When I walk out of Society X, I’m breathless and flushed. My underwear is soaked and I’m dying for more. What is it about Hunter that makes everything inside of me feel alive? The whole idea of Society X is exhilarating and sexy, but kind of dirty and creepy all at the same time. With that being said, why am I loving every second of it? I should be dating a respectable man, not a stripper. But there’s something about Hunter I can’t get enough of. He’s wild and dangerous, but his eyes show a whole other side to him. Maybe I’m imagining there’s more to him, but I’m going to find out.

My lips still tingle from Hunter’s kiss as I walk out to the parking lot. I made sure to park beside his car when I pulled in. It’s a silver Nissan 370Z, and it just looks like something he’d drive. Reaching into my purse, I pull out my small, sticky notepad I always carry around to write notes on. Being a lawyer, I have to be prepared for anything. I write my phone number down and slide the note under his windshield wiper. I was tempted to slip my number down his underwear, but the second I saw him, all thought went out the window.

I get in my car and start on my way home. Our date is still three days away, but a part of me doesn’t know if I’ll be able to wait that long. My phone rings in my purse and when I pull up at my house, I realize why. Getting out of his car is my ex-husband with his phone in his hands. It’s strange to think that we’ve only been officially divorced for a short amount of time, but it feels like it’s been longer. What we had fizzled out many years ago.

I pull into my garage and Aaron is right there to open the door for me. “Thanks,” I say, getting out of the car.

I can’t help but stare at him. He looks different from the last time I saw him. His dirty blond hair is a bit longer and gelled and he’s wearing a pair of worn out jeans with a snug T-shirt. Maybe I’m not the only one making changes. I’ve never seen him so laid back.

“You’re looking good, Aaron. The single life suits you.”

He smiles. “So do you. Did you work late?”

I shake my head, trying not to think of Hunter’s hands all over my body. “I had an appointment to go to.”

“Ah, I see. Do you mind if I come in for a minute? I can’t seem to find one of my thumb drives. I think it might be in the office.”

“Sure.” He follows me into the house that we both used to share together. The office was completely his when we were married and I have yet to walk in that room. I never have time to do anything but work, and that’s always at the firm.

Aaron walks down the hall and disappears into his office. “How’s work going for you?” he calls out.

“Great. You?”

I go to the kitchen to get some water and I can hear him rummaging around in his old desk. “Couldn’t be better. I got a promotion last week.”

“Aaron, that’s amazing. I’m so proud of you.” Aaron is an accountant that handles large corporate accounts in downtown Portland. He’s a hard worker and has been striving to get a promotion for years.

With a wide grin, he joins me in the kitchen, holding the missing thumb drive in his hand. He looks so much younger now. Getting a divorce is probably the best thing that ever happened to us. “It’s a good feeling, Kennedy. When I found out, the first thing I wanted to do was call you.”

“Why didn’t you?” I sit my glass of water down and stare at him.

He shrugs. “We’re not together anymore. I need to get used to that.”

“Just because we’re not married doesn’t mean you can’t share your good news. We’ve known each other for years, Aaron. I don’t want us to cut ties completely.”

“I know,” he replies, averting his gaze, “but when we start seeing other people, it might be awkward for them.”

I study him for a second and it doesn’t take long to figure out why he appears so sheepish. “Are you interested in someone?” I ask.

He looks over at me and sighs. “I didn’t want to tell you.”

“Why not?” I couldn’t be happier for him.

“I was afraid you’d think I was seeing someone when we were married. I stayed faithful to you until the very end.”

My eyes burn and I hug him. It’s the first time we’ve touched in months. “You have nothing to worry about. I’m happy for you, Aaron. We both deserve to be happy.”

He lets me go, his warm green gaze staring into mine. “What about you? Have you been seeing anyone?”

Hunter comes to mind and the last thing I want to say is that I’m messing around with a stripper and having sex in cars. “Kind of,” I answer. “It’s still all new so there’s nothing really much to say.”

He breathes a sigh of relief. “I hope it goes well for you.”

