Rough Justice (7 page)

“Your team?”

Jay lifted a hand to them. “We’re celebrating.”

Ivan raised an eyebrow. “And you bring them to see your girlfriend dance?”

Jay chuckled. “Yeah. Only I didn’t come in much while she was my girlfriend. It’s different now that Rox and I are just friends.”

Ivan rolled his shoulders. “Just friends?”

Jay stared hard at him. “Yes. But don’t jump to conclusions about Roxie. I’m the only
friend
she sleeps with.”

Ivan didn’t want to have this conversation, didn’t want to discuss what happened between the three of them for several reasons. The primary one being that Ivan didn’t enjoy sex with another man even if they technically never touched. At least that was his position—the only position he’d ever have with Jay again. To admit that he’d enjoyed the sounds, the smells—the woman
and
the man—meant more than he was ready for…more than he could ever be ready for.

Ivan sipped his coffee. “What are you celebrating?”

“Seems a scout from the majors attended the last game. Three players are under consideration for the Sidewinders, farm team for the Diamondbacks.” Jay took a long swallow of beer. “I had a good game.” Jay’s smile widened. “If all goes well, I’ll be traded and playing in sunny Arizona.”

A surge of adrenaline rushed through Ivan. Nerves heightened and he jolted with the notion that Jay would be out of Roxie’s life, at least in the here and now. He swung his gaze to the stage. But another disturbing revelation hit him—Jay was Roxie’s best friend and she held a special place for him. Even though she’d said the committed romance between them had ended, she’d fucked him last night.

“What about Roxanne?”

“The move wouldn’t be permanent. I’d be back after the season and farm teams work like any other professional baseball team. I could be there catching tomorrow and back home the day after that.” Jay set his empty beer bottle on the table. “Or I could get the lucky break of a lifetime and play a few games with the Diamondbacks.” He leaned toward Ivan. “Look, Rox loves me, and I feel the same way. So while I might be leaving for Arizona, I’m not
going
anywhere.” His eyes narrowed. “You know what I mean? I think you care about her, and if you do, if you want something permanent, you’re going to have to accept me and figure out a way to deal with the relationship she and I have. We’re a package.”

“I’m not a fag.”

Jay leaned back in his chair. “Fuck, Ivan, neither am I. This isn’t about you and me. It’s about her.”

Ivan glanced at the stage. Roxie finished her set and collected the money off the stage. He shook his head. “I don’t think
ménage a trois
is my thing.”

“Say what you want, but we both know you enjoyed last night as much as Roxie and I did. Last night was your first time?”

“And Roxie’s, but
you
didn’t seem all that uncomfortable.”

“I spend half my day in a team locker room. I see my share of dicks. I’ve never been turned on by one.” He lowered his voice. “Last night, watching you with Rox, knowing she wanted us both,
did
turn me on.”

“I don’t think I want to hear this.” He didn’t—because he’d felt the same way.

“It’s your choice, but you’re tossing out a chance at something special with Roxie.”

“And you. I can’t get over the idea that there would be three of us in her bed.”

“I’m not going to beg you to fuck her. Stay or go. Your choice. Besides, it’s not like I’d be there all the time. Even if I don’t get picked up by the Sidewinders, baseball season is long and I’m on the road for half the games.” He held up a finger to a passing server then lifted his empty beer.

Ivan growled. He couldn’t believe the thoughts running through his mind. He was actually considering Jay’s words, agreeing with his position when five minutes ago he wouldn’t consider the possibility of ever repeating the encounter from last night, let alone conceiving a
relationship
with both of them. Yet Jay made sense.

The blonde server with the big breasts arrived with the beer for Jay. “Hey, Amber.”

“Hi, Jay. Your crew is whooping it up over there.”

“We’re celebrating. I was thinking I’d like to continue the celebration in the Champagne Room. A private party with Roxie.”

She popped a hip and rested the drink tray. “No way. The last time you took Roxie for a private party Randall completely lost it.”

“The boss man was pissed.” Jay laughed.

