Chapter Ten #2
His eyes leave his computer screen as he gives me a devilish grin, his sharp canines protruding from his lips.
I can feel the blood rush from my cheeks down to my neck.
“Don’t answer that,” I quickly say, stepping around the curtains and heading down the stairs off the platform.
I look around the club to see it’s packed.
Every seat, every couch, is filled. I notice a couple tenders sitting on laps, some giving massages to crusty men, bending to show their goods to the other men sitting behind them.
My eyes scan my normal section to see if I can spot any familiar faces, but nobody looks recognizable. This is going to be a long fucking night.
I make my way toward the back of the club to the liquor room. As soon as I crack the door open, a hand slams it shut. I quickly turn around to see Mateo in an all-black suit. His eyes are squinted, which is a sign that he is already highly intoxicated.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you, gorgeous.”
“Hi, Mateo,” I say, giving him a tight smile.
Mateo gets a bit touchy when he is drunk.
I always try to leave early when he gets this way.
He is a nice guy. I’ve never had major issues with him, but I’m starting to get this eerie feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Maybe I’m overthinking it too much. Maybe Jace fried my brain with his non-answers.
Or maybe the “don’t shit where you eat” voice is telling me this is a bad idea.
Oh my god, I cannot make my mind up with this man!
He takes a step back, giving us space. “Where have you been? I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Yeah, sorry, I was requested in VIP,” I say.
I watch his eyes light up like a kid in a candy store.
Anytime someone is specifically requested for VIP, it is assumed she is giving the full VIP package.
Sex and whatnot. Which is not true. We have a voice here.
We can say who and what we are willing to do.
Axel gives us a choice, and my choice will always be no.
Anytime a girl gets uncomfortable in VIP, there is a little button we can press.
Once that button is pressed, security comes ripping apart the man in the room and he is banned for life.
I have seen it happen once or twice. Aaron, our security guard, will come strutting out of the dark like a shadow in the night, rip open the curtain, and shove his fist into someone's face.
They leave with broken noses or jaws one hundred percent of the time.
I take a step back, reaching behind me to grab the door handle. He must pick up on my nervousness and drops his eyes, shoving his hands in his front pockets.
“I feel like we never got to finish our coffee. Can we try again?”
“Um, yeah, sure. I’m just pretty busy with school and work most of the time, but—”
Jace appears out of thin air, stepping in front of Mateo and pushing me back further into the door. His chest heaves and his eyes penetrate through me like lightning. “I’m waiting.” His hands clench and unclench at his sides.
Seriously? What is his fucking issue tonight?
“I’m tending to another customer right now,” I whisper in his face, pointing behind him where he’s clearly ignoring the other man standing right behind him.
Mateo coughs lightly into his hand, bringing himself to attention.
Jace ignores the sign and leans further into me, his lips brushing against my ear, and I can feel the bulge at his center pressing against my stomach.
I really hope that’s just a gun in his pants and not his—
“If I remember correctly, VIP means VIP only. You tend to me only,” he grits out.
My thoughts are cut off at the sound of his gravelly voice so close to my skin, his scent so prominent and unique.
“It’s good to see you, Jace,” Mateo interrupts. “How’s work?”
Jace leans back, squinting his eyes at me. He barely turns his head over his shoulder, never breaking our contact, and says, “Mr. Davenport, always lovely to see you.”
Mr. Davenport? So Jace does know him? And he was trying to keep me away from him at the coffee shop?
Jace finally turns around, extending his hand to shake Mateo’s.
His grumpy, controlling attitude turns off like a light switch, his accent prominent once more, and you can feel the energy change around him.
“Obviously, there is some tending that is requested.” Mateo waves his hand between me and Jace. “So, I will let you guys get back to it.” He shoves his hands back into his pockets before giving us a smile and nod, and walks away.
I shove on Jace’s back, hoping he will tip over, but his body barely rocks. “You’re fucking with my money, Mr. Cook!”
I push him again because I can. Because he is fucking infuriating.
Because he is possibly fucking with my love life.
We had one night together. One fucking amazing, orgasmic night together, and now he thinks he owns me?
Controls me? I hate that anytime I am around him, my body lights up like fireworks, but my brain melts with hatred.
He watches as Mateo disappears into the crowd in the club. His head turns over his shoulder, not fully looking at me as he says, “Bring something expensive.”