“Yeah and you went with it because you were bi-curious,” Pepper said, still laughing, maybe she was slightly drunk.

“Can you blame me? I mean, is it so bad to want to see how the other half lives?”

“We are living the high life, babe,” Francy said while kissing Tootse’s shoulder again. “Not having to deal with a horny man poking you in the middle of the night, begging you to just spread your legs a little so he can get a little pussy action is something I never have to deal with.”

“Yeah, you just wake up with a vibrator shoved between your legs,” Babs teased.

“And what a hell of a way to wake up.”

Kace’s phone beeped, interrupting their little conversation. I didn’t move, but waited for my cue to head up to the Bourbon Room. I needed to see Jett after the day I had with Miss Mary. I needed to relax and spend some time with the man who’s been clouding my mind.

When Kace looked down at his phone and then at Babs, my heart sank to the floor.

“Babs, you’re up,” he said, avoiding eye contact with me.

I watched as she nodded, gathered her mask and took off for the back staircase. Putting on a smile, I took another shot, wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and yawned. I needed to get out of this little pow wow because my emotions were about to get the best of me and if I didn’t get out of the back room quickly I would soon become a blubbering idiot in front of everyone.

“Hell, I’m tired,” I said as I stood up and grabbed my mask. As I looked around, I saw everyone’s pity and the way they looked right through my tired act. I ignored them, said a quick good night and headed upstairs.

I wanted to believe the fact that Babs was just going up there to talk to Jett but in the back of my mind, I still had the sinking feeling that I was sharing the man with everyone else. I’m not stupid, I knew the rules that were laid out for me when I signed my contract but I would be lying if I said the truth didn’t hurt because the fact that Jett could still call on another girl hurt like a motherfucker.

Once I got to my room, I stripped down and started a bath for myself. I just needed to relax and rid myself of the negative thoughts that were running through my mind.

I scolded my skin with the heated water and bubbles as I sank in deep and rested my head on a folded up towel. I tried to let go of all the thoughts running through my head as I sank deep into the tub and let the water relax me.

I must have drifted off to sleep because next thing I knew, I was freezing cold, most of my bubbles were gone and the towel I was resting my head on was now soaking up the water in the tub. Switching over to the shower, I rinsed off and then dried my body. I quickly put on lotion and headed to my bed where I slipped under the covers, letting the decadent fabric caress my skin.

It was a long day and given the practice line up and lessons with Miss Mary I had scheduled, it was going to be another long day tomorrow.

***

I was in a dream land where ponies talked and rainbows were for eating when I was startled from my slumber by a dip in my bed. Going instantly into defense mode, I raised my arms in a karate fight position and shouted, “One more move and your throat will be knife-handed.”

My hair fell in front of my face as I tried to look around so I could catch a glimpse of the intruder. I was fucking ready to slice someone.

A warm hand reached out and pushed my hair behind my ear, which made me jolt back for a second but then I saw the dark shadow of Jett Colby sitting on my bed and I relaxed. Even in the moonlight, he looked more handsome than ever. I didn’t think it was fair for a man to look so good but he did, even in his casual clothes.

“Jett, what are you doing scaring the piss out of me?”

He cocked his head to the side and said, “Did you really think you could take someone out with those little hands of yours?”

“I’m tough!” I said while sticking my chin out.

A small smile spread across his face, very small, as he said, “You’re gorgeous.”

Well, melt my pussy right in half because he was a smooth talker.

“Thank you but what are you doing here?”

He shrugged his shoulders as he looked me in the eyes. “I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” I asked while pulling up my covers so Jett’s heated gaze would tear away from my nearly exposed breasts.

Jett reached up and grabbed my chin with his thumb and forefinger then lightly stroked my bottom lip.

“I have a lot going on,” he said, not answering my question. I just nodded in response because I wasn’t quite sure how to respond. “If I don’t invite you up to the Bourbon Room, I don’t want you to think that I’m not thinking about you or that I don’t care about you. I just…” he ran his hand over his face as he paused. I was seeing a side of Jett I only saw once and it was when he asked me to stay with him in the Lafayette Club, and right now, he had the same desired and desperate look on his face. Something must have been going on that I really didn’t know about because he looked distressed.

I placed my hand on his cheek and said, “I understand.”

“Do you?” he asked as the moon reflected off the side of his face. Dark circles were highlighted under his eyes as he looked at me and that was when I realized that Jett was not just the man that protected me, watched over me and took care of me but there was a whole other side of him that I was soon going to find out about, a side that made him the man he was today.

“I like to think so,” I responded, not really sure where any of this was going.

He looked down at his hands while he said, “Friday you are going to be exposed to a group of people who take what they want, when they want it and have zero regard for anyone around them. They are fake and have the ability to tear apart the most innocent of hearts.” He looked up at me when he said “innocent” indicating he was talking about me.

“I’m far from innocent,” I responded out of instinct.

“You’re innocent in this world, despite your past, you’re so fucking innocent.” Jett shook his head again. He looked like he was in immense pain from having to bring me to his party. I didn’t get it.

“Okay, I guess I don’t understand. Why is this so difficult for you?”

“Because,” he shot off real quick while running his hands through his hair. His chest heaved as he looked up at me and spoke in a calmer tone. “Because I’m exposing you, Goldie. These people are part of a secret society where business is conducted under the table and million-dollar deals are solidified by a hand shake. This isn’t a fucking walk in the park kind of event. I have to be on point for every fucking second I’m there and if for one minute I drop my façade, not only will I lose credibility but I will be eaten alive.”

“And you’re worried that I will distract you?”

“No, I’m worried that I will be too busy trying to protect you.”

This whole conversation just seemed so dramatic. It was a stupid social. It wasn’t like we were going to a mafia party where the bloods and the crypts were the party honorees. I was pretty sure I could handle some prissy ass debutantes and over compensating men.

I leaned back on the bed, letting the blanket slip dangerously low, like nipples-are-about-to-have-a-party low and pressed my hands behind my head. “Pretty sure I can handle myself, Jett. Thanks for the concern though.”

His eyes were no longer looking at me, no, they were eye-fucking my tits as my chest heaved from his glare. I watched as his hand ran up my body, past my stomach and to the edge of my blankets. Just when I thought he was actually going to cover me up, he ripped the blankets off, exposing my naked body.

Without missing a beat, he yanked my ankles down so I was lying flat on the bed and he was straddling my body. He looked me right in the eyes and said, “Say it.”