“I swear I thought he’d have a heart attack. You paid for a fifteen-minute lap dance and were in there for an hour. She missed two sets and we all knew why. The girl moans like a freaking wild animal.”

“Please?”

“Do you promise not to fuck her?” Amber rolled her eyes. “Never mind, don’t say anything. You’re too cute to lie to me.”

“Set my friend and me up. And Amber, don’t tell Roxie. We want to surprise her.” Jay turned to Ivan. “Don’t we?”

Without using better judgment, Ivan nodded. Did this mean he accepted Roxie and Jay as an all-or-nothing option? No. Yet he stood and followed Jay to the private rooms. His palms dampened and the beat of his heart echoed in his ears. Blood rushed from his head to his groin. That had to be the explanation. Excitement to be with Roxie again—but not Jay—had to be the reason his cock strained against the front of his jeans.

The decadent Champagne Room was worth the money. Two hundred bones for a fifteen-minute lap dance. The circular room had a pole in the center. Mirrored walls lined one side and a semicircle couch was on the other. Patrons could see every angle of the dancer by simply looking in the mirrors.

“It’s like the oval office. Only instead of a crest in the center of the room, there’s a pole.”

Jay sat on the couch. “Have a seat, Ivan. Amber will bring us each a mug of champagne. Roxie won’t come in until she changes outfits and cleans up from her set.”

“A mug?”

Jay laughed. “Yeah, a big mug.”

“You seem very familiar with the process.” Ivan crossed the room and sat, leaving about a foot of space between them.

“Roxie and I dated for five years.”

Ivan leaned back. “Five years is a long time. Are you sure the two of you are done?”

“Roxie and I will never be done. That’s why you need to decide if you can deal with me.”

Well, no shit. The decision seemed to have been made. He was here, in the private room, the lights dimmed and music heightening the anticipation…with Jay.

“Dating a stripper comes with its own set of complications.” Ivan met Jay’s stare in the mirror. “Don’t buy into the bullshit, not with Roxie.”

The door opened and Amber came in with two heavy mugs of champagne. The private show could get a little wild and the mug had a sturdy handle and wide base to keep it from tipping over easily. “Okay, guys, hang on to your drinks or set them on the shelf behind you. I told Roxie she had a party of two.” Amber winked at Jay. “But I didn’t tell her who.” She turned to leave. “Have fun—and I’m sending Big Bill in here if you misbehave.” She laughed and closed the door behind her.

“Big Bill?” Ivan leaned forward and rested his elbows on knees.

“The bouncer up front. I’m not worried. You carry a gun.”

“I’m off duty.”

“Yeah, you were last night too. I reconsidered going in the house because you were there. I wondered if you’d put a cap in my ass.”

“Why did you come in if you knew I was there? Weren’t you concerned we’d be in bed?”

Jay was quiet for a moment. “I knew. In my gut, I knew.”

“I thought last night would be a one-time encounter,” Ivan said. “Before I left, Roxie told me she wanted us both…that she didn’t want a monogamous relationship.”

Jay took a sip of champagne. “Are you sure that’s what she said? Because she indicated something much different this morning in the shower.”

Ivan stood up. “Fuck you, Jay.” He didn’t need this shit, didn’t care to hear about their time in the shower.

“Hold on.” Jay stood and grabbed Ivan by the arm.

Ivan’s heartbeat kicked up a notch. After making every effort not to touch the man while they were in bed, sharing Roxanne, he was now acutely aware of the heat in Jay’s hand. He pulled his arm back. “Hey, no big deal. She made her choice clear. She’d rather be with you. I’m a big boy. I can handle rejection.”

“You may do your job as a sheriff well, but you sure haven’t figured out Roxie.”

“I know her driving habits. For six months she’s sped through my county. When I pull her over, she flirts.”

“Most women flirt to get out of a ticket.”

“Yep, but with Roxie it was different.”

“Well, if it makes a difference, we didn’t shower
together
, although she is fun in the shower.” Jay put up his hands. “I’m just teasing. Although you obviously don’t have a sense of humor.”

