Three Way, the Novel (3 page)

“I can’t believe you have Ryker Montgomery eating out of the palm of your hand. How does that make you feel?” Tawny asked me as we drank our coffee and nibbled toast she’d made for us.

“I don’t think he’s doing anything but being nice to the girl who flopped like a fish out of water on the pavement in front of him,” I replied. I needed to brush her off, her question was weighted and I could tell she was prying for something. I just didn’t know what it was.

“So you’re not interested in him?” she asked, a brow arched.

And then I knew exactly what she was getting at. She had her own sights on the man who’d shaken up my world since saving me behind the strip club.

“Why don’t you go jump in the shower first?” I asked brightly and managing to change the subject expertly. I just couldn’t handle questions like that right then, how could I answer when I didn’t really know myself?

My body was interested, I mean come on, I would have had to be dead to not respond to the way he rubbed my ankle or the way he talked to me that night. But my mind was protesting my body’s reaction. He was a bad ass biker, a freaking criminal. Did I want those hands on me knowing full well he’d probably killed people with them?

I decided to have a nap before work and ignore the mini tornado of emotions whirling in my head.

***

I walked past a table packed with businessmen and felt one of them snake their hand out and grab my ass.

“Excuse me,” I said and slapped his hand away.

“Just getting a feel for the local wildlife,” he snickered and looked around the table as his friends laughed.

“If you touch me again, I’ll have you thrown out,” I snapped. I wasn’t having any of it that night, my ankle was throbbing, the drunks were especially belligerent and to top it off, Tawny had informed me that she couldn’t afford her half of the rent for the following month. I had no idea where her massive salary went every night, but suspected it might have something to do with her insane shoe and clothing obsession. Nothing low end either, Tawny only bought couture and the best of everything.

I would have to rely on tips to help us get through until she got her shit together and paid her share. Unfortunately tips had been good, but not
that
good.

“Listen sweetheart,” the guy said and grabbed my wrist, “with the money we spent on drinks tonight, we should get a free lap dance or something.”

“I’m not a dancer, so fuck off,” I snapped and jerked my hand away.

The guy stood up and loomed over me. I stepped back and my heel caught on the leg of his chair. I started to tumble backwards, held my breath and tried to balance my tray while waiting for the inevitable fall.

It never happened. Strong hands caught me and even stronger arms embraced me from behind as I was about to hit the floor.

“Seems I’m always rescuing you, kitten,” Ryker’s smug, velvety voice said in my ear. He helped me straighten up and looked around me at the guy. “If I catch you or your friends in this strip club again, you won’t be going home to your wives in the suburbs. Catch my drift?”

The businessman gulped so loudly that I heard him from where I was. I stood straight and eyeballed him stubbornly. “Yeah!” I added, like it would make a difference. But still, a girl’s gotta take care of herself even when the world’s hottest biker was there to do it for her.

“Did you get my gifts?” Ryker asked as the businessmen scrambled to pack up their shit and hightail it out of the Hen House.

“I did, thank you,” I replied and turned around in his arms to look up at him. “The car service was the handiest though, it’s hard to limp to the bus stop with a swollen ankle.”

“How’s that feeling? Did you see a doctor?”

“I can’t afford a doctor,” I replied. “It feels fine though. It’s healing nicely. I could probably even walk to the bus stop now.” To demonstrate I stuck my leg out and circled my foot around, trying not to wince as a sharp pain shot through it.

“You call the service when you need to get home tonight, you hear me?” he told me sternly.

“Aren’t I working for you tonight?” I asked, unable to hide my disappointment.

“Not tonight, kitten,” he said and I saw a rush of movement to my right.

“There you are, hot stuff,” Tawny giggled and grabbed Ryker’s arm. “Should we get going?”

“Sure thing,” he replied, glancing down at me with an amused look. “You seem disappointed. Don’t be, I’ll get to you soon enough.” He winked and I flamed red with anger and embarrassment that he’d seen through my tough exterior and knew how much I’d wanted to spend time with him.

“Whatever, enjoy your night,” I replied and pulled out of his arms. I stomped to the bar, ignored my pain, and slammed my tray on the counter.

