7. Valentino

7

VALENTINO

L iam hadn’t eaten for a whole day and who knew how long it had been since he’d had a real meal. How had he had the energy to dance for me? I remembered times when I’d gone days without any decent food. It had been hell. For a moment I considered telling him the whole thing was off, pulling the money from my account, and paying his debt myself.

Had I lost my mind? How many desperate men had I tormented until they either found a way to give me what they owed, or they became an example to everyone of why you didn’t cross the Marchesis? Why was Liam getting to me? I wanted him, but that wasn’t all of it.

You want to accept his offer to fuck the debt out of him.

I did. But I’d wanted to fuck clients before and had managed to resist with minimal effort. Liam was different. There was something about the desperation in his eyes that I couldn’t ignore like I could with other clients. Maybe I connected with him because he valued his sister the way I valued Vito. Maybe it was because of the way he responded when I touched him.

Whatever it was, I needed to fight it. If I kept indulging my urge to help Liam and my father learned about it, I’d lose everything, maybe even my life.

The Marchesis didn’t have any use for a guy who was going to let debtors off easy. That was hardly a good business model. Still, knowing Liam was hungry and desperate to help his sister ate at me. I knew how that felt.

Turning this assignment over to someone else would be wise, but my father would want to know why. When he told you to do something, he expected it done without question and without passing the buck.

I should’ve just taken Liam to Pound and left Trevor to handle everything, but then no one would know how hungry he was. I would take him to get some food, then I would drop him off at his apartment and keep my distance. He could leave his payments with Trevor for me to pick up at my leisure. I wouldn’t have to see him again.

Maybe I just needed to get laid. It had been longer than usual for me. I’d gotten tired of the most recent in a string of fuck buddies, and I hadn’t bothered finding anyone else. I would go out tonight. It was never hard to find someone to bury my dick in, but tonight I’d take the time to find someone good enough to make me forget about Liam.

I was too busy to go looking for a hookup that night. The next evening I told myself I would, but when I started driving, I headed to Pound and let myself in the back door.

It was Liam’s first night on the schedule. I told myself I was just there to make sure he showed up. It was my responsibility to see that he followed through on our agreement since had no other way to pay back my family.

“Did you think he wouldn’t show?” Trevor asked as I walked by his office.

“I wanted to see his routine for myself.”

“Uh huh. He was here before we opened so he could practice. He’s determined to make sure he earns top dollar.”

“Has he been on stage yet?” I tried to sound casual, but I was sure I failed.

“No. I waited to send him out until you got here.”

“What if I hadn’t shown?”

Trevor shrugged. “Then he would’ve gone on last.”

I started to say something else to make an excuse for my presence, but since when did I explain myself to my employees? Liam had me messed up. I’d should turn around and walk out of the club, but my feet carried me to the bar. I definitely needed a drink if I was going to watch Liam dance.

It was busier than usual for a weeknight. Trevor might be annoying as hell, but he was good at his job. I had no doubt he’d spread the word to the regulars that a new guy was dancing tonight.

Tyler gave me a sly grin and spoke loudly over a Rhianna song and the whoops of the audience as one of the dancers tore away his pants. “Trevor told me to expect you. Are you here to see your new man?”

That wasn’t good. If they started mouthing off and shit got back to my father about my obsession with Liam, I’d be fucked. “He’s not my man. He’s someone who owes me a hell of a lot of money. I’m here to make sure he’s earning it.”

“I saw him practicing earlier. Trust me, he’s going to be earning more than anyone else.”

“Maybe you should keep your eyes off him and on your job.”

“You do know this is a strip club, right?”

I grabbed his T-shirt by the neck and yanked him halfway over the bar. “Keep talking back to me and I’ll make you regret it.”

He rubbed his neck when I let go. “I was just joking.”

“Be careful. You joke too much.”

“Yes, sir. Would you like your usual?”

I gave him a nod, and he poured me a whiskey and soda. I took it and moved toward the stage.

