The NSC Boxset: Heart of Stone (163 page)

I coughed to clear my throat and cut off our intensity as I turned to my car and my stomach dropped. “Awww shit!”

My little Fiesta was already the most dilapidated car on the planet but now it was completely decrepit as it held four slashed tyres.

I spun around quickly and scanned my surroundings looking for him. There was no question of who had done this and I knew it was an attempt to hold me back after work.

He was there somewhere, watching, and my whole body shivered at the realisation but I didn’t see him.

“Fuck!” Lucas spat out as he saw the flats.

“Shit, I have to get home, change and get to the club” I hissed as I pulled my phone from my bag and scrolled my contacts for the cab firm.

“Come on. I’m not leaving you here, I’ll drop you home to change then take you to the club” Lucas ordered seriously.

“No it’s fine, Lucas. I’ll just get a cab.”

The look he gave me tolerated no arguments and I sighed and relented “Okay, thank you.”

He nodded and placed his hand at the small of my back and led me over to his Porsche all the time his eyes scrutinised the area.

He knew Diablo was watching too and I was suddenly worried about Lucas’s safety when Diablo saw his possessive touch.

“You need to remove your hand” I told him through clenched teeth.

Lucas practically snarled at me but I shook my head faintly, “Not for me, for him.”

He frowned at me and I sighed in frustration when he didn’t grasp my reasons. “He will hurt you if he sees you touching me” I told him, trying not to move my lips too much so Diablo couldn’t read them.

“What the fuck?” Lucas growled and I grit my teeth.

“He doesn’t allow anybody to touch me” I divulged honestly, the need for Lucas to comprehend what I was saying surged through my system.

I needed to keep this man safe!

We reached his car and he narrowed his eyes on me but remained silent as he held open my door for me and I climbed in.

Lucas still studied the area as he rounded the car and smoothly slid into the driver’s seat. I was amazed how he managed to fit his long legs into such a small space.

I told him my address and he sped towards my flat, my back pressed flat into the seat as he took several corners at speed in case we were been followed.

Within ten minutes we pulled up outside my apartment.

“Well at least I have time to change now” I puffed out as I practically fell out of the car on wobbly legs.

Lucas was still on high alert as he followed me into my flat and he didn’t relax until we were inside and the door was locked behind us.

“Go grab a drink while I get ready” I shouted to him as I entered my bedroom and pulled out my outfit and started to change.

He was very quiet as I changed and I swept my eyes over myself and took in my appearance. Maybe bringing Lucas here whilst I changed had not been a great idea and I cringed as I strode back into the room.

He was sat in the window seat, a cup of coffee in hand just staring at the park. I stood silent and watched him for a while.

He really was stunning. His soft blonde hair was cut in a modern style, the messy look suited him though and I couldn’t picture him with any other look.

He really did have amazing bright blue eyes, not that I could see them from this angle, but I still knew they were there.

His cheekbones were delicate but still very masculine and his lower lip was a lot plumper than his top one, very kissable and I gulped as I imagined them over my own.

The way he had kissed me yesterday had made my toes curl and had brought goose bumps exploding all over my body.

He knew how to kiss, none of this sweet delicate crap, oh no, it was pure need and hunger that regulated his kiss.

It hadn’t been a ‘I love you’ kiss, it had been very much a ‘I wanna fuck you hard and raw’ kiss and that had suited me fine, but gazing at him now as he was utterly relaxed, well I wasn’t so sure I wanted the latter kiss instead of the former.

Whoa, Lay? Where had that thought come from?

He eventually turned to look at me and his eyes widened as his chest heaved. “Holy Shit, Red!” he puffed.

“It’s Hard-core night and . . .” I shrugged to finish my sentence, embarrassed by my attire in front of him.

I wore a tight black leather full body Basque and fishnet stockings with six inch red stilettos. Black leather ribboned armbands finished the raunchy look.

Lucas swallowed heavily as he stood slowly, his eyes still roaming over my body as his teeth sank into his bottom lip.

“It’s what night?” he asked scarcely, his low lidded eyes still trained on my body as he took a deliberate stride towards me.

I took a step backwards and my breath faltered as my back hit the wall and Lucas took the space between us in two large strides.

