Body Shot (Tapped Out) Read Online Free

didn’t mean to keep calling her that, but it slipped out the same way my mouth rubbed over her hair without any directive from my brain. With her this close, I couldn’t seem to turn off my impulses to touch her in all the ways I’d imagined over these past few months. “Is that why you didn’t turn around when you saw me come into this place? You wanted to know what it was like?”
    She jabbed her fist into my gut so swiftly that I actually grunted. I backed up just enough to give her the room to stomp on my instep with all the fury that burned on her gorgeous face. “You sick fuck. I wanted a date. Just a date. You owed me. Remember?”
    I rubbed my stomach, eyeing her with new respect. For an instant, soft, sweet Carly had done a damn decent imitation of her older, rougher sister. Mia must’ve taught her some self-defense moves. Good. I was glad. She needed to be armed to protect herself, especially if she intended to hang out in places like this.
    Which she wouldn’t. I wouldn’t allow it. I’d stop her, no matter what it took.
    “I owe you nothing,” I said quietly, wondering if she could even hear me over the pumping music and teeming laughter. We were surrounded on all sides by people, and their nearness only forced us closer together. Her breasts pressed against my chest and her thighs rubbed against mine, tempting me even as her eyes and mouth remained silently judgmental.
    That’s what I wanted. Her judging me, then finding me lacking. Because I was. I’d never again be good enough for the likes of her.
    Someone bumped her from behind and she swayed into me, her expression changing at the erection she felt nudging her belly. Darkening. Her mouth opened and snapped closed, whatever words she’d wanted to say dying away.
    That was just fine. I had enough to say for the both of us.
    “Oh, and that date?” I tipped up her chin and smudged my thumb over the faint indent. She was a mixture of features that didn’t seem to go together. Dimples, cleft chin. Worry lines bracketed eyes that appeared as guileless as a summer day. “It was offered as a condition for fighting Mia. It didn’t happen, so no date. No anything.” I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t mess around with little girls, pet.” Condescension dripped from my words, my smile. “I’m sorry.”
    Turning away from her, I aimed my smile at one of the waitress/dancers, one that had tried to get my attention more than once. Since I came to the club to see and be seen by the powerful men who would lead me to Roberto Andretti’s deceitful doorstep, I hadn’t reciprocated in kind.
    Now she would work perfectly for what I had in mind.
    I leaned close to her and cupped her cheek, deliberately touching her the same way I’d just touched Carly. “Meet me in the third VIP room. Five minutes.”
    She nodded eagerly, her bright smile belying the dimness in her eyes. I hated seeing that look on the dancers’ faces, hated more that I’d been the cause of it for even a moment. This was soul-crushing work, and if most of the men here didn’t notice or care, that was on them. I would never be so shallow or careless. Getting my dick sucked wasn’t worth diminishing another human being, even if she pretended it wasn’t occurring.
    Except when it came to Carly, and making sure she got gone. I’d do whatever that required.
    I turned back to Carly, expecting for her to have disappeared. Instead she watched me with slitted eyes, her arms crossed over her chest. She was breathing too fast, but she wasn’t walking away.
    Christ. This woman.
    “You intending on sticking around? I never mind an audience.” Deliberately, I lowered my hand to my crotch and gave it a slow rub. She didn’t balk, didn’t so much as flutter her thick dark lashes. Just watched.
    And waited.
    I swore again under my breath and pivoted to head up the spiral staircase that hugged one side of the main room of the club. Murals of writhing, naked bodies decorated the wall beside the