I didn’t regret putting Tyler in his place, but I wasn’t actually worried about him. Some of the other employees were a different story. I needed to remind Liam that I expected him to keep his hands to himself. I had a feeling he didn’t want to be involved with anyone who worked here or who was connected to my family, but several of the dancers were casually fucking each other, sometimes while customers watched.

That didn’t bother me, but Liam wouldn’t be participating. He wouldn’t touch anyone here except for me. What if I could just have a taste? If I asked, I was sure he’d do whatever I wanted.

I shook my head. The things I wanted to do to Liam would have to remain a fantasy. There were more important things to worry about than getting off. Like keeping my father happy.

I found a seat near the back of the room where I’d be able to see Liam when he walked on stage, but hopefully, he wouldn’t see me.

I didn’t want him distracted. I wanted to see him when he was entertaining others, when he was dancing for money, not to please me.

Filippo, the dancer who was on stage, finished his act. He jumped down after collecting all his tips, took a man by the hand, and headed toward the back rooms. I had no doubt the man who accompanied him would get his money’s worth.

When Liam came on stage, he was going to have the audience panting, tongues hanging out, and eyes wide-open. There were going to be men lining up to book private time with him, and I was going to want to kill them all.

Fuck. I’d clearly lost it.

The more private dances he gave, the faster he would pay off his debt, and the faster I could get him out of my life. Or….

Once the debt was paid, he wouldn’t be a client. If I still wanted him, I could do every dirty thing to him that I dreamed up. Except somehow, I had a feeling my father would still object.

The people who borrowed from us tended to return for more. For most people, if they’d gotten themselves in this level of desperate trouble, they’d be there again in no time. I didn’t think Liam would be borrowing from us again, though.

The second he walked out on stage, I forgot all about his debt, my family, and everything thing else that was on my mind. He was wearing a cowboy hat, vest, chaps, and jeans that were so tight I couldn’t believe he could keep them on. I knew they were designed with snaps along the sides so he could easily pull them off, but the way they clung to him, I expected the snaps to pop any second.

Country music blasted out from the speakers, and he began to twirl a lasso in the air as he rotated his hips. I didn’t stand a chance. I wasn’t going to survive without eventually having him in my bed.

He let the lasso fall over his head then used snake-like movements to coax it down over his body. When it hit the floor, Liam licked his lips, tipped his hat, and smiled at the audience like he wanted to devour them all.

The cheers and yeehaws from the audience made me want to go up there, jerk Liam off the stage, and carry him out of the club. I shouldn’t be here. He shouldn’t be here. This was insane.

Liam moved his body to the two-step beat as fluidly as he’d moved for me during his audition. Men were cheering and throwing money on the stage before he’d even taken anything off. When he began unbuttoning his vest, the crowd grew even wilder. I was more than ready to intervene if anyone stepped out of line. I’d welcome a chance to break some bones.

When he tore off the jeans, leaving him in nothing but a red jockstrap, chaps, and hat, a man yelled that he had something Liam could ride, and others joined in. I wanted to kill them all.

He ended the routine by pulling off his chaps and sinking into a split. He was fucking perfect—gorgeous, flexible, and he could move like pure sex. He rose to all fours and began crawling toward the edge of the stage. Men rushed forward to tuck money into his jockstrap. I wanted to snap off each of their fingers. They didn’t deserve to be near Liam. He was meant to be mine.

I realized I was snarling under my breath. At least the music was too loud for anyone else to hear me. A man let his hand linger on Liam’s thigh, and I started to rise from my chair. Lucky for him, the man moved his hand before I followed through on my desire to cut it off, but he leaned in to whisper something. Liam smiled and I saw his lips form the word “yes.”

When Liam had collected all his tips, he jumped down from the stage and walked to the touchy man’s table. Another dancer came on stage, and as the next song began, Liam lifted one of his muscular legs and straddled the man who’d touched him. The piece of shit looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t place him. He leaned back, resting his hands behind his head as Liam circled his hips, grinding against him.

No. This wasn’t happening.

The other men at the table were clapping and giving Liam more money.

I heard one of them yell “I’m next”. That was all I could take. With a growl, I marched toward them.