His hands slapped the wall beside my head as he leaned in, his nose brushing against the tip of mine and I swallowed against the raw carnal power he radiated. “Hard . . . core . . . night . . .” I breathed out as I watched him lick those delicious lips of his, “No soft shit tonight. William was hoping to increase the BDSM and D/s clientele.”

A fierce fire raged through me and I bit into my bottom lip harshly to stop myself from yanking his head down towards me and devouring him in one sweep.

His eyes swept over my face and landed on my mouth. “Right up my alley then, Red” he whispered as he dipped his nose into the soft hollow under my ear and I whimpered faintly.

“Do you know how bad I wanna clamp you to hook in my ceiling right now, Red?”

Oh holy fuck, he had a ceiling hoist and I shivered in excitement. “Sweet Jesus” I whispered as desire coursed through me.

“I wanna hook you up until you’re on your tiptoes and ram the fuck out of you, Red. I want you to feel every single inch of me until you’re so fucking delirious you scream my name and beg me to stop.”

“That sounds . . . good . . .” I panted as he trailed his mouth around to the corner of my lips. He lifted back a little and gave me a small humorous smile.

“Good?” he echoed.

I sucked in my lips and shrugged “Well, maybe a little more than good.”

His eyebrows lifted. “Maybe great?” I continued.

He nodded and smirked before he leaned in and pulled my lower lip between his teeth. “Great?” he mumbled as he swept his tongue across my now pulsing lip.

I moaned and slid my hands into his hair, fingering the small tufts that stuck out around his head. “Fantastic?” I tried.

I felt his smile against my mouth before he walled my bottom lip with both of his. “Better, Red but not quite what I was looking for.”

I groaned as his finger trailed along the edge of my Basque and whispered across the swell of my breast.

“Exceptional?”

He pulled back and I gasped at how black his eyes were. Arousal and sheer lust adorned his face and I exhaled heavily when his thumb skimmed across my lip, pulling it from behind my teeth.

“I was thinking more . . . Raw, primal, carnal, ferocious, and hard and fucking euphoric, Red.”

I nodded and shuddered at the hunger that tore through my blood stream. “I was getting to those ones.”

He frowned at me then flung his head back and barked out a happy laugh. “Christ, Red. Come on or you’ll be late” he grinned and I beamed at him as I pulled my long black mac off the peg and pulled it on.

“I am so pleased you’re wearing that otherwise I might have had to stab men’s eyes out for looking at you” Lucas declared as he opened my door and I frowned at his possessiveness.

* * *

The club was packed and William pulled me to one side as soon as Lucas and I entered. “Willow. What happened yesterday?”

I shrugged and took a nervous glance around the room “I dunno but it was non-members night so pretty easy for him to get in really.”

William sighed and nodded “I am so sorry, Willow. I’ve cancelled Non-members for the next few weeks. Members only from now on.”

I shook my head at him “No William, honestly its fine.”

He sighed again but frowned. “Not a chance, Willow. Your safety is more important than a few quid.” He stated firmly and I hugged and kissed him.

He winked and approached Misty who seemed to having some sort of disagreement with a punter and I turned back to Lucas, “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow. Thanks for the lift.”

He frowned and took a scan around the room then looked at me “I’ll give you a lift home when you’re done.”

I looked at him over my shoulder as I headed towards my designated pole for the night. “It’s cool; I’ll grab a lift with Puss, but thanks Lucas.”

He looked a little pissed off but I shrugged and caught a bottle of water from Owen who had just shouted me from the bar.

“Willow?” a timid male voice said from behind me and I turned to see Andrew, a shy regular of mine, smiling at me.

He seemed to have developed quite a crush on me but he was really harmless. He frequented the club every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday and all he ever did was sit and watch me. Never moved his eyes from me in fact but he was rather quite sweet.

“Hey, Andrew” I greeted as I programmed my tracks into the music system beside my pole.

He came to stand beside me and looked a little nervous. “You okay, love?” I asked as I smiled my encouragement for him to say what was on his mind.

He gulped and fidgeted with his cheap tie and I felt quite wretched for him, he was terribly shy and nervous.

“It’s my birthday, Willow” He smiled gently and I beamed at him.