“Same to you,” I murmur.

We hug again and he lets himself out of the house. It feels good to know he’s moving on just like I am. For years, I knew we weren’t really compatible, yet I felt safe with him. We had some good times, but there was no spark, no passion. Passion is a must.

My phone buzzes and I pull it out of my purse.

 

Hunter: I’m ready for Thursday.

 

Me: So am I. What are we going to do?

 

Hunter: Wear something nice. I’ll pick you up at 6.

 

Hunter: Make sure to give me your address.

 

I text him my address and smile. Something nice, huh? I’m curious to see where a guy like him will take me.

 

 

For the next three days, Hunter and I text back and forth, just simple messages about our days. He keeps asking what I’m doing and I’m not about to tell him I’m busy running my own law firm. I don’t want him knowing that stuff yet. Until I see he’s serious about being with me, I’m not disclosing all of my personal details. My phone beeps and I look down at it.

 

Hunter: On my way.

 

My heart races as I finish up my make-up with a light shade of lipstick. Hunter requested that I wear something nice so I put on a sleeveless, black dress that hits just above my knee. It flares out at the hips, which makes it sexy but flirty. I decide to do something different with my hair and put it in waves down my back. By the time I inspect myself in the mirror, the doorbell rings. Taking a deep breath, I grab my purse and keys and slowly walk to the door. When I open it, my mouth gapes.

“Wow.”

Hunter stands there, dressed in a dark, gray suit with his hair perfectly coifed. His lips pull back in a small grin as he looks me up and down. “I could say the same thing. You look beautiful,” he says, taking a step closer. His hand closes over my hip and he leans in to kiss me. I freeze in place, in awe of how professional and distinguished he looks. “Can’t speak?” he asks with a laugh.

I step back to gaze at the whole package. “I’m just shocked. Looking at you, I’d never guess you were a stripper.”

His smile slightly fades. “That’s not all I am, Kennedy. There’s more to me than that. That’s why I wanted to take you out tonight.” He holds out his arm. “Ready?”

After locking the door behind us, I take his arm. He escorts me to his car and he opens the door. “Thank you,” I say. He’s really impressing me and I like it. We head down the highway and it looks like we’re staying in the Vancouver vicinity. He turns off an exit, which leads us to the nicer part of the city.

“Did you have a good day?” he asks, sneaking a glance over my way.

I smile. “I did. I left work early for the first time in years.”

“I feel special then. What do you do for work?”

I’ve already rehearsed this in my mind. I hate not telling him the truth, but I have to be careful. “I’m an office manager for a firm here in Vancouver.”

“Nice. I assume you work a lot of hours?”

If he only knew. I don’t really want to spend the night talking about me. “Just a little. It’s a demanding job. What about you? What do you do during the day when you’re not working at the club?” I ask, hoping to switch the subject.

He pulls into the parking lot at one of the most expensive restaurants in the city. I’ve eaten at it a couple of times, but it’s not the kind of place a man will take a first date. Chuckling, he taps my chin and I close my mouth. “I’m in college, Kennedy.”

“What?” I gasp, turning to face him. “What are you in school for?”

He smirks. “Business. I told you I wasn’t just a stripper. The money helps pay for my tuition.” One of the valet attendants opens my door and I get out, completely in shock. Maybe there is more to Hunter. The attendant hands him the valet ticket, and then he reaches for my hand as we walk into the restaurant. “Are you shocked?” he asks, glancing down at me.

“A little. I assumed stripping was your passion.”

He shakes his head. “Hardly. Don’t get me wrong, it’s fun at times, but it’s not what I want to do for the rest of my life.”

We walk up to the hostess and her eyes linger on Hunter a little longer than necessary. She’s probably seen him on stage, which makes me a little jealous that others have enjoyed him like I have.

“We have a reservation,” he tells her. “It should be under Hunter Miles.”

So his last name is Miles. I’m learning more and more about him. The hostess takes us to our table and hands us a set of menus. We sit across from each other and I smile. “Miles, huh?”

