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Liv’s celebratory flaming tequila shots turned into Vegas Bombs, and then some weird moonshine drink served in a small barrel. My legs have felt like jelly for the past twenty minutes since I “tripped” and landed myself in the lap of Todd Davis.
Lucky me.
Todd’s arms tighten around my waist, as though he can sense something terrible is about to happen, and I lean back, fitting my ass more firmly into his groin, preparing for the show. The oversized Hawaiian button-down he has on brushes against my bare arms, itchy and reeking of cigar smoke.
We’re seated in a sticky booth at the back of the VIP lounge, entertaining ourselves while the strippers change shifts. Liv’s been off to the side chatting up the female bartender, a tiny girl with a brown ponytail, who looks so out of place here I had to do a double-take when she dropped off our drinks.
A grossly moist pair of lips graze the shell of my ear, and a shiver skates over my body, prickling my skin in the worst way. I cringe, trying to pull away from the middle-aged man’s fried pickle breath—who actually orders food at a club known for luxury cocaine and hookers?
“What’s the matter, sweetheart?” Todd’s fingers squeeze my side, dancing along the exposed skin, making me regret borrowing this dress from Juliet, who was nursing another hangover and couldn’t come out tonight.
The dress is short and seductive red, with crisscrossed ties holding the tight bodice together on the sides. Seemed like a good idea an hour and a half ago.
Somehow, despite the amount of flesh on display, my face feels hot and sweaty—disconnected, like my soul is floating outside of my body and having a hard time making its way back.
“I need to go to the bathroom.” Wriggling around on his lap, I try to ignore the hardness beneath my buttcheeks, focusing on disentangling myself from him. Luca was right—alittleflirting goes a long way with these men, and here I am upping the ante. Like Todd wasn’t absolute putty in my hands the second he saw me here.
“I’ll go with you.”
“To the ladies’ room?”
“Sure, sweetheart. You and I haveloadsof unfinished business; why not take care of it really quick?”
“I’d prefer we not do that here.” I bat my eyelashes, trying to appear innocent. The way his puffy eyes darken makes me think I’m doing it right. “We should get a cab or something.”
“I think we should just stay right here. Makes it more exciting that way, don’t you think?” His hand splays across my belly, pinky finger caressing my pubic bone. I swallow down the knot rising in my throat, unease settling deep in my bones, a lead balloon dropping to the floor. “Besides, you owe me. Your daddy owes me.”
“I didn’t agree to anything like that.”
“Doesn’t matter. This between us is a long time coming, and you know it,babe.”
I grit my teeth against the nickname, wishing I could bleach it from my memory. “I’m married.”
“Never stopped me before.”
I’m starting to get pissed; this isn’t how this interaction is supposed to go, and here I’ve fucked everything up because I let Liv convince me to indulge a little. Starting to get to my feet, I push against Todd and aim for my footing, heels slipping along the slick hardwood.
Todd moves with me, keeping my ass pressed fully against him, preventing my departure.
Dread floods my stomach, panic sluicing through my blood. “Letgoof me.”
“Why should I? You’re the one that’s been dancing up on me and flirting with me all night. Don’t act like you don’t want this.”
My heartbeat kicks up, a thunderous pounding in my ears I can’t shake. Not that it keeps me from trying; moving my head side to side, my hand slips off Todd’s lap with the movement, and I fall out of his grasp, crashing to the floor.
Except, I never quite hit it.
A pair of strong arms wrap around me, keeping me from face-planting into the ground. They right me, yanking the hem of my dress down further along my thighs, pulling my back into his front.
Right on fucking time.
At the same time he catches me, Elia’s fist whips out and across Todd’s cheek, causing him to stumble backward and flatten against the booth. He cradles his face, a crowd forming quietly around us. I see two Montalto men off to the side, dressed in all black with their arms crossed, poised to join in at the drop of a hat.
Elia’s clean, whiskey and chlorine scent assaults my senses, making me feel fuzzy. I straighten my spine, pulling away gently while his hands grip my biceps, keeping me close. “Are you okay?”
Liv rushes to the edge of the crowd, trying to elbow her way in, but no one moves for her. She watches, eyes narrowed, and I try to look confident. Like I’m okay. Inside, my stomach battles a million different emotions, unable to settle and focus on just one.
“Never better, Captain.” I try to salute him, but it’s damn near impossible with his iron-clad hold surrounding me. His gray eyes flash, something unfamiliar and terrifying in their depths, and this time when I shiver, it’s in a good way. I feel the tingle all the way to my toes, vibrating between my legs.
