Page 39 of Act of Passion

You can dothis.

She nodded as if that would help keep her spirits up and her confidence level high. As she began to walk in the direction of the seating area, she caught sight of two men there, each wearing masks that covered their faces fully. Whoever the clients were, they certainly had a hard-on for Egyptian history andflare.

Stacey began to sway her hips. At five-four Stacey was five inches shorter than Brooke, but the woman had curves aplenty. Something the men who came to the club always seemed tolike.

Brooke rarely bothered to dance. She tended to offer seductive smiles, food, and drink. Nothing more. She didn’t need to. What she carried inside her would make the men think they were having the time of their lives. She’d get the energy she needed and a good-size tip. Everyone got what theywanted.

One of the men had long brown hair and was in a deep blue designer shirt. It matched his eyes. The man to his right had on an off-white shirt that looked expensive. His ink-black hair hung just past his shoulders. Instantly, she thought ofMalik.

Brooke faltered in her step as her gaze traced its way over the man’s neck and upper chest. She could see hints of tattoos peeking through the open portion of his shirt. Instantly she thought of her time in Egypt. Of her night withMalik.

Her heart ached for him. Ached knowing he’d died at the hands of the sick bastards who tookher.

He’d died because ofher.

She had to force thoughts of him from her head and focused on the man with the dark hair. Instantly her body responded just as it had five years ago. The man with the black hair stared out from behind the mask, his dark gaze locking on her. For a split second, it felt as if they were the only two people in theclub.

She nearly tore her mask off, butresisted.

It wasn’t until Stacey nudged her that Brooke realized she’d stopped moving in the direction of the men. She swallowed back a lump in her throat and walked towards the men. She couldn’t tear her gaze from the man with the blackhair.

He sat up in the chair, his dark gaze never leaving her. When he made a move to stand, the man next to him pulled on his shoulder, keeping himseated.

Brooke’s body tingled with awareness, as it had done five years ago with Malik. This would normally be when she’d put the food on the table before the men and then keep her distance while managing to look interested in them. She didn’t stop where she normally did. No. Boldly, she went right up to the man with the blackhair.

Instantly his hand found her hip. Brooke had never before allowed any of the men to touch her, but she made no move to stop thisman.

Stacey glanced at her and did a double take. She smiled mischievously and then shook her chest, leaning in front of the man with the long brown hair. The man looked pleased, but not very surprised. As if women always threw themselves athim.

They probablydid.

Brooke bent slowly before the man with the black hair and held the tray of fruit and cheese out forhim.

He took it but set it to the side, on a small table there, his gaze never leaving her. His other hand found her hip. Brooke found herself beginning to move in a seductive manner, her pulse racing with excitement at the man’s hottouch.

Shegasped.

“Old friend,” said the man with long brown hair. “There is a no-touching rule, and you are most certainly touching. I take it my surprise is now just what the doctorordered.”

The man ignored his friend and shocked Brooke by grabbing her and setting her on his lap. She tensed as burning need slammed through her. Again, she thought of Malik, though she wasn’t sure why. He was gone. Dwelling on the past would gain her nothing but more tears, and she’d cried a riveralready.

She wanted the man’s hands roaming over her body as much as she’d wanted Malik’s touch all those years ago. She wanted to know what the mystery man looked like under themask.

His thumb found its way to her lower lip. Brooke bit his thumb lightly, drawing it into her mouth. The man growled and thrust his hips up, his long, thick erection evident through his designer pants. He ground against her and she closed her eyes, tipping her head back, loving the feel of him underher.

He ran his hand over her exposed throat and then skimmed it down, heading between her breasts. She made no move to stop him. It was as if she craved his touch. Like she’d been waiting forit.

Her power flared and she was powerless to stop it. It latched on to the man, drawing energy from his arousal. His eyes widened as he drew one of the straps of her barely there top down, almost revealing a nipple. She made no move to stop him. If anything, she wanted him to do more. To touch hereverywhere.

Brooke moved on his lap, the feel of his long, hard erection under her making her want more. She dipped her head, going for his neck, although she wanted to remove his mask and go for his mouth. She held back. Whatever was driving her, making her act out of the ordinary, pushed heronward.

As her mouth ran over his neck, he stiffened, jerking under her, increasing his movements. She licked a line down his neck, even his taste reminding her of Malik. The pain of learning of his passing years ago again hit her hard, and she found herself wrapping her arms around the stranger’s neck as she fought backtears.

He returned the embrace, holding her to his body as if he needed comfort as well. They remained that way for a bit, simply holding one another. Brooke then returned to kissing his neck. She kissed her way down to his collarbone. She eased open his shirt, her hands roaming over the hard planes of his torso. She rubbed against him, wanting desperately to chase away thoughts ofMalik.

Her power flared more, latching on to the mutual attraction between them. The man grabbed her hips and began to control her movements on hislap.

“Tut,” said the man with the French accent. “I take it this one is more your type. More to yourliking.”

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