Page 33 of Tempted

“Courtesy of Scythe…a year’s free admissionand unlimited, non-alcoholic drinks from the bar.”

She screams again and jumps into the DJ’sarms.

“Oh! I need to give stuff away moreoften!”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Shesqueals.

“Next song…your pick, baby girl.”

“Nicki Minaj, ‘Anaconda’!”

“You got it.”

She launches herself at me, laughingexcitedly.

“Ray, did you do this?”

“Nope. I had no idea.”

“Shit. You’re gonna have to give Papi Chulosome head on my behalf.”

“Whatever. Come on.”

She drags me back to the dance floor,demanding twerking lessons. Ididpromise her and itisher birthday, so I give in. I pull up my skirt a little,bend my knees, lean forward, and shake my ass. It’s not long beforethe others join in. Two strong hands grab my waist and pull me upagainst a hard crotch. For a second, I think it’s Gage but then hestarts to move. DefinitelynotGage. Before I can push himoff, Ron shows up and gets in the guy’s face. Dude backs off andRon takes my hand. He leads me away from the crowd and up some backstairs.

“Where are you taking me?”

“You’ll see.”

He opens a door and motions for me to enter.Once I’m inside, he closes it behind me.What the hell?There’s a dim light at the door shining down on me, but the rest ofthe room is in darkness. I can make out a desk and someone sittingbehind it. Behind him, there’s a glass wall I bet gives a view ofthe dance floor.

“Who’s there?” I ask nervously.

“Turn around.”

Fuck. Gage. What’s he doing here? He toldme he wouldn’t be here.I can hear the strain in his voice. Hemust have seen or heard about what just happened.

“Gage –”

“Turn. Around.”

I swallow hard and turn my back to him.

“Put your hands on the wall.”

My breathing accelerates at the tone of hisvoice. It’sthatvoice. I drop my clutch on the couch nextto me, place my palms on the wall, and wait.

“Legs. Spread ‘em.”

I shuffle my feet apart until he tells me tostop. My body trembles with uncertainty. What’s he going to do tome? It’s quiet. He doesn’t make a sound, but I can feel him gettingcloser. He stops behind me, his body flush against mine.

“What did I tell you?” He growls in myear.

A shiver runs through my body. “Aboutwhat?”

He grabs my ass, squeezing the cheek as hisbreaths come hard and heavy in my ear.

“Tell me why I shouldn’t flay your ass rightnow.”