I'm in Love With a Stripper (6 page)

“
Royce, did you know that Alena is going to stay here all the time now? And that Uncle Hubert is really fun and at Uncle Hubert’s house he let me stay up late and eat ice-cream... And he has a dog... And...” Gavin began excitedly.

Royce
chuckled, “Gavin, I really want to hear all about the things you and Uncle Hubert did but do you think you can go draw Uncle Hubert a thank-you for watching me picture?”

“
Ohh of course! I’ll go right now,” he replied eagerly.

“
OK. Maybe you can finish it before dinner is ready?” Royce said.

Gavin
scurried off to his room to get started on the picture.

Royce
grinned and wrapped his arms around Alena’s slender waist.

“
Mmm Royce, how was your day?” Alena asked as she enjoyed his embrace.

He
’s being such a sweetheart to me,
Alena thought to herself.

“
Better now,” he whispered in her ear.

Alena
smiled, “Is that so?”

Royce
nodded, “Yeah.”

“
You want me to help you make dinner?” Royce asked pulling away.

“
Um… I’m not sure you’d be much help since we’re not having ramen. Why don’t you just play with Gavin. I’ll come get you two when dinner is ready,” Alena replied.

“Hey! Don’t hate on
ramen. Oh and tonight I think we need to talk about some things,” Royce replied.

“
What kind of things?” she questioned as she tried to hide the confusion on her face.

“
Just some stuff,” he replied as he made his way to Gavin’s room.

Butterflies began to build in
Alena’s stomach. She wondered what he was going to say. She wondered if he had reconsidered having a stripper in his house.

The three ate dinner while
Gavin told Royce and Alena about everything he and Uncle Hubert did. Royce played video games with Gavin for awhile until it was his bedtime. Royce told Alena to relax while he gave Gavin his bath and tucked him into bed.

“
Royce, will you tell me a bedtime story?” Gavin asked.

“
Oi runt, who do I look like? Alena?” Royce retorted.

“
Royce, please its fun,” Gavin asked sweetly.

Alena
peaked from outside the door as Royce read Gavin a short bedtime story.

Gavin
yawned, “Thanks Royce.”

He yawned again.

Royce tucked the covers around him.

Royce smiled and whispered,
“Goodnight Gav, sweet dreams.”

Royce
crept out of Gavin’s room carefully. He turned out the light and shut the door softly. He headed to the living room where Alena was in her night gown curled up on the sofa. She was intently reading and highlighting one of her nursing textbooks.

“Shit, I gotta find that report for tomorrow,” Royce murmured to himself as he looked for his briefcase.

“Alena, why don’t we go to my room so we can talk,” Royce said a bit distracted as he rummaged through some papers in a manila folder.

“
Sure,” Alena replied nervously. She set her book down on the coffee table.

Alena
sat down on Royce’s bed and he shut the door.

“
I was just thinking about what you said the other day…” Royce said.

“
Uhm, what exactly did I say Royce?” Alena replied as she tried to hide the nervous tone in her voice.

“You know... The whole Gavin needs to be around other kids and be involved in more activities speech,” Royce replied.

“
Oh right!” Alena replied as she felt a wave of relief flow through her body.

“
Gavin is going to start going to karate lessons and Hubert’s house a few times a week since you will staying here all the time now,” he stated.

“
Royce, are you sure?” Alena asked.

“
Yeah ‘cause you need to study and finish your last semester of school. I’m going to take more time off from work so I can spend time with you and Gavin,” he replied.

Alena
smiled, “Really?”

“
Starting tomorrow,” Royce grinned.

Alena
continued to smile. Royce moved closer staring into Alena’s eyes. He wrapped one of his arms around her pulling her close. He began to move closer until a loud ringing noise interrupted him.

Royce
pulled out his cell phone, “Grr, what the hell is it?”

Royce
put his hand over the receiver. “Stay right here. Don’t move,” he commanded Alena.

Royce
sighed and went to find his briefcase in the other room. Royce was on the phone for a few minutes before finding Alena curled up in his bed.

Royce
undressed down to his boxers and climbed in next to her.

“
Are you asleep?” he whispered in her ear.

“
Nuh-huh,” Alena replied.

Royce
laid back with his arms folded above his head and exhaled deeply.

“
Royce?” Alena said quietly.

“
Hm?” he replied.

“
You don’t mind that I’m here... Do you?” she asked.

“
What do you mean?” he answered.

