Lust (The Stripped Bare Series Book 1) (12 page)

A knock on the door breaks me from my thoughts; I sit up straight and shout for whoever it is to come in. As the door opens I first get a glimpse of her red hair, before I see her beautiful face. She smiles as she pushes the door open fully and walks in, she takes a seat in front of me and crosses her legs. I suck in air through my teeth as her smooth slightly tanned legs open before closing again. It’s like that scene from Basic Instinct when she opens her legs and has no knickers on. Although Jasmine is wearing shorts, my mind still wanders. 

“I need to talk to you,” she starts, before I can even say anything to her. Actually, I’m too busy staring at her beauty to even think about producing words.

“What’s up?”

“I want to talk about us.” My heart thuds as she pierces me with her eyes. Uncurling her long legs, she walks around the side of the desk and perches her beautiful pert arse on the table in front of me. I try to remain composed but it’s not happening. I want nothing more than to lay her down on this table and shag her within an inch of her life.

“What do you want to talk about?” My voice is hoarse. I’m struggling to contain myself now. She opens her legs, dangling them down over the table, they swing gently and I sit up a little bit straighter.

“I’m sick of all the pussy footing around each other. You want me. I sure as hell want you. Why are we holding back?” Am I dreaming this shit? Did I fall asleep? Somebody, pinch me.

“But Dexter…”

“Listen, I know he’s your mate, but I don’t want him. There was never a ‘me and hi
m’
. Are you really going to deny yourself the opportunity to be happy just because he had a crush on me first?” She’s right, I know she’s right, but I don’t want to hurt my best friend. There’s a code; bros before hos.

She leans down so that our eyes are level with each other. Who is this woman? Where has her confidence come from? She moves closer, and I watch as her tongue darts out and licks her bottom lip. I can’t take this torture any more. Standing, I grab hold of her hair tightly and pull her head back. Her eyes silently beg for me to take her lips and I answer her plea with force, capturing her perfect lips in a compelling, passionate kiss.

Jasmine

For God’s sake, Scotty, why did you have to interrupt our moment? I’m getting fed up of this now, he either wants me or he doesn’t. I can’t keep playing these games. I’m too old to be messed about by men. I’ve spent my whole life being messed about by men. Gavin was the worst, but there have been others since. You think everything is going great, then suddenly they stop calling, or they cheat on you. Sometimes I think I’m better off single.

Getting changed, I grab my bag and leave the club. I have to go and spend some time with my son before my shift tonight. I’ve got my dress rehearsal on Thursday, Scotty is taking me shopping on Wednesday for the outfit, and we have chosen a song that’s perfect for the routine. I’m nervous but I’m also excited. The nerves I’m feeling I know will dissipate when I get out on to the stage. I’m more confident when I’m out there on the pole. I feel powerful and sexy. Exactly like Piper said, it makes you feel desired.

Collecting Austen from school, we decide to go to the park before grabbing some dinner. These small moments are really important to me lately. I need to feel like I’m making an effort to be with him when I’m not working. Mum and Dad have made plans to take him to the cinema tonight. He started at his new school last week which has taken a bit of pressure off me, but I’m finding it really hard spending time away from him. I miss him so much, but I know I have to do this to make a better life for us both. I’ve told both Austen and my parents that I’ve had to do some extra training courses for my job, which is why I’ve been going in during the morning. They seem to be buying the ‘call centre’ excuse. 

Hopefully, Jake will give me a great reference and we can start moving into our new flat soon. Everything seems to be falling into place. All I need now is for Max to realise that we belong together. The sexual tension when we’re around each other is killing me. It’s been a long time since I had sex, more than a year now, and I need that intimacy. I miss it.

Work this evening has been dead, there’s been less than ten people in the bar all night. I’m bored out of my skull. Technically, Liz could manage by herself.

Leaning on the bar, I glance around at the few men that are in. I notice there’s a tall man sat alone in one of the booths, he hasn’t really looked at the other girls, but he keeps staring at me. His piercing blue eyes are dark and his eyebrows curve to give him a menacing look. He has a couple of days worth of stubble on his chin and he’s dressed in a charcoal suit, the top button is undone and he has taken his tie off. He motions for me to go over to him.

