CHAPTER 15
TILLIE
I never expected he would be there.
My god, I didn’t even know I was walking into a strip club at all, but once I figured out what it was, I was happy to stay for the show. Especially after last night. I’d gone into that male revue thinking it was cheesy at first, cliché even. But once Richie hit the stage, I’d been mesmerized and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a blast.
So, if I’d stumbled into a repeat of more of the same, I was ready for it, to say the least.
Never in a million years could I have predicted my luck would be so fortunate that Richie would be on this stage, too.
My mouth dropped open once I realized the hot ‘cop’ was the same hot ‘cowboy’ from last night. The same guy with the piercing eyes that had saved me from that asshole, Daniel. I could tell he was surprised to see me, too, because he froze in his tracks for a beat, before sauntering right over to me and proceeding to make me blush in ways I didn’t know were possible.
He sank to his knees in front of me, leaned down and whispered a husky hello in my ear before grabbing my hands and with a devilish smile, began rubbing them all over his rippling, oiled up abs. I stared up at him in awe, my checks hot, as he slid my fingers around his sculpted body, moving them down to his hips as he opened his thighs and gyrated towards my face.
With wide eyes and an open mouth, I watched as let go of my hands, then turned around and brought his ass cheeks so close to my nose that I pulled my head back. The crowd was going wild as he fell to his hands and knees, humping the stage seductively as he looked over at me and winked.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I tore my gaze away for a second, taking a deep breath before daring to look back at him. My close up view provided intimate details about his body, from the size of his massive hands to the unreal bulge that pulsed beneath his black g-string. I swallowed hard as he moved on after winking at me one last time. Watching as he drove the girls on the other side of the stage just as crazy as he’d driven me, a thick, lusty surge of anticipation rushed through me.
Last night, I’d believed I’d seen the last of him.
I’d never been so happy to be wrong.
I was almost relieved when his act was over, because I was pretty sure I’d been holding my breath the whole time and I wasn’t sure if the light headedness that I was feeling was from the booze I’d been consuming all night or the intoxicating display of man meat I’d just witnessed, or perhaps because this incredible man literally had the ability to take my breath away.
Either way, I needed air. Lots of it.
I stood up and walked outside, my heart racing, my body buzzing, my hands covered in baby oil. Hesitantly, I wiped them on my new jeans, and took a long, deep breath of fresh air.
My head was spinning.
What was I supposed to do now?
Go back in? Leave from the embarrassment of blushing so damned hard? I’m hardly a virgin. Nor am I some kind of prude.
It was all in good fun, I told myself, then laughed out loud.
In fact, it was a damned good time, the best time I’d had in years, honestly.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d touched a man — well, I didn’t want to, actually, because it was Reggie of course and it was awful. Reggie was never the best in bed, and he certainly didn’t have a body like the Adonis I’d just been forced to accost, so maybe he didn’t even count.
Richie was like a masterpiece of masculinity, his body as perfect as a movie stars. And yet, his energy was as down-to-earth as could be.
I walked back in, clueless as to where the night would end up, but knowing with certainty that I wasn’t finished with Richie just yet. I needed more of him.
In fact, I needed a whole lot more of him and if spending just a few more minutes with him was an option, then I wasn’t about to pass up an opportunity like that.
I sat at the end of the bar, away from the stage and ordered another drink. I needed to be out of the action, but I watched with glee as the next performer walked out, dressed as a doctor. The MC said his name was Daine, and he was just as beautiful as Richie, but in a totally different way. He was all bright red hair and blue eyes, his lean, fit frame and long hair made him look like a surfer that had just walked out of the ocean. The women ate him up and he played the part perfectly, a sexy smile on his face the entire time.
“Whose ass do I have to kick tonight to sit next to you?” A low, grumbling voice asked, Richie’s breath hot on my ear again. Goosebumps shot up on the back of my neck as I turned in surprise and offered him a smile, shaking my head as I stared into those eyes.
“Nobody’s. I’m all good tonight, thank you.” He wore the same outfit he’d worn onstage, sans the pants. His thick, muscular thighs flexed as he sat down next to me.
“Are you stalking me?” he asked, with a wink.
“If I’d known you worked here, I might have.”
“Good to know,” he nodded, his gaze raking over me, sizing me up. “It’s good to see you again, Tillie.”
“You too, Richie,” I said, feeling suddenly shy. I pushed it away as best as I could and faced him fully. “So you take your clothes off all over town, huh?”
He laughed, his smile causing those tiny wrinkles to appear at the corners of his eyes again.
“Mostly just here. I work the revue one night a week.”
“So this is home?”
“Pretty much,” he shrugged. “It’s seen better days.”
“I see,” I nodded. “How long have you worked here?”
He was about to answer when a woman walked up, a tall, leggy brunette with bright red lips and huge breasts that threatened to fall out of her skimpy dress.
“Excuse me,” she said, flashing me a quick smile before grabbing Richie’s arm and pushing her breasts into him. “But can I get a private dance, Richie?”
“Of course, darlin,” he said, looking over at me apologetically. I smiled and shrugged.
“Sorry,” he said, lowering his voice. “Will you wait for me? Just one song.”
“I should probably go,” I said, feeling awkward. “It was nice to —."
“—No! C’mon. Finish your drink. Watch Daine, he’s a hoot. I’ll be back in a flash, I promise.”
“I don’t know…”
“Please, Tillie?” he pleaded, his eyes staring deep into mine. Something about the way he said my name made me stop. I nodded.
“Sure, go ahead, I’ll be right here,” I said.
He leaned over and whispered in my ear again.
“Don’t let anyone take my seat,” he growled, his lips brushing up against my ear, sending shocks straight to my core. “I’m not afraid of punching someone.”
I laughed and watched him walk away into a back area, his butt muscles flexing with every step. I licked my lips, transfixed, leaving me to debate if I liked him better walking towards me, or walking away…