Even when he tipped his head to the side and raked his dark gaze down my body, I couldn’t move. I stayed captive to his perusal, my body burning everywhere he looked. My nipples hardened as if rising for attention.

“Jesus,” Charlotte whispered. “I could come just from watching him watch you.”

When his eyes finally reached mine again, they held a promise that he would make me come a thousand different ways if I let him finish what we started. All I had to do was go to him. My mind blared sirens, warning to look away—to get more than the tiny panting breaths of oxygen to my brain. It screamed, do not go. Yet, that silly part of my brain took over, and my muscles clenched, ready to close the gap.

“We’re supposed to make other people come while they watch us,” a deep voice cut in.

It was exactly what I needed to pull me back to reality. I blinked, breaking the hold he had over me. “What?” I asked, turning back to the bar.

“You okay?” Daniel asked, studying me with his intense blue eyes. “You look a little flush.”

I was just about to assure him I was fine when Charlotte spoke for me. “She’s probably burning from the inside out from the way that man was staring at her. Hell, I’m all hot and bothered.”

Daniel looked over my shoulder, and I couldn’t resist the temptation—wondering if he was still waiting for me to follow through. But he was gone. The familiar disappointment sank into my chest, except this time, I was different. This time, I knew he was there, carrying the chance of more with him.

Warning sirens blared, finally breaking through the rush of adrenaline. With a deep breath, I pulled my shoulders back. This man would not control me—he would not win.

Trying to pull off an aloofness I was beyond feeling, I shrugged, avoiding Daniel’s all-too-knowing look. “I’m good. Just some guy probably checking out if he wanted me to perform for him tonight.”

“That so?” he asked with a subtle smile. “You know, you could always be a member tonight and not an employee.”

“No, thanks.”

Daniel owned Voyeur, the high-end club you came to create and watch your most detailed sexual fantasies come to life.

“We both know you don’t need the money,” he said.

“Yeah, with your fancy pants business job,” Charlotte chimed in.

“And we both know you could use a steady guy in your life.”

I scrunched my nose. “Ew. No, thank you.”

He laughed, letting it go.