Page 10 of Hidden Obsession

Carefully, he set me down, treating me with care so tenderly, so gently, it took my breath away. No one, not ever in my life, had ever touched me so sweetly. My bare feet touched the plush carpet.

Bare feet. I glanced down at the sight of my neatly trimmed, painted pale pink toes. I shut my eyes and took a deep breath. I had no shoes on. I must have lost them somewhere between the stage and the dressing room. Shit. My brain automatically went to dollar signs and how much it would cost me to replace said pair immediately since I had borrowed them from Jade. Knowing her, they were probably expensive. Something tightened in my gut, worried about spending money instead of saving churned, but a light graze on my calve snapped me back to where I was.

I blinked, trying to make sense of what I was looking at. Hollis was down on his knee in front of me, and my eyes felt like they were going to pop out of my skull.

“What are you—“ I breathily started to ask, but he looked up and our eyes locked. Goodness gracious, he was beautiful. Those amber eyes and dark curly hair.

“Let me look at you.” His deep voice cut through the weird silence that sat between us.

Hollis slowly moved the suit jacket he’d placed over my shoulders out of the way, leaving me in nothing but sheer panties and a bra in front of him. After everything that had just happened with the drunk guy, I should have been scared. Trembling.

But I wasn’t.

I felt steadier than I had in a long time. I’d done private dances before. Most men behaved themselves in there, but some had tried to push the boundaries of the club’s rules. Usually, being in front of a man, especially one so big and obviously strong, would have made me a little more than uncomfortable.

But I wasn’t with Hollis.

It had nothing to do with him being my boss’ brother or technically my new boss. I had a feeling it had everything to do with the man himself. After living the life I had, the revolving door of men my mom used to bring around, I’d quickly developed a sixth sense when it came to men.

I couldn’t help but stare, or more like gawk, at the handsome man before me, cataloging every micro expression and clench of his square jaw. The intensity of his gaze on my body made my heart rate pick up speed, but it was his touch, that barely-there graze of his rough, calloused fingertips as they glided up my legs, halting at my thighs, that made me feel like I was about to melt. I was still wearing sheer pantyhose, but I swear his touch seared through me, making it feel like he’d somehow marked me.

“He bruised you,” he growled, the look on his face menacing.

“I’m okay,” I whispered.

“I should have hit him harder,” he mumbled but didn’t stop whatever exploration he was doing.

My stomach muscles trembled under his light caress. My teeth bit down on the inside of my lip to stop myself from making a sound that would somehow scare him away. I’d never been touched like this by a man, and god help me, I didn’t want him to stop.

His big hands moved up, and I winced when he touched the spot just above my belly button. It was where the drunk guy had thrown the coin the hardest.

“I really didn’t hit him hard enough, little flower,” he growled.

“I’m okay. I promise,” I said, but when he looked up at me, something funny happened in my chest. A warm glow washed through me. There was something about the way he watched me, touched me. A familiarity I wasn’t sure was possible, yet I couldn’t deny it.

“This is not okay.”

“He’s right,” Jonas’ voice cut through the silent dressing room, and the two of us looked behind Hollis to see my boss standing there. “I’m sorry that happened, Maryanne. You okay? Want us to take you to get looked at?”

“Oh no!” I gasped. I needed a medical bill like I needed a hole in the head. “I’m good. Bruises heal.” I shook my head.

Whatever little daydream of a bubble I’d been swept up in with Hollis had officially popped.

If I wasn’t on the floor or on the stage, I wasn’t making money, and after that whole thing with the drunk guy, my boss was probably pissed.

“I’m sorry,” I blurted. “I can get dressed and head out to the floor or⁠—“

“Or,” Jonas cut me off, and that sick feeling of having done something wrong crept its way up my throat.

“But I’m on shift and⁠—“

“I think you should go home tonight, Maryanne,” Jonas laid out, not much room left to argue.

“Oh.” Blood drained from my face, and I felt Hollis move up next to me.

“That was a lot tonight. You shouldn’t have had to deal with crap like that,” Hollis said softly.

“The bouncers were busy, but that doesn’t excuse it. I’m very sorry, Maryanne.” Jonas’ apology sounded genuine. “After tonight, I promise I will be hiring two more to make sure that never happens again.”