snapped to the side. He hit the floor with a soft thud, and I buttoned my suit jacket with a twist of my head to loosen my neck. “Get out. Now.”

“You can’t do that, I’m…” He choked on his words, and his eyes went round

because I’d leaned down, pushed him back with my open palm, and glared at him.

“I said stay down. When Miss Maples arrives, she’ll explain the rules to you again. Or you can choose to leave quietly, now. It’s your choice.”

He mumbled something but stayed where he’d dropped. I sat at the bar and

waited for whatever fate decided to hand me. I didn’t have the authority, not really, to tell the man to get out, but he’d been rude, uncivil, and extremely obnoxious to Roxie. I couldn't stand it anymore, and I’d decked him.

It didn’t take long before Miss Maples was in the bar and had escorted the man out. From the little I caught, she’d banned him from the place, and he wouldn’t be allowed back in. No, it didn’t matter who he was or who he was friends with. He was no longer allowed into the place. He’d broken far too many of the rules, all at once, and he’d accosted a protected female. That was the worse violation of all, to her.

I took a deep breath as Roxie sat with me and made sure her hair was still in place. “I’m sorry you had to do that.”

“I’d say I’m sorry I did it, but I’m not. That was uncalled for. All of it. And I’m sorry you had to deal with it.”

“It comes with the job, sometimes, Dylan. Even Stephanie will have to deal

with it at some point. We all get it from these guys who think the world owes them a blow job.” She crossed her left leg over her right and leaned toward me.

“The world is an ugly place for women, Dylan. Remember that.”

Her eyes, always so beautiful and full of life, were dull now and filled with pain she’d never speak of. Not to me anyway. I wanted to pat her hand, or kiss her cheek, some way to give her human contact that wasn’t sexual, but I didn’t want to upset her more. I held myself back and gave her a commiserating smile.

“I can’t pretend I understand the view of the world you’ve been given, but I know plenty of jackasses. I’m sorry you have to deal with that so much.”

“Eh, as I said, it comes with the territory.” I saw the mask go back into place, and life came back into her eyes. “Not a big deal really, is it? Just a dick with something to prove.”

“He shouldn’t take that out on you. It’s just rude.” I straightened my suit jacket and reached for my drink. “It must be shit living in this world sometimes.”

“You wouldn’t believe how shit it can be. I was lucky.” She paused, as if afraid to say the next words, but after a moment of appraisal, she decided I was worthy. “I ran away from home. You can guess why: drunk mom, drug addicted

step-daddy; it wasn’t nice. I slept on the streets for a while, until it got too cold,

then I wound up at a strip bar, down in Charleston.”

“I had no idea.” She came off as a well-educated woman, with a good vocabulary and a quick intelligence that came with a sharp wit.

“I worked hard to go to school when I could. I did some business classes and used the money I earned stripping to pay for it. Then I found out there was a difference between a stripper and a pole dancer. I fell in love with that, as an art form, as an exercise, and well, I eventually ended up here.”

She didn’t look as if she felt sorry for herself, but she did look pleased. She’d had a lot to overcome, and she’d done it.

“Yeah, but why aren’t you an owner in this place, rather than a dancer? I mean, I know you still do competitions, and such, but why aren’t you resting on the money from that?” I had been curious for a while, and I hoped she’d give me an answer now.

“I am, actually. I own one-quarter of the business, Miss Maples owns half, and we have an investor who prefers to remain hidden. I don’t do this because I have to, Dylan. I like the lifestyle I have, the arrangement I have with Freddy, and the way I live now. I’m not some put-upon angel in need of a savior. And neither is Stephanie, by the way. She’s here for the same reason as I am; she wants to be.”

“Are you sure about that?” I asked, a rare moment of doubt.

I wasn’t the kind for second-guessing myself, but that was before I met Stephanie. She had me questioning quite a bit about my life. I wasn’t sure that was a good thing, but that was how it was at the moment, so I didn’t resist too much.

Miss Maples made her way into the bar, a mysterious woman in a dark red

gown who would have suited one of the queens of the silver screen early days of film, but it fit her perfectly. Every curve was delectable, and the lines were long and sensual, sure to hold the gaze of any viewer. She sat at the table, uninvited, and she didn’t care a whit that she had interrupted.

“Thank you, Dylan, for your restraint. Violence is prohibited, but in this case, it was also well-deserved. I appreciate your assistance.”

I started to reply, but she stood, an impish smile in place, and left me to stare

after her. A movement by the door caught my eye, and my body responded instantly with a surge of desire. Stephanie was back.

16

EMILY

I walked up to him, my hips swinging seductively, and knelt in front of

his chair, mask in place. “I’m home, sir.”

I made sure my lips smiled prettily, and that my eyes were down, a sweet pose of submission I’d spent the day practicing; only he wouldn’t know that.

Mason had found a nanny for the kids now that Laura was out of the woods,

and I’d come home early this afternoon. I’d spent the hours preparing myself for him, for the man I’d dreamed about every night since I’d left him. I’d wanted this to be perfect. I’d talked to Roxie and when I’d arrived at the club I’d gone in to change my clothes and do my hair.

My hair was easy, it fell in straight, golden sheets down my back. The dress was the hard part. She’d put a pure white satin gown out for me, and a red one, with a strapless top that would fit my form exactly because the fabric was stretchy. I chose the white one because of the shimmer and the purity the white symbolized.

I decided then that I’d only wear white when I was with him. Until I was no longer a virgin that is. I wanted to change the contract. I wanted sex to be a part of that contract, and to remove the article about no penetrative sex. I wanted it to be him; it had to be him.

Now, I sat in the soft material, sweet and innocent, yet naughty. I glanced over and saw Roxie give me a wink of appreciation as she left the table. My dark lover didn’t even notice she’d gone, he was so captivated with the picture I presented him with.

“Hello, pet,” he said softly, and a shiver crawled down my spine at his words and the seductive tone of his voice. I’d really liked that.

He sat up, one knee on each side of me, and his hand came down to feel my

hair. He let the strands play through his fingers, and I looked into gray eyes with a challenge in mine.

“Hello, Mr. Dark. I’ve missed you.”

Mr. Dark gave me a knowing smile as his fingers trailed down my jaw. I turned my head into his hand, and he lifted my jaw to bring my gaze to his. The moment was gentle, calm, but I felt my heart skip a beat when I found his eyes full of pleased happiness.

“I’ve been waiting on you.” An admission I hadn’t expected, but it filled me with delight. If I had a tail it would be wagging now.

“Shall we go to our room?” It was a suggestion, but it was also an admission that I was eager to be alone with him.

He held out his hand and pulled me from the floor to follow him to the room.