Watch Me (6 page)

Mierda
. Why couldn’t Del leave it alone?

Alejandro sighed. “Yes. I confess, even I am not entirely sure why I am pursuing Shanna so hard. She has rebuffed, left, and insulted me.”

“But…?”

Shifting his weight from one foot to the other, Alejandro sorted through the tangle of his thoughts and feelings. It was damn uncomfortable. He was a gut-instinct sort of guy. If it felt right, he did it. That philosophy had never served him wrong. But even he had to admit that his logic where Shanna was concerned…

There wasn’t any.

-44-
Sneak Peek: Watch Me

“She has this lost quality. I don’t want to save her, exactly. Or change her. But I cannot resist wanting to hold her. Touch her. And, of course, pleasure her. She looks at me, and her expression is like a siren’s song. A glance, and I’m hard as hell. A snap from that icy voice I know is hiding a wealth of heat, and I’m dying to lay her out, get deep, and melt her into a puddle.”

Del laughed. “You’re screwed.”

“I suspect so.”

“You’re falling for this girl. Hard.”

Was it that obvious?

“And you haven’t really touched her yet.” Del roared with laughter.

“This is going to be fun to watch for more than one reason.”

“You may fuck off now.”

“Ten-four.” Del clapped him on the back. “I’ll finish making the arrangements with the other employees. The room should be ready. All you need to do is meet Shanna at the door.”

No, what he needed to do was please her, not just by lighting her senses and firing her fantasies, but endearing himself to her. Great, but how to do that? Because his gut was telling him now that he should not let Shanna out of his life.

God, she was shaking. Shanna shoved the door open and entered the cool air-conditioned space of Sneak Peek. At night, the club still had that golden glow. But instead of the homey warmth it conveyed during the day, as moonlight spilled into the windows, the club sparkled, glittered, like old Hollywood meeting today’s beautiful people, all surrounded by dazzling sex.

Del and Alejandro had captured the club’s ambiance perfectly.

-45-
Shelley Bradley

Just past the club’s front door, wall-to-wall bodies gyrated to a suggestive techno beat. Couples grinded, intimating sex vertically. In fact, one couple against the wall, shielded by the man’s long leather duster, probably
was
having sex. No one seemed to notice or care. The bar beyond was crowded with people drinking their liquid fortification. Several men crowded around a twenty-something woman downing shots, like they were waiting for her to give one—or several—of them a sign that she was ready for action.

The whole place oozed sex.

She
so
didn’t belong here. Sex had never been her…thing. She’d had it, of course. A college boyfriend had been her first, but he hadn’t had much experience. Nor had he understood her dancing. They’d spent the relationship fighting because he assumed she was sleeping with her dance partner at the time, which she hadn’t been. A few years later, she’d had a one-night stand after a wedding. Stupid—and awful. Downright bad sex.

Jonathan…utter disaster—right on the dance floor they’d practiced on for years. She’d clung to him out of desperation. He’d taken her body as if exorcising some demon. The whole episode had lasted less than ten minutes. And created months of pure havoc.

By tonight’s end, if she wasn’t careful, she would be adding Alejandro to the list. She’d said she wouldn’t have sex with him. But she wondered… Would failing to have actual sex in public convince this blackmailer that they were for real? Not likely. It would probably look like a trap. They had to ferret out this jerk before the California Dance Star. Shanna sighed. But that wasn’t the only reason for contemplating surrendering to Alejandro. Could she actually resist a man that sinfully sexy, especially when he was seducing her by fulfilling her secret exhibitionism fantasy? He made her feel sexual, made her believe that he understood her. Admitting that fact was painful, but even when

-46-
Sneak Peek: Watch Me

Alejandro annoyed her, he turned her on. Maybe…the chemistry between them was worth exploring.

And maybe she was out of her mind.

Crossing the room, Shanna was conscious of male eyes following her. God, why had Alejandro sent her this sheer halter top, held in place by nothing more than two little bows, along with a matching wrap-around skirt? Insisted she wear a skimpy outfit in shades of soft creamy-gold that blended in with her skin?

“Hi,” a voice whispered in her ear. She turned to find a guy with dimples and incredible blue eyes visually eating her up. “Dance?”

