Page 73

He doesn’t say anything.

“Look, I’m partly at fault for leading you on. I’ll own it. And sorry about the physicality. Can we put this behind us?”

The lawyer in me is doing everything I can not to open up a can of worms. I don’t want this man being murdered becauseItried to make Trino jealous.

I order those drinks I promised him, and keep him company while watching a few patrons leave immediately after their private dances. They’re shaken up from the altercation, obviously.

It was pretty fucked up.

And it was also the hottest thing anyone has ever done for me.

Chapter 21

Cipriana

That night I rubbed my backside into Trino, giving my first real lap dance to the man who deserved it for rescuing me. He asked to put it in seven times.Seven. I almost caved too.

Soon, I will.

But I’m planning something special for that.

A part of me worries that once he gets the golden lips, that’s it. He’ll be onto his next main squeeze and I’ll just be stuck as an undercover dancer until I can legally divorce his ass. That’s all in my head, though. He’s been nothing but a grumpy teddy bear to me, and a bulldozer of an enforcer if anyone so much as looks at me the wrong way.

His scorching arm hangs over me like a weighted blanket. It just keeps me there, staring at the ceiling as I inhale his comforting scent until the clock ticks eleven a.m.

He was on the phone the whole ride back home last night, and we passed out after I jerked him off under the covers, so we never really got to address the beat down of a certain Reginald Glisper. Sounds like a king of olden times. Treason, Trino! We committed treason!

“Mph.” Trino rubs his eyes, relieving me of what feels like a thousand pounds of pressure.

“Morning, sunshine.” I poke his ribs, making him grunt.

“Shh.” He swats me and sits up.

I can’t help but be annoying when I see such an easy target.

“You were something else last night,” he says, getting to his feet.

“Oh, you liked my little dance?” I wink at him while lying on my belly, kicking my feet.

“That too. But I meant at the club. You’re a dangerous little firecracker.”

“Andyouare going to lose all your new customers just as the name’s starting to catch.”

He licks his teeth, knowing I’m right.

“What was with that yesterday? You’re the one who told me to—”

He grunts again and walks out of the room.

I’m fake mad at him, smiling because I know he can’t handle his own emotions. “Trino! Don’t walk away from me! Don’t you have something to say?”

Following him all the way to the balcony makes me giggle. He runs a hand through his hair while languishing down the steps. He’s so hot in the morning and he doesn’t even realize it. Every line of muscle flexes in his legs, his tight ass bouncing through the boxer-briefs. Skull tattoos on his back scowl – telling me it’s too early for my shenanigans.

Once he’s out of sight, I walk into the bathroom to brush my teeth and hop in the shower. Thinking of last night still gives me shivers – when he barged in like an uncaged bull, making a pompous man cower.

He punched Reggie so hard,Ifelt it for him. That mark left on his belly looked like he got shot with a cluster of paintballs. That’ll be a good reminder, for sure.

I’m starting to get used to my owl life. I was wrong about Ruby and Diamond. They’re nice women, even if they change their tune whenever Britta’s around. Naomi is cool too. After the last shift every Saturday, we all gather in the changing room to see who’s the queen bee of cash tips. I’m just watching mostly, since my measly winnings are all from the stage. Apparently, that’snotwhere the money is.