Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 122550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
Regent nodded. “So you were paying off the debts by stripping?”
“What else was I supposed to do? A librarian’s salary isn’t much. And I still have student loans. Even though I didn’t have to pay rent when I moved into Mama’s house, the utility bills are still substantial. I knew I wouldn’t even make a dent in the interest. So my friends about what I could do, and we came up with a way for me to earn some more cash.”
“By stripping?” He ran a hand over his face. “You didn’t think to ask your mother for money?”
“No. Mama doesn’t have a lot. And I wouldn’t do that anyway. I was embarrassed and she didn’t really like Lowell.”
“What about coming to me? Why didn’t you do that?”
“Why would I have come to you?”
“Stripping isn’t safe, Jilly. What if a man grabbed you outside the club? What if you were pressured into doing private dances? Or what if you were attacked while getting an Uber home late at night?”
“None of those things happened, though. Santé is actually a pretty good boss. And he hires bouncers to keep us safe. Plus, he agreed that I didn’t have to do private dances.”
Regent shook his head. “He could have changed his mind at any time, pressured you into it. Could you have said no?”
No.
She didn’t mention that she’d been considering doing one or two to accumulate some more cash for the debt fund.
“You said that your friends helped you come up with this plan?”
“One of them works there as a stripper. Then Dan, he’s another neighbor who likes to dress in drag, helped come up with some costumes that were sexy but not too revealing. He and Sasha taught me some moves. I think I’m quite good at it.”
“You are never doing it again, understand me? You are forbidden from stepping foot in that club.”
She gasped. “You can’t forbid me, Regent Malone!”
“Think again, sweet girl. You. Are. Forbidden.”
The nerve of this man.
She went to argue with him, then thought about what she was arguing about. She didn’t actually want to strip anymore.
Especially not when someone seemed to know who she was.
“I don’t like the word forbid. And I don’t think you get to forbid me from doing things.”
He narrowed his eyes and looked like he was going to protest, so she continued quickly.
“But I don’t actually want to strip. I like dancing, but I don’t enjoy doing it like . . . like that.”
The first few times she’d done it, she’d vomited beforehand from sheer nerves. But she’d learned to shut off the part of her that was Jilly and become Nyx.
“Good. I want you to gather up all the information about the debts that Lowell racked up in your name when you’re feeling better.”
“That information is at the house.”
“We’ll get it later, then. Now, who do you think wrote that note?”
“Wait, you said you found it last night. Is that . . . is that why you insisted I come here? That’s why you were packing my bag this morning?”
Not because he’d suddenly realized that he couldn’t resist her and wanted her with him. But because he thought he needed to protect her from whoever was threatening her.
“That’s part of the reason.”
She turned her face away, staring down at her lap. But he grabbed her chin, tilting her head up.
“But it’s not the entire reason. You were always going to end up here, sweet girl. This threat might have sped up the timeline, but this was always going to happen. Deep down, I always knew that. Even if I was fighting it because I didn’t think it was what’s best for you.”
“You’re sure?” she whispered.
“More than sure.” Leaning forward, he kissed her lightly.
“You really shouldn’t kiss me. Germs.”
“I think we’ve already had a conversation about germs,” he admonished her. “No germs are going to stop me from kissing my girl.”
He dipped his head again, brushing his lips over hers.
Oh, Lord.
She could feel her insides heating. Her clit throbbed, wanting more.
“Who wrote the note, baby?”
“I don’t know,” she replied. “Honest, I really don’t. I’m not even sure who they think they’re going to tell.”
“Why is it a big secret? Why the mask?” he asked.
“I needed it so I could become someone else. I . . . I couldn’t do it as Jilly. Jilly wears conservative clothes and never dances in public. Jilly doesn’t go to nightclubs. Jilly never even goes out drinking. She works in a library and dreams her life away. I had to be Nyx in order to have the courage. But also . . . if Margaret found out what I was doing, I know she’d have me fired. Technically, it’s not against my contract, but she’d find a way.”
“Don’t worry about Margaret. She’s getting what she deserves.”
“What do you mean?” she asked with alarm.