Her Gentle Giant, Part 2: Remember to Dance (21 page)

* * * *

Now it was Rachel’s turn to be speechless. On his knees, he called her his
queen
. Her heart pounded an insane rhythm, and she had to reach for the bar to steady herself with a hand as he kissed the knuckles of her other hand. When she’d sauntered out confidently earlier and waited for his response, she didn’t realize how profoundly his reaction might affect
her
.

“Oh, Eli.” Her lips trembled, and she fought the tears that wanted to flood her eyes. She’d worked too hard on her eye makeup to ruin it now.

He stood in front of her with a positively euphoric look on his face as he placed a little white box, wrapped with a white satin bow, into her hand. “A little something for tonight.”

Rachel looked up at him, surprised at his unexpected gift. “Thank you, Eli.”

She untied the satin ribbon.

“I hope you like it and that I chose well based on past conversations.”

Glancing up at him, she lifted the lid then looked inside. Lying in the box was a heavy, flat, solid silver heart pendant with a lobster claw clasp. Engraved in script letters on the heart was the name
Eli
. Whoa.

“Turn it over, Rachel.” On the other side in thick, larger block letters was another word. A
warning
. MINE.

“Oh.” She breathed out, fingering the lobster claw. She understood. This was a tag to be worn from the ring of her collar.
He
understood
. He knew how this would resonate with her. She claimed to be his, she’d promised she was his, she’d cried out in ecstasy she was his, and now the whole world would know it, know that he owned her body and soul. She smiled joyfully and handed it to him and lifted the ring on the collar. He slipped it on with his name facing up.

 “I’m glad you like it.” He fingered it above her cleavage as her heart thumped rapidly beneath it.

“I love it,” she whispered. “Knowing I’m yours and that you lay claim to me like this, it…feels so
good
, Eli,” she finished lamely, unable to find the right words.

“I love you, angel. That tag says you are mine, but it rests there only by your choice, only if you believe it’s true. I would never seek to truly enslave you, Rachel.”

“I already am.”

His fingertips brushed lightly over her cheekbone as he looked at her with deep approval and appreciation.

“It’s six fifteen. We don’t want to be late. I have your jacket here.” He traced his fingers over the slave bracelet on her arm, noticing it for the first time, and smiled softly. He held the jacket, and she slipped her arms into it then turned to him, the fringe swaying with her movement.

“Beautiful,” he murmured.

* * * *

Eli helped Rachel climb from the seat of his Dodge, and she smiled wickedly as she treated him to a sexy glimpse of her inner thigh above the edge of her fishnet stocking before boldly sliding down his torso as he set her on her feet.

“How do I look, handsome?” she asked with a naughty grin, giving his chest a light brush with her breasts just for good measure. The sexy rumble that rose from his chest sent a quiver of pure lust straight to her clit.

“I should pop that delectable fanny of yours for teasing me like that before we go into public,” he growled, squeezing her ass cheek as she giggled unrepentantly. “You look good enough to eat right here in the parking lot, angel.” He softened his words with a gentle nuzzle against her neck that sent delicious shivers all over her body, and her pussy swelled and throbbed in response to his touch.

“You’re not so bad yourself, handsome man.” She laid her hand over his heart. “I promise I’ll be so good you’ll have to
beg
me to be bad.”

“And what if being bad
is
good as long as you’re with me?”

Rachel didn’t hold back her sexy chuckle. Her hand slid down over his chest and abdomen to the waist of his leathers as she said, “Honey, you know the old saying, ‘When I’m good, I’m very good. But when I’m bad, I’m even better?’” Her fingertips slid an inch into his waistband, right by his fly. “I’ll be as bad as you want me to be.”
Maybe even badder if it means I get extra licks, handsome.

“Shit. Let’s get inside before I start getting ideas. You’re wicked tonight, woman.” He took her hand and led her to the club’s front entrance.

“Let’s see what Grace has up her sleeves, or down her stocking, or wherever she hides her bright ideas,” Rachel said, grinning at Eli when he laughed at her comment.