“What can I get you?” I ask politely. He makes me feel nervous but I’m not sure why. 

“I’ll have a glass of Jim Beam, please. Neat, one cube of ice.” He has a very broad cockney accent and I flinch when I hear his words.

“Yes, sir. I’ll be right back.” Walking back towards the bar to get his drink, I glance up and notice that he’s watching me intently. Taking his drink back to him, I call to Liz that I’m taking a bathroom break before heading towards the back. I don’t know why but the man is making me feel uneasy. When I head back out, the man’s disappeared and his drink is still sitting on the table. That was really strange. I shake my head, trying to forget. I’m being paranoid.

The evening drags slowly, but Liz lets me leave early. Grabbing my bag and coat from my locker, I head out the back door and make my way towards my car. A noise rings out from one of the alleyways and I walk quicker. I swear I can hear footsteps behind me but I don’t turn around to look. I daren’t turn around. I jump in my car and put the keys in the ignition. The damn thing won’t start.
Please Start
.

Nothing.

It’s dead.

Grabbing my phone from my bag I scroll through the list. I can’t call my parents, they would be asleep and I wouldn’t want to wake Austen. Dexter is away at his parents
’
house, so there’s only one other person. I scroll until I hit Max’s name, thankful that I added him to my contacts in case there was an emergency and I couldn’t work. He answers, sounding irritated, and I feel guilty at first. It takes me a moment to speak, and I finally ask for his help. Hanging up the phone I sit quietly in the car, looking all around me to see if I can spot anyone coming.

I’ve locked all the doors but that wouldn’t stop anyone if they really wanted to hurt me. Finally, I breathe a sigh of relief as I hear the noise of a motorbike pulling up. He looks beautiful, he has sweat pants and a t-shirt on under his leather jacket and I want him to take me over the bonnet of the car, right now. My hormones are really starting to make me horny!

Max fixes the car and I head home. I text him before I fall asleep to let him know I’m safe. I want to reply to his final text, but I’m nervous of the rejection again. He’s already let me down once; I don’t think I can handle it twice.

“Hey, Jase. How are things?” I decided to call Jason to make sure that things were all still okay in London. After the bloke in the club, I’ve felt uneasy.

“Jazz, I’m missing ya. How’re ya?”

“I’m good. I’ve got myself a job, and possibly a flat, too. Austen is really content and he’s settled in great. It’s nice to be near my parents.” My tone is vibrant and I realise that I’m the happiest I’ve been in a long time. My life is great.

“That’s good. I’m so glad you’re happy.” I notice that I’m biting my nails. I pull them away and start wrapping the phone cord around my fingers. My parents have one of those old fashioned wired phones, you know the type with the coiled wire that takes you an hour to untangle before you can use the phone. One day, I’m going to invite them into the twenty-first century and buy them a cordless landline phone. My mum has only just started using a mobile phone and my dad flat out refuses to be lured into modern technology.

“Hey, Jase. Has anyone been around the restaurant asking about me?” He pauses for a moment before answering.

“Now you mention it, there was a fella in here looking for you a couple of weeks ago.” My stomach lurches and I feel like throwing up.

“What did he look like?” My voice starts to shake and I grip the cord tighter.

“He had blonde hair, blue eyes. He did tell me his name. Hang on, what was it?” I sit down on the stairs as my breathing becomes erratic.

“What did he say, Jase?” My voice is becoming increasingly panicked.

“Jazz, are ya okay?”

“I’m fine, I just need to know what they said.” I try to calm down.

“He asked where you were, I just told him that ya weren’t in work. I didn’t mention that you’d left, I didn’t know if ya were telling people.” I take a deep breath. Good, at least he didn’t say where I was. “Gavin…yes, Gavin. That was his name.” Tears flood my eyes as I start to laugh uncontrollably. Bloody Gavin! “Jazz, are ya alright, babe?”

“Sorry, Jase,” I try to compose myself. “Yeah, it’s okay.”

