Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 106159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
The stranger’s interests are as piqued as mine, but he doesn’t balk at Jax’s insinuation that he is undercover. He continues negotiating without fault, and his determination drives me wild. It is nice to feel so craved, especially by a man as distinguished as him. “Five thousand.”
Jax’s hand slips from the mysterious man’s arm when a response he never anticipated leaves my mouth. “Ten thousand.” Jax coughs, spits, and splatters but remains quiet, freeing me to add terms to an offer that will keep me in Kronstadt long enough to see through the ruse I commenced implementing tonight. “But just a dance. No other stuff.”
Don’t judge me for the disappointment in my tone during my last sentence. It’s been many long months since I’ve been pursued by the opposite sex this rigidly, and the previous suitor would struggle to be rated a four while standing next to the absolute definition of a man vying for twenty minutes of my time.
“And you have to pay Jax’s fees and for a private room.” My last request is purely because of the attention being tossed around during our negotiation. Not all of it is coming from the female staff. Over a dozen pairs of male eyes are on me, and none of them are holding the curiosity Jax’s are.
They look hungry.
“Are you sure you want to do this, Nat?”
I nod at Jax’s question before repeating, “But just a dance.”
I’m reaffirming my terms more for myself than for the stranger. I’d hope my father could forgive me for almost anything, but I’d rather not be accused of being a prostitute only two years after absconding to another country so I wasn’t forced to procreate with someone I loathed within minutes of meeting him.
I look back at the stranger when he murmurs, “Deal.” While angling his mouth at my shocked expression, he digs his hand into the breast pocket of his expensive suit to remove a large bundle of cash. “I won’t require a receipt.”
4
NATALYA
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Jax fluffs my hair like he isn’t giving me an out before he hands me a sealed nude lip gloss. “Your lips are cracked worse than my heart shattered when I realized he isn’t gay.” When I roll my eyes, he slaps my arm. “What? There are barely any gay men in this town.”
“Because you run them out as soon as you realize they could be your competition.”
He tsks at me but doesn’t deny my claim.
How can he when it is true?
“I kicked out an old geezer from the room closest to the exit. We always have a man on the door, so if at any stage you feel uncomfortable, yell. He’ll burst in with bells on.”
His comment replaces some of my excitement with nerves, but I hide it well. “Does it work the same for…?” My words trap in my throat when I realize I don’t even know the stranger’s name.
I bet it is a sexy and firm name. It will be on par with his rigid jawline and perfectly straight nose. I’m not lying when I say that man is the divinity of sex. He is gorgeous.
“I saw the way he was gawking, honey.” After adding a dusting of shimmery mist to my bare shoulders, Jax says, “He’ll never leave the room first. I have money on it.”
“Actual money?” I ask, my tone as high as my brow.
Jax purses his lips. “No, but now that you’ve mentioned it.”
I stop him from wasting his hard-earned cash on a gamble I can’t guarantee by pushing back the chair he planted my backside on almost ten minutes ago, nearly taking out his exposed toes.
My footing is a little unsteady when I stand. My stilettos were perfect dancing shoes, but Jax said they’re not ten-thousand-dollars-for-twenty-minutes-of-work shoes, so I need to “up my game.”
My borrowed pumps leverage my five-foot-two height by three inches, making the risky cut of my skirt’s hemline even more noticeable.
This skirt could be mistaken for underwear if any material went between my legs.
Happy with my reflection, I exhale a big breath before saying, “Let’s do this.”
“Yeah?” Jax double-checks, his expression both excited and uneased.
I understand his mixed response, but if I were honest, I’d also admit that before Vasily's lackluster performance, I would have danced for a man with an aura as magnifying as the mysterious stranger’s without being paid a dime. So, as much as I want to act noble, we both know I’m not the one being shortchanged tonight.
After locking eyes with Jax in the Hollywood-inspired mirror, I nod. “Yeah.”
My wobbly strides strengthen the longer I follow Jax down the bustling hallway siding the dancers' changing room. The vibe is happening, and for the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m contributing to fixing my mistakes instead of hiding from them.