Chapter 5

"I can't believe you did that!" Amy laughed, staring at Paige. "I mean you didn't even want to come."

"I bet she does now!" Kim blurted out. They all burst into another round of giggles.

Paige tried to hold back her smile, but she couldn’t stop thinking about the feel of Simon's hands on her. The look in his eyes during their dance sent a thrill of excitement right through her. No one had ever looked at her like that before.

Raising her glass to her lips, Paige drained it quickly, the wet liquid doing nothing to quench her thirst. Kim and Amy continued to discuss the finer details of the dance with the others and Paige sat her empty glass down before she leaned forward and said, "I'll be back, guys."

"Where you going?" Megan asked her.

"Restroom."

"Yeah, splash some cold water on it, that'll cool it down," Kim said, grinning.

"Huh?" Paige raised her eyebrows in question until they all burst out laughing again and she finally caught on to what Kim had meant.

Rolling her eyes, Paige walked away from the table and through a crowd of women. Many of them smiled at her when she passed by them. The announcer stepped back on stage and she grinned when she heard him mention "the dance." A loud whooping roar arose from the crowd when the next dancer was introduced.

Paige walked the darkened halls to the bathroom. She still couldn't believe what had happened. Never in her wildest dreams did she think she'd ever get lost in someone's touch the way she did with Simon. She still couldn't believe it.

Her friends' reaction left her at a loss. She'd never been the bold one. She always did what everyone else said to do. She felt liberated. She floated on a cloud of lust and laughed to herself.

She fought the idea of coming to the club tooth and nail. Now, she was glad they out-voted her. Five minutes in Simon's arms and the night couldn't get any better.

That little dance would provide her many nights of happy dreams.

She reached the bathroom door, a frown covering her face at the large "Out of Order" sign on it. She sighed before whispering, "Great," and looking back down the hall. A waiter walked her way and she smiled when he got closer to her.

"Can I get you anything?" he asked, giving her a long look from head to toe.

Paige almost blushed under his gaze, but after what she'd just done on stage in front of lord-knew how many people, she really didn't see the point. She smiled to herself before she said, "Yes actually. Is there another restroom? This one seems to be out of order."

"Sure. Down the hall, through the double-doors, and it's the first door on the left."

Paige looked to where he pointed. "Thanks." She turned, walked down the hall, and quickly found the bathroom. Once inside, she looked in the mirror, surprised to see how flushed her skin looked. She smiled at her reflection, shaking her head before freshening up.

She gave her hair a toss, and got her over-zealous smile to return to normal before walking back to the door. She swung it open and came face to face with him.

Simon froze when he saw her. A look of complete shock covered her face before she smiled and looked away briefly. He watched her, grinning at her attempt to avoid his stare before letting his eyes travel slowly over her body.

"God, she's so beautiful," he thought staring at her. He thought his lust-clouded mind had swayed his judgment earlier. It hadn't of course. Paige would always be beautiful to him: the embodiment of perfection. She felt like a tiny slice of heaven in his arms.

He grinned at the memory of their dance. Her body so hot and tight around him, her limbs quivering, her mouth begging for a taste… he'd die happy now.

Just as well. His boss would probably kill him for the dance. Personal contact with the customers was a big no-no. You just don't get that close to someone in this line of business. It was dangerous. And he agreed. Especially now. Looking at the small slip of a girl in front of him, Simon knew he was doomed. She'd killed him once, heart and soul, and she'd probably do it again.

He didn't care though. Not at the moment. His mind flashed back to the dance. Her arms around his neck, her sweet breath on his neck and her legs wrapped around him while she rocked her hips with him.

He still couldn't believe she was here. Of all the people to walk through the front door, Paige Foster was the last person he expected.

She fidgeted and he tried to quickly think of something to say before she ran. He could tell by the look on her face she was contemplating it. All the ladies he came into contact with looked scared at one point or another. He laughed to himself thinking it. Paige, scared of him? It was ridiculous. If she only knew who he was she'd run as far and as fast as she could. Back to her group of friends waiting out front.

