Page 36 of Stolen Salvation

“Still annoying.”

Charlie grinned at him as they left their jackets with the coat check. Noah took her hand once more and led her into the club where dance music made the floor bounce from the bass.

Dancers in elevated cages and little clothing performed for the patrons above the dance floor. The bar was two deep, and the main dance floor was packed with gyrating bodies having a good time. Looking up past the dancers, she saw a second level where the VIPs would have their own bar and floor. But it was the men looking down on the people below like they were cattle at an auction which made her skin crawl.

“This place is a meat market.”

Noah nodded as he steered her toward the bar with his hand on her hip. “Let’s get a drink and see if we can get anything from any of the bar staff.”

A blond-haired barman, who was rocking a Mohawk with tattoos on his skull, leaned over. “What can I get you?”

“I’ll have a gin and tonic with lime.” She glanced at Noah to see him glaring at the barman. “Noah!”

“A beer.”

His sullen response almost made her laugh but someone jostled her, sending her flying back against Noah.

His hands tightened around her waist, pulling her close, his body protecting her as he put a hand in front of her to push at the pissed-up college student who had knocked into her. “Fucking watch it, asshole.”

The kid laughed and turned to his friends.

“He’s just a kid.”

“Yeah, well, he should know better.”

“Yes, Grandad.”

Noah handed over a twenty to the barman and as he handed the change back, she stopped him.

“Hey, buddy, you know this girl?”

Charlie flashed her phone at the man whose eyes went wide before he looked away. “Nah, never seen her before.”

“Okay, thanks.”

Pushing back through the throng of people they found a corner to stand in and watch the room. Anyone seeing them would assume they were just a couple flirting or trying to hook up. Especially as Noah positioned Charlie between his legs, her back to his front, his hands over her belly possessively. Charlie knew she should hate it but she loved how Noah always kept her close and wasn’t afraid to show people she was his. His words from earlier came back to her and she wondered if he’d truly meant it or if it was some sexual powerplay at work.

“So, the bartender was lying.”

Focusing back on why they were there she nodded as she played with the straw at her lips to make it look like she was drinking. “Yeah, he was. We should probably do a circuit.”

“I guess.”

Twisting her neck, she looked up at Noah who was the perfect height for kissing in the heels she wore.

“Come on, grumpy.”

Noah walked behind her as she made a slow lap of the club, passing the closed-off VIP section where two burly bouncers stood guard. No getting up there without an invite.

As they passed the restrooms her bladder made itself known. “Hey, I need to use the ladies.”

“I’ll wait here.”

Noah positioned himself at the entrance to the narrow corridor and folded his arms. God, he was handsome and every woman in the room knew it. She wasn’t blind, she’d seen the looks he was getting, some subtle, others just downright ogling him. She couldn’t blame them. He was hot as fuck and had that dangerous bad boy vibe, which when you knew him was laughable. Noah Bishop wasn’t a bad boy, not like that. He was dangerous, no doubt, and he led a life which was the same, but he was a teddy bear with those he loved.

Using the restroom, she washed her hands and was touching up her make-up when a woman came in behind her. She looked like one of the dancers from the cage and she knew she couldn’t waste the opportunity.

“Hey, you work here?”