Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

“ C ome on, let us in?” Tiara chirped when the bouncer asked them to get in line like everyone else. “We know the DJ. He invited us.” The bouncer didn’t look convinced but sent an attendant to check. Ten minutes later, they were on the dance floor.

“This is c r a z y !” Maya shouted as the crowd danced wild and carefree to the music. Glittering lights were everywhere, and people crowded the floors. It was a luxurious club with several levels and rich appointments.

Tiara bobbed her head to the music. Excitement built up in her as she marveled at the place. She and her friends were party girls. They didn’t have much but refused to let life beat them down. If the rich and famous had something, Tiara and her friends believed they deserved it too. And they would do anything to make sure they got their equal share.

“We deserve to have fun every night, considering the hell we put up with during the day!” said Tiara. They all gave each other a high five as they giggled. They were ready for mischief.

Tiara and her friends could talk their way into most places, and when that didn’t work, they knew how to sneak through back doors and windows. As a daredevil, Tiara pushed the envelope every day. And it was worth it to bring a little fun into their bleak lives.

She put on her game face. The club catered to anyone willing to pay their exorbitant entry fee. Some people saved several weeks’ pay to say they attended. The club was a popular hangout for the rich and famous and those wicked enough to have a fortune. These people shunned her when they saw her heading toward the mines to work. These were the owners of the mines and their wives who made a living off the backs of the less fortunate citizens. But on the dance floor, they were equals.

The girls shimmied in their short dresses as they surveyed their prey.

“You got yours, Maya?” Tiara asked, watching her survey the partygoers.

“Yep, you got yours, Lori?” Maya flashed her charming smile.

“That’s a hell yes!” she replied.

“And you, Tiara?”

“Nope, but I’m headed to the card tables. That’s where I’ll make my money! You two get a high roller to buy our drinks while I take the money from these poor souls over here.” Tiara headed to the gambling section. It was corded off with two bouncers at the bottom of several steps leading to a platform where high-stakes cards were being played.

Flowing gracefully across the floor in her four-inch spike heels, she smiled as she recognized a ruggedly, handsome face watching her every movement. Pursing her lips into a delicious pout, she stopped before his table of friends, bending over and placing her tits just below his chin. His eyes seemed to drink her in like the cocktail in his hand.

“Sober today?”

Eyes darkening, he held the glass so tight she thought it would shatter. Momentarily mesmerized by his piercing dark brown eyes with flecks of violet and pure silver, she’d seen nothing like them. She couldn’t tell if he was embarrassed or perhaps pissed at her remark. She didn’t care either way. He was likely as poor as his friends, and the last thing she needed was a poor man between her legs.

“Good going, Jaxx,” she heard one of his men say before they roared with laughter.

She walked past his table, paying her entry fee to enter the gambling area. Striding up the stairs, she was sure every man was trying to look up her dress. They can look, but they better not touch.

Taking her seat at the table, she quickly won her first round. The other players smirked, saying it was ‘beginner’s luck.’ They played another round. The entire time, she could feel Jaxxon’s eyes on her. She turned, and sure enough, found him staring at her from the bottom of the stairs. Feeling his eyes on her was messing with her concentration. She lost the round and then the next. Fuck, if I keep this up, I’ll owe the club big time! Yet, the big fucker just stood there watching her play the game.

“Are you going to stare at me all night or come play a round?”

The high rollers around the table shifted uncomfortably as Jaxxon strode up the steps and sat at the table.

“This is a man’s game,” he growled, his thick eyebrows furrowed as he looked at her.

She rolled her eyes. The nerve of this guy!

He shook his head, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest. His hooded jacket was unzipped, revealing a black fitted shirt with several thick chains around his neck. Exotic tattoos covered him up to his jaw. He had an air of dominance. The entire table seemed to shrink under his gaze as he eyed every man.

The entry fee had gotten so high that he likely bet a sizable chunk of whatever he had in his pockets. And that was precisely what she needed as every man around the table upped their bets. The high rollers looked at Jaxxon, a newcomer, believing they’d take his money. Their guards came to their sides to ensure everyone paid up. Some made it a point to look at Jaxxon with their hands close to their weapons.

Then they looked at her—a poor human girl who was losing badly at cards and figured maybe she’d lose something else tonight too. She saw how some of the men’s eyes went right to her breasts, hungry and anxious to win.

She swallowed, feigning a dramatic shiver as she looked several of the men in their eyes. One raised his bet, eyeing her as if he could feel victory swelling between his legs. The others followed suit, no one bowing out of the game.

All bets were down.

The first card was played. Silence.

And then the next. The crowd murmured.

And several more. People swore.

Tiara laid down the winning hand. Drinks spilled and people gasped.

“How the gods?” “No fucking way!” “Drak!” The men nearly turned the table over as they spat foul language her way. Jaxxon hit the table so hard that it cracked.

Grabbing her winnings, she threw the men a triumphant smile as she rose to leave. Hell yeah!

Jaxxon followed her down the stairs. She turned around, nearly bumping into his muscular, broad chest. Though she considered herself average height, he towered almost a foot over her.