The music changed and a sultry rhythm piped into the room. “Sit down, let her dance and judge for yourself what Roxie wants.” The lights dimmed and recessed lighting highlighted the pole. One of the mirrored partitions popped open. A bare leg appeared and lifted, hugging the edge of the door. Ivan backed up until his thighs hit the stiff fabric of the couch and he sat next to Jay.

Maybe whatever happened between the three of them was inevitable. If he let the night play out, he’d be with Roxanne again. Ivan believed Jay when he said this wasn’t about them. Not at the core. They both wanted the same woman. Jay claimed he only wanted friendship and sex. Ivan wanted much more.

The music changed and Roxie danced into the room.

Holy shit!
This wasn’t a striptease, but a private showing. Roxie wore five-inch heels, a black thong and nothing else. Long black hair draped in a flowing curtain over her body, a single lock clinging to her bare breast and curling around her erect nipple. She grabbed the pole and swirled around it, sliding down the length. Her eyes locked on Ivan…

She stopped. He smiled and eased the tightness in his jaw.

Color flushed her cheeks. “Why are you here?”

“To watch you dance?” He rubbed his palms along the thighs of his jeans.

“Why are you here with
Jay
?”

Ivan turned to Jay, took a deep breath and plunged into whatever
this
was. “I guess we had the same idea.”

She prowled closer. “So what are you telling me, Sheriff?” She bent forward, placed her hands on his legs and braced her arms. “Did you want to have a
little party
in the Champagne Room?” She shimmied to the floor then slithered her way back up until she stood again.

Ivan leaned forward and gripped her hips. Pulling her close, he buried his nose in the soft flesh of her tummy. All he had to do was lift his head. He could pull her breast to his mouth, suckle her perfect, rosy tips.

He sensed movement beside him. Jay set his mug of champagne on the shelf. Ivan pulled back and gazed into her sparkling copper eyes. “Dance for us.” He pressed a fluttering kiss to her stomach and reached around to grasp her buttocks.

Roxie gently bit into her bottom lip and in a slow and exaggerated gyration, rocked her hips. Ivan caressed her, followed her movements. Rough hands on soft flesh.

Jay leaned forward and cupped her breast, grazing his thumb over her nipple. “Then
we’ll
take you home.”

Chapter Four

Roxie followed Ivan on his motorcycle. A quick glance in the rearview mirror confirmed Jay followed her in his truck. Something must have happened between Jay and Ivan. At minimum they had a conversation that led them into the Champagne Room for a private dance.

A smile tilted her lips. Once they were at her place, she’d finish the dance. This time she wouldn’t strip out of her own clothes, but somehow entice them to shed theirs. She pulled into the drive. Ivan parked his bike beside her car and Jay pulled up behind her.

Roxie popped a hip and crossed her arms over her chest. “Sheriff, did you happen to see the posted speed limit?” She snorted. “No, you probably couldn’t because you were hauling ass.”

Jay came up behind her and slapped her on the rear. “Want to play good cop, bad cop?”

“No, but we could play some games.” Roxie winked.

“All you two do is play games.”

“Uh-oh, the voice of dissention.” Jay used his keys to unlock the front door.

Roxie followed him in and Ivan closed then locked the door.

“I’d call me the voice of reason, only I don’t think either of you listen.”

“I need to eat.” Roxie bent over and unzipped her go-go boots. Her feet ached, and so did other parts of her anatomy. But once she went to bed, not even an earthquake would shake these men from her arms. “Are either of you hungry?”

“I could eat.” Jay followed her into the kitchen. Roxie hoped that simply acting as if nothing sexual was about to happen, as if they were just three friends hanging out, would perhaps make Ivan drop his guard and enjoy himself. She’d seen glimpses of his fun side, but mostly he was the strong, silent type. Self-assured and aggressive. She liked the steely ruggedness. But she needed more from him. Last night, after he’d left, she’d realized she’d already become emotionally involved, regardless that she’d tried to play it off to Jay.