Dirty Desire (4 page)

“Trust me, jerk, I’ll be fine. I’ll see ya in an hour.” I hang up before he can yell at me even more and grab a bowl of cereal while I start getting ready. It’s a thousand frigging degrees outside again today so no makeup it is. The hair is going up and the shorts are being changed into a new pair after I shower. I may sweat all damn day, but at least it’s going to be a fresh sweat and not yesterday’s stinking up my armpits. Plus, it’s raining, and as cool as that sounds, Midwest rain in the summer heat just adds to the horrid humidity.

I think I’m the only girl in existence that can’t find a deodorant that works.

While I wait at our table at Fitz’s, I watch the families around me struggle with their kids to eat their meals. Why would you bring your kid out to a restaurant, pay crazy money for a corndog, just to have to fight them to eat it? I’ll never understand that.

Seeing as I never want children, though, I will never need to understand it.

“Slut,” Leigh announces as he walks across the crowded room. I laugh as I see some of the nearby parents’ glare at him. That’s what I love about him…he doesn’t give a fuck what other’s think about him.

“I thought I was going to be late,” he huffs as he sits down.

“Um…you’re thirteen minutes late, Leigh.” I grin, checking my phone.

“Fifteen minute rule. I’m still on time.”

I roll my eyes and order when the waitress comes by. Even after that bowl of cereal, I’m still starving.

“So spill,” he says, taking a sip of his cream soda.

“On?”

“Shut up, bitch. I know you have a shit ton to tell me after your first night with a new roommate.”

“I slept with my clothes on last night.”

His eyes grow big and he grins.

“For the first time in…” he trails off, trying to remember the last time I haven’t slept nude.

“I know, right?” I smile. “He carried me to bed and covered me up. I woke up just a couple hours ago.”

“He carried you to bed?!” His shriek can be heard throughout the entire restaurant and I can’t help but laugh at him.

“Yes, now shush!” I lower my head as a waitress walks by and grins to herself. “We watched a movie and I must have fallen asleep. It was late after we got back from dinner.”

“Dinner and a movie on the first night! That’s a fucking date, Harper!” He’s smiling wide now as I glare at him.

“Leigh, we did movie and dinner plenty of nights and never, EVER, was it a date. Can I not hang out with my roommate?”

“I don’t like pussy, Harper.” He states, loudly. He’s going to get us kicked out of here. It’s happened before. “And from the way you two were eye fucking each other the other day, I can most certainly tell you he wants yours.”

“Here ya go.” Our waitress sets our plates down with a knowing smirk on her face. She winks at me right before spinning on her heel and heading to the back, making Leigh almost spit out his drink.

“Eat. Not another word about my roommate.”

“Oh, you mean the one you want to fuck?”

“Leigh!” I shriek, making a table of teens next to us erupt in a fit of laughter.

“Not another word,” I growl.

It’s dark by the time Leigh and I finish up and finally head home. Somehow all of our lunch dates end up being full day events.

“Wanna come in?” I step out of his car and wait for him to get out too.

He doesn’t, though.

“I need to get home to John. Night two at the house, if I’m not there he’s not going to be too happy.” He grins and shrugs. “I’ll text ya later.”

With a wink, he pulls away from the curb, leaving me alone on a dark street.

It’d probably bother some girls.

Not me.

I grab my cell and start walking up the steps to the apartment. I don’t know if Knox is in there right now, but I do know I need a break from him; a break from the intensity of our little game.

Whatever it is.

Pulling out my phone, I dial a friend’s number I haven’t seen in a long ass time. Too long.

“Hey Stella,” I say, opening the door and noticing the lights on.

He’s here.

“Hey Harper, how are you?!” I hear the noise in the background and know she’s already out.

“Good. Just seeing what you were up to.” I toss my purse and keys on the counter and start walking to my room. Not paying a lick of attention to anything else around me.

Until I blow straight into a wet, bare, beautifully strong chest. The phone still at my ear, eyes wide, staring straight into Knox’s face full of amusement.

“Harper? Are you gonna meet us?” Stella’s voice rings back into my ears. I’m not even certain if she’s been talking this whole time.

“Um…” Knox’s grin is shining back at me and all I can think about is running my hands down his incredibly well sculpted abs.

“Harper I…I gotta go! Call me!” Stella hangs up the phone, leaving me and my sexy as hell roommate in a stare down.

“Hey.” He grins.

“Hi. So—sorry,” I stammer. “I’m sorry, SO…just…” I back away and try to move around him but he doesn’t budge. Resting his hands on his hips, his grin doesn’t fade, nor does the amusement on his face.

“Why are you coming out of my bathroom?” I manage, quietly, as my eyes peruse the goods in front of me.

“I like your water pressure better.”

“Mhmm,” I mutter. I think I’m losing brain cells just staring at something this good looking!

