Chapter 3

SCARLET

I peek through the living room curtains as Thane gets into the SUV after words were exchanged with the other man. Well, this puts a whole new spin on our relationship. I roll my eyes, remembering his threat to spank my ass. Is fucking six times a relationship? The little voice in my head laughs. You went to his penthouse six times, but you screwed him a dozen times. I smirk. “More.”

“Scarlet?”

“Coming.” I walk back into the kitchen to four wide eyes staring at me. I swallow and wish I could teleport elsewhere. “Um. What just happened?”

Mrs. Abashin shrugs. “I think I saw something I shouldn’t have, and some people are worried I might tell the authorities. I think it best we all forget about this evening.”

I’ll chalk it up to the many things I’ve heard at the club about the Bravikov Bratva and all the men involved. My mind is running through the many illegal things I’ve heard, and I’m distracted as I pivot my attention back to the women.

Mrs. Abashin smirks. “Have you met Thane?”

“Uh. I think maybe.”

I move to busy myself in the kitchen to avoid my grandmother’s piercing gaze.

“Scarlet?”

My head flicks up to my grandmother’s stressed voice. “Yes?”

“There are certain men you should avoid.”

A look transpires between the older women. “What aren’t you telling me?”

Mrs. Abashin frowns. “Where did you meet Thane?”

Shit. I can’t tell them about the strip club. “The diner by campus.”

The women nod. Hey, they bought it and didn’t ask more questions. My grandmother cocks her head. “He’s not for you.”

I shrug, remaining cool. Truer words have never been spoken. “I don’t want him. We chatted briefly at the diner. He called me ‘Red,’ because of my red hair.”

The women seem to buy my explanation. My grandmother continues. “You need to find a nice boy. A non-Russian boy.”

My eyes squint, staring at the two women. “But you’re both Russian. My parents were both Russian.”

Mrs. Abashin shakes her head. “True. We’ve known people in the Russian bratvas.” She stares at me with a knowing glare. “I know you know Thane is one of them. Should anyone ask about me or your grandmother, that wouldn’t be something you would mention.”

A ringing telephone stops my chance to inquire. “Hello?” I casually step out of the kitchen and head to my bedroom. I don’t want her to know how much I’ve learned about Thane, this family business and the bratva.

“Hey, Scarlet? We’re shorthanded tonight.” Boris whines on the other end of the call.

“I’m sorry. I’m not available.”

The club manager growls. “I’ll pay you double for three sets.”

“And I get to keep all my tips.”

He mutters something in Russian about difficult women, but agrees. “How soon can you get here?”

“A half hour.” I end the call and stare at my bedroom door. I need a good excuse to leave. I grab my backpack and wrap my hair into a fast bun. I walk back into the living room to find the women cackling like hens. “Mrs. Abashin? How’s your wound?”

She waves her hand. “Fine, dear.”

My grandmother’s brow raises. “You’re going out?”

“Yeah. That was my study partner. She isn’t available tomorrow to study, so we’re getting together tonight.”

“Please be careful.”

“I will.” I step to my grandmother and kiss her cheek. “You two, try not to get into too much trouble.”

The first chorus of “Little Red Riding Hood,” reverberates around the club as men holler. My floor-length hooded crushed velvet cape is a deep scarlet. A play on my name if they actually knew it. My long red hair styled in ringlets cascades down my chest offering just a glimpse of my nipples. It took me a month to get used to parading in a G-string in front of horny heckling men. I saw the ad on a bulletin board at the laundromat when our dryer was broken. I wouldn’t have been able to pay to have it fixed, if I hadn’t gotten this job. It’s made paying for school better, too.

That first night, one of the long-time gals gave me the suggestion of Little Red Riding Hood for a theme. She said it would be easier if I created a persona to escape into while I was in the club. My mind flicks to Thane even though his table is empty. My persona spreads to his penthouse as well.

I strut to the edge of the stage as a hand touches my foot. There’s no money in his hand, so I move to the side. A man leans onto the stage to shove a twenty-dollar bill in my G-string. At least I’ll get to keep all the money I collect tonight. The song is close to over and by my count, I’ve got two hundred dollars between what’s in my string and loose on the stage.

“Let’s give it up for Red. She’ll be back in an hour for her final performance of the night.”

I grab my cloak off the ground and scoop up the money, not caring that my bare ass is prominently displayed for men to see.

Boris, the club manager, leers at me as I step behind the curtain. “I’m so glad I called.”

I smile, knowing it doesn’t reach my eyes. “I’m glad I could make it work.”

He nods at my money. “You’re going to make good money tonight.”

“I need it for school.”

He raises his hand to the top of my shoulder and drops his fingers down my arm. “You know…”

A growl resonates around the hallway. “Take your hand off her.”

