“There’s not a lot worth leaving the house for. Once you’ve been to one of the parties, you’ve been to them all.”
“Then I’ve proven that my parties aren’t the same old?” His cheeks suck in as he puffs the cigar.
This time I gesture with my chin to the stripper twirling around the pole that connects the upper and lower deck. It’s clear the reaction he wants, so I lick my lips and tilt my head to check out the split she does upside down and in the air.
“Not even close.”
“You’re so secretive.” He chuckles. “I wasn’t sure you were into this.” His chin points to two women making out and feeling each other up.
“I’m into it.” I swear Maggie owes me for this. Big time.
His laugh is louder and wetter this time. He leans in.
“Any of these women are available,” he whispers conspiratorially.
This is a test. I’ve made it this far in this business because I know what people want to hear. I lean back and make an “I’m impressed” face. A cigarette girl walks by, not Maggie, but all of them are very pretty. This one is a brunette with a dimpled grin.
“Any of them?” I make a show of watching her ass, which wiggles as she walks away.
“Any.” He slaps my back again and I bite my tongue so hard I taste blood. His hand lingers on my shoulder. “Some might need a little more convincing than others. You won’t have a problem.”
I feel sick. Maybe it’s the undulating of the ship on an empty stomach, combined with the sickly sweet smell of rich tobacco, but probably the feeling of my self-respect crumbling.
“I better make the rounds. Enjoy yourself.” He pushes off the bar when, like an afterthought, he adds, “The boys and I are playing poker tonight. After things settle down. If you can hang, come to my suite.” And like that, he’s off in a cloud of smoke and skeeze.
What I really want is to shower in boiling water and then go to bed until Sunday morning when we make port again. That’s when Maggie meets my gaze across the deck. She widens her eyes and gestures to a small door under the stairs that leads below deck. I finish my water, on the rocks, and casually make my way over. I go in first. It’s an old-school powder room with low lighting and gilded furniture. There’s a small tufted couch and a large oval mirror but it seems to serve no other purpose.
She backs in a second later, likely checking to make sure nobody notices. Her ass wiggles and I’m reminded of how I found her earlier—bent over in front of her mirror, sexy garters holding up her stockings, checking out her own figure. Her cleavage was all but in my face. It was torture.
The room is small and she bumps into me with her ruffled ass. I have to shift my stance and clear my throat, hands deep in my pockets.
“Jesus, watch it.” I grab her shoulders and spin her around.
“You watch it,” she snaps back. She crosses her arms and that makes things worse for me.
“You aren’t the one who’s had her ass grabbed twenty fucking times already. And that’s one of the nicer things that have happened.” Even though she’s trying to hold herself up, I see now that she has a greenish sheen, and the lines around her mouth are tense. She’s already admitted to being uncomfortable with attention and this get-up puts it all out there with a flashing neon sign.
“You’re right. It could be worse.” I take the heavy oak tray full of empty shot glasses and rolled dollar bills she’s been carrying all night. She rocks her head side to side. “Are you okay?”
She looks at me skeptically as she pulls off the strap around her neck that held the tray. When she sees that I’m sincere, she slumps onto the velvet couch.
“I guess I didn’t think about how hard this would be. I’ve really kept myself out of this scene the last few years and it’s all too…”
“Much,” I finish.
“So much.”
I sit down beside her and lean forward with elbows on knees. My leg brushes hers. I swallow.
“I saw you talking to Zebulund. Anything noteworthy?”
“Schmoozing. I was invited to his poker game in his suite later.”
“Oh?” She perks.
“Yeah, why?” I didn’t expect her to be so excited. Probably won’t be going to bed anytime soon.
“His poker games are only with his inner circle. It’s a big deal to get invited.”
