the way she smells—
“Axel! What the hell are you doing? Are you smelling her?” Crystal’s annoying voice slaps me out of my drugged-up fog. Jesus Christ, I’m high as a kite.
“What is happening?” She sounds aggravated and the vulnerability that I thought I saw is replaced with a haughty stare.
What the fuck am I doing? I’m going to kill Rip. I tear my eyes away to focus on the room. There he sits, shaking his head at me. I scrub my hands up and down my face to get the blood flowing away from dick. Ignoring Crystal’s sanctimonious expression, I return my gaze to the girl who is half my size yet looks like she’s the Queen of England with her hands on her hips and nose sticking in the air.
“You’re not right for the Pussycat,” I state.
“What?” She looks at me then Crystal who stands staring at me with her stupid clipboard.
“Excuse us.” Crystal pats the girl’s arm and spins to grab a hold of my cut, moving us a few feet away. “What are you doing?” she hisses.
“She has a beauty mark.”
Crystal blinks at me then looks at the girl. “So?”
“So… I don’t like it,” I say, causing her eyes to narrow. Then she smiles, not even trying to hide the gleeful look on her face.
“So, let me get this straight.” She taps her long pointy nails on that damn clipboard. “You want me not to hire her because she has a beauty mark on the top right side of her lip.”
We both turn to stare at the girl.
“Christ.” This woman has affected me. It’s making me uncomfortable and I’m never uncomfortable. My eyes go up and down her body. She doesn’t fit.
“Yes,” I hiss.
“Um no. I’m the manager of the girls and talent. I have final say. Look it up in my contract.” She turns her back on me to stare at the fucking ballerina. “Anyone who can dance like her and looks like an ethereal princess is a sure thing. Sorry, Axel.”
“Crystal, I swear to God. Not today. I’ve put up with hours of—”
“I don’t want to take this up with Blade or Derrick. But…” She sighs, letting her voice drift.
This time I grab her arm to snarl in her ear. “Two minutes ago, you were thinking the same thing as me. Now, because I say no, you have to be a bitch and say yes.”
“Shhh.” She rips her arm away, straightening her shoulders. “She’s a little… well, she reminds me of someone, but still…” She waves her hands. “She can dance and she’s beautiful. She’s got the innocent angel thing going on. That’s what we could use.”
She turns and smiles at the girl who takes her leg and extends it straight up. Again, I blink because what in the ever-loving fuck is happening? This kind of shit doesn’t just happen. A fucking ballerina doesn’t walk in off the street and want to be a stripper.
“Oh wow,” Crystal purrs. “Can you use a pole?”
“Of course.” She smiles and lowers her leg, completely ignoring me.
“Good. Okay, come on, Axel, we need to make our choices.” Crystal reaches for me again.
I don’t move.
“Whatever.” She huffs and marches down the stairs. I step closer, forcing her to turn and look at me. “What’s your name?”
She bites her lower lip; her eyes dart around. “Cookie.” Her voice… it’s slightly raspy.
“Cookie?” It’s impossible to hide my smile. She blinks and her cheeks flush. I’m borderline obsessed with the way this girl moves. Fuck, the way her nipples harden as I stare.
Her breath stutters and I know. I’m gonna fuck her. Take her, ruin her and her uptight persona. I’ll unleash myself on her if only to see if she can take it.
“Yes,” she snips. “That’s it—that’s my name.” She clears her throat as her hand nervously checks to make sure her bun is still tight.
She’s like my fantasy woman, except that I don’t have a fantasy.
Ever.
This is fucked up, and I’m pissed that I smoked Rip’s shit.
“You do know that you’re in a full-nude strip club, right Cookie?” Her eyes dart up to mine.
“Of course.” She frowns.
I nod, letting my eyes explore her body. She’s all wrong, and someone needs to tell her. I need to tell her. Instead I say, “Fine. I need to see your moves.”
“My moves?” She swallows.
“Yes. And this time, all clothes off.”
She looks around the room. “You want me to dance… for you?”
“Yeah, Cookie. I’d love you to dance for me.”
ANTOINETTE
Two days prior - Los Angeles,