeling the hardness in his abdomen muscles as he turned the bike and the thickness of his thighs against mine scrambled my brain.
I let myself in and hurry up the stairs as usual.
There are two men hanging out on the corridor just past my door.
Avoiding eye contact, I push my shoulders back and try to look unaffected, but my heart is hammering. I don’t know about embarrassment, I’m likely to die of heart failure first.
My hand shakes as I get the key in the lock, the two men are watching me and one shifts as the door opens. I practically fall inside, close and lock the door. Then quickly drop everything and run to the dresser and start pushing.
The door handle rattles and my panic ratchets up as the stupid dresser moves a couple of inches, nowhere near enough to stop anyone coming in if they decide to break down the door.
“Hey sweetheart,” a dark voices says from outside. “Want some company.”
My instincts tell me not to respond and I continue pushing the dresser, moving it a little more.
“Come on, let us in, we can have some fun.”
My eyes start to water and my arms and legs strain as I put all my weight behind moving the dresser. A bang on the door makes me yelp. I’m not going to get it across in time.
Then a voice interrupts the two men and the rattling stops. I strain to hear and instantly recognize the voice. Shit even more on all the other shits.
“I’ll give you to the count of three to get away from that door before I fuck you up.”