“Who did Ice bet on?”
Penni nodded.
“He placed on you, but he wanted me to make sure he shouldn’t change his bet.”
Now Penni could understand Grace’s impromptu return to work.
“You might want to tell Ice to go ahead and change his bet.”
“Really? Um … I’m happy … if you’re happy.” Grace carefully cleaned away the remains of her lunch. “But I wanted to make sure before he risks our money on a stupid bet so we don’t lose.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing’s going to change your mind, right? Even if one of the men tell you something that will upset you?”
Penni folded her hands together on the desk. “Spill.”
“It’s just that Ice is worried one of the men will tell you something about Jackal that would keep him from winning the bet.”
“Like what? If it’s about Raci, we talked, and that’s why I’m still making up mind about him. Before that, he had a solid ninety percent chance of getting me in bed.”
“See, that’s what has Ice worried.”
Penni noticed that Grace had downplayed her own worry.
“What kind of things do you think they would tell me?”
“I don’t know. If I knew, I would tell you. You’re my friend, and I wouldn’t keep anything from you that I thought you deserved to know.”
“That’s good to—”
“Except …” Grace became flustered. “You are aware he’s one of the bouncers at the Purple Pussycat?”
“I’m the one who took you there to show you where the Predators hang out. I also know he’s … slept with most of the women.”
“Cool. I was worried I would have to tell you. I admire you,” she said in a truly awed tone. “I don’t think I could take Ice watching the women working with their clients.”
Penni’s chair fell back as she quickly rose. “What’d you say?”
Grace paled. “I thought you said you knew?”
“That he was lying to me about not sleeping with the strippers. I knew he threw drunks out or men who got too touchy-feely with the dancers, not watching them fuck!” Penni picked up her chair. “Never mind. Tell Ice his bet is safe.” She sat back down, pushing her chair forward to her desk. “Let’s go back to work.”
Grace stood uncertainly. “I feel terrible. It’s not like they’re in the same room. He stays in a separate room behind a two-way mirror so the women stay safe. Usually, it’s high profile men who want a place to have sex without being seen. The men pay for the room and the women with neither of them knowing each other.”
“How do you know about it?”
Grace threw their trash away, going back to her desk. “Ice and I went there a couple times,” she muttered. “You know, to spice things up.”
Penni couldn’t help giggling. “Did it work?”
“God, yes. We usually don’t have a problem, but damn, it was … fantastic. Vida and Colton have, too. And I think that Max wants to, too, so bad. The room is expensive.” Grace waved her hand in front of her face. “If I didn’t want the hot tub fixed, I’d get Ice to splurge on another night.”
Penni went to the temperature control, turning the air conditioner down.
“Do any of the bouncers watch when any of you—”
“Hell, no. Only the customers get watched because Henry doesn’t want any of the women or men to get hurt. Some of their clients have a lot of money and think them giving a beating is included in the price. Ice said one of the men tried to break one of the women’s arms a couple of weeks ago, and Jackal jacked him up.” Grace rolled her eyes at Ice’s choice of words.
“Some of the male workers earn money that way?”
Grace nodded. “A couple of them do. Some of the bartenders are very good-looking, not that I noticed.”
“I have.” Penni picked up her cell phone. She noticed Grace watching her as she asked the voice on the other end of the line to speak to Henry. Penni almost started giggling again as Grace listened to her requests.
When she hung up the call, she turned to her computer.
“Did you just rent Henry’s room tonight?”
“Yes.” Penni read a new email that came in during lunch.
“But … It’s Monday. Jackal’s working there tonight.”
“I know.”
“You sure you’re not here to start trouble?” Henry’s skeptical gaze took in her appearance in her brand new red dress that was so tight and short she had to resist the urge to tug it down.
“I promise.”
Henry held out his hand.
“What?” Penni asked in confusion.
“Your card was denied.”
Damn. She reached into her purse, taking out the card she used for emergencies. She would pay Shade back. It’s kind of an emergency, she consoled herself as Henry went into his office, coming back a minute later and handing the card back.
“It’s the room on the right, off the bar.” Henry’s big body blocked her view as he keyed in a series of numbers for the gold door at the stairs of the strip club. “Enjoy.”
She almost snapped back at the amusement he made no effort to hide.
“You didn’t tell, did you?” Penni asked.
“No. I keep my promises.” Henry gave her another warning look.
Geez, what does he think I’m going to do?
Penni almost tripped over the plush carpet as she scoped out the room. Damn, she had been missing out. The bar room downstairs looked like a dive compared to the expensive furniture in this part of the club. The black booths were padded, and a small candle gave their occupants privacy. She was going to hit Kaden up for a higher salary if this was one of the things money could buy.
Penni saw the door off the bar, going to it and keying in the numbers Henry had given her.
She turned the knob, entering the dim room. Then she walked toward the bed, dropping her purse onto it before turning to face the mirror that she knew was a two-way looking glass.
She cleared her voice. She could almost sense him from the other room.
“Please don’t come out. I need to say something to you.” She took a deep breath, trying to begin the speech she had rehearsed in her head on the way to the bar.
