“I saw you with Fierro. Can I get a sound-bite from you?” A nasally voice requested behind me. “Are you one of his dancers?” My brows rose incredulously. Not the best opener based on the whiplash sidelong look I pierced at him. Is my red jumpsuit in any way lap dancer like? Okay, it did have a few sequins and it looked like it was painted on, but still. Come on, man. Maybe I ought to take it as a compliment this sleazebag smirking at my boobs assumed I have titties to shake in my spare time.

“Eh. No. I’m—” who was I? Customer? Somehow that sounded wrong, as though I should be up front waving dollar bills to prove my existence in the dark nightclub. I gripped my glass tighter and smiled. “What kind of soundbite are you looking for?” My voice lifted over the swell of the pumping music, though I wasn’t even sure he could hear me adequately.

Music that bears a resemblance to to sex. I could feel it in my bones and every time I caught Noah’s eye the music combined with the glance did something wet between my legs.

The man, closer to fortyish, if I had to hazard a guess, dressed in a thin dark jacket with his shirt collar open, his hair dark brown, thick and wavy at the temples, leaned in closer, his breath smelled of peppermint, his elbow resting on the bar showed he was holding a recording device in his left hand, eyes trained on me like an assassin. It’s slightly unnerving until he smiled showing off perfect teeth.

“If you’re not a dancer, what brings you here tonight, sweetheart? And what do you think of the place?”

I smiled in return. I wanted to say something amazing to promote Noah’s new adventure, something blogs would repost for months, but my mind was blank, and I mentally sang along to the lyrics of Goodies by Ciara when four dancers take to the stage, glitter on boobs and everything.

God, I’d kill for those long legs. Perfect toned and tanned. I was not hit favorable by the leg fairy.

“My momma would say I’d go to the opening of an envelope.” I told him, and he flashed me an amused look. “But look at the place, it’s gorgeous, a feast for the senses, who wouldn’t want to be here on opening night? As for what I think. It’s going to be the hot-spot everyone comes to, talks about. It’s hot, sensual, but best of all it’s welcoming to both sexes. Most strip clubs are sleazy, you need hand sanitizer before you walk through the door, this is pure class...I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name.”

“Call me Jack,” he switched off his device, appearing satisfied with what I’d given him, and he leaned in to speak over the music, his eyes aimed on my face.

“Was that a good soundbite then?”

“Sure was. But you never did say, who you are…”

“She’s none of your business, Jack. Concentrate on the club. My manager is waiting for his interview.” Issued Noah in a tone so dripping with warning it practically pooled around poor Jack’s boots as the club owner stepped in behind me. His fingers touched the lower portion of my spine.

I took a gulp of my drink to stop from gasping from pleasure.

Stupid erogenous zone.

Jack the reporter merely smirked. “You recall my job is to ask questions.”

“Then do your job. She gave her soundbite, pester someone else now.”

Jack, sensing he was not getting anything more switched tactics, first by winking at me then turning his attention to the owner.

“It’s a ballsy move from your other clubs, why a strip joint?” his recorder flicked back on, he held it out in front of Noah’s chest. Me, I let my eyes move around the club, watching people, the dancers truly were amazing, so what if they had bare breasts, they moved on the pole like they were in erotic water.

“The venue is big enough to hold events, I wanted to branch out from a mainstream nightclub because every strip bar has a reputation of being less than, and worse, for selling sex and I wanted to change that, to make it about entertainment. Ladies nights are popular right now after the rise of the Magic Mike franchise. I’d be a fool not to capitalize on their enjoyment of a safe environment to enjoy harmless dancing.” He told the reporter.

My head flipped around with a grin. “Ohh, Magic Mike. Save me front row.”

Noah answered with his own smirk and brow lift to Jack as if to say told you so.

Jack went to do his job and talk to other people, it was hours later he found me before he left and handed over his business card.

For if I ever wanted to grab coffee.

I blinked and took it automatically as he mingled back in the crowd, winking before he disappeared.

Not sure if he really wanted a date or to find out the scoop on Noah.

Either way I wouldn’t call him.

I spent the remainder of the evening with a couple of Noah’s friends who turned up to support him.

One was a hot-shot lawyer in the city, the other owned his own food truck fleet.

