Chapter 30
30
PENNY
Collins is not a shouter. He commands a room with his quiet authority, and even when I think he’ll lose his cool, his calm demeanor prevails.
But right now, he is shouting.
And I don’t think I can keep my lips from curling up. Even I know that nothing good will come from a smile in this moment, and yet I can’t keep it from happening.
He’s been broody ever since he saw Chris enjoying time with me on the couch. I thought a good fuck—times two—would work out his aggressions over the situation and make him more pliable to agree to girls’ night.
But apparently I was wrong.
Maybe he thought a good fuck fest would make me so tired that I would forget my ultimate goal.
Also wrong.
So here we are, standing in his living room, about to go head-to-head on the issue of him not wanting me to go out to the club with the girls.
“It’s unfair not to allow me this girl time.”
“You had girl time all afternoon.”
“Well, I want girl night too.”
“Then I’ll take you back to Claire’s house for a sleepover or you can have them over to your apartment. But you aren’t going to some club,” Collins forbids.
“Yes, I am.”
“We have a contract in place.”
“I know that,” I say, propping my hands on my hips. “And the contract gives you the privilege to attend with me, but it does not give you the luxury to keep me locked up in your candy-coated prison.”
“Candy-coated prison?”
I shrug. “Sugar-Daddy Shack was trademarked.”
Collins’s chiseled jaw tenses, as he takes half a step back. Sighing, he rubs at the back of his neck and casts his gaze away from me.
Oh shit. He’s pissed off. Like really pissed off.
But this is what I do. I walk the line of pushing the boundaries, hoping I don’t cross over to the side of no return. Based on the mean expression he is sporting, I know I’m approaching it soon.
But fuck it. I’m invested now. And he’s being pigheaded over something as simple as girls’ night.
“Can we at least discuss this?” I try.
“What’s to discuss when the answer is a solid no?”
“Collins…”
“Penelope…”
“You are my bodyguard. You can protect me.”
As if on cue, Collins’s phone buzzes, and his sigh is enough for me to know that I may be winning this battle after all.
“Here’s my reinforcements,” I say under my breath, knowing that Claire and Angie must have worked their magic with my brothers.
I really should take notes from them. It always amazes me when they get my brothers to give in to their wishes.
I know my brothers. They don’t cave under pressure normally, which makes me wonder just what their women do to make them change their minds. But it’s those details I really don’t actually need to know.
Answering his phone, Collins keeps his eyes on me as he listens to who I assume is Graham or Nic on the other end.
“Seven o’clock?” he asks in a low, gravelly voice.
My face beams with the brightest victory smile.
“Yes, understood.”
By the time Collins is off the phone, I am bouncing around him like a demented clown, pumping my fists into the air like I won the Olympics for some niche sport.
“You have forty-five minutes before the limo pulls up in front of the building to pick us up.”
“Which dive bar are we hitting up?”
“Oh, no,” he says smoothly, “we won’t be going to any establishment where you need a tetanus shot first.”
“Oh, c’mon. I heard epic stories from the girls.”
“You think your brothers would ever allow their women to go to any club with security consisting of grainy surveillance cameras or plastic decoys?”
I fake pout. “No fun.”
His eyes narrow. “Be glad you won this battle, because I’ll always win the war.”
“You seem certain.”
“I am. And if you even think about flirting with other men while we are out, you won’t like that side of me.”
“I liked the side of you I just got from you thinking I was flirting with Chris. So…”
“Penelope…”
“Collins…”
“Keep your sass under control or accept the consequences that will certainly ensue.”
And then an idea pops into my head. “So I was wondering if I can try getting your cock to go deeper down my throat. I have been practicing some tech?—”
“What the actual fuck, Penelope?”
Well, that wasn’t the reaction I was expecting. Now Collins looks frustrated, and he’s rubbing at the back of his neck, which is a telltale sign that he’s stressed.
“I was just thinking that it is fun to have my oxygen supply in the balance. I think I get off a bit on the panic… Who would have thought?”
“You can’t ask questions like these when we have limited time to explore and then expect me not to be walking around with a hard-on all night.”
“I can’t help that when I’m around you, my brain turns to mush. I can just keep watching tutorials and practice with a?—”
“Stop relying on the Internet to teach you things that I’ll clearly provide education on.”
“Fine. But just know that I’m currently horny.”
“Noted. But you better not flirt with other men.”
“No one is going to be flirting. We both know that men ignore me in social situations. Plus, I’m sure Claire and Angie aren’t as wild as they were a few months ago. With one being pregnant and the other married, I doubt drama will follow them like it has in the past. But what do I know?”
“You know enough. And there never is a time when there isn’t drama.”
I have yet to see their true potential for a night out on the town. If the notorious stories about their shenanigans are true, I can see why Collins would be reluctant.
It’s no surprise as to why my brothers have hired an entourage for their women when they want an adventure.
I think trouble just finds them. But that’s not my fault.
“I will be on my best behavior.”
Collins gives me a look. “Doubtful.”
* * *
The limo picks us up right on time.
“Where are my brothers?” I ask.
“They are meeting us in an hour,” Angie responds. “I’m pretty sure they just don’t like to dance.”
