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ChapterFive
MASON
Something about the woman seemed familiar. I’m not sure what it was, I’ve never seen her in the club before, but something about her kept pinging my brain.
That’s why I made an offer for her and sent Ginger off with my rose. I heard the slobby asshole make his offer when he came to the table I’d been at with Ginger. Some protective instinct kicked in immediately and I made a counteroffer. The man walked away sulking but fuck him. He wasn’t touching that incredible creature I’d just watched on the stage.
To say I was a bit jaded would be an understatement. I’ve grown up in two worlds, the Russian world and the American world, both vastly different. However, both offered me anything I wanted on a platter. This woman, though? She was something different. I could have her, I was certain of that, and I wasn’t about to let anyone else have her. Fuck that.
I’ve been attracted to dancers before, they’re generally beautiful women, especially at the Red Rose Club, but this? I’d been aroused by her shy but brave routine, captivated and spellbound as she became bolder, until she was completely naked on that stage, smiling in triumph. I’d wanted her more than I’d ever wanted a woman before and was about to make my offer when the man with sausage fingers came blundering up to my table reeking of day-old cigarettes and alcohol.
For the second time that day, I’d been surprised to find myself enamored with a woman. Was I getting old or something? Was that it?
From the way my body responded, I knew old age wasn’t a factor at all. On the contrary, it did exactly as I expected when a woman aroused me. Perhaps it was a maturity thing then? Maybe I need something more from life now than a quick fuck, or even a long one, that ended the moment I’d fulfilled my own needs.
But did that mean I would see this woman again after a few hours of pleasure with her? I didn’t know. Past experience told me the opposite would happen, I’d get my fill of her and be on my way. Women were a dime a dozen, surely, I’d get this one out of my system and move on.
“Would you like another drink, sir?” the waiter asked, bringing me back to reality.
I looked up at the young man, thin, delicate, feminine even and shook my head. “No, thanks. I’m waiting for someone.”
“As you wish,” I heard him say, but didn’t notice him leave. I was watching the dark area of the club where I knew a two-way mirror would allow the chosen few to look out at the club in privacy. I’d helped Ginger finance the place, I knew all of the secrets hidden within these walls.
There was door back there, a door that Ginger would bring the woman through, if she accepted my rose. A flicker of movement in the hazy darkness made my stomach go tight in anticipation. Any moment now.
A smile tugged at the corners of my lips when I saw the blond walk out with Ginger. The smile faded when I saw that Ginger still held my rose. What was this?
Why would Ginger bring her out if my offer was turned down?
A frown formed on my face, but I smoothed it away as they came closer. Neither of the women needed to know I wasn’t pleased.
“May we sit?” Ginger asked, her eyes laughing at me with a tease that made me want to growl at her.
“Of course, please join me.” I held my hand out to the chairs around the circular table I was seated at. “What’s going on?”
“Well, Lacy here isn’t actually one of our regular girls,” Ginger started but paused when a gasp of surprise escaped my lungs.
“Lacy?” I hissed, not in anger but surprise. I looked at the blond woman more closely, noting the slim, upturned nose, the delicate chin, and of course, those blue eyes I suspected I’d never forget. “Lacy. Of course. It’s nice to see you again.”
“Oh, you remember me?” she asked automatically, without the tease or guile that most women in this place would use on me.
What was she doing here, I had to wonder?
“I do indeed. You were so charming this afternoon. And you paid for my coffee,” I answered, confusing Ginger more if the looks she was sending between Lacy and I, meant anything.
“You two know each other?” Ginger intruded into the conversation; her brows furrowed together.
“Kind of. We met this afternoon at Lacy’s other job,” I provided, giving Ginger an answer, of sorts. “I didn’t know that’s who this young woman was, however, when I made my offer.”
“I’m filling in for a friend,” Lacy said with a shrug, guileless and unwise. Far too innocent to be one of Ginger’s staff, but that didn’t change my mind about wanting her.
It only made that need stronger.
I glanced at the rose that rested on the black lacquered table, then at the young woman. She didn’t look eighteen anymore, but she didn’t look any older than twenty-five either. She had to be at least eighteen, Ginger wouldn’t have allowed her in the place without some kind of proof of that. The makeup, the robe, and those fucking boots screamed that she was a grownup, knowledgeable in the ways of the world, but those eyes of hers, the sweetly hopeful smile on her face told me she had no clue what she was in for if she accepted that rose.
“Ginger, can I have a moment with Lacy please?” I flicked a hard glance at my friend and saw her nod curtly before she got up and left. “Do you have any idea what’s going to happen if you take that rose?”
“I think so,” she whispered so softly I barely heard her response. “Ginger said you wanted to pay me five grand for a few hours with me.”
