Claiming Her Beasts (Claiming Her Beasts #1) - Dia Cole Page 0,3
came for the booze not the boobs, several dark-haired men talking quietly in the back corner, and Uncle Duncan. Since finding out the club bouncers had been laid off, the cowboy-hat-wearing grizzly old vet had come to every one of my shows. My surrogate uncle, always quick to spot trouble, never took his eyes off the dark-haired men deep in conversation.
The men’s menacing vibe made me glad they sat far from the stage. They’d started meeting at Eros a few weeks ago. Max, my boss, was either too desperate for business or too scared to make them leave.
Truth be told, the guys dressed in black with gang tattoos creeping past their collars didn’t rattle me as much as the elegant man sitting in the center of them. Javier Diaz was rumored to run one of the largest drug cartels in the Southwest. His gang, the Calaveras, was renowned for their violence and brutality.
Pity.
Even if he wasn’t wearing a three-thousand-dollar suit, Javier would be one amazing-looking man. He wasn’t as large as some of the men seated around him, but he radiated power. Tonight, his shoulder-length hair was tied back, emphasizing high cheekbones, full lips, and startling amber eyes. Those incredible eyes studied my body as I danced.
I shivered, feeling caught in the stare of a predator. Trying to ignore the striking man, I focused on the professor. Based on the flush in his cheeks, he’d had more than the two-drink minimum.
Good for me. Bad for his bank account. I cupped my bare breasts and lifted them for his perusal.
He licked his lips and handed me a wad of bills.
I tucked them into my G-string as I undulated my hips. What was it about guys and breasts? They seemed to lose all reason when a pair was flashed their way.
It was the same with the professor. His pupils dilated, and he swallowed hard. He rubbed his mouth with one trembling hand while reaching for his wallet with the other.
Excellent. I purred my approval. I caressed my inner thighs, making seductive promises with my heavy-lidded gaze. For this moment, I’ll be your woman.
Of course, it was just an act, I’d never belong to any man. But he didn’t need to know that. I slipped my fingers into my G-string and snapped the elastic band.
He gasped, his eyes glazed with lust.
Donna sidled up next to him, adjusting the crooked Santa hat clipped to her badly dyed blonde hair. “Want another drink?”
The professor tore his gaze from me.
The spell was broken.
I glared at Donna.
As if realizing her mistake, she gave me an apologetic look and mouthed “Sorry, Lee.” Given the dark shadows under her eyes, she probably hadn’t slept in weeks. And no wonder. She’d lost her son to the canine flu a few months back and had never really recovered. I forgave her immediately. I knew all too well the pain of losing loved ones.
The song ended. Max, clutching a mic in his thick hands, hoofed it to the stage. “Give it up for our gorgeous heavenly creature. You can get a taste of Heaven every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night. Up next, Mistress Robin will whip you into shape.”
Uncle Duncan tipped his hat, motioned to the parking lot, and limped out the door. Sly slumped over his table. Javier raised his cognac glass in my direction while his men continued to ignore me. At least the professor clapped wildly.
Another piss-poor night.
Trying to hide my disappointment, I blew a kiss to the professor, gathered up the lingerie I’d scattered around the stage, and exited through the back curtains.
Havana, encased in silver-studded black latex, was preparing to go on. “Is it dead out there?”
“Stone-cold. Damn holidays.” I couldn’t wait for Christmas to be over. Not only did it hurt business, but the holiday season always reminded me of dark times I’d rather forget.
She sighed. “It’s been bad since the canine flu hit.”
No argument there. Not only had the worldwide pandemic killed off a quarter of the population, it’d also wreaked havoc on businesses everywhere. “Things will get better with the vaccine.” All anyone talked about were the free shots that had just been rolled out to the public. I hadn’t had time to wait in the huge lines to get mine yet.
“Took ‘em long enough. Damn, if things around here don’t pick up soon, I might have to start nannying again.”
I smiled at the image of the BDSM queen looking after kids.
She adjusted one of the straps on her thigh-high stiletto boots. “What will