Tina’s brow furrowed.
He resisted the urge to kiss her. But mouth-kissing protocol might be different for strippers; besides, she’d probably recognize him if he kissed her.
“I like your eyes blue. But what’s your real eye color?”
She had a death grip on the strip of fur around his neck.
“Kinda hazel, I guess. These contacts were worth the money if they turn you on.” His hands came around to lift and caress her breasts.
Tina sucked in a breath. “I’ve never done this before, but I promise to pay you enough to make this worth it.”
“Honey, anything you pay would just be icing on the cake. You feel so delicious.” He thought about what he’d say if she offered to pay, and despite his pride he knew she’d be suspicious if he turned down the money cold.
“Hmmm. You certainly know where to touch a girl.”
Tyler could feel her flesh swelling in anticipation of his touch, and he knew from past experience that she had on a skimpy little thong under that skirt that molded around her ass so lovingly.
The elevator dinged. And he nudged her shoulder. “Ladies first. Which room?”
“Sixteen.”
Tina listed against him so he guided her down the hallway.
It seemed to take forever to reach the door. Then she handed him the key card to the room. He bent down and when her fingers slipped down toward the loin plate, he almost groaned aloud anticipating her touch.
When the door was finally standing open, he dropped his leather bag of tricks. Then he looked down the hallway, first to the right and then the left.
Tina smiled her siren’s smile from where she leaned against the wall, unsteady and obviously excited. She ran her wicked fingers leisurely up his naked thigh.
She whispered, “Don’t worry, no one’s going to see us, and I really want you.” She traced where her necklace dipped down between her visibly sensitized breasts. “I really want you. And it’s more than making Tyler pay for bringing that cow Sheila to the party.”
Tina couldn’t believe she’d said that, or thought it. When had she ever felt jealous of Tyler or any man? Jealousy was an emotion she couldn’t afford. It meant you felt something more than just desire. It led to stupid things like commitments, which never lasted. Lives that became flat and defeating. She could feel her desire fizzling, as it had with other men in the past few months. She hadn’t even told Emma about her forced celibacy. “Maybe this isn’t a good idea.”
Suddenly, The Bandit’s strong hands came around her, pinning her up against the door by her shoulders. Tina barely had time to register that her feet were dangling above the floor, when he ground the leather loin plate against her hips. She automatically opened her legs to let him apply pressure where she most needed it, moaning with the pleasure of it.
Would he simply take her? Was that what she needed?
He leaned in, his breath was warm on her face, and she lifted her mouth to kiss him. The mask would make a kiss feel strange and exciting.
Instead of kissing her, he buried his face in her neck. “You feel so good, my little warrior.”
The endearment was so much better than the insipid princess that The Bandit had called her when he’d met her in the lobby before the party. It had her biting him gently on the shoulder, careful not to draw blood. But she was beginning to feel hungry again. The juices were definitely flowing this time, and she knew her desire wouldn’t stall, not if he continued to touch her like that under her linen skirt.
It was probably better that he didn’t seem to want to kiss her. Remember, he’s a stripper. It’s his job to turn you on, and make you crazy. It’s just a bonus that he’s gonna cure what ails you.
Her body certainly remembered he was a stripper—a very hot one. She thought she might come right here up against the wall. Why didn’t they just go inside, and get this over with? She was so ready.
But the sound of the elevator had him easing her back to the ground. She grabbed the doorframe in order to stay on her feet. Was it the alcohol or The Bandit that made her legs wobble? He grinned at her, all gorgeous teeth under the mask. Had his teeth been that nice before?
She lost her train of thought as an older couple went by with their bags in tow. They both looked shocked. Tina couldn’t help herself; feeling naughty, she winked at them. The Bandit nodded like a gentleman, and then pushed Tina into the room roughly enough to raise her temperature. He shut the door behind them with an echoing thud.
“I think we shocked them. They might have had heart attacks right in the hallway,” Tina said, laughing.
He didn’t say a word; he just picked Tina up, and threw her over his shoulder like a caveman. Her purse dangled a minute before she dropped it on the floor.
“Hey,” she laughed, pounding on his back. “With all of those muscles, you’d think you could be more of a gentleman in how you sweep me off my foot, feet.” It should have embarrassed her—she was usually articulate. But, hey, he was going to get paid to have sex with her no matter that the most articulate lawyer in town was sloppy drunk. Or was it the adventure that had her so giddy?
“Probably drunk,” she said aloud.
“Sweeping you off your feet is for the good guys. I’m just going to tie you up, strip off your clothes, and then I’m going to push myself into you until you scream for mercy.”
His voice was gravelly, and she couldn’t remember if he’d spoken like that earlier. Maybe it was for her benefit. But his words made her shiver with anticipation. “It definitely works for me.”
He practically threw her down on the bed, and then stood over her. “Do you want something from the bar?”
She raised her arms above her head. “No, I’ve had enough, and I have to remember enough to tell the girls if it’s padding in your pants or the real thing. I’m hoping it’s the real thing.” She lazily plucked at her nipple through her three-hundred-dollar shirt. Then, remembering, she took two folded bills out of the pocket of her skirt. She handed them to him, hardly believing she was desperate enough to pay to get out of this rut. What the heck was wrong with her? She fought her way up from the bottom of the food chain and she wasn’t going to let a man interfere with her life now. Even if she had to pay for it from now on. “You’d better be worth it.”
“Bitch.”
“Yeah. That’s what they call me behind my back. They call me The Shark to my face. I’m a hell of a hard-ass in the courtroom, and off…I…mean…out.”
He hardly looked at the money. He looked directly at her, hungrily. He absently took the bills and put them in his bag. Then he dropped the bag on the ground as if it meant nothing.
“Sit up,” he demanded.
“Huh?”
“You ready for sleep or you want to play?” He reached down to unbuckle one of the leather straps wrapped tightly around his waist.
She sat up on the end of the bed. “I definitely want to play.”
“Unbutton the shirt or I’ll rip it off.”
Tina hesitated a second; ripping it off sounded sexy but practicality forced her to strip off her shirt. She hadn’t always had nice things to wear.
She told herself the sexy little bra she had on underneath, hardly more than a scoop of nylon cupping her breasts, would certainly turn him on.
He knelt, the leather in his hands.
Tina pulled back a little. “I’m not into pain.” She stated emphatically.
“I won’t hurt you.”
Did he sound familiar?