I struggled to form a coherent sentence, already nearly overwhelmed by this place, but thankfully he rescued me from my embarrassment. With a sexy grin, he said, “Olivia, meet the dancers.”
His gaze traveled to the wall across from where we sat, and I watched as it raised to reveal a window. A soft white light slowly illuminated the space behind the glass, washing over the female who stood there looking out at us. Tall, blonde, and gorgeous, she wore a skin-tight black dress that highlighted every perfect curve of her body. I suddenly felt like one of the ugly stepsisters watching Cinderella step out onto the dance floor. Cash appeared unmoved by her, though.
Soft music filled the room, and just as I braced myself to watch some gorgeous woman strip right in front of us, a man appeared behind her, his hands cupping her shoulders sensually as he trailed his lips up her neck to nip at her earlobe. Was I about to see a sex show sitting right next to my new boss, a man I suddenly wanted more than I should?
My breath caught in my chest as the scene in front of me made taking any air in difficult. Jesus, I was as uptight as all my friends thought! They’d be conducting their own sex show with Cash right now, but all I did was sit there nervously watching for what would come next.
Turning to face me, he said in a low voice thick with sensuality, “Olivia, they’ll do as much or as little as we want. What do you want?”
Cash’s voice caressed my ears like silk gliding over my skin. What did I want? At that moment, I wanted him. I knew I shouldn’t, but I did. I wanted him to kiss me like that man was kissing the gorgeous blonde—like I was the only woman he ever wanted. I wanted to feel his hands sliding over my body as he held me tight to him. I wanted to hear him moan as his desire for me made his cock ache with need.
But I was too timid to tell him any of this, so I mumbled, “I…I don’t know.”
God, I really was lame.
He stared at me, not with disgust like I felt for myself but with curiosity in his eyes, making me wish I was whatever he thought I was. Without looking away, he waved his hand, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw the man slide the thin strap from the woman’s shoulder before he dipped his head to press a kiss onto the top of her breast. I didn’t know where to look—at Cash or at the erotic scene playing out just feet away from me.
“Olivia, this is what Club X is. I need to know you’re okay with this. I need to know this is something you’d protect for my brothers and…for me.”
His blue eyes bored into me searching for the answer. All I could do was nod my agreement. This was so new and exciting that I had no words. I wanted to be the kind of woman he’d bring to a room like this. The kind of woman who excited him as much as he excited me.
With a sharp wave of his hand, the two dancers stopped their seduction and the lights dimmed to darkness behind the window. Had he misinterpreted my silence to mean I wouldn’t protect him and Club X? Nervously, I asked, “Is something wrong? Why did you send them away?”
A genuine smile spread across his lips. “I had the feeling they were making you uncomfortable.”
He did think I was some pathetic prude. “No, no. I was fine. I didn’t mean to act like I had a problem with watching them. It was fine.”
I wasn’t very convincing. Cash just shook his head and continued to smile. “It’s okay. It’s not everyone’s thing.”
He did think I was a prude. I turned my body to face him and reached out to touch his arm. “No, I don’t want you to think I can’t handle what happens here at the club. I wanted to see everything tonight. I guess I just wasn’t prepared for it. But that doesn’t mean I can’t handle it.”
“I believe you, Olivia. Don’t worry. Your job isn’t in danger because of tonight.”
A feeling of relief washed over me. At least the display of my inhibitions hadn’t caused him to reconsider hiring me. That was important, but that he saw me as some kind of sheltered, uptight woman bothered me. Men like Cash March didn’t want someone like that.
Someone like me.
He stood to leave and I followed him, past Kane who stood near the stairs and down to where Stefan watched the crowd of Godivas debauch the men who escorted them. They spoke about something I couldn’t hear and Cash turned to me with a smile. “Enjoy yourself tonight. I’m going to head back into the office. If you need anything, come find me.”
Then he walked away, leaving me standing there wanting to say, “Don’t go. Stay here and let’s get to know each other.”
Instead, I just watched as he weaved through the crowd and vanished behind a group of Godivas. All around me were people having the time of their lives, the beat of the music pounding through the club like the rhythm of everyone’s heart as they grinded against one another, and I felt like some kind of middle school dance chaperone. Josie and even Erin would have walked right back to that office and showed him exactly what they needed from him, but I couldn’t. I stood planted in that spot next to the wall as if my feet were trapped in concrete.
“Having a good time?”
I looked up to see Stefan standing next to me looking every bit the player he always did. At least he didn’t think I was some inhibited school marm. “It’s great,” I said, hoping he didn’t see right through my playacting.
“What do you think of these women? Wild, huh?”
“They look like they’re having a good time. Can’t blame them for that.”
Stefan chuckled. “Just wait until they go upstairs. Kane and his men will have their hands full.”
I let my mind travel to the thought of all these Lady Godivas living out their wildest fantasies upstairs in Kane’s realm, and a twinge of jealousy nipped at me. I wished I could be like them. They seemed so free and happy. I wanted to be like that.
“From what I’ve seen, Kane can handle himself.”
Nodding, Stefan gave me a wink. “We all can handle ourselves, each in our own way. You’ll see that after you’re here a while.”
Pressing a smile onto my lips, I wondered what way Cash handled himself. As I stood there fantasizing about him handling me, his brother touched my shoulder. “I bet you’re not as serious as you seem, Olivia.”
A line of Godivas danced by us with their boy-toys, and I looked up at Stefan to see him grinning like a kid in a candy store about to binge on sugar. “Maybe I am. Somebody’s got to be serious, right?”
He leaned down until his mouth was right next to my ear. As his lips grazed the side of my face, he said in low voice, “That’s what Cash is always saying. Maybe one of you should try being less serious. Just a thought.”