I heard Tawny laugh loudly as though Ryker had told her the world’s funniest joke and I couldn’t help but shoot them a look of disgust.

Ryker was watching me and caught my evil glance. He winked at me again, put his arm on Tawny’s lower back and guided her out of the club.

I was left stewing and wondering why I cared what a man like Ryker did with a woman like Tawny.

But as much as I tried to deny it, I couldn’t.

I really, really cared.

Chapter Six

“Where the hell did Tawny get to?” Mel asked just after she left with Ryker.

“I don’t know,” I said stiffly, “I guess she’s out with Ryker tonight.”

“God dammit,” Mel snarled, “that stupid little bitch forgot to tell me she’s working his clubhouse tonight.”

“Clubhouse?” I asked dumbly.

“His hang out?” Mel replied, dripping with irritation. “Seriously? You never watched Sons? You don’t know how these biker types work?”

“Nope, don’t even know what you’re talking about,” I replied. “I stick to old movies and nature shows.”

She released a contempt filled sigh and opened her mouth, closed it and opened it again to say, “Never mind. The long and short of it is that she’s dancing for his club tonight. She forgot to tell me this and I had her closing out tonight. Kitty is off and Alicia has the damned flu. I don’t have anyone to go up after Maria is done.”

“Oh shoot, that sucks,” I replied. I was happy to hear that Ryker hadn’t taken Tawny out on a date, but it still upset me that he would be watching her take her clothes off for him and his buddies. I forced the image out of my head and started walking towards the bar to help Jake clean up a little when Mel gasped.

“Margot!” she exclaimed.

I turned around. “What?”

“You could do it.”

“Ha! You’ve seen me up there, I can’t dance.”

“You wouldn’t have to go anywhere near the pole. Hell, these guys will just be happy to see a sexy girl they’ve never seen before.”

“Yeah, not gonna happen,” I laughed and moved back towards the bar.

Mel followed me. “You’re hot as hell, and with your hurt ankle you actually walk a little sexier than normal. Just come out, strut your stuff and peel your clothes off. You don’t even have to get completely naked, you know that.”

“First of all my ankle hurts like crazy. Second of all, thanks. I didn’t know you thought I was hot,” I smiled at her trying desperately to change the subject. “And third, I am not sexy when I dance. I’m serious about that one.”

I set my tray on the bar and rolled my eyes when Jake gave me one of those looks. He was dying to know what was going on.

“I’ll pay you two grand,” she said in a completely deadpan voice.

I looked at Jake, my eyes widened and I whipped around. “Two thousand dollars?”

“Yup,” Mel replied. “I’m desperate. If I get the reputation that I can’t fill my stage with girls this place will go even more downhill than it already is.”

“But two thousand? That’s a lot of money for a crappy dancer.”

“It’s worth it if you keep the guys here drinking. And I think you underestimate the power of a beautiful woman taking her clothes off.”

I looked back at Jake who gave me two thumbs up with a huge grin. I looked back at Mel who had such a look of need on her face that I sighed deeply and said, “Fine. I’ll do it. But I’m keeping my bra and panties on.”

“As long as you’re not wearing granny panties, that’s fine with me,” Mel replied.

“When do I have to go on?” I asked, glancing nervously around at the men in the club. I served them all the time, but things would change if I stripped for them. I wasn’t sure I was prepared for that change, but two thousand dollars would cover our rent and then some. I wouldn’t have to worry about Tawny being late with her money.

And it wasn’t like I had a boyfriend who would get mad or anything, Ryker was clearly not the loyal type, so what did I have to lose?

If anything it might do him some good to see that other men wanted me. It might get back at him for taking Tawny and not me tonight…not that I would have jumped up to volunteer my first dance at a motorcycle club.

“Thirty minutes,” Mel said. “You should come back stage and we’ll get you ready.”

My nerves were shot as we walked down the hallway to the dressing rooms. Inside there were three girls left, each had done a couple sets already and were getting prepared to go out and work the floor. They made more doing lap dances in the VIP room than they did on stage any time. Forcing one of them to dance again meant they would lose loads of money in dances and creating relationships with clients.