He grins. “I figured you were going to find out sooner or later.”

Our waiter walks up, a young man with dark brown hair and glasses. “Good evening. Can I get you both something to drink?”

I quickly glance over the wine menu. “A glass of Riesling, please.”

The waiter looks over at Hunter. “And I’ll have a gin and tonic.” Once he leaves, Hunter stares at me with his penetrating brown gaze. “Aren’t you going to tell me your last name? I gave you mine, now it’s time for you to give me yours.” It’s a risk giving him my last name because all he has to do Google me and he’d find out who I really was. “We have to be honest if you want this to work, Kennedy.”

“Vaughn,” I murmur. “My last name’s Vaughn.”

The waiter comes back with our drinks and Hunter holds up his glass. “To the night.”

I tap my glass to his and take a sip. “To the night.” He takes a gulp of his drink and sets his glass down when I ask, “So when do you finish school?”

“I graduate at the end of this semester.”

“Do you have a job lined up?”

He shakes his head. “Not yet. I’m sure I’ll figure it out when I graduate. Right now, all I can think about is passing all of my exams.”

It has to be hard to do that working nights. “What does your family say about you working at a strip club?”

Averting his gaze, he looks down at his drink. “My parents died when I was young. My grandmother’s the one who raised me. She doesn’t know what I do.”

My heart hurts for him. I can’t imagine not having my parents. “I’m so sorry, Hunter.”

“No need to feel sorry for me,” he replies with a shrug. “My grandmother made sure I had everything I needed.” The waiter comes back and we order our food. Hunter meets my gaze with a sad smile.

I take his hand, entwining my fingers with his. “If you don’t mind me asking … what happened to them?”

Sighing, he closes his eyes as if he’s remembering and then opens them. “Car wreck. I was three years old. What I hate is that I don’t remember anything about them, only bits and pieces. My grandmother has pictures of them, but the more time that passes, my memories fade.” Picking up his glass, he finishes the rest of his cocktail. “What about you? Where are your parents?”

“Here in Vancouver. I don’t talk to them as much as I should. Work tends to get in the way. But after hearing about your parents, I didn’t realize how good I have it.”

“Most people don’t,” he says, squeezing my hand. “I’d give anything to see them again.” Our waiter brings out our food and Hunter lets my hand go so we can eat. “So what are you doing when you’re not at work or visiting me in the viewing room?”

I almost choke on my steak and glance around the room quickly to make sure no one heard him; he chuckles. “To be honest, I haven’t had much time to do anything. My ex-husband wasn’t exactly the adventurous type. I buried myself in work to take up time, but I’m hoping to change that. There’s so many things I want to do.”

“Like what?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. I’d like to travel to places like Hawaii to see their beaches, Wyoming to hike the Grand Tetons, and even Vermont to go to the Ben & Jerry’s factory. The list is endless.” He stops eating and stares at me like I’ve surprised him. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You’ve shocked me is all. I never expected you to want to hike the Grand Tetons. That’s something I’ve wanted to do for years.”

“Maybe one day we’ll get to do it.” The more we talk, the more I see we have a lot in common.

Hunter traces a finger over my hand. “I surely hope so. If you decide to give me a chance, we can do it together.” The thought of opening my heart up again scares the hell out of me. Having sex with Hunter has given us a connection I can’t deny, but I can feel other things developing. Being with him intimately is like being in a whole new world. I just hope my heart can handle it.

 

 

Dinner is amazing and goes by way too quick. I try to pay for my part of the meal, but Hunter slips his card to the waiter before I even realize it. “Do you want to stroll around downtown a bit?” he asks as we walk outside. The night air is chilly, but it’s perfect.

“Sure.”

He takes my hand and we walk down the sidewalk. There are people strolling around, hand in hand, enjoying the nightlife with smiles on their faces. It’s then I realize that I’ve never really had that with anyone.

Hunter squeezes my hand. “What are you thinking about?”

I nod toward a couple across the street. “I was looking at them, the way they’re smiling at each other. I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone look at me like that.”

