“Do not feed into him,” Maxim mutters, turning to look at me. “If you smile or laugh, he will think you think he’s funny, then he’ll never stop.”
“He’s a little funny,” I whisper, and he sighs, then his eyes go to my door and narrow. I turn to see what he’s looking at and notice Malo has moved to my side of the car. Just when he starts to reach for the handle, Maxim presses the lock button for the doors.
“Get the fuck away from her door,” Maxim orders.
“Aww, man, come on. Don’t be an idiot,” Malo says, looking across me to his brother.
“You’re not opening her door for her,” Maxim tells him, and I look at my guy, wondering if he bumped his head and I didn’t know about it.
“I’m a gentleman. Gentlemen open doors. You should know that. Mom taught it to both of us.”
“I’ll open her door for her,” Maxim bites out, and I shake my head and reach for the handle. “Do not open that.”
“Didn’t we just talk about you not telling me what to do?” I ask him, and his jaw clenches. “He’s your brother.”
“You have to get out at some point,” Malo taunts through the window. “Are you sure you like this guy, April? It’s obvious he’s a little off his rocker.” He rolls his finger around his ear.
“I’m going to kick his ass.”
“I heard that, and again, you know Mom wouldn’t be very happy with you if you did.”
“Is he always like this?” I ask Maxim, trying not to laugh.
“Since the day he was born, he’s been a fucking pain in the ass.”
“You’re just mad that Mom stopped paying so much attention to you when I was born,” Malo says, resting his elbows on the roof of the car and looking through the window, giving me puppy dog eyes. “He’s always been jealous of me. It’s sad, really.”
“You’re a troublemaker,” I tell him, seeing the twinkle in his eye that lets me know he likes annoying his brother—maybe a little too much.
“I just want to make sure you exit the vehicle safely.”
“Right.” I laugh, then look over at Maxim when he opens his door, and his eyes lock with mine.
“Climb over.”
“What?” I ask, sure that I heard him wrong, glancing from his seat to him.
“Climb over.” He holds out his hand to me, and I look down at it, then shake my head.
“I’m not climbing over.” I roll my eyes and hear his curse when I turn away and push my door open. Before I even have the chance to get both my feet on the ground, arms wrap around me and drag me the rest of the way out. I let out a yelp when I’m lifted off my feet, then groan when I’m shaken from side to side and squeezed way too tightly.
“Give her to me,” Maxim demands while his hands wrap around my hips. He pulls, but Malo doesn’t let go.
“Make me,” Malo heckles.
“Put her down,” Maxim orders while I’m tugged in the opposite direction of his brother.
“No.”
Feeling like a stuffed animal being fought over, I yell at the top of my lungs, “Oh my God, let me go!” Almost immediately, Malo releases his hold on me, but thankfully Maxim keeps his grip firm so I don’t end up on my face. After getting my feet under me, I look at Maxim’s brother and narrow my eyes on him.
“Oh shit,” he whispers, taking a step back.
“Babe,” Maxim says, sounding like he’s trying not to laugh.
Ignoring him, I take a step toward Malo and point at him. “If you ever manhandle me like that again, I will cut off your balls and proudly take them to your mother. Nod if you understand.”
“Totally,” he agrees, nodding, then he looks over my shoulder at Maxim with wide eyes.
“Don’t look at him. He’s not going to be able to save you,” I say, straightening my clothes and realizing that maybe my romper is a little short, since half my ass feels like it’s hanging out. After making sure everything is where it should be and all my bits and pieces are covered, I go to the car and reach in for my bag that is still sitting between the driver and passenger seats. After slamming the door closed, I turn around to face both guys. “Are we staying out here or going inside?”
“Inside,” Malo says quickly while Maxim grins.
“Then lead the way.” I wave my hand out from my body toward the door on the back of the building, and Malo hustles to walk in front of us.
“Fuck, I love your attitude, baby.” Maxim rests his hand against my lower back and kisses the side of my head while my heart goes into hyperdrive, pushing every drop of blood in my body to my toes. “Melanie is going to love this. I think you’re the first person to ever scare Malo.”
I laugh, because I think that’s what I’m supposed to do, but really all I can think about is the word love coming out of his mouth and how I want to hear him say it again and again. Only I want it to be me he loves, not a facet of my personality.
We reach the door that Malo is standing in front of, and he looks between the two of us with a strange look on his face, then pushes down the handle and pulls. As soon as it’s open, I expect to hear music, but instead I’m met with silence. We step into a dark hall and pass a few closed doors before Malo opens one to a set of stairs.
After following him up two flights, he opens another door, and I enter behind him and look around, finding that we are in an almost studio apartment minus the bed. A picture window behind a dark wood desk casts a blue light throughout the room, with a leather couch that looks warn in and extremely comfortable tucked against one wall. A small kitchen takes up the other half of the room with a tall table and stools acting as an island.
Glancing around, Maxim’s statement about when he first opened his club and living in the city but learning quickly that he needed to be away from the nightlife makes a lot more sense. Especially if this is where he was living.
Walking to the table in the kitchen area, I set down my bag next to a stack of unopened mail and boxes, then make my way to the window, curious about the blue glow that seems to be the same color as the billboard sign outside the club. When I reach the glass, I look out to the club below and bite my lip. Around the entire perimeter of the room are different style bathrooms. One is a clear glass shower with white tile, another a glass claw-footed tub with antique-looking tiles on the floor. Each bathroom has a different vibe, each one with a woman putting on a show for the men seated on couches like the one in this office, while waitresses dressed in very skimpy robes or nighties walk around with trays of drinks. The lack of clothing makes it clear that this is a strip club, but it’s unlike any club I have ever seen in my life.
I feel Maxim get close, and his hand rests on my lower back as a light comes on down to the right of us. Even with glass between us, the room seems to hum with energy, and a moment later, a woman wearing heels and a tight business skirt and jacket enters what looks like a modern bathroom designed in all black and grays through a door and closes it. As she proceeds to sensuously undress down to a black bra, thong, and garter belt attached to thigh highs, the men in the room seem to become hyperaware of every move she makes. Like they are there in her home with her, waiting for the moment they can join her in the shower when she turns it on.