He pulled open the door for her and held her hand as she stepped in. When Mike and Rogelio looked up and saw them, they got twin reactions. First, there was a deep, squinting scowl of non-recognition of the female with Eli, then bulgy, bug-eyed shock as they realized it
was
Rachel with Eli. Mike let out a loud wolf whistle that drew
everyone’s
attention as she sauntered confidently up to Mike, and was eye-to-eye with him and Rogelio. She gave them both big smiles and left red lip prints on their cheeks to match the red and white Santa hats they were both wearing. Rachel wondered who sweet-talked them into wearing them but had a pretty good guess. Grace, no doubt.

“Dang, girl!” Mike said loudly. “You’re killing me! Wait till your
dad
sees you! You’re in
trouble
!”

“My dad is not—” She was interrupted by the tell-tale distinctive throat clearing noise behind her.

“Ahem.” It sounded just like her—

“Dad! What are you doing here?”

“Hoping to see my lovely daughter. You do look lovely, princess, if a little…
different
from what your dad’s used to.” Her dad turned to Eli. “Wolf, was this leather outfit your idea? You seem to match tonight,” he said sarcastically as Rachel whapped her dad gently on the arm.

“Dad, there’s nothing wrong with how I’m dressed. These were all shower gifts. You should be glad I’m not wearing what
Mom
gave me for a shower gift.” She grinned as her dad squirmed a little.

“I don’t see any other women dressed head-to-toe in leather, and since when are you so tall? Oh, never mind, you look beautiful.” He kissed her cheek as Charity and Justin walked in, dressed similarly to Rachel and Eli.

Grace made it up to the front, surprising them with Kelly in tow. Rachel and Eli hugged her and asked where Matthew was. Kelly explained he was with Ethan’s little sister, Erin, at Grace’s overnight.

Grace had on a beautiful, red velvet corset, edged with sparkling rhinestones at the bust, with a transparent black wrap thrown over her shoulders. She wore it with a black satin pencil skirt, which ended below the knee. Her pretty, pedicured feet were done up in glittering, silver high-heeled sandals.

Kelly was going for a classic look in a slinky little black dress with shiny, black high heels on her dainty tiny feet. Her hair was styled in whimsical little ringlets all around her face. She looked like a pixie on a hot date. Standing next to Kelly was Elijah, dressed in Wranglers, cowboy boots, and an open-collared white dress shirt.

Rachel turned to Grace and grinned. “Okay, what’s going on, Grace?”

Grace smirked. “Come sit down, and we’ll tell you. By the way, you are smokin’ hot in that leather outfit, Rachel!”

Rachel and Eli followed her to the table they usually sat at. Everybody else was there. Everybody—her parents, Charity and Justin, Kelly, Elijah, Rosemary, Wes and Evan, Kathleen and Ace, Corina and Brice, Ethan, Jack, Adam. Teresa and Angel were there, too.

Rachel greeted them all, a little surprised, and turned to Grace. Grace said two words she hated to hear—bachelorette party.

Then she said two more Rachel hated even
worse
—bachelor party.

Shit.

Her old jealous nature reared its ugly head. A strippers and her fiancé in close proximity to each other. She felt a deep crease formed between her brows, and she turned to Eli, looking up at him uncertainly.

He stroked her back and murmured quietly, “This is a surprise to me, too, baby.”

Grace touched her hand and said sincerely, “Don’t worry, Rachel. Charity is going with the men as a sort of chaperone. She’ll keep an eye on Eli and run wicked interference with any women who get too friendly. Plus, they’re going to a strip club, not hiring a stripper to come to them. And if he misbehaves, she’ll rat him out faster than she can type WTF.”

Chapter Forty-six

“My thoughts exactly, ‘What the
f
—’” Rachel zipped her lip, remembering her dad was there.

