Keep Her Close - Jenika Snow Page 0,35
and showing off her generous thighs. She was nice and plump, had a nice woman’s body that was meant to grip onto, and reminded him of those gorgeous plus sized models. But Joey didn’t consider her oversized, plus sized, or fat in any sense. She was perfectly proportioned, and all his. He put the electric fire on, and although it was too warm for one really, the atmosphere most definitely called for it. Besides, if they got too hot they could just take their clothes off.
That had him grinning. He moved back toward her and sat down, grabbed her legs, and placed them over his thighs. For a moment all he did was stare at the flames and run the pads of his fingers over her smooth skin.
“Have you thought of calling the cops yet?” he asked but didn’t look at her or stop touching her.
“I did, once, but it was a passing thought.”
He felt her stare on him, and turned to look at her face. “What stopped you?”
“Aside from the fact you took my phone away—”
“For your protection. It could be traced easily.”
She nodded. “I know, and that isn’t why anyway. Besides, you don’t have a landline, and even when I had Johnny’s phone after speaking with you I knew calling the police wasn’t the smart thing to do.” She stared at him, unmoving, unblinking, and not showing any emotion. “Because I knew they wouldn’t really be able to help.”
She was a smart girl.
“The cops wouldn’t have been able to handle this.”
She nodded again. “Yeah, I assumed, and I also didn’t want to complicate things. I may not agree with the methods I’ve heard you have used to get your way, but in this instance I just want to survive.”
The way she swallowed and shifted on the couch told him that she was afraid of him on some level. He knew that nothing he said could change how she felt deep inside, but he hoped that over time she could understand that he wasn’t going to let anything or anyone hurt her, him included. He shifted her so she was now on his lap, her legs draped over his and her head on his chest.
“Does it surprise you that we are here right now?” he asked her softly.
“What do you mean? With the shit going on, or literally right now?”
“You on my lap, wearing my shirt, and smelling like me.”
She was quiet for a moment, and then she spoke. “I am, to be honest. I mean a year and up until I woke up in your apartment I swore you off because I knew you weren’t for me.” She pulled back and looked at him. “I honestly couldn’t stop the way I felt for you once I opened up. I don’t know if that means something is wrong with me, or if I was always meant to feel this way for you and just didn’t allow myself to, but either way there is no stopping it.”
He grabbed the back of her head and kissed her hard. And then for the rest of the night he held her, kissed and touched her until they were both exhausted, and then took her to his room. Tomorrow was going to be fucking insane, and right now he just wanted to enjoy this moment with the woman he was falling hard for.
16
Joey went toward the strip club where he had been told to meet Carlos. He hadn't come alone, but he had Alex and Niklo parked a block down, and Little Johnny stationed in the alleyway behind the club. He didn't doubt Carlos had people surrounding the place, afraid to be alone. If he was smart he'd have backup.
Joey walked into the dim, smoky club, the music loud and obnoxious, and the girls nude and gyrating on silver poles. Two bouncers immediately stopped him. They frisked him for weapons, and once they confiscated his Glock and blade they let him continue forward.
The strip club was the main revenue in this town, but only because Chawston was on the lower end of the money making rank in this area. The people that resided here were lowlifes, men that wanted drugs and sex, and women willing to give them the latter. Poverty was the staple of Chawston, a sad and pitiful congregation of life. But Joey knew that was why Carlos Gondalo had no trouble taking this shitty little village. Anyone with a little money and muscle could overrun this place.
Joey had never needed nor