Mel pulled out a skimpy schoolgirl outfit and knee high leather boots. I laughed and said, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“You’ve got that perfect tiny innocent look, we’re going to use it to our advantage,” she explained.

“I might kill myself in those,” I replied pointing at the boots.

“They’re not that high and they’ll help support your ankle. I’ll do them up tight.”

“So I’m more like some Goth catholic school girl kicking ass in her army boots?” I asked.

“Exactly. Now let Tricia here put your hair in ponytails while Maria does your make up.”

I pulled the skirt and blouse on, Mel laced up the boots and the other girls got to work making me look the part.

They were very encouraging and gave me pointers on how to stand or how to avoid looking at any of them without making it too obvious.

I was a bundle of nervous energy by the time we got to the stage door. Cindy finished her number and bounded off with her G-string full of bills. She stopped and looked at me and laughed. “It’s about time you started earning real money. Break a leg!”

“That’s what I’m worried about,” I mumbled as Mel shoved me onto the stage and a Nine Inch Nails song started to play.

Chapter Seven

I stood for half a second with my eyes huge and staring at the bright lights. I hadn’t realized how many there were surrounding the stage. It made it easier though. I could barely make out the crowd with them blaring down on me.

The song continued and I tried to imagine I was at home dancing by myself. I let my hips sway gently to the beat and closed my eyes as I lifted my arms and began to twirl and gyrate towards the end of the runway.

“Bring me a beer, sugar tits!” somebody yelled, the crowd laughed and I wondered if it was one of the guys who regularly gave me trouble. I was starting to regret my decision and didn’t know how I’d go back to waitressing now that I had broken that barrier and come on stage.

I looked out from under my lashes and was amazed to see how enthralled the majority of the audience was. They were watching my every move with the same looks on their faces as when Tawny was on stage.

I swayed my hips again and picked up the pace as the song progressed.

“I want to fuck you like an animal,” the lyrics swelled in my head and I started to get lost in the music.

“Feel you from the inside,” the song continued and I tugged at the top of my blouse and teased the button. I pulled at the knot on the bottom and spun around, letting my pony tails swing as I danced.

I undid the blouse and pulled it down over my shoulders, swung my hair and drew it off slowly down the length of one arm and then the other.

The guys in the crowd clapped and whistled. I heard a few cries of, “Sexy,” and “Take it off.”

It was oddly empowering. I had assumed I’d be too embarrassed to do something like this, but when you had an entire club of hungry men staring at you like they wanted to devour you, it made you feel sexier than ever.

I could see how girls like Tawny became addicted to it.

I shimmied at little more and shook my ass as the song ended and blended into another one, one of my favorite Beyoncé tracks.

I fell right into the rhythm of the new song and got caught up in the lyrics with my thumbs hooked in the waistband of my little plaid miniskirt.

“Getting bodied,” I sang along and swiveled. I could feel my ponytails sweeping my shoulders as I flung my head around and got energized by the beat.

I pulled at the elastic waist of the skirt and started to slide it down over my hips. I was surprised to look down and see bills of all denominations showering down on the stage as I slowly teased them with the skirt.

I caught a motion out of the corner of my eye and turned to find Ryker standing on the stage behind me with a look of pure rage in his eyes.

“Put this on,” he said, holding his black leather jacket out to me.

“I’m working,” I hissed angrily. “Get off the stage.”

“Yeah buddy, get off the stage!” some guy in the crowd yelled.

Ryker whirled and sought out the guy. “Anyone has a problem with me shutting this down, you’ll have to fucking deal with me. You hear?”

The music stopped and the club was quiet. You could hear a pin drop. I could hear my pulse rushing in my ears.

“Ryker, leave her be!” Mel yelled from the stage door. “God dammit, you’re going to ruin my business.”

“I’ll pay you triple what she’d make you tonight, but never put her up on stage again. What the fuck were you thinking? She’s not a dancer,” Ryker growled and laid his jacket over my shoulders.

“I
am
dancing and I’m
good
at it,” I retorted but didn’t shrug his jacket off. It felt nice; it smelled nice. And deep down there was some part of me that loved the fact that he was so jealous he’d stormed the stage.