Then she realized something. It was great that Charity would be there. Then she’d get all the juicy details later, but if her dad was in attendance, Eli would never—
No
. That was just it. Eli,
her
Eli, would never lay a hand on another woman as long as she was alive. Not because she was jealous of other women but because he loved her and wanted only her.

She relaxed, and looked into Eli’s eyes. “Go have fun, honey.”

Eli did a double take. “But—what?”

She murmured to him, “No regrets, remember? I trust
you
, Eli. Charity will deal with anyone who gets too frisky with you. Break a few twenties so you have one dollar bills for the dancers, but remember,” she whispered sexily, “I dance for
love
.”

He slid his palms up and down her waist until her dad cleared his throat, and then he returned from the spell she cast over him.

“But that’s not all,” Grace said. “Rachel,
you’re
coming with all the ladies. There are two limousines waiting. The men will go to a gentlemen’s club in Morehead, taking Charity with them as escort. The ladies will be going to a ladies’ club in Morehead, and Adam will be our gentleman escort, keeping us safe and watching over Rachel. We’ll only be a few minutes apart the whole evening. The clubs are that close. Adam and Charity will keep in touch, and we’ll rendezvous back here when we’re ready. How does that sound, Eli?”

Eli never hesitated. “Go have some fun, angel.” Then he added softly, “I’ll be ready and waiting for
my
lap dance when we’re alone.”

She nuzzled his throat, realizing she was going to miss him for the next few hours, but gasped in pleasure and a sudden rush of…delight as his hands grasped the zippers on each side of her skirt and slowly slid the zippers down to the bottom. He made no show of it. Only she was aware of what he was doing as the others prepared to leave.

Folding the zipper tabs down and locking them in place, he growled, “These stay closed while you are away from me, angel.” Then he kissed the silver pendant hanging from the ring on her collar and looked into her eyes, checking for her reaction.

She seductively promised, “They’ll stay where they are until you unzip them all the way…if you
want
to.”

“Oh, I
want
to, all right.” He squeezed her ass while her dad wasn’t looking and kissed her hungrily.

She went to the ladies’ room to fix her lipstick and fluff her hair. Grace came in to do the same. She gestured to heavy silver pendant and said, “May I?” Rachel smiled and nodded. Grace lifted it, read Eli’s name, turned it over, and smiled wickedly. “Nice,” she murmured softly. “It looks good on the collar, makes it more…meaningful, I think.” She eyed Rachel carefully.

“Definitely more meaningful. I love it. Thanks again for the collar.”

“You’re welcome. Eli is waiting to escort you outside. You may not have realized it, but when you came in wearing this
hotter-than-hell
outfit, you caused quite a stir amongst the male customers. I’m not even sure they’ve recognized you yet. It’s funny, I think I heard Eli
growl
earlier.” Grace chuckled. “My territorial men aren’t the only ones growling tonight. But check the club when you walk out and you’ll see what I mean. It’s good for a girl’s ego.”

Rachel grinned. “You look beautiful tonight. Let me guess. Um…Adam bought this outfit for you, head to toe, including the lingerie and shoes. From…June.”

“That’s a no-brainer. Did you see Adam tonight? He’s very handsome in his suit.”

“You make a perfect couple in your evening attire. He looks devastatingly delicious,” she added, making Grace laugh. “Speaking of gorgeous, let’s get
our
fannies out to the limo.”

She exited the ladies’ room and stopped at the entrance to the back hall. Eli was across the club speaking privately with Adam. Rachel had to laugh. Adam was probably reassuring Eli how many different parts he’d break off of any guy who got frisky with her.

She smiled and sauntered away from the hallway, trying to ignore the impact she had on the men in the club. Stares followed her, and more than a few men got elbows in their ribs from their dates. Two unfortunate friendly fellows she’d never met approached her before she gotten far.

“Excuse me, beautiful, would you like to dance?”

“Pardon me, darlin’, care to dance with
me
?”

A third was approaching and about to speak up when she stopped them and smiled at all of them and gestured to Eli, who was striding across the club. “I’m sorry. I’m here with my fiancé.” Caught in Eli’s admiring gaze, she sauntered through the crowd to him.

