Page 3 of Fiercely Protective
I took a step forward and she retreated.Fuck.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
She blinked and then stammered in bewilderment. “I have never seen…anything like that before. You moved incredibly fast.”
I grinned and took another step toward her. This time she didn’t back away.
“What’s your name?”
She watched me cautiously. “Brielle, but everyone calls me Bri.”
I held my hand out to her. “Bri, would you like to go somewhere more private and quieter?”
She arched her eyebrows and smiled tentatively. “And end up as a missing person? Or the subject of an Amber Alert that no one pays attention to. I don’t think so.”
My laughter was low and throaty, causing her emerald-green eyes to narrow. “I wasn’t trying to abduct you. We don’t even have to leave the club. There are private rooms upstairs where people can have a drink, talk, and get to know each other better without all the noise and crowds down here on the floor.” I pointed to the stairs that led to the second floor where the rooms, all encased in glass, could be seen. Some of the rooms remained visible and it was easy to see groups of people mingling and partying inside; while other rooms had darkened the glass for a more intimate setting.
She looked at me skeptically. “I’m not sure that would be a wise move on my part. It seems a little reckless and more than a little stupid for me to go to a private room with a man I just met. Perhaps it would be best if I just thanked you for the drink and called it a night. I do have an important interview tomorrow.”
Blaze’s deep mocking laughter was coming from somewhere behind me. Women never denied me, and my friend was finding it rather amusing. “I promise I will not keep you long, and I can give you some tips that might help with your interview tomorrow. I am familiar with Mr. Kent, the manager.”
I knew the minute she was about to accept. Her eyes were so expressive. She would never be able to be devious or hide anything from me, and that thought excited me.
“Alright, but just for a few minutes, and we keep the door open.”
She placed her hand in mine and when my fingers closed around hers, I felt a tremor at the contact, something I had never felt before.
“Tonight, you can call the shots.”
But after tonight, sweet angel, you will be in my world where I maintain absolute control.
Bri
Hot was the only word I could think of to describe him. Incredibly hot. The kind of hot that you usually only see on TVand find yourself wondering where the hell you find guys that look like this. The type of man that women found deliciously appealing. He was dressed in a dark blue button-up shirt with the first three buttons undone, sleeves rolled up to his elbows showing a brief glimpse of the tattoo on his arms, and jeans…jeans that hugged his ass. It was obvious he was accustomed to having money. The kind of man who wore designer clothes tailored just for him. But it wasn’t just his clothes that made me think that there was much more to this guy than I originally thought. There was a self-confidence about him that bordered on arrogance. He had an air of authority and the appearance of someone who demanded instant obedience. You could see it in the way he walked, the way he had wrapped his hand around Brad’s throat, and the way he didn’t seem to care about anything going on around him. He showed no fear. No concern for anything. He radiated money and power. Everything about him screamed at me to run far away. But for some reason, I gravitated toward dangerous men.
He was tall with wide strong shoulders, a perfectly proportioned body, dark brown hair, and deep coffee-brown eyes. The smokin’ hot masculinity vibe he was sending out suited him. Yeah, this was not the typical guy I ran into every day. But I still should not have accepted his offer to join him upstairs. I came here to scope the place out, so I would be more prepared for my interview tomorrow, not for a quick hookup. I wasn’t interested in meeting a guy or dating right now, not after the trouble I left behind in Colorado.
When we neared the stairs, I hesitated; I looked back over my shoulder to the group I came with and saw that none of them had even noticed my absence. It wasn’t surprising. The only one who had insisted that I come with them tonight was Brad, and he had already made an ass of himself and been thrown out bysecurity, so I was technically on my own. The thought made me pause. I didn’t even know this guy’s name. Past experiences told me that I should be wary. I pulled back before my foot reached the second step.
“Wait…I really shouldn’t…I don’t know anything about you. I don’t even know your name.”
“Rogue.”
My lips trembled as I tried to hold back a smile. “Rogue? Is that your name or a description of your character?”
One corner of his mouth twisted upward and the warmth of his smile, as odd as it may seem, made me feel safer. I allowed him to lead me the rest of the way to the second floor where the private rooms were located. We walked to the end and entered one of the larger rooms that was set apart from the others. It was unexpectedly roomy inside with its own stocked bar, leather sofa, poker table, and plush chairs around the room. A pretty chandelier hung from the ceiling, and the décor was dark, mostly black, but surprisingly elegant for a nightclub.
“Are we going to be in trouble for being here? This doesn’t look like a room that just anyone can use. It must be reserved for…well…not us.”
He strolled forward, a drink in his hand. “Don’t be nervous. It will be fine. Like I said, I’m familiar with the management. Can I get you something to drink?”
“No, thanks. I’m not much of a drinker and to be honest, I’m thinking I will need a clear head when dealing with you.”
His left brow rose a fraction. “You don’t drink and if my guess is correct, you haven’t been in many places like this, butyet you want a job here serving drinks to a crowd that can get a bit unruly on occasion.”
There was a critical tone to his voice, and I couldn’t help but feel a little irritated at his obvious censure.
“The job description said nothing of being able to drink copious amounts of alcohol as a requirement, and just because I don’t frequently spend my nights in clubs like this shouldn’t be a deterrent for hiring me. I am a hard worker and while I have not been a waitress in a bar, I have waited tables before. You shouldn’t make assumptions.”