Of course, she probably hadn't figured it out. Dying his hair blonde helped and he'd traded his glasses for contacts years ago. The added muscle probably helped to. The scrawny, gangly boy he used to see in the mirror, gone forever. He knew for certain she didn't recognize him.

At least not yet.

She looked up at him then and he froze, wondering if she'd guessed. When she only smiled before saying, "Hey," he sighed in relief.

"Hey yourself," he said before taking a step closer to her. "I didn't expect to see you back here."

She giggled, the response obviously a nervous reaction. "The other bathroom wasn't working."

He saw her eyes roll slightly before she sighed and looked down the hall. He stared at her, seeing a bright pink blush staining her cheeks. He almost laughed at the sight. He didn't remember her ever blushing around him in high school; it was always him doing the blushing.

She looked nervous. He could tell by the way she wouldn't look at him. The way she chewed on her bottom lip. She looked away from him like a shy schoolgirl and he wanted to dance for joy.

Paige felt completely stupid in that moment. Could she have said anything more lame? Who gives a shit if the bathroom isn't working? She wanted a hole to crawl in to. A very deep hole.

She stole another quick look at him and felt her cheeks burn hotter. Why did he affect her like this? She'd never been scared to talk to a man. Of course, most men she found herself talking to didn't look like a walking poster for sex addicts. He was without a doubt, the hottest thing she'd ever seen.

Her face flamed then. He caused her to act like a giddy teenager with her first crush. A big sign of trouble. She would screw this up. No doubt about it.

"So, enjoying your evening?" he asked.

"Can't complain," Paige said, softly. Her mind flashed back to their dance and the way his body felt pressed up against her. Her smile widened before she got it under control and looked up at him.

Paige felt all the air leave her body at the look on his face. She wondered if he could hear her heart beating when it started pounding against her rib cage. He smiled that wonderfully seductive smile and his eyes traveled slowly over her body.

He stood there unmoving, staring at her for long minutes. He tilted his head to the side before saying, "That's a nice color on you."

Oh God, I'm probably three shades of red! Paige felt her face burn hotter at the thought. She lifted a hand to her cheeks, feeling to see if they were as hot as they felt before giggling lightly. "Well, it is kind of hot in here," she said, looking away from him for a second.

Simon grinned then, sucking his bottom lip in between his teeth before looking at her from head to toe. "I was talking about the dress, gorgeous," he said quietly.

His eyes drank her in, roaming over her flesh to the point she could have swore she felt something brush against her skin. A small tingle started in the pit of her stomach, working its way through her limbs until it landed between her legs. She clamped her thighs together hoping to stop the sensation.

"Oh! Of course you were," Paige laughed, embarrassed. She closed her eyes briefly and hoped for the mother of all earthquakes to shake the building down around her. "Oh.My.God, kill me now."

"So, tell me gorgeous, did you come back here in hopes of finding me, or is that just wishful thinking on my part?"

Paige looked back up and instantly noticed he'd stepped closer to her. She swallowed the lump in her throat, watching him lean his head to one side. He couldn’t seem to stop looking at her. Not that she minded any.

She smiled, watching his eyes drink her in. She didn't know why but, the word, "maybe," was out of her mouth in an instant. Sure it was a lie, but what he didn't know wouldn't hurt, right?

The smile he gave her almost did her in. "You do realize, that I'll be obligated to repeat tonight's performance every night now, don't you?"

"That wasn't your normal routine?" She looked up with heavy lidded eyes, hopping it wasn't. His gaze burned into her flesh and she’d never wanted anything so badly in her life.

She stared at his lips, wondering if they were as soft as they looked before biting down lightly on her own. She wanted just a taste. A small sip from his lips and she could die a happy woman.

Simon stepped closer to her, his eyes roaming over her face before traveling the length of her body. It was the same look he'd given her on stage and just one tiny glance from him had her restless.

"No. Rules state no touching," he whispered.

