He frowns but doesn’t push it. “You’ve really cleaned this place up. Your last boyfriend must have really showed you how he liked things done.”
I have to stop myself from bursting out laughing. Still, a small giggle escapes my lips. “Oh, no…” I mutter. “I’ve never been anyone’s…girlfriend.”
Colt bursts out laughing. “That’s a good one, Tilly. But really, come on.”
“I…I’m serious. My dad was always so overly protective that I never was allowed to date.”
I feel silly admitting to something like that to a man who deals with girls who are probablysoexperienced with guys and have done so many things. It’s no wonder what I’m saying sounds ridiculous to him.
“So let me get this straight,” he says. “You’ve never had a boyfriend before, yet one night, you just decide to come to my club and dance for a bunch of strange men?”
I can feel my cheeks prickling as they turn red.
“Well, when you put it that way…but if you understood the situation I was in with my father, you’d get why I did what I did.”
His eyes are locked on me in a way that makes me feel like every move I make is being analyzed and judged. All I can do is look back at him because I feel as though if I look away, somehow that will betray whatever is going on here.
“Why don’t you tell me the situation with your father?” Colt asks.
I get a chilling feeling in my chest, and my body goes stiff. This isn’t anything I’ve ever shared with anyone before, but for some reason, I feel comfortable with him. It’s…strange.
“Well…he wasn’t just overly protective about who I could date,” I say slowly. “He was also…I guess you’d say abusive.”
Colt’s gaze goes cold. “Really?”
I nod. “My mom left her because of how he treated her. And my dad wouldn’t let me date because he wanted me to marry his stupid friend when I was old enough.”
“You’re joking.” Colt replies.
“Nope.” I shake my head. “So as soon as I saw the chance, I stole his car and—”
“Yeah, I don’t blame you, Tilly.” Colt nods. “Your pops sounds like a real son of a bitch.” He shakes his head and runs his hand through his hair.
“I also wasn’t fully truthful last night, Tilly.” Colt steps closer, his piercing blue eyes fixed on me. He raises a hand and gently traces a line down my cheek with the tips of his fingers. “You don’t require any training to work at my club. I just can’t let you strip for those men. I can’t do it, Tilly.”
His touch is gentle, delicate, like magic, and it’s hard to believe that it could come from a man so rugged. My eyes are locked on his. That wetness from last night has returned. My nipples are two hard gumdrops beneath my shirt that I’m sure he can see, as I’m not wearing a bra right now.
But why would this man even be interested in me?
“I…I need the job, Colt,” I finally manage to say as some of my thoughts return to me. “I stole my dad’s car and a tiny bit of money to come work for you. If I can’t do that, what am I—?”
“I’ll take care of you.” His words hit me like a gut punch. “Ineverdo this—if you were wondering—but I’ll take care of you, Tilly. And you won’t have to worry about anything. If you will stay with me, of course.”
“I…”
This time, Ican’tspeak. Only one man has ever taken care of me—my father—and of course, he wasn’t exactly “taking care” of me; he was doing the exact opposite.
But something inside of me just tells me that Colt means what he says, and I am flooded with the urge to say yes—not just to save up enough money for a few days and leave, but to give myself over to him completely and see where this takes us.
“O-okay…” I manage to say, my body quivering as I hold his electrifying gaze.
I may be imagining things, but I’m almost sure I see a spark of joy behind his eyes at my response, a hint of something close to vulnerability behind that hardened face.
And then he’s leaning in—leaning in like he’s going to kiss me.
I’m not ready for this, but I’m also begging for it. Pouting my lips, I close my eyes and prepare myself for what I know is going to be maybe the biggest moment of my life.
I feel the heat from his body as he moves in, feel his breath on my cheek, smell his musk that seems to drive me even more wild. And I prepare myself.