Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
There were two bars inside—one to the left when you walked in, which we called the Bottom, and one toward the back right-hand corner, the Top. Scattered throughout the room were oval-shaped platforms, and there was a small stage, only a few feet wide but about twenty feet long, which was where we danced—except for the few Coyote Ugly style dances in the Top every Friday night.
Dane was already working the Top when I walked by, his always-present scowl slightly downgrading his hotness factor from fucking gorgeous to gorgeous. Why, oh why, did Captain Cranky Pants have to be so goddamned grumpy all the time?
He didn’t notice me as I slipped into the back, where the dressing room for the dancers was.
A few guys said hi as I changed into my cropped, pink, Playground tee and a pair of boy shorts that said TOP QUALITY on the ass. I rubbed a hand over my buzzed, blond hair, which had been recently cut, and then waited until it was almost time for my dance with Dane. We did it twice through the night, and in between I danced in some of the other areas of the bar.
I’d always been a good performer—dancing, singing, theater—which my parents had supported until I started acting a little too gay. It was definitely something I loved, but it wasn’t what I wanted to do forever. For that other shit, however, I had to find a way for my ass to graduate first.
I went to the Top and grabbed the mic. Dane noticed me then, his jaw set, and I couldn’t help but wonder how much that thing ached every day with how tight it always was. “Loosen up. Is it that bad to have a little fun dancing with me?” I teased.
“I didn’t get this job to dance,” he said through tight lips.
“But it’s an awesome perk, right?”
Dane rolled his eyes. “Can we just get this over with?” he asked, and I noticed he looked a little tired. But the thing was, I was too. I had no idea what the hell he had going on in his life, but mine wasn’t easy either, and I didn’t let that rain on everyone’s parade like he did.
“Fine,” I replied, signaling the DJ. He lowered the music, and I turned the mic on. “You guys know what time it is, right? It’s basically the best night of the week because I get to torture Captain Cranky Pants by making him dance with me. Shh…don’t tell. I think he likes it a little more than he’s willing to admit.” I winked at Dane and could see he wanted to say something a whole lot different instead of playing along.
Dane pulled the mic closer to himself. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
“Oh, sugar, you wouldn’t know what to do with me.”
The whole bar cheered.
“I promise you, that wouldn’t be a problem,” Dane replied, and yeah, okay, my dick was a little interested. He had that whole angry, smoldering thing down pat, and that husky voice of his? Well, it was a good thing Dane wanted nothing to do with me because we’d probably get ourselves in trouble if he did.
“Mmm… I like the sound of that. Maybe I’ll take you up on the offer later. It’ll be a challenge for me…watching that scowl slip away and seeing what your face looks like when you’re totally blissed out.”
Dane opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Patrons whistled and told us to get on with it while someone else told me he’d fuck me instead. Just another typical night in the Playground.
Dane jumped onto the bar. He wore jeans that were loose around the waist, just enough that I knew when I lifted his shirt while we were dancing, I’d see the band of his underwear, which was a weakness of mine. Why the hell was that so hot?
I held my hand out to him. “Be a gentleman and help a girl up.”
He bit his cheek, and I could tell he wanted to tell me where to stick it, but instead he grabbed my hand and pulled me up onto the bar with him. I handed the mic over to one of the other bartenders, and the DJ cut loose, playing our track, just in time for me to turn around, bend over, and rub my ass against Dane’s groin.
There were more cheers, some raunchy and some not. Dane’s hands clutched my hips. He wasn’t hard, but I felt his dick against me, and like always, it made me shudder in the best way.
He pulled me so I was standing straight up, my back against his chest. “Come on,” I said softly, hoping he could hear me. “You gotta like this just a little bit.”
“Why? Because everyone has to want you?”
“I mean…you said it, not me.”