Talia’s pulse hammered in her ears when Jensen whipped her bra off, rolling her body against Faye’s. Okay, Faye didn’t appear to be encouraging anything else, so that was positive…but there was something about Jensen that Talia didn’t quite trust. She’d been in this business long enough to know when one of the newer dancers was about to push her luck. Some just weren’t cut out for this career.
And then, as if Talia’s thoughts had willed it to happen, Jensen leaned in, kissing Faye as she braced her hands against the back of the leather couch.
Oh, no.Talia’s entire body ached. For what she could have had, for what she’d turned down, for what a fool she was. If she’d given Faye a little more, something to consider, she wouldn’t feel as though her heart had just been ripped from her chest. Becausethiswouldn’t be happening.
Talia could go directly to Paul and report this, or she could step outside and get some fresh air while she decided what her next move would be. She didn’t want Faye to be blacklisted from the club, but she also didn’t want any of the dancers here to bend the rules in any way at all. Ifonedid it, theyallwould. And then something dreadful would happen and neither the dancer nor the club would have a leg to stand on. Rules were in place for a reason.
She poured herself a large measure of whiskey and rushed out from behind the bar. Whatever was about to happen in that room, she couldn’t watch it unfold. Talia may have pushed Faye away when it came to wanting more, but it didn’t mean shedidn’twant something more. Her heart wanted Faye…God, it really did. But her head was forever giving her stark reminders of Megan.
She’s not Megan!
Talia stepped out into the cool air, clearing her throat as she hid her drink at the side of her when security turned around. “Hey, Ben. If Paul is looking for me, I’m just around the corner taking a breather. Not feeling too good tonight.”
“Sure, Adria. I’ve got you.”
Ben was lovely. He looked strong and mean, but really, he was a sweetheart. He didn’t take any shit from a single client, and the dancers were always his number one priority. “Thanks. I’ll only be a couple of minutes.” She rounded the corner and pressed her back to the wall. As the cold air seeped through her skin, goosebumps prickling over her arms and shoulders, she exhaled a deep breath and whispered into the night air, “God, I want her to be mine.”
CHAPTERTWELVE
Faye leftthe private room as calmly as she could. She was numb, in a sense.
She’d thought by coming here today and showing a little enthusiasm that it would make Talia realise that she was all in, kind of anyway, but it had all backfired, and now Faye was close to tears. Her dancer…had just kissed her. Her dancer…wanted more. Thankfully, Faye had let her down gently and left her a healthy tip on the way out, but she felt more conflicted now than she had the first time she’d come to the club. Vision really wasn’t the place for her.
But it had been anger which led to Faye being in the private room in the first place. Seeing Talia dancing for Phoebe wasn’t what she’d had planned for the night, and now Phoebe had some explaining to do. Perhaps she’d done it to get a reaction, Faye didn’t know. But whatever the reason for it, seeing Phoebe stuffing money into Talia’s bra was burnt into her memory.
“Hey,” Phoebe said, rushing across the room. “How was she?”
“What?” Faye stared through her best friend.
“Jensen. She’s not as uptight as the others. She quite likes breaking the rules.”
Ah. So Phoebehadencouraged Faye into that room for a reason. Of course she had. “I’m leaving. I have a headache.”
“You fucked her, didn’t you?” The grin that spread on Phoebe’s mouth turned Faye’s stomach. “Yes! That’s what I like to hear on a Saturday night.”
“Is there a reason why you’ve become so disgusting as we’ve aged?”
Phoebe suddenly gasped. “Oh…you didn’t?”
“Have you bumped into Talia since you had her in your lap?” Just the thought of it made Faye want to vomit.
Phoebe linked an arm through Faye’s, leaning closer to her ear. “You know, I can see the appeal of Adria. She’s fucking hot. And she had no issues dancing for me once I flashed some cash in her direction. It’s a shame she’s not one of the rule breakers.”
Faye peeled Phoebe’s arm away from her and stepped back. “I’m going home. I don’t want to hear from you, and I don’t want you to turn up unannounced at my place. Have a wonderful night.”
“Faye, wait!” Phoebe gripped her wrist. “What’s wrong?”
Faye swallowed down the emotion in her throat as she looked Phoebe in the eye. “You know how much I like her; you knowexactlyhow I feel, but you still did that to me. Was this night out some stupid plan of yours to make me look like a fool, or did you just want to hurt me for the fun of it?”
“Oh, come on! She’s a fucking stripper. What do you expect me to do? Tell her no?”
Faye nodded as she averted her eyes towards the corridor. It was her way out, and she needed to head for the exit sign before she punched Phoebe’s lights out. “That was exactly what I expected you to do. If you were the friend you claimed to be, you would have told her no.”
Phoebe scoffed. “You do realise she’s been dancing for me since the night this place opened, don’t you? She has a cracking pair of tits. If you hadn’t been so frigid, she might have got them out for you.”
Faye’s nostrils flared as she inhaled deeply. “Excuse me?”
“Oh yeah. For the last two months, Adria has been grinding inmylap. And you know what? She loves every fucking second of it.” Phoebe stepped closer. “But then you come in here, all prim and proper, and have the audacity to tell me she can’t dance for me? Fuck off, Faye. Grow up!”