Pretend You're Mine (Inked Hearts 3)

She spins until she’s a blur of bare skin and lingerie.

The hip-hop song shifts to the next. She dismounts. Looks out to the crowd—there are a dozen people seated at the stage and another two dozen at tables and booths.

The crowd looks back. Claps and hoots as the woman in red unhooks her bra and drops it beneath her.

Dean motions to an empty table in the back. Cuts through the room as the dancer leaps onto the pole. Upside down. Her hair hangs off her head. Her boobs fall toward her face.

It’s an awesome trick—she’s upside freaking down—but it’s weird watching her do it topless.

I follow Dean to the table. Ryan pulls out my chair for me. A gentleman even at a strip club. That’s so Ryan. And this whole thing is so Dean.

The dancer dismounts, struts around the pole, grabs onto it and spins.

“This place is classier than I expected.” Ryan sits next to me. “For you.”

Dean chuckles. “I have exquisite taste.”

Iris looks to me and raises a brow. “She is really acrobatic.” She looks to the stage curiously.

Walker chuckles as he wraps his arms around her. “Getting ideas, sweetness?”

“Maybe.” She slides onto his lap.

He pulls her closer. Presses her lips to her neck.

“Shit. We didn’t have to come here. We’ve got a free show.” Dean claps.

“You shouldn’t upstage her.” Ryan chuckles.

“What if we get her blessing?” Walker murmurs into Iris’s neck.

She mumbles some sort of yes, please, don’t stop.

“Fuck, we lost ‘em.” Dean shakes his head. How wrong. His eyes light up as a blonde in a school girl outfit approaches us.

“Would you care for a dance?” She tugs at Dean’s tie.

“Later. I’m waiting for the guest of honor.” He shoots her a sweet smile.

She looks to the rest of us with invitation.

Kristen stares with curiosity.

Walker and Iris continue necking.

Ryan shakes his head no thanks.

Her eyes fix on me.

I clear my throat. “Maybe later.”

She nods, spins on her Lucite heel, and leaves.

I scoot closer to Ryan. “It won’t hurt my feelings if you want a lap dance.”

His blue eyes narrow. “Think about everything you know about me and reconsider that statement.”

“Most guys enjoy attractive women in their laps,” I say.