“I’m good. Can we talk for a minute?”
“Sure. Let’s go outside.” Aiden led the way through the small lobby, giving the bouncer a nod on his way out. Management didn’t like it when their dancers were involved in disputes inside the club. Romantic conflict was bad for the club’s vibe, and it reminded the patrons that the dancers weren’t actually as available to them as they pretended to be.
Once the club door closed behind them, Aiden walked a few steps away from the building, but still within shouting distance of the bouncer if things got out of hand. He turned to his probably soon to be ex-lover with his best smile. “What’s up?”
Steve stepped closer and took hold of his hand, looking down into his eyes with a loving gaze. Aiden wanted to groan but managed to remain silent. They were really about to have what Steve clearly wanted to be a romantic conversation, outside of his place of work while a group of people across the street engaged in dueling chants ofShow us your tits! Show us your dicks!with the tarts hanging out on the balcony above them.
“Aiden, baby. I’m ready for us to take the next step in our relationship.”
“Oh yeah? And what step is that?”
“You and me together.”
“Aren’t we already together?”
“Yeah, but I don’t want either of us seeing anyone else.”
“You want to be exclusive.” It wasn’t a question. Aiden knew from experience what Steve wanted. He was just waiting for him to come out and say it.
“Yeah. And I want you to quit this job.”
And there it was. “Oh, I see. What you actually mean is you don’t want anybody seeing me. Or more precisely, seeing my body on stage.”
Steve flashed a cajoling smile, one that Aiden was used to seeing. He usually gave in to the harmless requests that accompanied that smile. That wouldn’t be happening tonight.
“I want you to be mine, baby,” Steve said with a light squeeze to Aiden’s hand.
“And I want to keep dancing. You know that.”
“But—.”
“No buts.” Aiden kept his voice soft as he cut in. “I made it clear when we started seeing each other that I love my job and I’m not going to give it up for anyone or anything.”
“Not even this?”
Steve dropped his hand to pull a square, black velvet box from his pocket. He opened the lid, revealing a ring with a wide platinum band and an impressive inset canary yellow diamond flanked by white diamond chips. The ring was gorgeous, sparkling brightly against its black velvet backdrop. But as far as Aiden was concerned, it might as well have been a pair of jeweled shackles.
“Steve,” he started gently. “You’re sweet. And I appreciate the gesture. But this isn’t what I want.”
“But—.” Steve’s forehead crinkled with a frown as he began to realize this wasn’t going the way he’d obviously hoped for. “I love you.”
“I don’t feel the same way,” Aiden said, turning him down with kind firmness.
Several increasingly uncomfortable moments of silence followed his statement. Steve’s expression morphed from hopeful, to disappointed, and finally to anger. Aiden braced himself in case that anger exploded verbally or worse, physically.
“You might be gorgeous, and hot in bed, but the truth is you’ve got a heart as cold as ice.”
The insult set off a spark of anger in his gut, burning away his determination to be gentle during this break up. “I’m not cold,” he snapped. I just know what I want. And quitting my job because a man wants to take ownership of me isn’t it.”
“Fine,” Steve bit out from between lips tight with anger. He snapped the ring box closed and shoved it back into his pocket. “I won’t bother you again.”
It was on the tip of Aiden’s tongue to say something placating and soothe Steve’s feelings. But he knew if he did, it would only give the man hope to try again, and they’d be right back in this uncomfortable situation in a few weeks’ time. He kept his mouth closed. Steve stared at him for a long moment before he whipped around and stormed off to the parking lot.
Aiden watched him go with only a little regret. They’d had fun together, but he wasn’t surprised their relationship had ended this way. They always ended this way. The guys he dated always wanted him to quit dancing and they were never able to fully give him what he wanted. He needed to take a break. Or better yet, swear off dating the type of guy that for some reason he was always attracted to even though they could never match up with him on what he wanted in a relationship.
Aggravated with Steve and all the guys who’d come before him, Aiden made a snap decision. “I’m done with dating guys like Steve.” Satisfied with his declaration, Aiden sighed and moved to lean back against the wall behind him. He was prepared to wait a few minutes to make sure Steve had actually left the premises before he went over to his bike. But at the soft scrape of shoes on asphalt he realized he wasn’t alone. He whipped his head to the side to see who was out there with him. Zielinski stood a few feet away, half-hidden in the shadows.
“Eavesdrop much?” Aiden snapped as he straightened again.