Paige nodded her head at him, watching as his attention turned to her neck. She swallowed hard when he lifted his hand and ran his finger down the side of it.

"That's too bad," she said in a breathy whisper. His finger trailed down the column of her neck before skimming her collarbone. Lazy patterns were drawn on her skin, leading to her chest. He stopped when he reached the top of her left breast and she almost cried out, "Don't Stop!"

"That it is," he replied, his eyes roaming over the flesh his finger circled.

The soft skin of her breast burnt from his touch. Paige fought the urge to close her eyes as his fingers ghosted across her skin. Her breasts ached with need. She felt her nipples harden in response before she took a deep breath and glanced down the hall.

They were alone in the dimly lit corridor and the music coming from out front caused her mind to race with thoughts of how he'd felt pressed against her body earlier.

She looked back up at him and could tell by the look on his face what he wanted.

Lord help her, she wanted it too. Right here on the floor, if that were as far as he'd go. She didn't care as long as those perfect lips were searing her skin and those hands held her close.

Of course, reality reared its ugly head. He was a total stranger and good girls like her didn't fuck total strangers, but…

Would it be so bad to see where this could lead? Surely he wasn't all about sex, right? He was, after all, a human. He had feelings and stuff. His entire life didn't revolve around getting naked for a hoard of screaming woman.

But what would her friends think? Would they encourage her or tell her how stupid she was like they use to do? He was an exotic dancer, after all. He could have any girl he wanted. He was proving the point now.

Looking up into Simon's blue eyes, she knew one thing. She wanted him. She wanted him more than anything she'd wanted in a long time. Her body practically screamed with the need for him. Sure, it was probably the alcohol talking, but she'd hate herself in the morning if she didn't at least get a small taste of him. What would it hurt?

She smiled before looking down at his hand where his fingers grazed the tops of her breast. She clung to every ounce of courage she had before saying, "That's a little unfair, don't you think?"

"What's that?"

Paige took a step closer to him, closing the distance between them and leaned into his hand, smiling when it flattened out over her chest. "That you get to touch and I don't?"

Simon raised his eyes, looking up at her and a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "No one's stopping you, beautiful."

Paige grinned in triumph and threw all her reservations out the window. She raised her arm, hesitating for only a few seconds, before running a hand over his robe-covered chest and slipping inside the material.

She knew it had to be the alcohol making her act so brazenly but didn't care. She ran her hand over his chest, once again feeling the muscles under her fingertips. His small nipples were pulled tight and she heard him suck in a quick breath when she flicked one with her fingernail.

She glanced up at his face and felt her heart skip a beat. The heat in his gaze caused her entire body to clench. She wasn't sure what it was about him that drew her to him, but she wanted more. She wanted his arms around her, his breath tickling her skin and his hands caressing her flesh.

She could feel his breathing increase as his chest expanded quickly under her hand. She almost moaned in response when her hand rounded over the muscles under his flesh. They were hard and lean and she brought her hand lower, tracing the dips around the defined abdominal muscles and explored the smooth skin she found. A thin line of hair started just below his navel and she ran her fingers through it before she looked back up at him.

Paige had never seen an expression of pure want directed at her like the one she saw now. She felt truly beautiful in that moment and raised her other hand, pushing it under the soft material of his robe.

She ran her hand up his chest and around to the back of his neck to twirl her fingers in the short hair she found there. She looked into his eyes, noting the darkening irises before glancing at his lips. They were full and almost too feminine for his face. She stared at his lips before she unconsciously licked her own.

Simon saw the small pink tip of her tongue dart out to wet her lips before tucking the bottom between her teeth and almost cried in victory. He wanted nothing more in that moment than to taste it for himself.

He kept silently repeating the word "breath" to himself as Paige's hand burned a trail across his skin. She stared up at him and in all the high school fantasies he'd ever had about her, nothing ever came close to this. The feel of her warm hands on his flesh sent chills up his spine and he wanted nothing more than to throw her to the ground and fuck her to within an inch of her life.

