Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Like the previous shows, he watches while I perform my routine, but tonight, I make it a point to dance extra sensual, swaying my hips a little harder, wanting it to hurt all the more when he realizes he’s lost. When I move to the chair where he’s sitting, I climb into his lap. His eyes never leave mine as I grind against his groin, teasing and toying with his body and emotions. Working him up higher and higher, so the fall that will soon come will be that much more devastating.
“Fuck, Hellcat,” he murmurs, using the nickname he’s apparently dubbed me with. “What’s going on with you? Have you changed your mind?” His fingers twitch, wanting to touch but knowing he can’t.
“Actually, I have been thinking,” I purr, gliding my hands over the tops of his shoulders and down his hard chest, scratching my nails down his torso through the material of his shirt. His entire body shivers in response, and I smirk on the inside, knowing I’ve got the upper hand.
“Yeah?” he chokes out. “And what have you been thinking?”
“About how you want more from me.” He swallows thickly and nods as my ass continues to rub along the bulge in his pants. “But there’s something you should know before we take things any further,” I say, licking my lips tauntingly.
“Tell me,” he groans, thinking he’s got me right where he wants me. He’s so confident, his hands go to my hips, squeezing the sides.
Leaning in, I run my nose along his jawline and up to the shell of his ear, then I whisper the words I know are going to blow his game to bits. “I’m a virgin, and I’m not going to have sex until I fall in love and then get married.”
His body stills, and his fingers that are gripping my flesh, tighten. I wait a second to face him, making sure my features are devoid of all emotion, and then I pull back, meeting his shocked gaze.
That’s right… Game over, motherfucker.
Without waiting for him to say anything—because let’s be real, there’s nothing left to say—I climb off his lap and saunter back up the stage, feeling good about my win.
Before I disappear behind the curtain, I chance a glance back and see he’s still sitting there, staring at me in utter shock.
“Have a good night,” I quip. “It was lovely getting to know you.” And with a wink that I can’t help, I saunter off, knowing this will be the last I hear from Micah Alexander.
I learned years ago from watching my mom that if you give a man free milk, he doesn’t need to buy the cow. Well, I’m not giving a man anything for free, and if he wants me, he’ll be willing to buy the whole damn farm. Not that Micah will—because truthfully, that man can probably get as much free milk as he wants… just not from me.
I spend the rest of my shift on the floor, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t occasionally search for him. I knew spilling my truths would send him running, but a part of me was kind of hoping he was different.
Not because I’m attracted to him… I’m not—okay, fine, he’s hot, whatever. Or because I want to be with him… I don’t—this I’m standing firm on.
It’s just that for my entire life, men have proven to be all the same, and it would’ve been nice if just once a man showed himself to be something other than a selfish pig.
Honestly, though, it’s for the best because the last thing I need is to get tangled up with a man like Micah. That’s just asking for trouble. I’m already struggling to stay afloat, barely able to make it through a day at a time. But every day, I move an inch closer to my goals—graduate, get a real job, and get Ellie the hell away from our mom. Getting mixed up with Micah would send me off course, straight into a fucking hurricane, and in those raging waters, I’d surely drown.
Once closing rolls around, I head back to grab Ellie, who’s awake and reading a book—the girl is seriously the cutest book nerd.
“How was the food?” I ask as we walk to my car, accompanied by Rex, one of the bouncers at the club.
“So freaking delicious,” she says, exaggerating her words. “And Lincoln said since I helped him pick out the items for the menu, once it opens, we can go eat dinner there at no charge.”
I glance at her beaming face and mentally groan, wishing she wasn’t crushing on a man who’s over a decade older than her. Which leads to a tidal wave of guilt crashing into me because she wouldn’t be in this position if it weren’t for me working at a strip club and having to bring my teenage sister along with me. Anger with the strength of a tsunami surges through me at the thought of our lowlife mother, a druggy who can’t take care of her own daughter, leaving me to take up that responsibility in her stead.