The Lion and the Lamb (2 page)

“You must be Miss Weatherton?”

The deep drawl behind her had her heart instantly pounding and chills forming along her arms. Turning around, Tatum felt her breath stall as she looked at the imposing man before her. His shoulders were as wide as a linebacker’s, all broad and strong and irresistible. Those incredible shoulders tapered down to a hard stomach and narrow hips. All of that hard muscle was sheathed in a white button-down shirt, which did nothing to hide what lay beneath. His legs were incased in a pair of designer jeans, the denim molding to his tree trunk sized thighs. She let her eyes travel back up the length of him and settle on his face. Eyes the color of the Caribbean stared back at her. The way he watched her was very knowing, like he could see into her mind and knew exactly what she thought. Heat started to travel up her neck and settled in her cheeks. The only problem was it wasn’t from embarrassment, but from arousal.

“Miss Weatherton?” One blond eyebrow cocked
, and she felt herself grow even warmer. Now she felt humiliation take place of her desire. Despite her embarrassment for blatantly checking out this stranger, she couldn’t stop where her thoughts were headed. His blond hair hung loosely and brushed the top of his collar. He wasn’t one of the pretty boys who walked up and down the strip, their tans artificial and their smiles bleached. The man standing before her was rugged and dangerous, and the air around him became electrically charged.

She swallowed and clutched her purse tighter. “H—” Ugh, she
acted like she had never seen a gorgeous man before. Straightening her shoulders she forced a smile and pushed back her ridiculous and lustful thoughts. “Hello. You must be Mr. Castill?” The corner of his mouth twitched in suppressed amusement, but it was gone as soon as it had arrived. He strode toward her, and she felt herself take a step back. He lifted that damn beautiful brow again, and she forced herself to keep her cool.

“Please, call me Leo.” He lifted her hand before she could object and brought it to his mouth. His lips were full and soft, and when he brushed them against the back of her hand she could have sworn she felt the roughness of his tongue stroke her. Before he dropped his hand she caught sight of a ring around his pinky finger. She had never much thought jewelry on a man was attractive, but he worked it. He gestured for her to have a seat in one of the leather chairs.

Feeling out of place didn’t even begin to describe what went through her at that moment. He sat in the seat across from her, his long, thick legs slightly parted as he relaxed into the leather. He slung his arms over the back of the chair and regarded her silently. This man could make her feel so unnerved with just a look. Fortunately, he didn’t make her squirm for too long.

“So, Tatum, may I call you Tatum?” The corner of his mouth curved up in a devilish smile. Why he even asked
was beyond her. A man like him did whatever the hell he wanted.

“Sure.”

His smile grew. “Kiki tells me you’re in need of employment?” At her nod he continued. “Do you have any special skills that you would bring to the Lion and the Lamb?”

For some reason she thought he’d ask her to strip down and ride the pole as part of his interview process, but the fact he wanted to know her skills instead of her bra size had her feeling a little more at ease.

“Well.” She dropped her gaze to her lap. “I have great people skills. I kind of have to work the floor at the Flamingo.” When she lifted her head she became caught in his icy blue stare.

“Go on, Tatum.”

Gawd!
The way he said her name was like the smoothest, sweetest chocolate. Her nipples hardened, and she prayed he couldn’t see the way her body betrayed her. “I, uh…” She became speechless and shifted in her seat. “Since graduating high school I’ve always worked in the casinos, as one trade or another.”

“And that’s what you like?” His question caught her off balance.

“I’m not sure I understand what you mean.” She shifted again.

“You enjoy working at low paying jobs that put you constantly around drunken men who most likely molest you on a daily basis?” All amusement left from him
, and the man sitting before her looked frightening calm.

“I…” How was she supposed to respond? She should have been offended by his statement, but Tatum was in a little bit of awe that this man had described every single shift she worked. She hated her job, and longed to go back to school, to actually do something with her life that meant something.

“What is it that you really want out of life, Tatum? You have to want more than this.” He waved his hand around the club, and she felt her face heat.

