Club Damned, Part 2

“I suppose you’re still a mundane, then.”

“Are you trying to talk me into something, Juancarlo? Because I’m here working.”

“I only wanted to say hello. Word had gotten around.” His voice lowered “I know Amanda.”

“Well, I daren’t ask what she has to say about me. Not that it matters.” The sex with Juancarlo had been especially hot, but there were even more practical reasons anything other than a kiss was an awful idea with him.

“Honey. You’re popular.” Lana remained skeptical and cold.

“Do you want a reading? Are you here to bug me? Or is it something else? Because you know I’m not interested.” Unfortunately, her body language was starting to break down. The scent Juancarlo was wearing was enticing. Her ankles were shaking and her feet felt cold.

Juancarlo smiled. “Would you like me to shut the door?”

“I just can’t get away from you, can I? And no.” She began to lose her cool.

“I’m not trying to tell you it wasn’t so bad. You have the right to think and feel that way.” His voice was gentler. “I’m in perv mode now. I want you to tell me you enjoyed it.”

“I’m very sad you aren’t drinking tonight.”

“No drinking and playing. You know that.” He pulled out a flask. “I brought some for friends, though.” The allusions were starting to unravel and frustrate her while she was scrambling for a professional mindset.

“This is it. You know we’re done? There was a thing. A talk. It ended.” But she knew that rebuffing him was probably turning him on. “This isn’t a scene. This is a hello and goodbye. You need to leave. I’m working.”

“Very well, Madam.” He flipped his ridiculous fedora and clanked down the hallway with his outrageous shoes. Flamboyantly, he craned his neck over his shoulder and winked. His years in Night Town’s premier burlesque troupe had only amplified his strangeness.


Lana sat down wearily. And these were supposed to be the people with good boundaries. Yet seduction is tempting when one works so hard to stay afloat, she thought.

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