The Guardians: An Urban Fantasy Romance Read Online Free Page B

heard over the music, leaning against the stage.
    Rolling onto her back, Addison struck another provocative pose, parting her legs a bit for the benefit of the people sitting on the other side of the stage. She was going to milk this drunk guy for every dollar he had.
    “Red,” she replied, giving him her stage name. The other dancers had christened her ‘Red’ for obvious reasons. She might be a natural redhead, but the fiery color she sported now came nowhere near what she’d been born with.
    The guy reached toward her and she danced away.
    “Sorry, honey,” she said in a syrupy sweet tone. “Touching’s not allowed. You can look all you want, though.”
    With a wink, she pulled at the strings of the halter at her back, revealing two heart-shaped pasties and round, perky breasts underneath. The drunk blond slid her a ten this time.
    They always made it so easy, like taking candy from a baby. She had the attention of his friends now; they crowded the stage as she went up on her knees, shimmying in a way that made the tassels on her pasties twirl. Another shower of bills, and Addison reminded herself she was working for one more course, one more book, one more month of rent.
    “Screw that, baby. It’s my bachelor night. How much for a private dance?”
    “Forty bucks,” she told him, “for just you. If your friends want to come along, it’s going to cost extra.”
    “That’s not the kind of dance I meant.” He curled his upper lip as he leaned even closer.
    She could smell the beer on his breath and it caused her nose to curl.
    “I’m not a hooker,” she growled between clenched teeth. She stood—this guy’s money wasn’t worth putting up with that kind of talk.
    Lightning-quick, his hand shot out and curled around her wrist in a bruising grip. Addison fell to her knees, the impact rattling her teeth. Fury shot through her so fast, her blood raced hot in her veins before she knew what had happened. The edges of her vision went hazy and her breath sawed in and out of her lungs in rapid drags. Instead of trying to pull away, she leaned closer.
    Her free hand shot up to his throat, her fingers digging into his flesh with savage intent. The black rage causing her head to pound also darkened her vision until she grew almost blind from it. She could feel the blood running through his carotid artery. She could smell his fear, mingling with the odor of sweat running down his temples. It would be so easy to dig in with her fingernails, not stopping until the hot spray of his blood showered over her. The anger consumed her, the feeling not unlike that of being high on drugs. The man’s grip on her wrist loosened as he gurgled and gasped, struggling for air.
    “I said, no touching,” she snarled, giving him a rough shake before throwing him back into his chair. The force of her shove sent him head over heels, overturning the chair and dumping him on the sticky floor.
    Andrew, the bouncer, interceded a little too late, appearing only after the scene she’d caused. Addison shook her head as her vision returned. Now that she’d calmed down, the severity of her actions hit her like a club to the back of the head. Forgetting the rest of the bills strewn across the stage, she gathered up her meager clothing, then turned and fled the stage.
     
    ***
     
    “Girl, you okay?”
    Addison glanced in the mirror and her eyes met the reflection of Marie, friend and fellow dancer. Her inky black hair had been slicked back and covered by a wig cap, her face made up like a drag queen’s. Her golden skin gleamed from oil and body glitter, and her stage getup left little to the imagination. Unlike Addison, Marie was petite and slender, with an almost boyish frame.
    Around them, the other dancers changed and refreshed their makeup. Where the dressing area behind the stage usually hummed with conversation and laughter, you could have heard a pin drop just then. Addison knew why … they were all staring at her out of the corners