Boris’s hand moves to his side as he cringes. “Mr. Bravikov.”

Thane stalks to the man. “Don’t touch the girls.”

He ducks his head. “Yes, sir.”

“Get out of my sight before I break all your fingers.”

I should be afraid of his tone. Thane’s voice drips with acid, matching the scowl. He takes the cloak from my hand and holds it out. “I’m surprised to see you.”

“He called, and I need the money.”

His brow raises. “Why?”

“I’m signing up for classes tomorrow, and I pay for them as I sign up. It makes it easier that way.”

“I didn’t realize you went to school.” He pulls the cloak around my neck and ties it into a bow. “How old are you?”

I scoff. “Didn’t your mama tell you it’s rude to ask a woman’s age?” Pain crosses his gorgeous face causing me to regret my statement. I reach out to touch his arm. “I’m sorry.”

He flicks his head. “No worries. You didn’t answer me.”

“Fine. I’m twenty.”

He scrapes his hand across his short light brown hair. “Damn, you’re young.”

A smirk peaks on my lips as he smiles. “You’re just old.”

He laughs. It’s a full, pleased laugh, and it catches me off guard. “How much money did you make tonight?”

I step to the bar and open my hand, dumping the money. “Two hundred and five dollars, plus the one eighty I got with the first show.”

“So…” He reaches into his pocket to pull out his wallet, spreading it open he pulls out three-hundred-dollar bills. “This should complete your evening profit for the night.”

My forehead crinkles. “I don’t understand. I have another set.”

He slowly shakes his head. “I’m tired. Let’s just go to my place.”

“But…”

He lowers his mouth and presses it to mine. He breaks the kiss. “For once, could you just be easy?”

I want to argue, but the predator rising in his eyes stops me. “Okay. I need to clear it with Boris.”

“You go get changed. I’ll handle him.”

I scoop up my money and walk into the back of the club into the dressing area. I hang my cloak in my locker and slide off my G-string. By the time I change and step out the door, he’s waiting. The look on his face reminds me of the wolves on the nature programs I watched as a kid. They fascinated me then, and he fascinates me now. I shouldn’t take his money, but something about him tonight seemed more dominant than usual.

“Ready?”

I nod. His arm slips around my waist. “Give me your keys.”

I flip my eyes to his. “Why?”

“My brother’s going to take your car home and stay there tonight. You can tell your grandmother that your friend picked you up and you’re staying at a friend’s. I want to wake up with you in the daylight.”

Oh God. “Um. What?”

“It’s time for you to stay all night, Red.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

His fingers latch onto my waist as he whispers. “No, it’s a phenomenal idea, and you will just agree.”

“Fine.”

His body relaxes in that instant, making me smile. “Wow. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. It’s been a long day, and I’m tired.” The reality of the shooting nudges my brain.

“Not too tired, I hope.”

The twinkle in his eyes makes me pause. I want to offer a smart-aleck remark, but it evades me as he propels me out of the club. He hands my keys to a younger version of him with the same intense eyes that haunt my dreams. He opens the back door to a black SUV, climbs inside and pulls me onto his lap kissing me with a reverence I’ve never experienced. His driver drives us into the garage, and my body is on fire. Drunk off kisses and nibbles, with bite marks I know will stand out in the morning, but I don’t care. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted and more. He’s brought me so close to orgasm multiple times on the drive, and my body is primed. When he lets me come, it’s going to be so damn good.

The door opens, and Thane shifts out, holding me in his arms. He mutters in Russian, and I drift out of the lust-filled haze as he walks us into the elevator. The doors close and his lips are on me again. “I’m going to take my time with you this time.”

“You say that every time.”

“I do, but you’re not leaving now.” His words hang heavy in the elevator. My brain tries to override my horny side and loses. The doors open, and we step to his penthouse door as some man I don’t recognize opens the door. Thane growls at the man. “Interrupt me and you die.”

My breath catches. “That’s intense.”

“You have no idea. I want you so bad, I’d kill anyone who got in the way.”

“Okay.” Hell, what do you say to something like that?

In a matter of moments, I can’t remember how, but we are naked and standing next to his enormous bed. The wolf is back. I can’t see any of his eye color, it’s blocked out by the full dilation. His mouth is back on mine. He breaks the kiss as he uses his hand on my shoulder to push me to my knees. I don’t need him to tell me anything. I grasp his enormous erection and stroke him from the bottom to the tip. My mouth settles on the top of his cock. My arms lock behind my back as he’s instructed many times. He didn’t need to remind me. My tongue sweeps up the side of his cock, circling the piercing. That must have hurt to have that inserted into the foreskin.

“You’re focusing on the piercing again.”

I giggle. “It’s fascinating.”

“Is it?”

“Yeah. I can’t imagine how much that must have hurt.”

