Searching for Always (Page 55)

Her smile reminded him of a shark’s. “I paid good money for you, dude,” she whispered. “Don’t just stand there. Give us a show; we won’t bite.”

“I got money, Officer!” a brunette screamed. “Come and get it!”

No way. This wasn’t really happening, was it?

“I think there’s been a mistake, ma’am,” he said firmly. “I’m not a stripper. I’m a cop.”

The blonde rolled her eyes. “Sure, sure, you’re a cop. Take your shirt off, dance a bit, and arrest someone. I promise I’ll tip you extra. Oh, Kate is the bride, she’s hiding over there.” She pointed a finger at a woman dressed in black with silvery blond hair, squashed behind two of her friends with a scared look on her face.

“She doesn’t look real interested,” he said. “Maybe getting her a stripper wasn’t such a great idea.”

The woman glared at him with whiskey eyes. “Everyone needs a stripper. Now, I’m sorry if you’re suddenly shy and want to choke, but I promise we’ll respect you. Just take some clothes off, shimmy your hips, and make us happy. Deal?” He opened his mouth to tell her no way in hell, he was no damn stripper, but she clapped her hands. “Okay, ladies, our hot policeman is ready! Kate, get your ass in the chair.”

The group screamed and whistled and stamped their feet. Dollar bills waved madly in the air. Women swayed to the beat, waiting for him to take his clothes off.

“Arilyn, help me!” Kate screamed.

Then he saw her.

She walked toward him, weaving her way through the screaming women, and positioned herself right in front of the chair.

Holy. Shit.

Miles of long legs. Feet clad in fuck-me knee-high boots. He groaned as the sudden image of those legs wrapping tight around his hips while he drove inside of her swarmed his vision. Her mouth opened in a little shocked O, and her gorgeous meadow-green eyes were slightly blurred and unfocused. Definitely tipsy. On the way to drunk. She held a green fruity drink—probably an apple martini like Genevieve’s—and wore the tiniest, hottest outfit he’d ever seen.

His gaze pinned her tight, allowing her no escape. Her top was mostly unbuttoned, showing off a huge amount of smooth cleavage, and a bad-girl leather jacket topped the whole thing off. Even her hair was different, the long strands curled in big waves that tumbled over one eye, spilled over her shoulders, and hit her hips.

With no makeup and casual clothes, the woman was gorgeous. Dressed tonight? She was Eve, Helen of Troy, and Kim Kardashian all rolled up into the hottest bundle he’d ever seen.

Her appearance screamed sex, from her pouty red lips, to her come-hither eyes, to her fuck-me boots. There wasn’t a shred of organic cotton in sight, and in that moment, all the blood rushed to his other head and he was toast.

Ignoring the noise and urging of the crowd, he stared helplessly at her, hard as a rock and completely intoxicated.

Her teeth pulled at her lower lip. Her breath made a catchy little moan, and when she finally spoke, her voice came out husky, like she’d spent the night in his bed screaming his name and had nothing left. “What are you doing here?”

“Gen said you wanted to talk to me.”

She blinked. “No. I didn’t even know you were here.”

“I think I was set up. They think I’m a stripper.”

A giggle escaped her lips. Fascinated, he wanted to hear the sound again. She hiccupped. “Kennedy hired a cop stripper. Kate freaked and begged me to take her place.” Her head tipped up to look at him. “I’m her wing woman,” she said proudly.

Damn, she was adorable. “So you’re gonna take the stripper on for the sake of your friend?”

Her eyes heated, roving over him like a hungry she-lion. “Yeah. I am.”

Stone ached all over. He’d give over a damn appendage just to touch her right now. “You’re a good friend. I kinda wish I was the stripper right now.”

Her tongue snaked out and wet her bottom lip. Those eyes heated and took in his uniform with more than a hint of lust. His dick wept. “You look like a stripper,” she whispered.

He moved closer. “You think?”

“Yeah.”

The women roared their frustration, begging him to do something. The blonde looked like she was about to start ripping off his clothes herself for giving her a bad deal. Nothing mattered except the woman in front of him who tortured his body and mind on a daily basis.

“What should I do?”

She reached over, placed her hands on his face, and dragged his head forward. Her breath rushed in his ear.

“Take it off.”

He growled low, ready to grab her, toss her on his shoulder, and take her to bed. Oh, she was brave with the alcohol and her friends and wanted to play now, huh? Did she have any idea he was a master?

“Be careful what you wish for,” he warned. “Payback is a bitch, little one.”

She had the nerve to nip at his earlobe and touch her tongue to the inner shell of his ear. He hissed in agony, and she pulled back a few inches. Smiled. “So you’ve said before. Unless you’re all talk and no action?”

He wasted no more time. She squealed as he tossed her over his shoulder, his hand on the gorgeous curve of her behind, and dumped her right into the chair.

The women screamed with encouragement. He blocked her escape by standing right in front of her, so her gaze was in line with his rapidly growing erection. The music rolled out its sexy rhythm, and Stone decided to teach her a lesson of a lifetime.

He began to take it all off.