Corden

"So, you took over for your father and you're trying to find the man who murdered him?"

My eyes focus on Hadari as she spins around the pole in countless circles. I should call her Carmen since that's her real name, but I don't want to risk saying it in a place like The Harbor. Plus, Hadari fits her better. In this blue little frilly lingerie set? Yeah. She's dangerous, indeed.

We're in the Red Room again. Somehow I talked her into continuing her private dances for me. And while she refuses to touch me because of the whole Archer situation, I plan to rectify that soon. The connection we share isn't one that can be ignored, and although I'm not going to disrespect her relationship or persuade her into doing something she'll regret, I'm sure as hell not giving up. I tried to forget her. Tried to focus on business and revert to a life before her. It didn't work.

So now I'm here, admiring this woman work the pole like a fucking goddess. Her breasts are barely held back by the delicate lace, and my thoughts immediately stray to how little effort it would take to rip it with my teeth, and—

"Corden?"

Fuck.

The question.

"Sorry. Yes, I'm trying to locate him, but it's...difficult to catch him alone when he's constantly surrounded by security. I have someone working for me on the inside of his operation, but no luck has come from it yet. Rafino isn't the kind of guy to let just anyone into his inner circle. It's going to take time."

She nods thoughtfully, parting her thighs as she slides to the floor like a wet dream. "And your operation... Do you also partake in illegal things? Drugs? Murder?"

My eyes meet hers, and from the expression on her face, it's almost as if she's testing me to see if I'd stick to my word. I meant it when I said I would let her in. If she wants to know about my life then so be it. As I said before, I tried to push her away. It didn't fucking work.

"When necessary," I respond tightly. "I need to ensure we have money coming in, and the easiest way to do that is by selling narcotics, but I try not to do it often."

"And murder?"

"When necessary."

I can see her gulp from sitting in a chair five feet away. This isn't a lifestyle she's comfortable with, but it's one I can only assume she's already pieced together. I don't imagine she's a naive woman, especially when I've seen her in a life-or-death situation that she handled beautifully. Everything I'm telling her has more than likely already been an assumption.

"So the man who tried to kidnap me... He worked for Rafino?"

I nod. "He has people watching me at all times, and when he heard you were found close to me, he wanted to get his hands on you. He'll stop at nothing to take me down, but it isn't going to happen. I'm going to get to him first and end all of it."

"All of it?" She tilts her head to the side, studying me. "Even your father's operation?"

"Definitely. This isn't something my father wanted to create. He was forced into it by the death threats Rafino gave him. All of this has been to make the city a better place, even if it may not seem like it. Believe it or not, I'm the...good guy in this situation. My men are, too."

"Hm..." She climbs up the pole with her thighs deliciously clenched around it, then she bends backward, exposing her toned abs and breasts to me. I've never felt temptation so strongly. After our kiss, I need more of it. She consumes my every thought. "What are you thinking about?" She asks.

I home in on her ass when she does a flip and glances over her shoulder. "You want the honest answer to that?"

She smiles, and it travels straight to my cock. "We're being honest now, right?"

Adjusting myself in the chair, her eyes flicker to the movement, but she doesn't bring attention to it. "I'm thinking that I was a fucking idiot for walking away from you."

Her movements freeze on the pole for a heartbeat before she recollects herself. "Why do you think that?"

"Because if I hadn't..." Leaning back in the chair, I scrape my chin with my pointer finger and thumb, groaning when she bends over in front of me. "We'd be making our time in here alone together worthwhile."

She arches a brow. "I don't come into the Red Room to please others. We've already discussed that."

"But you never mentioned anything about someone pleasing you."

I'm a fucking bastard going back on my word about not tempting her, but she makes it so damn hard when she looks like that. I'd buy her anything she wanted, even though she doesn't require it. I want to see her in the finest clothing because she's stunning from the inside out. There's no way Archer can give her what she wants out of life. Carmen isn't the nine-to-five type of woman. She's not going to be a housewife who will ensure dinner's on the table whenever he comes home from work, which is the type of woman he's seeking. Carmen lives for danger whether she realizes that or not.

"I..." Her voice falters from the blunt statement. "I mean, we didn't talk about that, but—"

"You have a boyfriend," I say, attempting to sound as bitterless as possible. "I understand, and I gave you my word that until you request otherwise this will be strictly dancing and talking between us." Rising from the chair, I slim my suit jacket and approach the stage. Carmen, who seems to get the hint our time is finished, sits on the edge, her dark skin shining with sweat. Her eyes dart up to me when I tower over her, and a ghost of a smile hits my lips when I notice how fast her pulse is drumming in her throat. "I respect your decision. However..."

Her eyes flutter shut when I place my hands on either side of her thighs on the stage, careful not to touch her. "If you decide to end things with Archer and want to give this another shot, I have no problems with ending each of our sessions with my face suffocated by your pretty little cunt."

Her sharp inhale is a sound I want to commit to memory, and just like the past three and a half months, I can't help myself when it comes to her. Those little noises she makes are like a drug, and I need another hit. I'm craving it.

"I'd lay you on your back, move this scrap of fabric to the side, and give your pussy a nice, long lick."

"Corden—"

"Would you like that? For my tongue to circle your clit? Would you grab my hair and ride my face like you expertly ride that pole?"

Almost on instinct, her thighs part, and when I glance down...

Fuck me.

A wet spot has formed against the baby blue fabric, and I'm a fucking goner. My hand flexes against her side, and I'm seconds away from rubbing her over the fabric to give her the pleasure she needs until she suddenly jerks away, panting and out of breath before she scrambles backward on the stage and climbs to her feet.

"I think..." She heaves a sigh, shaking her head as if she's ashamed of herself. "I think that's it for tonight."

I take a step away from the stage and throw my hands up. "You're right. I took it too far. I'm...trying to be friends, but it's easier said than done. Just give me time."

But her lingering stare insinuates she doesn't want us to remain just friends. I know when a woman is turned on, and Hadari can't stop darting her eyes to my lips. If I were to take advantage of her lust, it would only cause her to resent me more in the long run, and I'm not going to risk losing her again. Not when she's allowing me to be back in her presence.

I'm going to tread cautiously with her like I should have done from the beginning. For the first time, I'll take things slow. I'll get to know her not for her body, but for her mind because I'm learning that's far more intriguing when it comes to her.

So, although this session almost resulted in disaster, I vow to make the rest of them completely void of anything lust-related.

Unless she decides to end things with Archer.

If that happens? Fuck holding myself back. Fuck taking things slow. I'm going to do what I should have done three months ago and make her mine. Well, not mine. I...I don't know how to love anymore. Not when it's been the one thing I've been warned against since taking over for my father. Love isn't on the table. It isn't an option.

Fuck, I'm getting ahead of myself. Nobody said anything about love. There's a mutual lust between us that is begging to be explored. That's it. I want her close to me because my body craves to be near her. Not my...not my heart, right?

Right?