How in the hell had this interview turned into a look at her personal needs and wants? She should have told him to fuck off and stormed away—that asking questions that delved too deep
would likely blow up in his face. “I don’t think this is proper interview etiquette.” Despite the words coming from her, they were empty and held no real heat.

“Why don’t you just answer the question?”
He sounded steady, but she could hear a slight hint of amusement laced through them.

“Are you always this pushy and demanding?” Pulling her shoulders back, she really didn’t like someone wanting to see more than what there was. She stood and tightened her hold on her purse. “Thank you for your time, but I think this was a bad idea.” She turned, but before she could take another step his steely voice stopped her.

“Sit down, Miss Weatherton.” He didn’t say it rudely, just demanding, like he got what he wanted no matter what. Tatum found herself wanting to argue, but there was no need to be disrespectful, no matter how unnerved Leo made her. She sat back down, and a satisfied smirk crossed his face. She fought the need to scowl at him and instead gritted her teeth. For several long moments neither spoke, and the only noise in the room was of the clanking of bottles as the woman behind the bar put them on the shelf.

“Tatum, let me ask you something.” He leaned forward and rested his forearms on his thighs. She couldn’t help but watch the muscles under his flesh bunch as he got into position. “It’s clear working at an establishment like this isn’t something you care much for, so why agree to come for the interview?” Had she been that transparent that this stranger had picked up on her
discomfort in the short time she had been in his presence?

“Listen, I’ll be completely honest.” She took a deep breath and met his stare head on. “I know Kiki set this up, and as much as I appreciate the opportunity, I just don’t know if I’m cut out for this kind of work.”

“And what kind of work is that, Miss Weatherton?” He didn’t reveal anything in his expression.

“Kiki said this position was for a waitress, but I’m not stupid enough to think that job wouldn’t entail ‘entertaining’ the cliental.” Lifting her chin slightly, she continued to hold his stare. For several long moments he didn’t say anything, just continued to watch her. He steepled his fingers in front of his face and watched her.

“Let’s just say I offered you a job as the hostess.” He dropped his hands, and something flickered behind his eyes. He leaned forward, so close that she could smell the sweet, yet spicy aroma of whatever cologne he wore. “I can guarantee no male would lay his hands on you.” The husky roughness of his voice sent tingles in all the right places. A growl laced within his words. He sounded animalistic and hardened and had her thinking all kinds of filthy things.

Despite her mind telling her to get a handle on her shit, her body became even more aroused. She could have taken his comment as a compliment, but she wasn’t a fool. Women like her, full figured in all the places that weren’t exactly attractive, didn’t catch the eye of potential buyers in this industry. Men like Leo Castill wanted women
who were tall and lithe, with big fake tits, implanted asses, and bleached hair. She was the complete opposite of that. Dropping her gaze to her lap, she inhaled slowly through her nose.

Her eyes and hair were dark. The locks were wavy, and the majority of the time could be called frizzy. Her breasts were her most attractive
feature, in her opinion, but that didn’t erase the fact she had thicker thighs and an ass that rivaled J-Lo’s. Kiki and every woman that worked at these types of places were beautiful, something Tatum didn’t see herself as. She most certainly would not let a man like Leo make her feel bad for how she looked.

So what if she wasn’t a size two
? Tatum was finally proud of the way she looked—well, she started to feel that way again. It helped having incredible people like Beau and Kiki around. Maybe if her childhood hadn’t been so fucked up she would have a little bit more self-confidence. As it stood she slowly tried to get her feet on the ground when it came to her self-image.

“You never answered me about what your plans for life are.” He looked down at her, all intimidating and unrelenting. It was clear he wouldn’t give up on this
. It wasn’t any of his damn business, but she felt herself telling him anyway.

“I started going to school for accounting.” She rolled her eyes when he smirked. “Yeah, not the most entertaining profession, but I like numbers
, so I thought I might as well go with what I’m good at.”

“I’m sure you’re good at more things that that, Tatum.” Her mouth parted at his softly murmured words. His voice was like sandpaper, all grave
lly and rough, but the end result sounded smooth and flawless.

