“Problems?” she asked.

Lucky stepped forward, closing the already small gap between them. “Not a one.”

Damn, he looked good. The spicy smell of musk filled her nose, and she noticed his damp hair. Her first thought was what it would be like to shower with Lucky, taking turns washing each other’s backs. At that moment, all she wanted to do was rip off his black Mom’s Biker Bar t-shirt and soap him up. If she were a dude, she would have to be adjusting her own jeans at this point.

Baby decided this wasn’t the time for their banter. They’d both be insane after the foreplay.

“Thanks for getting the door fixed. Mickey’s in a decent mood tonight.” Baby tilted her chin toward the DJ booth.

“Yeah, I didn’t want to deal with his bullshit either. Besides, I enjoyed lunch.”

Baby tried not to blush, but his undertones made the blood soar, turning her caramel-colored cheeks pink. “Ma’Linn thought you looked like you were enjoying it too.”

Lucky gave his lopsided grin, the one that made her body stand at attention, and did his best to play innocent. “Hell, I probably traumatized the poor woman!”

“Oh please, Ma’Linn hasn’t been traumatized a day in her life. Nothing surprises her. Besides, she thinks I was enjoying it too.”

Lucky turned to place his body in front of hers. “Was she right?”

“I think you know the answer to that,” Baby whispered, pinned to the wall. “She thinks I need to, um … well, enjoy myself more often.”

“Damn, I think Ma’Linn might have become my new best friend!”

“Yeah, the stubborn old woman is a wealth of wisdom.” Baby rolled her eyes and smirked.

She heard the end of Coral’s music and got up to get ready for her set. “I have to go. Try to keep yourself out of trouble.” She shot a glance toward the bar where Jewella and Barbie sat, conniving no doubt. She had no idea what they were talking about, but the two were always up to something. “They’re up to no good. Watch yourself.”

“Don’t you worry about me. I know what I’m gonna be watching.” Lucky wagged his eyebrows and let his gaze roam from one end of the leather to the other. It was different when he did it compared to when other men sneered at her. She wanted to vomit when Mickey ogled her. But when Lucky did it, it made her feel like she was in one of those static machines, with every part of her standing at attention, alive.

Baby stood behind the drapes as Coral made her exit. Her intro music started and Mickey made his usual introduction. She heard cheers coming from the crowd, followed by snide remarks and snickering from Jewella and Barbie.

She closed her eyes and tuned out everything but the music, including Lucky, although he proved to be much more of a challenge. Marilyn Manson’s version of “Sweet Dreams” filled the room and her heart thumped to the beat. The only way she would make it through the next six minutes was to surrender every part of herself to the dance. Baby stepped onto the stage, one hand on her hip, and the other swinging at her side as she sauntered toward the pole. She set her sights on the customers who looked like they had money to burn and worked her magic. The big spenders were easy to spot. They had money to blow and wanted everyone to know it.

Her performance was flawless, as usual. The leather was a big hit by looking at all the tips scattered across the stage. Men were still tossing bills in her direction as she collected the tiny pieces of fabric. She threw a few kisses toward the crowd that had gathered, and headed backstage.

She ran downstairs to slip back into her costume. After making sure everything was in its proper place, Baby touched up her lipstick and grabbed a water from her dressing table. The askew bottom drawer caught her attention. She opened the drawer and found her canvas tote bag in disarray. Her throat tightened at the thought of someone digging through her belongings.

She fumbled through the bag and was surprised to find her wallet still inside. Her money and cards were still where they were supposed to be. Nothing had been taken. That only meant one thing. Baby dumped the contents onto the top of the table until she found what she was looking for.

A small manila envelope with her name penciled across the front sat on top of the pile. A note on the back read, for old time’s sake. Her gut told her not to open it, but Baby couldn’t resist. Unclasping the brad, she popped open the envelope to find a small baggie inside. The blood pounded in her head as she held the familiar bag of cocaine.

She glanced over her shoulder to make sure the room was empty. Her trembling hands were sweating. After months of being clean, it was becoming harder rather than easier to fight the urge, and Slade knew it. She used to find his little presents around the club. He’d go so far as to leave stuff in her apartment. He knew firsthand how Baby Jade operated, like clockwork. It was only a matter of time before she caved.

But not today. Baby Jade headed to flush the tiny baggie down the toilet. As she stepped closer, a voice stopped her in her tracks.

“Oh, yeah. Like that. Don’t stop.”

The deep groans coming from behind the closed bathroom door belonged to Slade. She shuddered at the sound, one she knew all too well. She couldn’t make out the woman by the throaty moans, but she definitely knew what they were doing.

“Shit! Oh, shit!”

The raspy moaning became rhythmic, leading to the gasping sounds of an orgasm.

Baby froze in place, still holding the coke in her hand, listening to the commotion coming from the bathroom. As soon as she heard the female voice cry out in a combination of pain and elation, she knew instantly it belonged to Lolli. The sound was familiar. Slade had a consuming case of little man syndrome and attempted to compensate by using force. He was full of aggression and loved to unleash it in the bedroom or bathroom. Actually, anywhere he felt the urge—public or not.

“Oh, shit—Fuck me” Slam “Harder” Slam “Harder” Slam

By the sounds of it, Lolli had figured out how to appease Slade. The only thing he loved more than flexing his muscle was for one of his concubines to beg. She envisioned how he had Lolli bent over the same nasty sink she had once sprawled herself across. A fistful of her hair entwined around his left hand, yanking and pulling while he used his right to squeeze her breasts or slap her ass.

Her stomach churned. She swallowed back the vomit in her throat, and tucked the baggie of coke back in the envelope and tossed it into her bag. She tried to compose herself enough to head back up to the club, not wanting Lucky to ask questions.

Jewella and Barbie were still sitting up at the bar, only now they had a small gathering of hungry tourists. Good. Maybe that’ll keep them out of my hair. Lucky leaned against the wall with arms folded across his chest and legs crossed at the ankles.

He nodded to a couple of men as they walked in. They nodded in return. Having him on as a bouncer seemed to be working out well for the club. He had a presence about him, and he was a master when it came to reading people. He had somehow managed to strip away her every inhibition. Baby Jade still didn’t know how she felt about that special character trait of his.

Once he spotted her, Lucky stood upright. A smile crept across his face as she drew closer. His perfect lips upturned, revealing his deep dimples. Baby could nibble that plump bottom lip for hours. She loved the way he ran his hands over his beard when he didn’t know what to do with himself. She liked that she had that effect on him.

“What’d you think of the set?” Baby Jade asked, her chin quivering as she still tried to control her emotions.

He ran his fingers through his beard, rubbing his chin. “I haven’t been able to focus on anything since. You’re too good to be in this shithole.”