Cuff me now, p.1
Cuff Me Now, page 1
part #8 of Galactic Courtship Series
Books By Lily Thomas
Giant Wars Series
Loving His Fire
Grounded By Love
Melted By Love
Wicked Flames of Desire
Galactic Courtship Series
Xacier’s Prize
Claiming His Champion
Captivating the Doctor
Escaping the Hunt
Abducting the Ambassador
Wicked Prisoner
Seducing the Enemy
Cuff Me Now
Challenging the Arena
Dark Desires in Space
His Fallen Star
Ice Age Alphas
The Sabertooth’s Promise
Cuff Me Now
Lily Thomas
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2018 by Lily Thomas
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce the book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information email lilysamanthathomas@yahoo.com.
www.lilythomasromance.com
ISBN: 9781980968887
ISBN: (ebook) B07CRFMQ7G
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 1
Vivian stretched her arms over her head and pulled her jaw wide as she yawned and looked over at her alarm clock, seven at night. It was time for her to get up out of her super soft covers and get to work. Being late wouldn’t be tolerated when your boss was a Vrak’rir.
Yet another day of desperate men watching women show off their bodies and a skanky outfit to spike their interest. It wasn’t like she didn’t enjoy her job, but it got a little boring after a while. Once one stripped in front of a group of men, it became a little yawn-worthy. At least, in her mind it did. The same men came around desperate for a woman to show some sort of interest even if they had to pay for the attention.
Rolling off the side of her bed, she bounced up onto the balls of her feet and plodded into the bathroom her feet sliding a couple of times on the metal plating of her floor. Her eyes zeroed in on the mess of hair on top of her head. It looked like she’d been making love to her pillow. Running a few fingers through it, she tamed the blonde hair back to its straight strands.
Quickly, she dashed for her clothing, which were sprawled across the ground of her bathroom. She whipped on a black skirt and a cherry red top. The skirt barely covered her butt, and the top really wasn’t much of a top. It was more of a bra with how much skin it covered. It left her belly button bare and dipped dangerously low on her full breasts. One false move and they’d spill all over the place, which was kind of the point of her job.
She slipped on one high-heeled boot and then danced around her apartment like a buffoon trying to find the other one. Eventually, she located it laying under her couch. Ripping it on, she zipped up the side and left her apartment in a flutter of rushed movement.
The door secured itself behind her automatically. There was a chip in her arm that would unlock and lock the door depending on the proximity to the little black box on her door.
Her heels clomped down the stairs. It wasn’t the best apartment, but it saved her money each month, which was precisely what she wanted to do. Someday she’d have enough to either buy a better apartment or buy a ticket off this planet, Guit’re.
Guit’re was a planet that was falling to ruin. The authorities were doing their best, but the tide of mobsters moving in just wouldn’t stop, and the crime rate was skyrocketing off the charts. Even if she bought a nicer apartment, she’d still have to deal with an ever-rising amount of crime.
It was hard to get into the few safe areas on Guit’re unless you had an in already in place, which she definitely didn’t.
A man and woman stepped out of their apartment and stumbled around, a couple drinks already in their hands, ready to get the night started.
Vivian quickly sidestepped to avoid having a drink spilled on her. She didn’t have time to change into clean clothes. Nor did she want to smell like alcohol.
Dashing down the rest of the stairs she made her way out into the cooling world. The sun was basically gone and the night’s fingers grabbed onto everything in its path.
Her heels clicked against the pavement as she made her way to the club where she worked.
A man perked up, as she passed by a building.
“How much?” He asked in a slurred voice clearly too far into his drinks.
“Too much for you.” She kept walking. There was no point in giving him much attention. It would only spur him on.
“Oh, come on, baby! You know you want me just as much as I want you.” He continued to slur like the idiot he was. He was dreaming if he thought she wanted his drunk butt anywhere near her.
Couldn’t a woman just walk around without suffering harassment? She might be a lady of the night, but that didn’t mean she didn’t have any standards as to who she serviced. And a drunk was not on her list of clients. She was into men who could pay for her time. Money was her only goal right now.
The club came into view as she continued walking, but she could still hear the drunkard following behind her with shuffled footsteps. She was nearly there! He had to give up. Slowly, she picked up her pace not wanting to be too obvious.
The metal door of the club could be seen. She was mere feet away from it.
Fingers wrapped around her arm, and she was whipped around harshly. Vivian came face to face with the human man. His stale breath insulted her nose, and it crinkled up as the man panted in her face.
“Let go of my arm.” She said firmly, not a shred of fear in her voice.
“You need a man.” He leered into her face.
She really wanted to come back with a quip about having several men but decided that might only entice him further. Then she wished she could say, “You’re right, I need a man, let me know when you see one. You also need a frigging toothbrush.”
Instead, she opted for, “I’m meeting my boyfriend here, and he won’t be pleased if he sees you bothering me.”