“So why didn’t you continue with that and get your degree?” He still had his hand on her arm
, and she could feel his thumb brushing back and forth on her exposed flesh. It was an innocent enough gesture, but it had electricity going straight between her thighs.

Licking her lips, she knew this conversation
would be going down a road she didn’t want to take. “I had some family problems arise and couldn’t continue going.” His gaze locked on her mouth, and she felt everything start to close in. Despite the chilled air in the room, heat consumed her, and beads of perspiration lined her spine. This man was so dangerous for her, especially if she had this kind of reaction to him after only being in his presence for twenty minutes. Pulling her hand away, she took a step back, trying to get some much needed air into her lungs.

He cocked his head to the side and regarded her in that too silent way of his. When he crossed his arms over his wide chest she refused to let her eyes wander down to watch the act. “So, you want a change? You want to go back to school and do something you love. I completely understand, and I want to help you achieve that.” It was her turn now to cock her head and stare at him silently. He chuckled softly as if he knew where her thoughts were.

“Listen, I really do need a hostess. The job is easy enough. You work every other weekend, and three days during the week. You just have to escort the customers to their tables.” His smile widened when she narrowed her eyes at him. “Honest.” He lifted his hands in surrender. “I have enough girls to dance. I don’t need another one.” He took a step closer to her, and she found herself craning her neck back just to meet his stare. “I need someone who is professional and knows how to be sweet to the patrons.”

“I’ve been anything but sweet to you, Mr. Castill
,” she said almost breathlessly.

“I’ve asked you to call me Leo, Tatum.” His eyes were on her mouth again
, and she found herself licking her lips. His jaw clamped down tight, and he took a step back. “You’re a tough girl, I admit, but that’s what I like about you. I don’t think you’d be quite so rough with the customers, though.” He smiled, all straight white teeth that reminded her of a hungry animal.

“I’m sure there are other girls that aren’t…” She ran a hand down her body. It wasn’t that she was ashamed of the way she looked, but standing next to the women
who looked like life-sized Barbies, she would look like the marshmallow man. His eyes did a slow travel down her body then back up again to her eyes. Everything inside of her screamed that he wanted her, but she knew that couldn’t be the case. Men like Leo could have any woman they wanted. There was no way he’d want a cigarette girl with a love of everything starch when he could have some blonde bombshell. That wasn’t the way reality worked.

“Do you want to know what I see, Tatum?”
With his voice deadly calm and eyes half-lidded, she could almost imagine that’s what he sounded and looked like during sex. “I see a woman who is ashamed of the way she looks.” He took a step closer until his warm, sweet breath trailed over her face. “I see curves in all the right places and a face that could drop any man to their knees.” Her eyes fluttered at his words. “I could easily see myself on my knees … before you.” The way he said it had her seeing herself sprawled out with Leo on his knees, right between her thighs. She barely held in her moan. He stepped away again, and just like that the spell of desire disappeared.

“So, what do you say, Miss Weatherton? I’m offering you the job. Will you take it?”

“Okay.” The word tumbled out of her mouth, and she hoped she didn’t regret it.

****

Leo had been standing in the same spot for the past ten minutes, trying to wrap his mind around the fact his mate had just walked into his life. It certainly didn’t fit into his plans, but he couldn’t deny the fact that Tatum Weatherton was his mate and that he wanted her.

“
Fuck
.”

“What’s wrong, Leo?”
Sugar came from behind the bar and walked toward him. She used to be his type, all tight body, big tits, and legs that went on for miles. Of course, that was before Tatum walked into The Lion and the Lamb. She was half the size of him and thick in all the right places. Her curves were what grown men jerked off to, and her face could get her anything she wanted. Hell, it had worked on him. He didn’t even need a hostess, but he knew he couldn’t let her walk away from him, and she would not work as a fucking waitress. Every girl working in the club wasn’t opposed to a little tap on the ass and a lot of heavy petting from the customers, but just thinking about Tatum getting mauled by the horny fucks had his hackles rising.