“I told you I would know my soul mate after I slept with him, but I don’t have to know that now. I’m not scared of seeing the real you. You think I don’t remember that you’ve been an ass in the past? Did you seriously believe that, when you suddenly turned over a new leaf and became normal, I wouldn’t notice?” Penni shook her head. “Really?” she scoffed. “Some of the women even know what day of the week you’ll take them to the Predators’ clubhouse to fuck.
“Despite what you told me last night, I don’t believe you’re capable of walking away from the Predators. You’re a dangerous, lethal, hot-tempered, risky asshole who will never change, but that doesn’t frighten me, either. I think, after you get tired of me, I will become just another day of the week to you. However, if I can jump off a limb, nearly set my house on fire, and almost electrocute myself, I think I can handle you.”
Penni walked across the room, placing her hand on the mirror where she imagined his face was. “I wish so badly that I felt the same way about you that I did before Hennessy kidnapped me, but I don’t. I love you, Jackal. I’m dropping out of the race. I’m going to stop and smell the roses and find out what it feels like to be loved by you.” Her hand dropped to the top button of her dress. She slowly unfastened it.
“I’m not going to spend the rest of my life missing you, so before you open that door, make sure that you want me, too, because I’m not going to give you your soul back. I’m going to keep it, even if you try to take it back.” She undid the last of the buttons, laying the dress on the chair next to the bed and giving him a view of her ass with the thong riding up it. Facing the mirror again, she slipped her arms behind her back to unhook the red lacy bra then placed that on the chair.
When Jackal ha
dn’t come through the door after several minutes, her heart broke. He had made his choice.
She had started toward her clothes when she heard her cell phone ringing in her purse. Dammit, it was not the time to answer the freaking phone. But feeling embarrassed that Jackal had decided not to take her up on her invitation, she searched for her phone.
Seeing it was Jackal calling, she put it to her ear, turning toward the mirror.
“Can I come in now?” His hoarse voice put her fears to rest.
“Yes.” She was still laughing when Jackal came through the door, already taking his T-shirt off and throwing it to the ground.
“The observation room is soundproof to avoid anyone knowing they’re being watched.” Jackal toed off his boots, unsnapping his jeans and kicking them away as he stepped out of them.
“Oh…” Penni backed toward the side of the bed. “Are you sure?” She began retreating, only to have Jackal push her on the bed.
“I’m sure.”
Her body reacted to the dominance that was stamped across his face.
“You took a piece of my soul the first time I saw you. It’s only fair I take a piece of yours.”
She melted into the coverlet on the bed. “I know this is insane to ask this now, but is this clean?”
Jackal laughed. “Yeah. Henry gets a discount from a factory then gives them to the homeless shelter after they’re washed.”
“No wonder he charged so much for the room.”
“If you had told me what you were planning, I would have talked Henry into giving you a discount.”
“I don’t think he would’ve. I don’t think he likes me.”
“I’ll give you back the money for the room,” Jackal offered, covering her with his body.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll get it back when Max pays Ice for the bet I got him to place for me.”
“Damn, I’m going to marry a smart woman.”
Penni would have jumped from the bed, but Jackal kept her pinned under him.
“I didn’t mean tonight. I can’t believe you weren’t afraid of me, the Predators, or Hennessy and his men, but I mention marriage, and you’re ready to run screaming from the room.”
“Marriage scares me,” Penni confessed. “I’ve had this weird fear since I was younger that I would end up being one of those women who have multiple marriages. I have an uncle who has been married five times and an aunt who’s been married six.”
“How many times have your parents been married?”
“My mother was married to Shade’s father and then my dad.”
“Have you met Shade’s father?”
“Yes, and I like him a lot. My mother was just tired of being alone. He served overseas and wasn’t ready to retire. He spent a couple of vacations with Shade when he remarried and retired.”
Talking had her relaxing back on the bed, becoming aware that he was stroking the pulse on her throat with his thumb.
“You’re only going to get married once … to me. But I can wait until you’re ready.”
“As long as you understand that it is going to be a looong time before I’m ready.” She looked down her body to stare at Jackal. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to make love to you.”
“Oh … That feels good.” Her head fell back to the pillow.
The muscles in her pussy were already in need, wanting him to fill the ache that had begun when she had seen the full view of his naked body.
Jackal circled her nipple with his tongue, making it pebble in arousal. He put his hand between her legs, playing with her pussy as if they had all the time in the world.
“Mmm, that feels really good, but I only bought the room for an hour.” She circled her hips, raising them and trying to hurry him along.
“I’ll pay him for the rest of the night.”
“That’ll be expensive!”
“It’s my treat,” Jackal grunted, moving toward her other nipple.
Penni’s eyes started to roll back in her head, but her eyes were held by the image above her. A mirror above gave a view of Jackal. His ass was magnificent, his skin tan, and his muscles coiled as he moved. She could climax from looking at his body.
He moved to the side, rubbing his cock between the folds of her pussy. Penni couldn’t see the balls of the piercings she had seen when she had given him a blowjob, but she could feel them against her skin, giving her friction that had her ready to jump into the unknown pit of desire where she was afraid she wouldn’t find an opening to reach air ever again.