“You only lost because you underestimate women.” She smirked up at him, standing her ground.

“Hmm, you like playing games.” His breath was hot against her neck as he leaned down and whispered in her ear, “I don’t!”

She swallowed as she stepped back. Her nerve left her just as fast as the smirk on her face. This is not a male to be played with! Power rippled off him in waves. Waves she wanted to ride. She didn’t know why she felt such an attraction to him. There was something about him she just couldn’t place. But she knew better than to play with dangerous men.

Jaxxon proudly wore his tattoos, covering every inch of his body that she could see besides his handsome face. Jet-black, curly hair framed his clean-shaven face, though she could see a goatee mustache growing back. His skin was a beautiful shade of light bronze, a sharp contrast to his all-black, military-style clothing.

She didn’t dare take a breath until he moved away.

Jaxxon barreled past his friends. He cursed, telling his friends they had to cover their meals because he’d just lost all his money. They all glared at him as he moved off into the crowd.

“So, um, I apologize for my friend’s behavior. We’re new here. I’m Zade Axelrod.”

“I’m Tiara Adisi.” She smiled, shaking Zade’s hand. “Tell your friend I don’t like to lose either.” Then she moved off to join her friends, happily accepting the glass of premium liquor they handed her.

They all scored big that night. Tiara wanted the finer things in life—furs, jewels, and lavish dining. But today, she had what she needed most. Tiara had won enough money to get new parts for their outpost.

Enjoying their drinks at the bar, the attendant tapped Lori on the shoulder, saying the DJ was taking his break. They had agreed she would take over in his absence. It was their payment for their entry into the club.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this!” Lori squealed nervously before disappearing up the stairs.

A few minutes passed as Tiara looked for Lori near the DJ booth. “I hope she didn’t chicken out.”

“There she is,” shouted Maya as Lori walked onto the stage. The DJ booth seemed to swallow Lori’s petite frame. But the smile on her innocent, lovely face was priceless. Her coppery skin glowed under the rotating wave lights.

“Go, Lori!” they shouted, giving her the encouragement she needed to play before such a large crowd. Lori was usually quiet and reserved. But you put her on a set of turntables, and the lioness roared .

And so did the crowd. It was a frenzy as she hit that first beat and scratched that first tune. They danced like madmen to the fast-paced beats that dropped like a meteoroid shower.

“Bring the house down!...Lori!...Lori!” the crowd chanted. People went wild. Hot bodies gyrated to the music around the floor. Couples were making out in the middle of the dance floor as the crowd jumped up and down around them. The entire place shook from the sound of the DJ’s beat and the screams of the patrons. They partied hard for the next hour. And then it was time to take the scene into overdrive.

Running up the stairs, Tiara got on the stage and grabbed the mic. As she sang along to the music to her heart’s content, the place erupted like a firestorm. She held the mic out to the crowd as they joined. Damn, Lori’s going to collect great tips tonight! They were having fun, and they were making money. One day, we’ll have enough to get off this fucking rock! Tiara threw her hands up, handing the mic over to Maya to lead them into another song.

Later that night, Tiara saw Jaxxon near the end of the bar. He was sitting alone. She walked over and sat beside him as her friends took the remaining seats. He barely looked her way. Okay, so he’s going to ignore me? Rolling her eyes, she said nothing as she and her friends talked and laughed. She was flustered, not accustomed to being ignored by a man, and equally frustrated she was trying to get the attention of someone she probably should leave alone.

Seeing Jaxxon’s glass was empty, she finally turned to the bartender. “Can you get my brooding friend here another drink? I’m paying.”

Jaxxon turned with a flinch of surprise. He looked at her as a grin spread across his handsome face. “So, now I’m a friend?”

“If you behave yourself,” she said, playfully flirting and smiling.

His eyes went to her tits, then lingered on her neck before his eyes met hers again. “Your amulet—Have you always had it?” He paused, “I mean, it’s beautiful. So are you. ”

She giggled, batting her eyes at him. “It belonged to my mom. And...thanks for the compliment.”

She tried not to notice how his eyes lingered on her lips. It’s getting really hot in here!

When the bartender brought the drink, Jaxxon refused to let Tiara pay, fishing in his pocket for enough coins to pay for it. He winked at her when she shook her head. He knocked his drink back, not taking his eyes off her.

A few minutes later, her girlfriends stood, eyes wide as they covered their mouths. They looked past Jaxxon and began giggling.

“Goddamn! Who’s your friend?” They pointed to the back corner. There danced Zade on top of a table. It was dark, but the girls couldn’t take their eyes off the sexy man as he removed his shirt and then his belt.

Zade’s cool, tawny skin glistened as he provocatively swiveled his hips. His long, black, wavy hair was pulled into a man bun. He was undoubtedly a pretty boy, licking his lips as his almond-shaped green eyes took in each of her friends. Tall and lean-muscled, he unzipped his pants.

Tiara turned around, blushing. She was shocked that no other women in the club came over to see him dance. Some walked right past and didn’t even blink an eye as if they didn’t even see him. But she and her friends were happy to watch.

And damn if he didn’t put on a show.