“Happy Birthday, Andrew” I leaned in to peck his cheek and smiled when he turned beetroot red.

“Thanks” he grinned excitedly and I chuckled. “Well I . . . I wondered if . . . if I could book you for a private session?”

I sucked on my teeth and glanced at him “Sure. You just need to go book it with either Owen or Hilary on reception.”

He nodded wildly and hurried away and I chuckled to myself as my first track kicked in.

I had chosen all hard stuff tonight and the first one was Theory of a Deadman’s ‘Bad Girlfriend’ which was quite a fast number but nothing I couldn’t handle.

Misty waved to me from across the room and I smirked at her get up. She was wearing a long red body sock but the whole thing had been ripped to shreds and I shook my head in humour when she pulled her own nipple into her mouth, licked it slowly and winked suggestively at me.

Andrew returned and settled himself into a chair before me and shouted he had booked me for 10 O’clock. I nodded and smiled to him and then set to work.

Lucas had watched me all night and I frowned when I realised he hadn’t disappeared with any of the girls but every time I caught his eye, he smiled lazily with a dark glint in his eyes and tipped his head slightly.

His actions had me horny and wet by the time ten O’clock approached and I saw the smug expression on Lucas’s face as I greeted my replacement dancer and hopped off the stage.

Lucas walked over to me with a pint of bitter. I smiled my thanks and downed it in one having worked up a thirst.

“You done, Red?” he asked as his eyes perused my body for the millionth time that night.

I shook my head. “Private booking” I told him as I wiped my mouth.

Very uncouth, Lay!

“Room 12, private, Willow.” Owen shouted to me.

I nodded and turned to Andrew, “Ten minutes.”

He nodded excitedly and made his way down the corridor to the private rooms.

Lucas’s eyebrows rose high when he regarded Andrew and squinted at me. “It’s all money” I shrugged as Puss headed towards me with William and Frank, one of the security guys.

“Willow. My office now” William said sternly as he fingered a large brown envelope in his hands.

“Everything okay, William?” I asked cautiously. He nodded but Puss put her hand in mine and led me to William’s office.

Frank closed the door behind us and I hadn’t realised Lucas had entered with us until William turned to him. “Mr Hunt. I really need to speak with Willow alone.”

Lucas shook his head slowly “Willow is currently under my submission and it is my responsibility to make sure she is safe.”

My jaw dropped at his statement and William turned to me “Is this correct, Willow?”

Lucas nodded his head faintly in a silent plea to confirm his declaration. “Yes, William” I confirmed.

Lucas smiled slightly and gave me a quick nod of his head.

William sighed heavily and gave me a troubled glance, then handed me the envelope.

“A courier just dropped this off and I think it belongs to you instead of me” he said and I frowned as I opened the envelope.

My knees buckled as I caught sight of the contents and I stared at William with wide eyes. He swallowed and gave me a sorrowful expression “I don’t think I’ll be the only one to receive a copy of these, Willow.”

“Oh Shit!”

My hands shook along with my legs and Lucas stepped beside me and took hold of the envelope but I held it firm and I shook my head at him. “No” I said simply.

He narrowed his eyes on me but didn’t push it.

“I’m really sorry Willow, but until this is sorted I have to suspend your contract here. I don’t have any choice sweetheart. I can’t risk the other girls, not with his reputation.”

I ran my hands across my face but nodded “I know.”

William looked thoroughly sorry and I smiled at him in forgiveness “You have nothing to be sorry for William. It’s the complete right thing to do. If anything happened to one of the others because of him, then I’d never forgive myself.”

He walked over to me and took my hand. “I’ve been in contact with Mason and filled him in. He’s already got his guy’s on it so try and keep safe until he sorts it.”

I nodded and frowned. “You told him about these?” I asked lifting the brown envelope up.

William nodded solemnly “Yeah. I had to Willow. It involves him too.”

I slammed my palm onto William’s wall. “It’s Ava I’m worried about, not Mason.”

William sighed and nodded as he placed his hand on my forearm gently “We all have a past, Willow. I’m sure Ava is aware of that.”

I nodded and groaned when my phone rang and I saw Mason’s name on screen. He must have sensed us talking about him.