“Jackal …” She bit her lip when she felt him enter her.
“Babe, it’s going to be all right.”
“Maybe you should take a couple of those balls off.”
“Babe, trust me; you’re going to beg me to get more.”
Where would he put them? They already traveled the length of his dick.
Penni’s curiosity disappeared when he tried to put his cock in her pussy.
“It’s not going to fit.” Penni began to panic, slapping his back when he began to laugh.
“You had a rubber dick in your nightstand, and you’re worried about how big my dick is?”
“I told you I never used it.”
Penni trembled as he worked his dick into her. Sweat dripped down the side of his face. He looked like he was in more pain than she was.
“Woman, you’re tight …” Jackal raised himself, bracing a hand beside her head. “Sweet Jesus … You feel good.”
Penni circled her hips, trying to make him move faster. His slow movements were sending shockwaves throughout her until it was everything she could do not to scream.
Their playing around fell away as the intensity built between them. Instinctively, she rocked her pussy as he thrust inside of her. Pleasure enveloped her as she sank to the bottom of the pit of fire.
Penni shut her eyes, afraid Jackal would see the emotions rolling through her body.
“Open your eyes.” Relentless, he moved harder and faster inside of her. He then tugged her hair until she opened her eyes. “Watch.”
Penni gripped his shoulders, unconsciously digging her nails into his flesh. Trying to hold on to him was the only way out of pit that was consuming her.
She screamed and heard Jackal murmur something, but she couldn’t make out his words. Her climax was so close she could only writhe with each of his strokes.
“Penni …” He was calling her name, each syllable leaving a mark on her heart. “Penni!” he shouted, grinding his cock so high into her that she shattered into a million pieces.
She wasn’t aware she was crying until Jackal shifted to his side, brushing her tears away.
“Babe, did I hurt you?”
Penni shook her head. “You’re not going to give it back, are you?”
The ruthless man that Ice had made his enforcer knew what she meant. “No, I’m not giving it back. It’s mine.”
36
“Think I can make it?” Penni leaned over the pool table, lining up her shot. Her tight jeans had more than one of the Predators sauntering over to watch the game taking place.
Jackal leaned on his pool cue, appreciating the sight of her ass bent over the table.
“Take your time,” Stump said appreciatively, sitting on a bar stool that he had pulled over to watch.
Jackal gave him a warning glare as she made her shot.
Penni gave a loud whoop, casting him a gloating smile. “You owe me a beer.”
After setting his pool cue on the table, he put an arm around her shoulders before leading her to the bar.
The brothers were gathered, making it hard for them to find a spot.
“You’ve eaten enough of those brownies she made. Move.” Jackal let Penni have the last stool at the end of the bar. He reached for the platter, seeing Buzzard maneuvering it toward him.
“That wasn’t nice,” Penni reprimanded him for making Buzzard move, giving her sweet smile to the meanest brother in the club. “You should be more p
olite, like Buzzard. See? He saved the brownies so you can have one.”
“Buzzard? Polite? Shit, how do you think he got his nickname?”
Penni reached out and took one of the brownies, breaking it in half. She gave him the other half. “Why?”
“Because he would eat the beak or the feet of a chicken if he was drunk enough.”
Buzzard nodded proudly, as if he were honored.
Penni’s eyes narrowed on Buzzard in interest. “I’ve wondered how they taste. I’ve seen them prepared on cooking shows, but I’ve never been brave enough to eat them myself.”
“They taste like fucking chicken.”
Jackal shoved himself in the spot between the two.
Penni gave him a baleful look. “You have no sense of humor.” She reached past him to take another brownie, giving the whole thing to him this time.
“Are you trying to get me high?”
“Will it put you in a better mood?”
“Babe, if you want to put me in a better mood, let’s go to my room.” Jackal gazed at the cleavage exposed by her blouse.
Penni lowered her lashes. “You don’t want a rematch?”
Jackal popped the brownie in his mouth. “Rave, give me that bottle of rum.” Taking the bottle in his hand, he spun Penni off the stool, steering her through the throng of brothers and bitches hanging around.
“Why do you want to go to your room so early? It’s only ten.”
“I’m not spending my whole night off with the brothers when I can spend it fucking you.”
Penni took a step backward after he closed the door.
He didn’t bother with the lamp; he could see her well enough from the light left on in his bathroom.
She loosened the ties at her throat, showing the lacy peach bra that had teased him throughout the night.
“Haven’t you had enough of me yet?” she teased him, taking off her top and letting it slip through her fingers.
In the two months they had been together, Jackal had discovered Penni wasn’t shy. She enjoyed sex as much he did. She could play shy, but then she turned into a vixen without blinking an eye. She could flirt one day then be standoffish the next day, making him work to get her in bed. She had crumbled any preconceived beliefs he’d had about women. When Penni had made her mind up that she wanted him, there had been no half-measures; she had given herself fully and expected the same from him. But his favorite act was what she was doing now: baiting him, showing the sexy attitude that could bring him to his knees.