“Whatchya up to?” He cocks his head and eyes the phone in my hand.

“Um. Nothing. Now.” I watch a bead of water run down his chest, finding its path in the ridges. Those delicious ridges. I want to run my tongue along those ridges.

Mmmm

“Did you just growl?” My eyes flash to his, wide. Holy shit I said that out loud? He starts to laugh and I realize I’ve been staring all too long at his beautiful body…that’s wrapped in nothing but a towel.

“Do you make it a habit to walk around the apartment like this?” I mutter, trying to pry my eyes off him. Is my mouth watering?

“I don’t know, Harp. Will you make it a habit to stare at me like that?” He winks and moves past me, the scent of his body wash still fresh on his skin.

Holy Shit I’m not going to make it these few months with him.

“So the party is still a go tonight?” John asks from across my desk. He’s not even looking at me, either. He’s typing away on his tablet, probably doing more work than I’ve physically done in the past week. That’s why I keep him around.

“Of fucking course it is, John. We open soon anyway.  The building itself is ready to go. All we’re waiting on now is the final paperwork. We’re good for a fucking party,” I huff. The fact that the city just now is deciding to give us shit about this club being so close to a college isn’t my fault. They’re the ones that missed it to begin with. I should be grandfathered in.

And if I’m not, I’ll just find some asshole to pay off to look the other way.

“Great. Tents are here so I’m going to go get on with that,” he mutters, standing up while he looks through his phone. “Oh!” He spins and looks back at me on his way out the door. “Bringing someone tonight? For the guest list…” The look on his face is begging for me to punch it.

I narrow my eyes at him. He knows I’m living with Harper. He knows my situation. He also knows I don’t ever talk about my personal life.

Even if it’s been three weeks of living with her and she’s still yet to let me touch her.

Oh, it’s not because I haven’t tried. I’ve made it a point to show her just how good we could be together without even having to touch her. I’ve watched her clench her thighs together while we watch romance chick flicks that get to the steamy parts. I’ve watched her watching me when she didn’t think I was. I’ve counted the orgasms she’s given herself in these past three weeks, probably thinking about me just a room over.

She thinks she’s being quiet.

She’s not.

“So that’s a no?”

“Don’t you have somewhere to be right now, John?”

“Right,” he grins and spins, leaving me alone to my office.

One more month and these club doors will be open. Not open to the public, necessarily, but open for business.

See, Come isn’t your typical club. It’s not a sex club, but it’s damn near close. There’s no rank or hierarchy here. There are no Dom’s and Subs. There are no ‘red rooms of pain’ that that goddamned film portrayed so terribly a few years ago. What there is, though, is a specifically talented set of staff that know exactly what the patrons need and want. Staff that aren’t paid to fuck patrons, just paid to give them the show they need to fulfill their desires.

What happens after that is beyond my control.

Glancing at the clock I realize I only have a few hours until the party and I still have to head home and get changed. I wanted to invite Harper; I feel like we’re getting that connection I’m going to need to keep her once she finds out the truth. Next week I fuck her, and when I do everything will fall into place.

I can’t bring her yet, though. If she finds out too early what this is all about everything will have been for nothing.

I’ve only lived with her for a few weeks but we’ve already got a routine down. Living with a woman has never felt so free. It’s weird. Maybe I know she’s oblivious to what I’m here for, or maybe it’s because she’s not like any other woman I’ve met…but I feel free with her. I never realized how trapped I’ve felt until spending time with Harper.

Gathering my briefcase and other work possessions that I may need this weekend at home, I’m out the door and in my car without so much as a goodbye to my employees. They’re too busy anyway making sure tonight is just perfect for the party.

It damn well better be.

The drive back to the apartment is about ten minutes typically. Thirty minutes in rush hour traffic in St. Louis. These assholes don’t know how to drive. Not like in Springfield. At least in traffic in Springfield people are courteous and don’t ride the brakes. I’m going to be immensely happy moving back home.

Parking and locking my car, since I don’t trust this neighborhood to steal everything but the steering wheel when I’m not looking, I head inside to get ready for the party tonight.

“Hey,” Harper exclaims when her eyes hit mine. Mid stride in the hallway, she pauses briefly and lets her gaze linger on my work outfit. “I’m late. I’m sorry” She shakes her head and rushes past me, heading to the kitchen.

“You working tonight?” I ask, leaning on the doorframe while she searches for something to eat. Finding a corndog in the freezer, she tosses it in the microwave and looks over at me.

“Yeah. They just called and need backup. There’s a shit ton of people in town this weekend apparently and they’re slammed.” She’s talking while tapping her foot and throwing her hair into a messy bun. Her makeup is darker than usual and there’s a hint of red to her lips that makes me want to suck all the color off of them. The white tank top she has on cuts well below where it should, and whatever strappy thing she has on underneath it makes me want to fuck her tits. Hard.