Claire gestures to Collins. “At least we’ll only have one pair of judgy eyes to report back to them.”
I stifle a giggle and stare out the window, watching the shops and restaurants pass by as we make our way to the southern part of the city.
It’s a beautiful night, with crisp air and low humidity. I have on a tight, strapless minidress in a bright magenta color. The only way I was able to leave with it on was promising to Collins that he could rip it off me later.
I swear that man can be so feral at times.
If I didn’t trust him, he would be scary.
“Where are we going?” I ask the girls quietly. It’s not like Collins is even paying us much attention. He seems pretty focused on whatever is on his phone screen.
“You really don’t know?” Claire asks, keeping her voice low. “I thought you’d figure it out by now.”
Angie laughs into her fist.
“Okay, now I’m intrigued. We aren’t going dancing?”
“Oh, there will be dancing,” Angie says, nearly choking.
Claire leans into me. “But it’s mainly watching and drooling.”
“We are going to the Boom Boom Club?”
Both girls nod, and suddenly I’m the one giggling.
The limo driver pulls into the parking lot, finds a free spot in front of the building, and then helps us exit.
I glance at Collins. His forehead wrinkles, and he has his typical scowl.
“This better not be what I think it is.”
I shrug. “If my brothers approved it, then why deny us our destiny?”
His mouth opens and then shuts. I can tell he wants to say more but resists, probably because we have an audience.
“Apparently, this place has really good security,” Angie says, acting innocent. “Bouncers, guards, legit driver’s license checks, and up-to-date surveillance. It’s the only way Graham even for a second allowed me to ponder the idea of coming here.”
Claire links arms with me and Angie. “It’ll be fun.” She turns to glance behind her at Collins who is allowing us to lead the way. “What man doesn’t love a good strip club?”
“Apparently that man,” I grumble, loud enough for him to hear. “His frown is going to make this all awkward.”
The girls and I get into line and flash our IDs when asked.
In true Collins form, he makes friends with the bouncer, slipping him something that I can only assume is a cash payout for being “extra.”
When we are granted access through the metal door, the atmosphere comes alive.
“Is this how the Vegas one was?” I ask.
Claire clears her throat. “That one was more of a performance show. I can’t wait to see what this one will be. Granted, we do have someone here that we actually know. Have you spotted Luke yet?”
I look around the space. “Not yet. I didn’t even know we’d be here tonight, so I didn’t give him a heads-up.”
“Is that him?” Claire asks, pointing to a man who only has a bow tie on with a pair of booty shorts.
I shake my head. “No.”
We meander around the space, until we find a vacant lounge area with comfy couches and a little coffee table for any food or drinks we purchase.
The girls and I plop down onto the sofa, with Claire in the middle. Collins takes the chair beside me, looking as uncomfortable as ever.
Leaning into me, he whispers, “Behave tonight.”
And I mouth, “Always.”
A waitress comes around and takes our order, and then quickly scurries away when the lights start fading and brightening, signaling the start of the show.
“Wow, just in time,” Claire says, relieved.
I know the girls have been to a strip club before, but this is my first one. I just hope I don’t do anything stupid.
The crowd is lively tonight, but I have to say, this place is way more sophisticated than the image I created in my head based on how movies portray these places. I know the top-notch security at check-in was the only reason Collins let us proceed in the first place.
He gets off on all things security. So this place has something for every taste, I am sure.
An announcer walks up on stage, looking to be barely legal to be here himself. “Please help me welcome to the stage, the men who are all tens… It’s time to get penis envy! Give it up for Max the Muscle, Lethal Luke, and Sergeant Sam.”
“Please help me mourn the loss of my panties,” Claire says with reverence. This is her love language—clearly.
The girls and I wave our hands and scream out in excitement. Collins looks like he doesn’t know where to put his eyes, but manages to find a resting place for them…
On me.
“Stop making this weird,” I whisper to him.
“I’m just plotting out how I’m going to punish you later for your straying eyes.”
“He’s my roommate,” I remind him, low enough for only him to hear. “We basically bathe together.”
It’s a joke. Obviously. I’m barely at my own apartment, and he knows it. But that doesn’t stop his look of disapproval and anger from shining through his normally blank expression.
Sheesh.
Lighten up, dude.
Then I see a flash of money as Claire waves wads of cash in front of my eyes.
“You brought the whole bank, didn’t you?” Angie asks, giggling.
But when the men on stage catch sight of the money, all three make their way to our section and go to work.
Max sneaks behind Angie to give her a shoulder massage. Luke hops up on the table to do a gyration dance of some sort, in rhythm with the suggestive music blasting through the venue. I’m really trying hard not to look at him no matter how much eye contact he reserves for me.
And his smile…
Fuck, he’s enjoying this way too much. And I doubt I’ll be able to look at him again without seeing this image of him half-naked burning through my memory.
My eyes look for Sam as a distraction, finding him flying through the air and doing a flip. Then he somehow manages to lie across all three of our laps without hurting himself or us.
“Don’t touch them,” Collins warns, but I can’t tell if he is talking to us or the men.
He basically looks like he’s about to have an aneurysm.
Angie takes some money from Claire’s hand and stuffs some into the skin-tight shorts the men have painted on. Then Claire and I follow suit.
When at a strip club…