Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 103637 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103637 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
She’d never slept with him before either. Wouldn’t she like to pull a bi-curious guy back to the straight and narrow? Who wouldn’t, right?
The wave of heat scorched Mike the moment he stepped through the threshold, and it clung to him with aromas of beer, cologne, and arousal as the beautiful woman on stage tipped her cowboy hat and arched against the pole in a very special rendition of a square dance. The white cowboy boots made the nakedness of her legs more obvious, and the high-cut bodysuit with a print of the Texan flag made her so reminiscent of classic comic book heroines Mike half-expected her to pull him close with a lasso that had the power of igniting uncontrollable lust.
He pushed past Kane, who watched the show with his girlfriend, and stood at the base of the stage, taking in the glorious fullness of her curves. The stripper caught his gaze and winked before sliding all the way to her knees and forward, offering Mike a close glimpse at the stiff nipples pushing at her thin outfit.
Mike grabbed a beer and took his time ogling her dance to ‘I love Rock and Roll’. He pondered several opening lines, but decided on what he’d lead with once she was done and the few people hanging around dispersed.
Once the performance was over, the dancer got some wipes from behind the bar counter and cleaned the pole for her next set, no doubt knowing she was being watched, because the way she squatted next to it, pushing back her ass, couldn’t have been comfortable.
She smiled at Mike, pretending she only now noticed him lingering, and spoke with a Texan accent, pushing back her long locks. “I’m not ready darlin’, but I can be half an hour early if y’all want.”
Mike smiled and reached toward her, sliding his hand up her foot, which seemed painfully arched due to the enormous high heels of the boots. Were those the kind of shoes that Arden broke his ankle in? No matter how sexy they looked, when he imagined Arden crying out in pain, he wished the boy would never wear them again.
But this wasn’t about Arden. Focus, Mike.
“You do private shows?” he asked with a grin and winked at her. “This bull might be in need of riding…”
She burst out laughing. “Oh. You’re one of those.”
“Sorry, m’am,” he said, exaggerating his accent to match hers. “Meant no offence, just can’t help myself when I see a lady in peril.”
She cocked her blond head, squinting. “Peril?”
Mike dropped the accent and climbed onto the stage, using the pole for leverage. “I actually came over to check this,” he said and grabbed the metal, shaking it lightly. He pointed to the ceiling. “There’s a screw up there that gets loose sometimes, and the last thing we need is that beautiful leg broken.”
Her expression became softer. “Oh. Okay, thanks. I hate when a pole gets all rickety. This one time in Reno—”
Someone cleared their throat, and Mike turned his frosty gaze to… Leo. Of course. The fucking cockblocker.
“Do you want her to teach your boyfriend how to ride a pole?” Leo asked with a stupid smirk.
Damn it. Mike didn’t want to go into that yet. He wanted to stop thinking about his problematic non-relationship and just dive in. Have a nice time with a girl and not overthink any of it. It wouldn’t be happening.
He gave Leo his most blatant stinkeye. “Our relationship’s open.”
Leo raised his palms as if he really were sorry. They both knew he wasn’t. “Oh. Okay, good to know, ‘cause Theo was asking.”
Mike’s brain jarred, as if it were a clockwork mechanism, and something got stuck between the wheels, creating sparks.
“You have a boyfriend?” the stripper asked, but Mike didn’t have time to answer her until he knew exactly what was up with Arden.
“He what?”
Leo’s eyebrows rose in fake-shock. “Doesn’t matter, since you’re open. I’m sure Arden told him that much by now.”
Mike pushed him back, even though he knew Leo wasn’t the one at fault here. “You seem really fucking happy with yourself.”
Leo bit back a grin. “I’m just really confused. I thought you were gay now.”
A not-very-subtle dig at what Mike used to say to him. Fair enough. Maybe. If Mike weren’t so pissed off.
“Yeah, I think I’ll have a drink with that guy there,” the girl said, indicating Jeff, who had already gravitated their way.
“Fuck yourself with a screwdriver, Leo,” Mike said and pushed past him, making sure to shove him with the shoulder on his way to the door. The languid, sexy music no longer affected his mood as he shot outside and turned his gaze to where he’d seen Theo last.
And there the bald fucker was, pulling Arden into his lap with a shit-eating grin while Arden slapped the guy’s watermelon-sized bicep, his laugh so bright and sparkly it might as well have been glitter.