Page 171 of Bride By Initiation

I jerk my head backward. "Zara's not pregnant."

"I'm just giving an example of things to come," he states.

My gut flips, and I scowl, staringat the sign.

Brax opens his door. "Let's go. Time's ticking. The boys are inside."

I begrudgingly slide out of the car.

We enter the seedy establishment, and the thick air hits me in the face. The stench that seems to be a staple in strip clubs flares in my nostrils.

The music pumps loudly, and Brax slaps cash on the counter for our cover charge. He pushes me through the door.

There are eight stages with barely-dressed women dancing around poles.

"Ah, there they are," Brax declares, pointing at dozens of my cousins and friends. Women surround them, all fighting for their money.

I mutter, "This is going to be a shit show."

"The best of the best," Brax boasts, giving me a look that makes me cringe inside. I used to love that expression. Now that I'm married, nothing good will happen if I'm involved in whatever is going through his head.

L.J., Mikhail, Kian, and Romeo all have women on their laps. We approach them, and they're grinning like idiots.

I taunt, "Don't come in your pants, lads."

L.J. glances over, replying, "About time you showed up."

A server beams at us. "Can I get you a drink?"

"Jameson,” I state.

"Bring the bottle," Brax orders.

I sit beside him, and women start making a beeline for us. Blondes, brunettes, redheads, white, Black, Latino, Asian, and Middle Eastern strippers all circle us like vultures, fighting for our attention and money.

Brax slaps a big wad down on the table, making it worse.

I groan. "Jesus."

"Lighten up, Sean, it's your bachelor party," he replies.

The server brings over a bottle and fills two tumblers.

I pick one up.

Brax holds his out to me. "To married life."

I clink his glass and then drink half of mine, cringing as the liquid scorches down my throat and into my stomach.

More women appear, and the air thickens from their heavy perfumes.

Brax tries to buy me several lap dances.

I deny each one; I'm not interested. The only one I want on my lap is Zara. But I do make a note of several of the women's outfits that would look way hotter on my wife. So I need to get to the lingerie store.

Several hours pass. I'm polite to the women but always turn them down.

Brax entertains several of them, as do my cousins. A redhead grinds on him, and a blonde rubs his shoulders.

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