His brows furrow. “Your husband never did?”

I shake my head. “Not like that. Our relationship was just safe. There was no passion. Don’t get me wrong, I loved him, but we never had the intensity that …”

I don’t want to admit all the feelings I have for him so I stop, only Hunter doesn’t let me. Stopping mid-step, he gently turns me to face him. “What were you going to say?”

“It’s nothing,” I say, waving him off.

He pulls me over to a vacant corner, the cold brick building against my back. There are people walking by, but I can’t see them because he’s so close. “Tell me,” he murmurs. “Were you going to say the intensity that we have?”

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. “Yes.”

“Why didn’t you want to tell me that?”

“Because,” I reply, opening my eyes, “I don’t know how I feel about all of this and admitting things only makes it real. I’m not ready to let you in.”

The wind blows my hair in my face and he brushes it away. “You’ve already let me in, Kennedy. All you have to do now is let go.”

“How do I do that?”

He leans closer and kisses me gently on the lips, his teeth nipping my bottom lip. “I don’t know just yet, but we can figure it out together.” He kisses me again and his hands grip my hips. “Stay with me tonight.”

It sounds like a question, but I can hear the command in his tone. I like that he takes control, that he takes what he wants. I have a feeling that if he truly wants me, he’s not going to stop until he has all of me, body and soul. My body tightens and I want to feel him inside of me more than anything.

“Let’s go,” I whisper. We walk back to the restaurant where his car is still parked and with each step we take, I can feel the tension growing wilder by the second. Instead of going to my house, he takes us to his apartment, which is in a newer neighborhood just outside the city. We climb up to the third floor and he opens the door. It’s dark inside but the place smells just like him. I stroll inside and he shuts the door, locking it behind us.

“You have no idea how hard it’s been to concentrate this week,” he growls low in my ear. Wrapping his arms around my waist from behind, he kisses my neck. His warm breath sends shivers down my skin.

“I know the feeling.”

He turns me around and pushes me gently against the wall, pressing his hips into mine. “What do you want, Kennedy?”

There are so many things I want, but all I can think about is his lips on mine, his weight pressing me into his mattress as he thrusts inside of me.

“Kiss me,” I command.

However, it’s not just a kiss I want … I want all of him.

Everything moves in slow motion, especially when Hunter’s lips touch mine. Immediately, my body lights up hotter than the summer sun and I’m on fire, burning from the inside out. I grow impatient, needy, as he holds me firmly in place with my face between his hands, opening my lips with his tongue and thrusting deep and hard.

“Hunter,” I moan breathlessly.

He nips the tender flesh behind my ear and groans low in his chest, “Yeah?”

“I want you … now.”

Immediately, his lips still against mine and he pulls back ever so slowly, his gaze heated and raw. “Are you sure this is what you want?”

“Yes,” I claim breathlessly. “I need this.”

I don’t have to say anymore because in one quick move, he lifts me in his arms and carries me to his room, only we don’t get to the bed. Shifting me in his arms, he wraps my legs around his waist and I gasp as he pushes me into the wall. Holy hell, he’s intense … wild. He lifts my hands above my head and holds me prisoner while he bites his way along my collarbone and down to the mounds of my breasts.

Groaning, he pushes his hard cock between my legs and rocks his hips, sliding me up and down against the cold, smooth wall. I can only imagine what it’s going to feel like to really have him inside of me. That time in the car won’t compare to what it’ll be like in his bed, feeling his whole body around me.

He grabs one of my breasts and squeezes it hard, pinching my nipples between his fingers. I cry out as the pain shoots through my body on down to my clit; it feels amazing.

“Do you want me to fuck you here against the wall or on the bed?”

Gasping, I bite my lip and thrust my hips, watching his eyes roll back in his head. Two can play at that game. Fucking against the wall doesn’t sound like a bad idea. My clit pulses so violently I can barely speak; I’m so close.

“I want you to take me on the bed.”

