Page 101 of Her Selfless Warrior (Omega Sky)
Lark rolled her eyes at him but planted her ass into the hard seat of the truck rental as she waited for him to open the passenger side door for her.
“You know, this wasn’t really necessary,” she grumbled as she took the hand he held out to her.
“Normally it wouldn’t be, but with a bunch of horny men around, I think it’s good to let them know early on that you’re taken.”
He had a point.
“Where’s Gideon?”
Kostya shrugged. “He’s around.”
It took them more than a minute to weave through all the big pickups parked on the uneven parking lot, many of them not bothering to park within the designated white lines. Yep, they were in for a fine time tonight. Lark wished she could say that she would have felt just as comfortable without Kostya’s presence, but she made it a habit not to lie to herself. She looked up at him out of the corner of her eye. He looked good in his black jeans, cowboy boots, and the white t-shirt that lovingly molded across his chest.
How in the ever-loving hell can I be thinking of sex again? Down, girl!
Kostya shot her a knowing grin. Lark flipped her hair and turned her head away from him, and of course, she heard him chuckle. She rolled her eyes yet again but had to grin. The damn man got her. It was nice. Another reason that she might, possibly, could be, a little bit, in love with him.
Kostya opened the door to the strip club and the sound was loud enough to almost push her backward, but Kostya was right behind her to hold her steady. It was dark as she stepped inside, but not dark enough to miss the bouncer who looked her over and leered. Then he looked up behind her and his expression immediately changed.
“Forty bucks,” he said to Kostya. Lark started reaching for her purse, but Kostya put his hand over hers.
He chuckled at the man. “You’re charging her a cover? You’re kidding me, right?”
“With you standing over her all night, hell yes,” the bald behemoth said.
Kostya handed the man a twenty-dollar bill over Lark’s head.
“I said forty.” He glared at Kostya.
“Do you really want to do this?” Kostya sounded bored. Lark had no idea what kind of expression he had on his face, but whatever it was, the man took the bill and stepped aside for them to pass by.
Lark didn’t bother to ask what had happened; she was too busy combing the room for any sign of Candy. She had no idea why she thought it was dark when she had first walked in because it wasn’t. There were lights all over the place. Scratch that. There were lights all over the stage. She looked at the three girls currently gyrating around the poles, wearing the tiniest thongs that had ever been created, and wondered if one of them was even old enough to drive.
Kostya led her around many tables until she found herself being lifted up on a tall stool at a high-top table.
“When are you going to stop staring?” Kostya whispered in her ear.
Holy hell, Lark realized how it must look, and her blush had to have turned her entire upper body fire engine red. Kostya was out and out laughing at her when she turned to face him.
“They’re putting on quite the show, aren’t they?” His eyes were dancing.
“Yes, they are. I’ve seen this in movies, hell even on TV shows, but never in person.”
“So is this something you’re thinking about as a backup job if journalism takes a dive?” Kostya asked with a twinkle in his eyes.
“Ah, no. First, I’m not young enough. Second, I’m not flexible enough. Third, and most importantly, I’m not brave enough.”
“You forgot number four,” he said as he stroked his hand down her arm, and she shivered.
“What’s number four?”
“Your man wouldn’t allow it.”
Wouldn’t allow it.
Lark let those words simmer for a while, watching Kostya study her. He’d definitely thrown down, but she didn’t feel annoyed in the slightest. As a matter of fact, she really liked Kostya’s caveman attitude…aboutthis one thing.
She grinned up at him.