“Hey, beautiful. Ready to go?”

“Ready as I’ll
ever
be,” she said dryly. What was she supposed to do at a ladies’ strip club, anyway?

When she asked that question in the limo, all the ladies stopped talking, looked at her, and burst out in laughter.

Grace replied, “You don’t
do
anything, sweet cheeks. They come to
you
.”

“Tell me honest and straight what you have planned. No games. No stupid ‘suck for a buck’ bachelorette T-shirt, and no scavenger hunts. I don’t want to be embarrassed.”

Grace scoffed. “Aw! I liked the ‘suck for a buck’ T-shirt idea. But Kelly said it would piss Eli off too much if he found out dancers were sucking LifeSavers off your shirt. So thank her, I suppose, party pooper. Nope, we’re just going to enjoy a few drinks and watch men take their clothes off. Lap dances are your option.”

Rachel looked over at Kelly and clasped her hands together and mouthed,
“Thank you!”

Kelly snickered and gave her a thumbs-up signal. Rachel was feeling more trepidation by the minute. She sat next to Grace in the limo, and Adam sat on the other side of Grace. As Rachel watched the others laugh and joke around, a hand gently tapped her shoulder. She looked, and Adam leaned over behind Grace.

“Don’t worry, Rachel. We’re going to make sure you have a good time without getting embarrassed or in trouble with Eli.”

“You won’t let them take me up on stage, will you?”

“I have the strictest instructions from Eli that you are not to be taken up on stage or embarrassed in any way. This is supposed to be fun for you, too.”

“Is that what you and Eli were talking about at the club?”

“Partly. But even if he hadn’t approached me with that specific concern, I still wouldn’t let them do that. Don’t worry. You’re going to have a great time.” He patted her shoulder.

Rachel smiled at him and tried to relax enough to join in the conversations. She was caught up in her own thoughts, wishing she’d known about this whole bachelorette–strip club plan to begin with. She’d have done what she did best—research the subject. She pulled out her cell phone and did some quick Internet research on strip club etiquette and what to expect in a strip club. She quickly scanned and found three well-organized articles from several different perspectives—dancers, bouncers, and customers. A lot of the rules were common sense. She leaned over to Adam and got his attention.

“What is the touching rule in the club they are going to?”

“Generally, their policy is ‘touch and go,’ which means you touch and you go, escorted by a bouncer out the door.”

“What about lap dances? How much?”

“Usually about thirty bucks and then you buy the girl a drink. She usually makes half of what the customer pays for the drinks, which are outrageously expensive. The guys plan to keep him at the main stage watching the onstage dancers and tipping them. Out on the floor is where the lap dances happen. After they dance on stage, the girls go around and receive tips from the customers on the floor for the dance. Then if a customer likes them, they buy them a drink and the girl will offer to give a lap dance.”

“What are the rules for lap dances there?”

“Hands down at your sides the whole time. Very strict, very big bouncers, very talented dancers.”

“Can you tell me what a lap dance is?”

He defined that particular club’s version of a lap dance. The dancer sat on the customer’s knee, moving to the music, gyrating and pulling the customers face to her breasts if she wanted to. She could touch him anywhere she wanted, but the customer could not place his hands on the dancer, or he was out the door. She might lift her G-string and let the customer tuck the money under the string.

“What about one-on-one rooms or VIP rooms?”

“They have a VIP room. They won’t take him in there. As long as the tips flow, the girls will hang around and chat, enjoy a drink, and give a preview of a lap dance. They thought the best place for him would be at the main stage with a thick stack of bills.”

“Are they
all
topless?”

He grinned at her. “Not a stitch above the waist where they are going. Even the waitresses.”

She was thoughtful for a moment. The limitations they had placed on Eli basically negated any fun time he would have tonight.
Crappity-crap.

“Thanks, Adam.”

She dialed Charity’s cell phone number. “Have I got a job for you, Charity. This is what I want you to do…”