Letting Loose!

Tyler tightened his hand on the balcony rail, which felt very solid beneath his fingers, an anchor of sorts. “You know this is crazy, don’t you? I’ve never done anything this crazy, even in college.”

“You only live once, so a little crazy isn’t a bad thing.”

Tyler reluctantly let go of the rail, and then made his way back inside through the crush of people to Sheila, who immediately draped herself over him. Absently, he ran his hand down the silky smooth skin of her bare leg. If he’d been interested, the dress she had on would have made for excellent access, and because he was accustomed to taking advantage of such access, his fingers crept under the hem.

When he looked across the room Tina had moved in closer to the stripper. Her expression was hard, as if she’d caught his move on Sheila.

Could Nelson be right? Could Tina be just a little jealous? Tyler’s naughty fingers slid deeper under Sheila’s dress. For the first time in the evening he was aroused and Sheila obligingly rubbed up against him as she leaned in to whisper intimately in his ear.

Tyler didn’t have a clue as to what Sheila said to him. She was just like all the other women in his life. They’d take one look at him and his bank book and they’d trip all over themselves to get to him. It didn’t feel real, and it certainly wasn’t a challenge.

As far as he was concerned, Tina was the only woman in the room worth going for. Practically grinding his teeth, he watched her sliding bills in the stripper’s thong with bold, seductive moves, unabashedly stroking the man. And the stripper enjoyed her attention.

Why not? Tina’s tall figure might not be generous but she was perfectly proportioned, graceful and charismatic. Her straight hair complimented that narrow face, and she had those gorgeous changeable hazel eyes. When he’d made love to her, those eyes had gone a soft golden color that he desperately wanted to see again.

If he had any doubts about his plan to get Tina, now was the time to give them up. The Bandit was going to have Tina tonight over Tyler’s dead body. No one knew anything about the man. He might harm her, or worse, he might please her.

Tyler intended to touch and caress Tina until she begged, and then possess her fully, if only for one more night. He doubted Tina would ever commit to anyone—she’d come out and told him that she wasn’t interested. He wasn’t supposed to be hurt because she didn’t do relationships. It had been fun: the cruise, the fling afterward, a short-term romance. She’d laid it all out for him, explaining patiently that she didn’t want more. That she needed nothing from him or anyone else.

It only made him crazy wondering. Why was she so independent? And why, when he’d already scored with her, did he still dream about her? He hadn’t actually had sex with a woman since he’d been with Tina that last night at her home. She’d wound herself around him all night long, and then woken him up with a cup of coffee and a boot out the door. Later, she’d explained why she preferred not to see him again. Logically. Coolly.

It only made him burn.

So what would she think about a man crazy enough about her to do something really desperate? Tyler wondered bleakly. Would she be cool or could he make her burn?

“DOES OUR Bandit need a ride home?” The female voice drifted through the closed restroom door as Tyler awkwardly buckled the last piece of the loin plate into place.

“That’s probably Lindsay. She must have dropped almost a hundred trying to get a hold of my cock.” The stripper chuckled softly as he tucked his T-shirt into his jeans. Tyler thought he would probably be a huge disappointment to his audience if they could see him now. He looked just like a regular guy.

“I’ll be walking him out.”

This time it was Tina’s voice. She sounded as if she hired a stripper every night of the week, and it made Tyler wince as he adjusted his newly acquired faux fur.

“Good for you.”

Lindsay again, dripping venom.

The Bandit picked his head up. “Wow, Lindsay sounds lethal. You might have to rescue your lady.” The guy stuffed Nelson’s money carelessly into his pocket.

“Believe me, Tina can handle herself.”

“I don’t know, that lady, Lindsay, sounds like she wants to walk all over someone in those tiny little heel and leave a trail of bloody gouge marks behind. It would be an awesome cat fight. Too bad you paid me to get lost.”

“I’m glad you remember. Can you wait here for at least fifteen minutes?”

“Sure, man, good luck. Just remember to grind it.” The stripper thrust his hips forward. “That’s the secret to success.”

Tyler tried moving in the leather, and the chains clinked all over his body. He felt as if he were going into an ancient battle. The Bandit had put the whole costume he’d stripped off during the show, including the mask and loin plate, on Tyler. The fur draped over his shoulders helped to hide the difference in his skin tone.

“There are some toys in the bag.”

“Toys?”

“Some chains, cuffs, a blindfold. There are some whips and more leather. A decent piece of fur. Some ladies get off on the fur, some on the pain.” He shrugged. “You never know.”

“Sounds like you’ve moonlighted before.”

The stripper held his hands out. “Hey, it’s my job to please the ladies.”

“And you take your job seriously.” Tyler looked into the mirror. He didn’t look like a bandit; the fur made him look more like a Neanderthal.

He grimaced. Could this possibly work? Or would Tina take one look at him and laugh in his face?

He’d better see if he could grind it. He thrust his hips forward and the ridiculous loin plate exaggerated his movements.

The stripper nodded. “Not bad. You’re buff enough. Good abs. Just try to tilt your pelvis towards the ceiling.”

He tried again. I hope I don’t throw my back out again. Because of his old football injury, he sometimes had trouble with the muscles in his lower back.

But this time it would be worth it. Better than winning the homecoming game, better than anything.

“That’s perfect.” The stripper adjusted a few of the straps and then tucked things in. “Now you’re all set.”

“Thanks for your help.”

“No problem. I made a fortune tonight.”

Tyler took a deep breath and he opened the door. Tina stood directly outside. Her face was flushed, and she leaned forward on the balls of her feet as if anticipating…something more than she should have expected when hiring a stripper.

She smiled a slow, intimate smile. “Wow, you look so primitive.” It came out like a purr. “I thought you might have gotten more comfortable. Taken something off…”

“I didn’t think that’s what you had in mind,” he said deeply, suggestively. His loins swelled. He couldn’t seem to help it.

Tina’s baser instincts appeared to be fully engaged, and he planned to fully enjoy them.

Or was it the alcohol?

Why did he care? Suddenly he felt as primitive as he looked. He’d taken matters into his own hands, and all he wanted was to throw her over his shoulder and give her everything she appeared to want from him.

“You took so long and I’m so…ready,” she breathed.

Tyler sucked in a breath at the sight of those heavy eyes and slick mouth. Her nipples stood at attention, and he had to clench his hands to keep from reaching out and touching her.

“Lead the way.” Fortunately, the stripper hadn’t spoken in a normal voice during the show. His deep tones had obviously been for effect. Tyler just hoped Tina was too drunk to notice the difference.

“My pleasure.” She took his arm and led him to the elevators, leaning heavily on him.

He should have felt stupid dressed as a Neanderthal, but Tina’s reaction had him getting into the part, especially when the elevator doors closed, and she boldly reached around him to pat his ass and then squeeze his buns.