“Come on now, my sweet.” He leaned in, and his breath made her gag a bit. “All I want is a little attention and maybe a kiss from your sweet lips.”
Bile rose up in her throat as she thought about placing her lips against his. There was no way she would do that.
“There you are, dear. I never thought you would show.” A deep voice said from behind her.
She was unable to see the person behind her since she was currently entrapped by the drunkard, but the voice sounded familiar, so she hoped it was a rescue swooping in to save her.
“Who are you?” The drunkard stared over her shoulder, his eyes having a hard time focusing on the person behind her.
“I’m the boyfriend she spoke of earlier.”
“A Krocosian?” The man seemed bewildered.
Ah, yes, she did know who’d come to her rescue. There was only one Krocosian who’d be nearby and coming to her rescue.
“Yes, now leave her alone.” The deep voice behind her broke no argument. The man would have to be stupid to refuse a Krocosian.
“I found her first.” The man slurred.
A growl sounded from behind her, and then the Krocosian strode into view, seized the man’s wrists, and squeezed until the drunkard released his hold on her.
Vivian backed up a few paces.
The Krocosian twisted the man’s arms behind his back, leaned in near the drunkard’s ear, and said something she was unable to pick up on. Then he pushed the man away who stumbled because of the force and the amount of drink in his system, and then the Krocosian strode back towards her.
“You doing alright, Vivian?” His black irises skimmed over her searching for any marks on her.
“Yes, thank you, Salxohor.”
“Good to know I’m your boyfriend.” He teased with a playful wink.
Vivian let out a laugh. “Works for me!” She threw an arm around his waist and hugged him. “I’d take you as my boyfriend any day of the week.”
Since Salxohor was a Krocosian, it meant he would someday meet his mate, but it wasn’t her. If it were her, he’d be after her in a split second. Didn’t mean she couldn’t appreciate the fine specimen of a man in front of her though. He had a good personality, always friendly, and always ready to defend any of the women at the club, no questions asked.
Not to mention those two impressive grey horns on his head. Usually, those were enough to scare away anyone stupid enough to annoy one of the women in the club. No one wanted to mess with an alien man who was built like a bodybuilder and looked like a demon from the pits of hell.
“Thank you again.” She said as they entered the club and the thump of music penetrated her bones, and he took his position near the front door.
“Any day.” He folded his arms in front of his chest, and she nearly swooned with the pleasure that spiked through her at the sight of his bulging muscle. The grey horns on his head just made him seem scarier and so much sexier.
Managing to get her raging lusts under control she made her way further into the club. It was already growing packed with eager men who couldn’t wait to get their night started the right way. It was one of the better clubs when it came to patronage. Every night was busy well into the early morning, and she could expect to make a lot of credits each night.
Vivian made her way into the back room.
“Hey!” She called out to the rest of the women who were back there getting ready for their shift. “You ready for a good night full of good-paying clients?”
“Hey.” Monica smiled over at her. “I’m ready for some credits. I have some rent to pay and some medicals bills for my family I need to finish paying off.”
Ruby glanced over and threw her a smile. “Like the outfit.”
“Thanks.”
“Is that what you’re dancing in?” Monica asked as she slipped on a tight leather purple top that made her breasts jump to attention. The men would go nuts over her.
“No.” Vivian popped open her locker and pulled out an even tinier outfit. It barely covered anything, but it did earn her a few more credits than the other girls. “This is what I am wearing.” She held up the garments for the other women to look at.
“I’d pay to see you in that.”
Vivian busted into laughter. “Oh my! I just hope all the men out there think the same about it.”
“You’re doing the VIP room today.”
“I am?” Vivian looked over at the screen that listed where the women were supposed to position themselves. “Good for me!”
She’d earn even more credits this night if she were working the VIP room. A nicer apartment was getting closer every night she worked here. She was saving up her credits to get a better life.
She switched her clothing within seconds and got herself mentally prepared for whatever men she might meet in the VIP room. They could get a bit handsy sometimes, which was okay with her, as long as they asked before assuming they could just touch, but that was what Salxohor was around for, men who didn’t know where to stop. He took pleasure in tossing out the unruly patrons.
The club might be run by a mobster, but he did treat the women right when it came to punishing the patrons for bad behavior. He’d never done anything to make Vivian want to switch what club she danced at, but it wasn’t like she knew him.
Vivian made her way through the club and over to the VIP room. Women were already up on their tables and men were already eagerly entering amounts into the screens that sat before them. Each man entered the credits he was paying to the women in hopes that she might like the amount and give him a little something extra, like a lap dance.
Taking a deep breath, she paused at the door to her VIP room. She always prepared herself mentally before going inside. Was this her dream job? Absolutely not, but it paid the bills and allowed her to save up for what she hoped would be a better lifestyle in the end. This could be dangerous. There were all sorts who came to the strip club.