Shit.

“You need a ride?”

She pauses and looks at me, then to her ‘dinner’, then back to me.

“Um,” she mutters. “I can walk. Dinner on a stick and all,” she smiles. My eyes travel to her tits again; perfectly plumped with whatever bra she’s wearing. The strappy contraption under her shirt is still holding my attention. It’s pressed perfectly against her cleavage just begging for me to rip if off.

I notice her hand come to her chest and start absentmindedly running across the fabric of it. I look up at her and the grin on her face as she stares me down tells me it wasn’t absentmindedly done at all.
She’s teasing me on purpose.

I growl and shake my head.

“I’m taking you to work,” I say pointedly.

“I can wa—”

I storm over to her, not letting her finish her words before my hand goes around her throat, pressing her collarbone, applying just enough pressure to heighten her senses. She’s glaring at me but she’s not scared. No…the only look on her face right now is pure lust. I’m close enough so she can feel my breath on her ear as I whisper words only meant for her ears.

“You’re not walking around the streets like this, Harper. Not tonight. You don’t know who’s out there tonight.”
I do
. My club’s too close and I’ve met some of the patrons that will be at the party tonight.

She doesn’t need to mingle with them until I’m in control.

“Who are you to tell me what I can and can’t do?” Her voice is a whisper, but with how many times her eyes flick to my lips I know she’s not going to be putting up a fight anytime soon.

“I’m no one,” I whisper, staring at her lips. My eyes flick to hers and she’s fucking begging me for it.

She’s begging me for more than I can give her tonight, but hell if I don’t want to give it to her.

Maybe just a taste.

Leaning in closer, I press my lips to hers and almost grin mid kiss.

She’s so tense.

I can help with that.

When she doesn’t pull away, I kiss her harder, bringing the hand that was on her throat around her head and pull her towards me. A small moan escapes her lips and her body melts to mine. The kiss quickens and before I know what I’m doing, my mouth is going for her tits.

“Knox,” she pants as my fingers slide under the straps of her undershirt. Goosebumps rise on her skin and I grin, burying my face between her tits and inhaling her scent.

Jesus Christ. I’m not certain my dick could get any harder right now.

Everything I’ve been working for is so close I can literally taste it but I can’t have it.

Not yet.

Pulling back abruptly, I clear my throat and wait for the onslaught of angry words that I’m certain she’s going to spew at me for that. Any girl would.

What I’m not prepared for, though, is the sly grin that spreads across her face. It reminds me of the Cheshire cat.

“Thanks for that.” She adjusts herself and grins at me. “The hot and bothered look gets me more tips at the bar.” She winks and pushes past me, leaving me stunned silent for the first time in my life.

I hear her leave, but I’m still in shock. What girl in her right mind wouldn’t be upset about that little tease? Is she not interested in me? Have I read her wrong?

No. That’s not possible. I’ve heard her moan my name in her sleep.

She’s just that good of a player.

And I’m going to have to work that much harder to break her.

With an hour to go before I have to be at the club for the party, there’s not time to relieve myself even though my dick is straining to get out of my pants.

Give it time.

“Great party tonight, Knox,” Shelby purrs in my ear as I walk out the front doors. She’s been on my tail all night tonight and I can’t seem to shake her. The last thing I need in my life is another woman.

“I’m going home.” I look over to John who nods.

“Right this way, Ms. Presley.” He takes her by the arm gently and escorts her away from me. She pouts, but she’s not fighting him. She knows better.

Thank fuck.

I head to my office and pour two fingers of whiskey before sitting in my chair. I need to decompress from tonight before I’m able to walk back into that apartment and not fuck the hell out of my roommate. The things that happen behind closed doors in this club always make me need.

And tonight, I need her.

When the party started tonight I told myself I was staying out of the VIP rooms. The local gathering area was mingling, music, food, and fun. When Shelby pulled me to the back where all the action happens, I couldn’t pull myself away from it.

Each VIP room at the club has two areas…a viewing area and a performance area.

The performances aren’t staged nor are they club employees. They’re simply patrons aiming to fulfill their desires; be it a bucket list type of desire or a more carnal one, needs that only places like this club can give them.

When I opened my first ‘resort’, as they call it in Springfield, I knew the patrons would be up for anything I offered. I took a risk bringing it here to St. Louis, but from the looks of it we’re going to have a good turnout when it comes time to sign on patrons for memberships.

Patrons can only go so far without a membership. And memberships cost some people’s yearly salary. This is how we keep the dirt out and the wealthy in.

It sounds like a dick move, but with a club like this it has to happen. There are multiple different levels of memberships, and only the elite get the full package.

Elite status takes a lot more than money to attain.