Okay, he was attractive. Who was she kidding? He was gorgeous. The way he looked at her made her burn. But to dance with him? Touch him?

Hmm. The thought of getting physical with this guy—with most any guy—wasn’t quite as tempting. For her, it was always that way. Except with Alejandro.

“I—I…”

“She’s spoken for tonight.”

Alejandro. She recognized that deep, slightly accented voice caressing the back of her neck. And the tingle that shimmied up her spine when he wrapped his arm around her bare midriff in a gesture designed to lay his claim.

Dimples shot her a brief look of regret. “Sure, Mr. Diaz.”

“She’ll be around later, in the chrome room.”

That information perked Dimples up. He raked her with a lingering glance. “Sweet. I’ll definitely be watching.”

Before Shanna could protest, Alejandro urged her forward to an employees-only entrance and shut the door behind them. The decibel level went down about a thousand percent.

She whirled to face him “You
invited
him to watch us…?”

Shanna was glad she’d managed to parlay her anger into actual

-47-
Shelley Bradley

words quickly. Because once she saw his casual black shirt unbuttoned all the way down the front, exposing a healthy glimpse of hard-steel pecs and smooth bronze skin, she lost her train of thought.

“To play. Yes, I did. He is one of the newer regulars and he was here last week. Think of him as a potential suspect.”

His voice brought her gaze back up to his face, where a hint of a smile played. The bastard knew she’d been staring at him. She needed dispassion, not lust.
Focus.
“He had no idea who I was. No concept that I’m Kristoff’s partner.”

“Not that he let on. But if he was guilty, why would he tip his hand?”

Good question. One for which she had no answer.

“Do you want to change your mind? You are not required to play this scene.”

Of course she was. If she wanted to win the competition and hold that trophy in her hand after sixteen years of hard work, she did. But that wasn’t the only reason. If she wanted to find out if she was capable of feeling great pleasure in a man’s arms, she had to go through with this. If she wanted to find out if Alejandro had been right about her desire to exhibit and see how deeply he understood her…well, then she couldn’t chicken out now.

“Just lead the way.”

With a slow nod, Alejandro grabbed her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze, then led her down the hall. Despite her nerves, Shanna had a hard time ripping her gaze from his tight ass, displayed so mouth-wateringly in black slacks. The view alone made her want to jump him. That had to stop. This strong sexual hunger wasn’t like her. Being too into him wasn’t a good idea.

Tearing her gaze away and focusing on her surroundings, she noticed they filed past some open doors containing offices brimming with computers manned by staff members. A wall clock said it was ten ’til

-48-
Sneak Peek: Watch Me

nine.

The butterflies in her stomach were head banging and had set up a mosh pit. She wondered if she was going to throw up before they got started.

Alejandro stopped in front of a door. “Relax. You will be fine. We’re going to handle this together.”

“Why are you being nice about this?”

He cocked a brow, the strong angles of his face dusted by shadow. The frankly sexual stare he sent her made Shanna suck in her breath.

“Certainly, it has not escaped your notice that I want you.”

How could it when the thought thrilled her so much? She shook her head.

“Good. I also want to catch the scum taking advantage of our members. You want to catch him, too, so Kristoff’s DVD doesn’t fall into the judges’ hands. It is a win-win for us both.”

That made sense.

He hesitated. “And I suspect you’re not the untouchable bitch you wish me—and everyone else—to believe you are.” He shot her a wolfish grin. “But I will find out tonight if that’s true. We are going to be very hot together.”

Before she could protest and put up the armor he’d stripped away with a single sentence, he thrust the door open and walked through. They entered the room she had observed the Master and slut use yesterday. Only, things had changed. The chrome bed had been pushed to one corner, at the edge of the stage. The rest of the furniture had been moved out, leaving a large amount of the painted concrete floor well-lit and totally empty. The bedding had changed as well. Luxurious white and silvery linens with fluffy pillows decorated with beads and tassels adorned the bed, looking sumptuous on top of the downy blanket. A far cry from yesterday’s stark black sheets.

-49-
Shelley Bradley

“What’s this?”

“I thought you would be more comfortable if we changed the room up to something softer. Something more…you.”

Normally, she would protest his judgment that she was soft. But he was right; the look of the room did reflect her more. Again, she wondered how he already knew her so unerringly.

