Page 44 of The Bad Girl

I don’t know what game Nadine’s playing, but it’s one that could easily see me whipping out my American Express Black card and spending way more than I ever should for a three-minute private dance.

She knows she has me in the palm of her hand, she has to know with the way she’s looking at me, taunting me. I wouldn’t figure Nadine would be the type to show off, but I guess there’s a lot I’m getting to know about her.

And with every little thing I find out, it leaves me wanting more.

She’s staring at me dead in the eyes, building my momentum. Part of me wants her to keep the top on, so I don’t have to share any more of her with all the other jackasses crowding the stage, but a primal part of me wants her to see her now. It wants to rip that top off with my teeth.

And one thing’s for sure, I’m not leaving the club without her. Oh no, she’s going home with me. There’s no way she’d refuse me, not with that look she’s giving me.

Her hands begin their descend, slowly, promising me a glimpse of her heavenly body.

“What the fuck are you waiting for!” a drunken shout comes from the crowd. A hand reaches up for her, grabbing her by the calf.

Fuck!

Nadine’s arms flail out as she falls into a pit of rowdy men.

I launch into action, throwing anyone in my way aside.

“Step AWAY from the stage!” the announcer’s booming voice shouts across the speakers.

Several men back away as I rush forward through the crowd. Nadine’s now on the stage again, what remains of her clothing a disheveled mess.

It only takes me a moment to close in on the asshole that dared to lay a hand on Nadine, and once I’m upon him, I pull my fist back to punch him square in the face, but Mike T. grabs hold of me, pulling me back.

“It ain’t worth it, boss. A big man like you is gonna get taken to the cleaners.”

The rage I feel coursing through me nearly has me launching my fist at Mike T., but. Stacey’s now darting past me, jumping on the man that accosted Nadine and pummeling her fists into her.

“Damn,” Mike T. says with an impressed look.

“If I ever catch you touching another woman like that again, so help me GOD, they will find your dismembered body in the most polluted river I can find.”

A bouncer comes, pulling Stacey off the man. I look to Nadine, but she’s gone now, having rushed backstage.

“We’ll handle this,” the bouncer says as he clenches the shirt of the offending man. “You all can go back and enjoy yourselves.”

Stacey’s bent over, catching her breath.

“Can you go back to check on Nadine?” I ask urgently.

She rises, wiping sweat from her brow. “Sure thing, boss, but I think you should cut on out.”

“Cut on out?”

“Listen, Nadine’s still new to this, and I’m pretty sure she’s going to be humiliated. It’s best if you just let me handle this.”

“Okay, but I’m leaving Mike—”

“We’re fine. There’s no need to leave your hulking bodyguard to defend us. We’re going home now.”

“Suit yourself.”