“For what?”
“Making her dreams come true…”
* * *
Faye relaxedinto the soft black leather sofa, a bourbon sitting on the table in front of her. Jay and Marcus were at the bar again, insisting that they wouldn’t have people bringing drinks to them, but Faye was too nervous to care what they were doing. Talia had no idea any of them would be here tonight, and now that Faye was inside Vision, she wasn’t sure it had been her greatest idea. Since they’d gotten together and following on from the Phoebe debacle, Talia hadn’t asked Faye to come to the club again. Perhaps it was to keep Paul at bay, Faye didn’t know, but now she wondered if Talia just didn’t like seeing her here.
That would be entirely fair if her girlfriend did feel that way—Faye didn’t particularly like seeing men drool over Talia in her underwear—but she’d reminded herself tonight that this was Adria.She’ll never be Adria to me.Still, tonight, it had to be that way.
Jay slid onto the couch beside Faye, bringing a pint of beer up to his lips. “This club is far nicer than the London one.”
“Did you go there often?”
Jay wrinkled his nose. “What would a gay man want with a strip club full of women?”
“Fair point.” Faye smiled.
“I used to go whenever Talia asked me to. Usually for these shows.”
Faye squeezed Jay’s hand, leaning in and lowering her head to his shoulder. “It’s been a while since I came here.”
“At first glance, she isn’t who you think she is…”
“Oh, no. At first glance…Talia wasexactlywho I thought she was. I saw through it all straight away. The hardened shell, the alter-ego of Adria, that’s not her. It never will be. I love the confidence she has when she’s dancing, but I know Talia, as do you, and I wouldn’t change anything that she is. This side of her, the personal side, the woman I wake up beside every morning…I love her all the same.”
The club suddenly dimmed, and strobe lighting flashed around them. The music was tasteful—a song Faye recognised from Talia’s private room—all eyes now firmly on the stage. Excitement built in Faye’s chest as she lifted her head from Jay’s shoulder, and then Talia rose from a platform under the stage. If Faye wasn’t already in love with this woman, this moment alone would have confirmed it. She squeezed Jay’s hand, letting go as she reached for her bourbon.
Why was she holding her glass so tight? It had to be the excitement of seeing Talia like this for the first time in a while. But then Talia stepped forward towards the pole, her eyes landing on the VIP booth Faye had prebooked under a fake name. Her dark eyes lit up, a smirk twitching on her mouth, those delectable fingers gripping the cold metal with such ease.
She was happy to see her. Plain and simple.
“My God, she looks amazing.” Jay whooped and cheered, shoving his fingers in his mouth as he whistled. “Get it, girl!”
Faye’s thighs clenched together as Talia’s focus remained on her at every opportunity. Quite frankly, the club could have emptied out, and Faye wouldn’t have noticed. She winked at Talia, offering an approving nod, her bottom lip between her teeth.
“Excuse me,” Jay murmured as he leaned towards Faye’s ear, “but can you and my best friend not mentally fuck one another while I’m sitting next to you?”
Faye stared directly at Talia. “No idea what you’re talking about.”
“Uh-huh.”
She caught Jay nudging Marcus, whispering something to him, but Faye was too entranced to care what he was saying. Talia…Adria…had Faye’s full attention.
Talia came out of her pose, landing in the splits at the base of the pole. A technician slid a chair onto the stage, and then Talia well and truly homed in on Faye. Curling her finger, she beckoned Faye to join her on the stage, but Faye couldn’t move. She couldn’t breathe. Was…Talia about to give her a lap dance in front of a club full of people?
“I suggest you get up there before someone else ends up in that chair.” Jay nudged Faye in the ribs, bringing her out of her daze. “Now, Faye!”
But Talia was already leaving the stage and heading straight for her. With a hand outstretched, Talia pulled Faye to her feet and guided her up the steps to the stage. She laced her fingers with Faye’s, giving them a gentle but reassuring squeeze, and then she pushed her down into the seat…straddling Faye immediately.
“Fancy seeing you here,” Talia said, grinning when she practically shoved her breasts in Faye’s face. “And just like the first time, I’mveryhappy to see you sitting in my spot.”
Faye smiled, a blush settling on her cheeks. Talia always had a way of making Faye zone out of the room, but she had to keep her wits about her. If she wasn’t careful, the club would get an entirely different show. “I-I’m happy to be here.”
That silky dark hair whipped from one shoulder to the other, Talia’s subtle perfume reminding Faye that everything was okay. That Talia was hers…and she was Talia’s. The people in this room didn’t have the absolute pleasure of seeing who this woman really was, and thank God for that.
Talia leaned in close to Faye’s ear, inconspicuously nipping at her earlobe as she turned her face towards her neck. “You’ve no idea how much I want you right now.”
Faye closed her eyes, exhaling a slow breath. “Oh, I think I could hazard a guess.”