Hunter sets me down and unzips my dress, letting it fall to the floor before pushing me onto the bed. I’m naked, my whole body trembling as I wait for him to undress. Being the stripper that he is, he takes off his suit ever so slowly and it’s sexier than hell. “Once we start there’s no going back. I want you to know what you’re getting in to.”

Slowly, I glide my fingers down his washboard abs and slide his boxers down to the floor, his cock so thick and hard I can barely wrap my hand around him. Holding him tight, I pump the full length of his cock until a strangled moan escapes his lips. Reluctantly, I let go.

“I think I can handle it,” I murmur.

“Well, then you better be ready.” With his brown gaze on mine, he lays me down and closes his lips over a taut nipple, sucking it hard … feverishly.

“More,” I rasp, arching my back.

Lifting my hips, he spreads my legs wider. “I’ll give you more,” he growls, sliding down my body.

He flicks his tongue across my clit, making me jump, and does it again. His breath teases my sensitive flesh as he breathes in and out, licking inside of me. Over and over, he licks and sucks my clit until I can’t take it anymore.

“That’s right, baby. Come for me and let me taste you,” he commands.

Doing as he says, I explode from the inside out, reaching down to grip handfuls of his dark tresses as he tastes every drop of my desire. When he lifts his head and climbs up my body, I can’t help but smile. No man has ever made me come that way. “That felt amazing.”

My body quivers as it comes down from its orgasm-induced high, and Hunter is all too happy with my reaction. “I think I’m addicted to your mouth,” I tease. “I want more.”

“Trust me, you’re going to get a lot more.”

Smirking, Hunter lifts me up in his arms and sits back against the antique wooden headboard of his bed. Straddling his waist, I can feel his cock throbbing between my legs, and I tease him by only letting the very tip of him inside of me.

With short, gentle strokes, I glide up and down until his grip tightens on my hips and he growls, “You’re killing me, love. Ride me now or I’m going to take control, and I don’t think you’re ready for that just yet.”

In a way I want to see what he’ll do, but instead, I lower down inch by inch until he’s completely inside of me. “Hunter,” I moan, slowly moving my hips. It hurts at first, but I’m so turned on and wet for him that the pain turns into a delicious ache.

“You feel so fucking good, Kennedy. I can’t believe how wet you are for me.”

With one hand tugging on my hair, he lowers the other one so he can rub my clit with his thumb. “Lean back so I can taste your nipples. I want them in my mouth when I come.” I have never been with a man who talked during sex like this, especially not my ex-husband. It’s a rush and it feels amazing to feel desired, wanted.

His grip on my hair tightens and I arch my back, still moving my hips as he bites down on a taut nipple. “As much as I love you riding me, I think it’s my turn now.”

“Then do it,” I plead.

Picking me up by the hips, we stay connected when he flips us around and collapses on top of me. I wrap my legs around his waist and hold on tight as he thrusts his hips deep and hard. Faster and faster he pumps, his lips still suckling on one of my nipples. The harder he sucks and pushes, the closer I come to losing myself; we’re both almost to the edge.

“Hunter,” I cry out, “I’m so close.”

He growls low in his chest and holds on tighter, grunting with his thrusts. “Me too, love. Oh fuck, you’re getting so tight.”

Digging my nails into his back, I scream out my release, and at the same time I can feel his cock throbbing inside of me, filling me with his desire. Breathing hard, he kisses my neck and holds on tight for a few minutes while he rests. When he lifts his head, he brushes the hair away from my face and kisses me gently on the lips, tracing them with his tongue. “I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you.”

“You say that now, but what’s going to happen when the novelty wears off?”

He shakes his head. “Stop being so scared. You’re not the only one who can get hurt. I’m just as involved in this as you.” His lips close over mine and I can feel his arousal growing hard again inside of me. “Do you feel what you do to me?”

My heart starts to race and I grab his hand, placing it over my chest. “Can you feel what you do to me?” I counter. He moves his hips and I gasp as he rocks against my clit.

“Yes, I feel it,” he murmurs. “And I can promise I won’t break it.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

“I never do.”