“I was drunk. It feels good, and you seem to like it, so it was worth it. Stop talking and suck me.”

Bossy man. His hand cups behind my head. He’s impatient. He groans as he pushes his cock deeper into my mouth. It gets bigger when he does this. The first time scared me, but he realized and let me get used to it.

“Breathe. Let me in deeper.”

I breathe out my nose and relax my tongue. He pushes his cock in farther, using his hand to move my head at the pace he wants. He’ll get close and then stop. Counting in my head helps to lessen the worry that I can’t breathe when it’s in so far. He moans and his hand becomes softer on my head. Bobbing my head faster, I suck as he thrusts. He’ll take it out soon. Time slips by and my jaw is sore. His thrusts are deeper and faster. He removes his hand as I lick around the head, sucking the saliva and staring up at him with mascara running down my face from watery eyes.

“Someday, I’ll let you suck me until I come.” He picks me up and lays me on the bed as he climbs on top of me. “You’re going to have little bruises all over your neck and chest from my bites.”

I giggle. “You didn’t tell me you were a vampire.”

He pulls my arms behind my back. Under his pillow, he pulls out a pair of fur-lined handcuffs. I gasp as he clicks both wrists into the cuffs. He thrusts his length into me with one hard stroke.

“I knew you’d be wet for me. You love to suck me.”

I do. There’s a power in it even when he controls the pace. It’s the same as when I let him restrain me. I control that too. If I want to stop, we’d stop. My face rubs against the bedding as he pounds. He slips his hand around to stroke my clit to get me to my orgasm faster. He didn’t need to do it. I’m so primed from the SUV, I’ll explode in a matter of seconds. I cry out as my body tightens awaiting the explosion that will announce my climax. He continues to pound as he rubs my nub. I detonate, and his hand slips off my clit, returning to my hip as I fly.

By the time I’m back to reality, he’s exploding inside me. He rolls to the side, bringing me next to him. Nibbling my neck, he mutters. “Round two in a few.”

THANE

I roll over and study the stunning redhead sharing my pillow. Twenty is younger than I thought. There’s something about her that convinces me she’s older than her years. I should have been up and gone before now. I’ve missed my six-a.m. workout, but this is going to be worth it. I kiss her gently, and her eyes ping open.

“Oh.”

I smile. “Oh. I bet you don’t typically have sleepovers.”

“No. Grandmother never let me. You’d be my first.”

“All the firsts we’ve enjoyed since I found you.”

She smiles and reaches down to stroke my dick. “You’re happy to see me. Isn’t he tired?”

“No, Red. He’s never tired with you.”

She props herself up on her arm. “Three times.”

I lean over and pull her nipple into my mouth and suck. She moans as I pop off. “Four is so much better than three.”

She laughs and my heart skips a beat. “You are so right. Four is much better than three.”

An hour later, we step out of the shower in large, warm, white towels. She dries her hair. “I love your towel warmer.”

“Feel free to use it anytime.”

She beams at me, and I have to admit I’m happy. “Where do you pay for your classes?”

She hangs up the towel and frowns.

The corner of my mouth lifts as I open the second drawer of my bathroom vanity. Her eyes light up when she sees the drawer is full of hair and face products. Her smile dips for just a moment. She’s wondering how many women have been standing in this bathroom. I pull her to me. “You’re the only woman I’ve had naked in my bathroom.”

She raises up on her tiptoes and kisses my lips. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now that I’ve decided you’re going to spend more time here, I bought things for you to use. You won’t have to take stuff back and forth. There are clothes for you in the guest bedroom. I had to guess your size, but I’m pretty good with your body.”

She chuckles. “You’re magnificent with my body. Thanks for that, too.”

I pour myself a cup of coffee as I wait for her to enter my kitchen. She strolls in looking like a supermodel in the clothes I bought.

She spins around. “These are way too expensive. Thank you.”

“They look good on you. But you could wear a sack and still look like a model.”

“You’re good for my ego, Thane.”

“My pleasure, Red. Coffee?”

“Oh, yeah. Thanks.” She takes the cup in her hands and sips the perfectly concocted nectar. “Exactly the way I like it. Thank you. You’re batting a thousand.”

I rinse my cup in the sink and lean against the island. “You didn’t answer me.”

“About?” Her eyes twinkle. She looks young and fresh.

“Where do you have to go to pay for your tuition?”

“Oh. The University.”

“How are you in your last year of nursing school at twenty?”

“I took the Associate’s degree classes in high school and transferred them to the university. This is my second year there. It should be my last year, but I’ll need two more years because I can’t take as many classes as I need to for each semester.”

“What do you want to do with your degree?”

“I’ll probably go into Emergency Care.”

I nod. “Where?” She’s good at dodging my earlier inquiry.

“I have to go to the business office and give them the money for the winter semester.”