“I won’t take that bet.”
“How about the other woman? Is she Elizabeth’s aunt?”
“Yes. Alanna said pretty much the same thing she told Rogue—that she was the one who had been kidnapped. Hennessy and Arin are driving in so they can help decide who is telling the truth.”
“Has Knox been able to get the truth out of Owen?”
“No, he just keeps asking for a lawyer. So is Alanna. We won’t be able to hear Elizabeth’s side of what happened until she wakes up.”
“Rogue is right; this is a clusterfuck.”
“Unfortunately, I have to agree with you.”
Rory linked his fingers with hers. “What you want to do while we wait for Arin?”
“How about you give me the same lesson you gave Stud … except with a hands-on approach?”
The feel of her hand running down his thigh had him standing to use their linked hands to pull her to her feet.
“You’d find it boring. They’re on the intermediate level.” Lifting her into his arms so her legs could clasp around his waist, he cupped her ass cheeks. “You’re on the expert level. I wouldn’t want to bore you.”
“You couldn’t bore me if you tried.” She slipped her arms around his neck when he started toward the kitchen then the stairs to the basement.
As he went down the steps, he heard the music floating upward. Coming off the bottom step, he saw Killyama on the stripper pole, with Lily, Winter, Willa, and Beth cheering her on. From their clothes that they were wearing, he surmised they had grown bored with their workout and were playing around with the stripper pole.
Killyama was at the midpoint before she started sliding back down. Drawn into watching the woman, he paused.
“Use your arms to pull you up. Then pull your feet up like an inch worm,” Rory advised when she kept slipping.
Killyama blew a tuft out of her mouth.
“I tried to tell her that. She’s still having trouble,” Lily said.
“It just takes practice. You’ll get there.”
Killyama looked like she was going to strangle Shade’s wife. Satisfied she had cowed her, Killyama gave him the same withering stare. “How in the fuck you know how to climb a stripper pole?”
“I worked in a strip joint for more years than I can count. There was also a ladies’ night where I performed once a week.”
“In that case …” Killyama gestured to the pole. “Have at it.”
“Maybe some other time. We’re busy.”
“You can fuck her anytime, or you just talk and no action?” Killyama wasn’t taking no for an answer.
Jewell slipped her legs off his waist. “She’s right. Go show her. I wouldn’t mind watching.”
Searching her gaze to make sure she was telling the truth, and seeing the interest, he gave in.
Taking his shoes off, he walked up to the pole, placing a hand on it over his head. Tensing his muscles, he was about to spring upward when Killyama’s voice cut through his concentration.
“Come on; give us the full show. Take off your shirt.”
Rory looked at Jewell again for her permission.
“Go for it.” Smiling, she went to the couch. The other women found seats so they could watch, too.
Taking his shirt off, Rory retook his position and sprang upward. It had been a couple of years since he had been on a pole, but the choregraphed movements came back to him as he climbed. Reaching the top, he hung upside down, using only one leg before pulling himself up. Using the strength of his arms, he swung his legs outward. He held the long stretch as he counted off the beats to the music playing. Pulling his legs back to the pole, he started twisting and turning until he reached the bottom, where he released the pole and bowed to the cheering women.
“What else did you do when you performed?” Jewell rose to move to the small refrigerator to bring the women bottles of cola.
“Did you strip?” Killyama asked, taking her soda from Jewell.
“I did. And no, I won’t. I prefer my body just like it is. Your husbands would beat me to a pulp.”
He had been in this position before. The women just wanted to have a good time.
“They won’t mind. Willa, go lock the door,” Winter ordered Lucky’s wife. “I’ve always wanted to learn how to give a sexy lap dance. Do you know how?”
Should he? Rory took the time it took Willa to lock the door to decide.
It was Jewell who was the deciding factor.
“I could use a good lap dance.” Giving Lily her soda, she left to bring a chair back from the bedroom to place it sideways in the middle of the floor. Giving him an encouraging smile, she sat down.
Rory arched an eyebrow at her, beginning to get irritated. “Are you sure you want me to do this in front of everyone?”
“Go for it.”
There was no jealousy apparent as she egged him on.