She was touched, against her better judgment. “Thank you.”

“You are very welcome. Come with me.” Alejandro tugged her to the edge of the stage. Deep in gray shadows, she saw a lone, imposing figure.

“Hi, Shanna.”

“Del?”

“Yes. We’re ready to go. Are you okay?”

She managed to resist the urge to press a hand against her fluttering belly. It would reveal too much, make her look vulnerable. She already felt too much that way for comfort. “Yes.”

“Good. The security cameras have been positioned to watch the audience, specifically the corner in which we think the last video was made. The lighting in the audience is a bit brighter, so the cameras can capture whatever is going on. None of the cameras will be pointed at you, and Alejandro will take care of you if something unexpected happens. Security is through that door.” He pointed to the door without a handle.

“Just knock, and they’ll let you in immediately.”

Wow, they’d thought of everything. “Thank you.”

“We will start slow,” Alejandro assured her. “Right now, just you and me. Del will watch. As you get comfortable, he’ll open the door. Hopefully, your blackmailer will be waiting to get in.”

Del watching them. Other strangers watching them. Now came the hard part. And the arousing part. She wished the thought of Alejandro touching her didn’t turn her on…almost as much as she wished the thought of a crowd seeing their every move didn’t make her blood race.

-50-
Sneak Peek: Watch Me

But it all did. Unbearably. And Alejandro knew it. Shanna bit her lip. “O—okay.”

“Good.” Alejandro smiled, something ripe with both warmth and fire. In one look, he managed to calm her fears and rouse her body. Shanna had a feeling this night would be unlike anything she could have possibly imagined.

She glanced at Del. He was a big shape sitting in the dark corner, his head cocked, his arms crossed over his chest.

“Focus on me,
querida
. Me.”

Right. She gave him a shaky nod, and he tugged on her hand, pulling her body into his.

“Dance with me.”

“D—dance?”

“Just dance.”

He snapped his fingers. Music filtered through the room, a soft but spicy Latin tune, perfect for a rumba. In fact, it was the music they had danced to just a few nights before.

As Alejandro led her into a basic, her body brushing his with every step, her feet moved automatically to the beat. His unbuttoned shirt fluttered as he moved, offering tantalizing glimpses of hard pectorals, flat, brown nipples, hints of dark hair. Her mind whirled with tempting possibilities.

“You recall the exact music we danced to the other night?”

“I never forget a thing about you.”

Seven words and she melted. On the spot. No man had ever taken such an interest in just her. Only in whether she could win. Only in her abilities, her ambition…never in her as a woman. Shanna relaxed against him and drifted into the dance. He sensed it and spiced up their steps. After a sharp turn in his arms, her nearly bare back rested against his half-covered chest, his hot breath on her neck,

-51-
Shelley Bradley

her hips gyrating against his erection. His palm flattened against her naked belly, which pulsed at his hot touch.

She turned her head, glancing over her shoulder at him. His fiery gaze was full of challenge as he slowly caressed her until both of his hands came to rest at her hips, guiding them in a movement that was pure, raw sex.

“Del is watching us. Watching you. Getting hard for you,” he whispered.

“No,” she protested automatically.

But her blood boiled at the thought.

Alejandro turned her out in a sharp spin and brought her crashing into his body again, then into a deep dip.

Her gaze snapped up to his. His face shouted dominance, mastery.

“Yes.”

Her nipples went hard.

As he brought her up slowly, he curled one hand around her nape. The other he flattened between her breasts, then pressed over one. He teased her nipple with a soft touch.

Shanna sucked in a breath. Desire dropped like a bomb into the pit of her stomach. That strong face of his…all hint of teasing, of reassuring, of politeness—gone. In his place stood a man who meant to have her. Sooner than now.

He fitted his hips against hers and rocked as his lips collided with hers. A brush, a slide, a taste. Shanna followed his lead, shocked at the way her heart accelerated like a race car, zooming to hyper-speed in seconds until it pounded in her ears. He tasted of coffee and man and aggression. She opened to him, desperate for him to sink deeper. Instead, he spun her out. She whirled away from him on instinct. The rumba was the dance of love…but there was teasing involved. The woman hesitating, the man pursuing. Somehow she knew Alejandro