Page 49 of Arm Candy Warrior

Whether Johnny notices or not, I’m unsure, but their conversation turns to business as Big Daddy K takes a seat with us at the half circle table. It might just be my perception, but Magnum moves closer to me on the edge of that half circle seat. I’m more secure with him here as K informs Johnny that they had their best night ever at the warehouse. He even tells him they had to turn people away, and they definitely don’t want that. All signs point to the fact that they’ll be getting a new venue for the fight ring.

While they talk, I search the room for Jax and Finn, wondering if they made it to my after party. Jax doesn’t seem like the type who would want to come to a place like this, but Finn definitely does. Naked girls? Dancing? Hello. He’d be on board, as would most males.

Johnny’s hand moves up my thigh. He squeezes me a little to get my attention. “Want to dance?”

He nods toward the gyrating bodies of which I was staring after. In actuality, I’d moved on to looking for Oscar who’d only stayed for a little while after we got here. He probably couldn’t stand not being able to be close to me, so he decided to leave. I can’t blame him.

Johnny excuses himself from the table, and we move to the outskirts of the bodies pressed so tightly together. People give us a berth as we start to dance. Johnny’s got moves. Within a few minutes, my cheeks are flush, and my body is telling me it likes Johnny’s touch far too much. His hand roams over my ass. “Have I told you how much I like this ass?”

“I thought you were more of a breast man myself.”

“Ugh, don’t remind me,” he says, nipping my earlobe. He spins me around, so my back is against his front. He maneuvers my hair over one shoulder and drops his hand to my stomach. I grind against him, looking at him over my shoulder. The crowd has pulled back a little, and more than a few people watch us. “I forgot you weren’t wearing any panties. Bad move on my part.”

I grind against him, only to look back to see the lust in his light blue eyes. He spins me until I’m facing him again. I look up. “Everything okay?”

Conflict sears in his gaze. He drops a kiss to my lips. “Perfect.”

The song ends, and Johnny helps me off the makeshift dance floor. Magnum avoids my gaze as we walk back. However, Big Daddy K motions for me to scoot into the booth first. It was bad enough when there was a body between us, but now that I’m next to him again, I can’t stop replaying what he did to my parents over and over again in my head. No matter how many times I try to push it back so I can concentrate, it comes to the forefront.

“You put on a good show out there, you two.”

Johnny hugs me to him, and I’m grateful for the few extra inches of separation between his father and me. I’d be happier if it was a few feet, but I’ll take what I can get.

Big Daddy K taps his lips. “People couldn’t keep from staring at you.”

“It’s all her,” Johnny says.

“That’s what I’m saying.” Big Daddy K leans forward, and Johnny follows him. “What do you think of Kyla working here a few nights? A fighting stripper.” He raises his eyebrows in quick succession. “They’d go nuts.”

The air in the room shifts. Everything goes quiet around us. I want to reach out and slap the fucker, but I know what that would mean for me. My heart holds still until it waits for something else to happen. For Johnny to reply. For him to kick his father’s ass. Just something.

Johnny laughs, and my heart kicks back into gear. “You better be joking,” he says, practically hauling me into his lap.

“Remember it’s all about business, son.” The leer he gives me sends shivers down my spine.

Just what the fuck is Big Daddy K getting at? And whatever it is, I hope this is one of those times that Johnny will tell him to fuck off.

20

Johnny’s chest rumbles. “It’s not business with her. I already told you.”

My stomach clenches. I’ve only ever heard Johnny argue with his father once, and that was when Big Daddy K wanted me to fight Evan. Big Daddy K glances at me as if I’m going to stick up for myself like I did that time, but I press my lips together. I am not fucking stripping.

Big Daddy K shrugs, but there’s a noticeable tick in his jaw. He can’t stand the fact that Johnny just didn’t go along with his plan.

“Not that I would ever buy into that,” Johnny says, “but doing that to Kyla would sexualize her even more than she already is. People won’t come for the fights. They’ll come hoping to see a show any girl could perform here on any other night.”

“But not by her.” Big Daddy K circles the whiskey glass in front of him.

“And it won’t ever be by her. Would you have let Mom strip?”

Big Daddy K’s face reddens. Johnny’s body goes stiff beside me. Even I know he crossed over a line there. It seems Mrs. Big Daddy K is a sore subject for the both of them.

Johnny ignores his father’s reaction, jutting his chin out, and I want to clap for him for finally taking control. “Exactly,” he says. “No one gets Kyla but me.”

Big Daddy K looks from his son to me. He maneuvers out from around the seat and throws a wad of bills on the table. I don’t know why. Maybe out of habit. He owns the place, so it’s not as if he has to pay for his drinks. “We’ll talk more about this privately.”

Big Daddy K’s bodyguards follow him out. Johnny pretends nothing is bothering him, but I’m not dumb. I turn to him. “You okay?”

---