My poor ankles were screaming at me in the cab on the way home.

My legs were not meant to carry me on heels for hours on end.

It was one of the many reasons I liked my job, I could wear converse sneakers every day of the week if I wanted to.

No one cared about my dress sense, I was there to fix their tech glitches, not decorate their offices and I was great with that.

It was 4am and my body clock was ready to power down preferably face down in my bed, but I was willing to conk out right there.

“How do you do this every night and still wake up with god?” My head turned on the rest behind me to look at Noah. “Are you part machine? You are, aren’t you?”

He grinned and leaned over to grab my leg. I didn’t even have the energy to squeal. He slipped off my strappy shoe and began kneading my arch. I was not shamed at all for the sex moans I let out for god and cab driver to hear.

Of all the pleasures in life, and I’m including chocolate and boxset seasons of Parks and Recreation, nothing felt as nice as having Noah’s knuckles dig into my instep.

By the time we arrived at our building he’d dug his thumbs into both feet and turned me into his sex slave. Not that the man realized it, but I was willing to drop to my knees and thank him with slurps.

I felt decidedly lighter walking towards the elevator car holding my shoes, Noah gently guiding me as I sleepily rested on his shoulder. “I swear I feel drunk. I only drank two. No one should be awake at this time of the night...day…whatever. It’s unnatural.” I whined slow blinking, the car taking forever to reach my floor, were we going backwards?

“You’ll be in bed soon.”

“Love your dirty club, lion. you’ve done amazing things tonight.” I smiled, eyes closed. I’d had such fun, more than I thought I would. “That one guy, tanned with baby blues who danced to Feel It, he needs a raise for the way he pumped up the audience. I threw twenty dollars at him.”

Noah chuckled. “I’ll see what I can do, though it’s his first night, maybe wait to see if he earns it.”

I was so happy to see my front door I could hear my bed screaming for me. Momma is coming, baby, one more minute.

“Go to bed, man-robot, get your usual two minutes of sleep to recharge.” I told him, hugging him briefly around the waist. He stopped me from face planting my exhausted ass inside my hallway with a hand on my shoulder, turning me bodily, he took my chin in between finger and thumb.

His eyes looked incredibly blue, not a hint of tiredness, seriously, how did he function?

“You looked beautiful tonight, Sena. Thanks for coming.” He hovered over me like a shadow, his eyes explored my face lazily in that way that made me feel the sole focus of a god. Alive.

I smiled. “I wouldn’t have missed it. So, fucking proud of you.” Maybe my belly got prior notice of what came next because it tightened in a hard knot and my brain released a wave of adrenaline so fast I felt dizzy. My pulse skyrocketing. When I thought he was going to give me another hug, he dipped down and brushed his lips to mine.

Not our usual greeting, this kiss lasted longer than four seconds and I know this because my previously brain-dead mind came online all at once and counted the seconds. Four. Five. Six. Seven.

Lips against lips.

And then it was over. Eight beautiful confusing seconds later.

“Get inside to bed,” he was gone down the hallway and took the stairs as he always did rather than waiting for the elevator to carry him up.

Jesus.

My lips were on fire. I reached up touching them, feeling him there. My heart raced in hard thumps, arousal full force was in control of my hormones as I stumbled inside, locked the door and leaned against it.

Dammit. Just when I thought I had a handle on this shit, he goes and kisses me.

No big deal to him, a kiss is a kiss.

To me, it was everything. A kiss from Noah was … everything.

I didn’t go right to sleep after all. I laid naked in bed obsessing over a pair of lips that I wanted to do more than peck. Even though I told myself there was no point in analyzing this to death. I became very female and did the thing I warned myself again, like a neurotic dumbass, because that’s what I was at times. I fully admitted it, the heart won, and the brain joined in with my neurosis, my deep-seated crush bloomed so fierce I was willing to accept the fact that maybe…Possibly…My gay best friend wasn’t so gay with me.

Nah, that was preposterous and so much wishful thinking.

But, what if?

Had he kissed me for a reason, or just another one of those Noah things where he expressed himself tactilely?

I wish I knew.

Crazy thoughts.

I fell into sleep and dreamed I was being chased by a Pitbull dog reporter holding a cup of coffee with very sharp white teeth.