He could feel his erection growing and willed it away. He watched her, took in the look on her face and the feel of her hands on him. Her eyes clouded over with lust and he could tell she wanted him just as badly as he wanted her. He took it as a signal to do what he had wanted to do since the first time he ever laid eyes on her.

The hand resting on her chest slid down slowly over her breast, pausing for only a second to feel the weight of it. She sighed softly at the action before moving it down to her waist. He lifted his other arm, wrapping it tightly around her and looking into her eyes before he lowered his head.

His eyes were torn between the soft pink expanse of her lips to her large hazel eyes that were clouded with desire for him. He hesitated for only a second before he kissed her.

She gasped softly into his mouth before her eyes fluttered shut, her body slacking against his. He raised a hand, tangling his fingers in her hair and pulling her tighter to him. The heat he'd felt on the dance floor returned instantly when her tongue slid across his bottom lip before darting inside.

He felt her shudder in his arms and he fought to keep a level head about him. Her moist, warm mouth sucked him in, devouring him, until nothing else existed but the feel of her in his arms. Her kisses were soft and seeking and he let her explore willingly.

She moaned deliciously, her hand still inside his robe burning his flesh. The sounds she made deep in her throat, the smell of her perfume and the feel of her hands pulling at him caused his reserve to crack. He backed her up against the wall, crushing her body to his and hungrily took everything he ever wanted. He kissed her like the earth was ending and she was his only way to survive.

She gasped for air, breaking the contact, before once again covering his mouth with hers. If possible the kiss demanded more from him. Her tongue swept through his mouth, her lips sucking him in and he couldn't get enough of her.

She felt glorious; better than he ever imagined she would. Her hand ran up and down his back, their tongues lazily sweeping across the other. He pulled her tighter against him, her scent and the warmth of her body pulling him into a place he never thought he'd be.

The years of wanting her, the endless nights of wondering who she finally allowed into her world came crashing down around him in that moment. All the memories, the nights of yearning for her touch and for the chance to show her how they could be together overwhelmed him. He'd show her he could be a man she could love.

She'd never forget him after tonight. He'd make sure of it.

Paige moaned into his mouth, getting swept away by the feel of him under her hands and the way she seemed to fit perfectly in his arms. His leg slipped between hers and she fought the urge to grind herself against him. His kiss was ravaging, her mind blank to everything but him. Her body screamed for more and she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep her wits about her.

She vaguely heard someone clear their throat before she opened her eyes. Seeing one of the dancers walk down the hall behind them, she gasped and tried to push Simon away from her. Her face flamed from being caught and she took large gulps of air and tried to calm her racing heart.

Simon looked at her startled, turning his head in the direction she was looking. He smiled when he turned back to her. "Guess the hall isn't the most appropriate place for this, now is it?"

Paige looked at him. "No, I guess not," she said, embarrassed and disappointed they were interrupted.

He stared at her for long minutes before once again closing the distance between them "So, do you want to finish this now… or later?" he asked, lowering his head to kiss her neck.

Paige felt the tingle start low in her stomach, his voice singing through her body. The heavy breathing she finally won control over became ragged again when she felt his tongue slide up her neck.

Did she really want this?

The tingles were once again running laps up and down her spine when his lips ran circles over the tender flesh just below her ear. Simon pressed himself against her, his tongue tracing the shell of her ear. Lowering his hand, he ran it over her thigh before brining it up her leg and under the hem of her dress.

"So, what's it going to be beautiful… now or later?"

Paige's eyes closed and the sound of his voice in her ear, along with the feel of his hand inching its way up over her bare hip, had her ready to throw him to the floor right there. He tugged on the side of her panties, the material slipping down her hip and the answer was obvious.

Opening her mouth, she was surprised to find her voice suddenly gone. Her words came out in a puff of air rather than an audible sound.

She felt Simon smile against her neck when she finally got the word, "now," out before he lifted his head to look at her. Neither one said a word when he backed up and grabbed her hand.

"Follow me."

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