Vivian pushed through the door to find the room vacant. Maybe the guy was taking his sweet time in arriving because it was supposed to have a client waiting for her. It slightly irked her, because it meant she was wasting time not making any money.
Hands on her hips she glared at the door. He’d better not take his sweet time, or she was leaving, and he’d have to just suck it up and find another woman to do the VIP room. Time was money, and she needed to make money.
A few men entered, and she immediately plastered a smile on her face. Then her eyes widened a bit.
“Haldon U’gure?” She stuttered.
“Hello, Vivian. Looking vivacious as always.” Haldon greeted her, his onyx eyes skimming up and down her scantily clad body in open appreciation.
If only he weren’t her boss, or a mobster, or a Vrak’rir. She didn’t have anything against Vrak’rirs, but a relationship with him would be absolutely useless. One day he would find his mate, and she wasn’t it. It was slightly sad because she always dreamed of being his mate. He was sexy, but extremely dangerous, everything that made her blood light on fire.
It was unfortunate that the two hottest guys of her life were from a mated species. Damn them, because it was their fault of course. She was starting to get pissed at all these mated species. What she wouldn’t do to find the one man of her dreams. Preferably, someone who could give her the life she was striving towards.
“Anything special tonight?” She asked, sending him a wink while flicking her golden hair over her shoulder.
A grin spread across his face, creases forming on his azure skin. “Just having you here is special enough.”
She resisted the urge to fan herself.
“Just stay on the table and dance. We’ve got business to attend.” Haldon snapped his fingers, and two of his henchmen dragged a Daen’su over to the couches that lined the walls of the crescent moon shaped room.
Vivian climbed the small ladder onto the table with a pole sticking up through it and started her usual dance routine. If all Haldon wanted her to do was dance, then dance she would, even if her audience wasn’t even taking notice of her skills. It might be an easy way of earning some credits, with men who wouldn’t attempt to grope her.
The men were too absorbed in their conversation and not once did one eyeball stray in her direction. It didn’t bother her though. She knew Haldon would pay her for her time, even if he weren’t the one watching her. Like she’d stated before, he was always fair to his girls, because he knew they had lives to live outside of the club.
She flipped over on the pole, twisting around it, as her legs held her upside down. The one good side of this job was that she was pretty damn fit. Her thighs were like metal bands, and her arms had a good amount of definition, and don’t even bother getting her started on her abs.
Pole dancing was a great workout… she was getting paid to exercise. It was great motivation for coming to work and for working out.
The men drew her attention as their conversation started to heat up. She couldn’t overhear precisely what was being said, but she could hear the tones they were using. Something was going down, and it wasn’t a happy thing.
She did her best to ignore them, but they kept drawing her attention with their harsh tones.
Vivian paused on the pole and watched in horror as Haldon grabbed the plasma pistol he always carried on his waist and shot the Daen’su across from him in the face. Blood splattered everywhere.
“Holy shit!” Vivian averted her gaze. She hadn’t seen what she just saw! There was no way. Just no way. Maybe she was hallucinating… or dreaming. Maybe she was still lying in her bed at home dreaming up this whole scenario, but then why was everything so vivid?
She glanced back up and felt herself heave. Nope. It was real life. This was actually happening. There was brain matter splattered all over the walls.
“What just… happened?” She asked, not expecting to receive an answer.
“He failed to live up to the Daen’su motto, ‘You want it, we get it’.” Haldon holstered his weapon and rose from the couch. “The dancing was good.” He sent her another smile as if he hadn’t just shot a man’s face off in the VIP room.
“But…?” Vivian had no idea what to even think. This was the first time someone had been killed in front of her, which was surprising since she lived on Guit’re, but she’d been lucky until now. She wasn’t quite sure what to do with herself.
His two henchmen left the room, probably to go grab equipment to clean up the mess their boss had just made.
“Just remember, Vivian, you saw nothing.” Haldon stepped closer. “I’d hate to end your life because you weren’t able to keep your mouth closed. You are my favorite girl.”
She nodded quickly. “Keep my mouth closed about what?” She knew how to survive and if it meant just keeping this to herself, then so be it. She would not wind up dead like this now-headless Daen’su who was slumped over in his seat.
“Good girl.” Haldon stepped over to the console by the table she was standing on and typed in a few commands. “For your understanding in this matter.” And then he left the room.
She stumbled off the table and took a quick glance at the console. Ten thousand credits?! She was ecstatic to receive such a generous amount, but she wished she hadn’t just witnessed what she had to earn said amount.
Reaching out she gripped the console until her fingers turned white with the pressure she was applying. Then her eyes slowly focused on all the blood covering her arms. It wasn’t hers, she knew that, but she hadn’t even noticed the spray of blood had hit her she’d been so shocked.