“D’ya know who Gavin is?”

“Yeah, he’s my ex-husband. Thanks for not saying anything. I appreciate it.”

“Anytime, doll. I gotta shoot, I’ve got work. Love ya, Jazz. Don’t be a stranger, okay?”

“Okay, Jase. Love you too.” We hang up the phone and I run up the stairs. Flinging myself onto the bed, I cry hard into my pillow. I’m being paranoid, there’s no one coming after me. I need to calm down.

Nervous isn’t the word, as I stand behind the curtain waiting for the harsh beat of
‘Teardrop
’
to start. My stomach has been doing backflips all morning. I know the routine off by heart; I know every single move down to the last pointed toe. I can do this. It doesn’t make me any less petrified about being out there in front of people. If I’m honest, it isn’t the girls I’m worried about, I know they’ve all been in this position and they’re all so lovely. It’s Max that has my intestines flipping like burgers on a grill.

I close my eyes and let the music take over. I chose this song because of the sensuality. The lyrics are there to remind me to remain fearless and confident. I wait as each instrument is introduced slowly, breathing in time with every beat. I make my way through the curtain just like we planned. I don’t look at the crowd, I look through them and I keep my eyes away from Max. Gripping the pole I sway to the sound, letting it take over my body and soul. I feel confident, I feel powerful, I feel alive. This isn’t something I had ever thought about doing, but now that I am, I feel like I was born to dance. I feel electrified like I could take on the whole wide world. When I’m finished I look directly at Max, he looks like he’s about to have a coronary. I smile to myself, I know I’ve affected him and I’m going to make damn sure I use this time to my advantage.

“You were amazing.” Piper runs over to me, opening her arms wide for me to step inside. She hugs me tightly. “I’m so proud of ya, babe. You’re great.” I look over her shoulder, but Max has disappeared.

“Thanks, Pipe. That means a lot.” I smile proudly. I feel so much more relaxed now that it’s over. The girls all rush the stage and I’m so grateful to be working with such genuine, supportive people.

As soon as the girls have finished congratulating me, and telling me how wonderful I am for a beginner, I make my way to Jake’s office. I know he’ll be there. I don’t even take a deep breath before I knock on the door, I finally know what I want, and I’m going to make sure I take it. His gravelly voice calls for me to enter. I don’t waste any time, opening the door and shutting it tightly behind me. Striding confidently towards the chair, I sit down, crossing my legs, Sharon Stone style. He asks me what I want, and I tell him that I want to talk about ‘us’. He looks hot, the King of his castle, sat behind his big desk. I want him to lay me down on it and bury his cock inside me.

While I still have the courage to do so, I stand and make my way around the table towards him. I need to do this before the adrenaline wears off and I chicken out. His eyes soften before he stands, pushing his mouth against mine. Taking my lips hard, his tongue darts out, tasting the inside of my mouth. He pushes me back on to the cool, hard desk, leaning over me, his mouth still firmly pressed against mine. The noises coming from deep inside his throat are making me squirm. Reaching up, I grip his hair tightly in my hands, pulling his head closer towards me, letting the pressure of his kiss take over my whole body.

There’s an ache down below that needs filling, so, I move my hands down over his sinewy shoulders, making my way south. I try to shift my body so that I can reach the zipper of his trousers. I need to get them off and feel him. I can already feel the pressure of his stiff length pressing against my lower stomach. His hands move from my hair, skimming my face gently. He reaches for my breasts and tweaks my already hard nipple; the sensation instinctively making my back arch. He kisses my neck in that sweet spot just below my ear, it’s driving me crazy. I need him inside me, quickly, or I might just orgasm from his touch alone. Slipping the strap down and pulling back the cups from my top, he exposes my breasts. I hear him hiss as he lowers his mouth towards my nipple. He inhales my scent as he takes my nub in-between his teeth, biting gently. Again, I try to grab his zipper, but I can’t situate my hands into the correct position. Instead, I rub his hard cock from the front of his trousers. He bites harder as I rub him firmer and I cry out in pleasure. He reaches up with his left hand and covers my mouth to silence my cries.