“
I mean I was taking my clothes off for strange men,” Alena replied.

Royce
sighed, “The thing is I could never imagine you as being bad.”

They were both quiet for a minute.

“I mean I know what you’re like Alena. I know it was just your job… You were just trying to support your family,” he said.

He
pulled her closer to him.

“I had a lot of people judge me for my past. Even when I straightened out my life
they still judge me for the past,” he paused for a moment as he looked into her beautiful eyes. “You are too nice sometimes. It shouldn’t all be on you to take care of everyone,” he added.

They both became quiet again.

“What was it like?” he asked curiously.

“
It wasn’t that bad,” she replied.

He gave her a sarcastic glance.

“You know, at first I would cry every day before and after work. Then I guess I just realized it wasn’t that bad and I needed to take care of myself and that others were depending on me,” she stated.

“
I just don’t understand why you didn’t ask me for the money,” Royce replied.

Alena
rolled on her side propping her head in her hand.

“
Because I had been working there first and I had to take care of myself,” she said firmly.

“
No you don’t because I can take care of you. Also, I’m loaded if you haven’t noticed,” Royce replied arrogantly.

Alena
smiled, “You know you are stubborn… but you’re also really sweet when you want to be.”

Royce
moved closer and gently ran his fingertips over the side of her face.

“
You know I can be even sweeter,” he replied before pulling her in for a kiss.

The kiss was soft at first but he deepened the kiss to prolong it.
He slipped his tongue into her mouth exploring it a little bit.

They continued to kiss before
Royce pulled away and took a deep breath. Alena’s cheeks turned a crimson color.

“
You know Alena, you are extremely beautiful but when you blush like that you are even more beautiful,” he grinned as she continued to blush even more.

“
So, I was thinking Friday night we could go out,” he remarked.

“
Where do you want to go?” Alena replied.

“
Maybe dinner somewhere nice?” Royce replied.

Alena
smiled, “Yeah, sure.”

“
I want you to go buy something nice to wear tomorrow,” Royce said.

“
Are you sure?” she asked.

“
Yeah, I’m going to start dragging you with me when I have to go to dinner with clients. Go ahead and get a few things,” he replied unconcerned.

Alena looked up at him with uncertainty in her eyes.

“You always know how to make those boring dinners fun,” he added sensing her hesitation.

“
OK, I’ll go tomorrow afternoon,” Alena replied.

“Hmm…” Royce said while pulling Alena closer.

“
You know, if you’re going to be sleeping in the bed with me all the time I think I might need something…” he began.

Alena
blushed, “Royce...”

“
I think I might need another kiss,” he grinned.

Royce
pulled Alena in for another kiss.

It was even longer than the first
kiss and the passion quickly escalated.

Alena
pulled back.

“
Maybe we should go to sleep,” she replied gently.

Royce
lightly massaged Alena’s back.

“
Oh come on… let’s stay up a few more minutes,” he grinned.

Royce
sat up and pulled Alena onto his lap. They continued kissing but at a slower pace. Royce ran his fingers through Alena’s long, soft hair then leisurely down her back. He felt her smooth, supple skin and the silkiness of her night gown.

Royce
pulled away, “Oi, I’ve got to take a shower.”

“
Like a cold shower,” Royce murmured as he got up.

He made his way to the bathroom to take a quick shower.

Alena sighed and tried to get comfortable in Royce’s bed. She closed her eyes but found it difficult to sleep without Royce next to her.

Royce
finished showering and brushed his teeth. He came back in and laid down next to Alena.

“
Royce?” Alena said.

“
You’re still up?” he replied.

“
Yeah… It’s hard to sleep without you next to me,” she stated.

Royce
wrapped his arms around her pulling her close to him.

“
Alena?” he said softly.

“
Hm?” she replied.

“
I want to know what happened that night with Blake,” he stated.

Alena
sat up, “Are you sure?”

“
Yeah, come on just tell me,” he replied.

“
That night… Well, that night was different from most nights,” she began.

“
How so?” Royce questioned.

“
Aaron wanted me and another girl named Lisa to go to the VIP room to take care of some clients,” Alena paused and took a deep breath before continuing. “Aaron said be extremely lenient with them and it was whatever they wanted. When I went in, there was Blake, sitting there and grinning like a fool.”

“
What about the other girl? Where was she?” he questioned.

“
She went off with another client who from first seeing her was completely in awe. I’m not sure what happened but I ended up alone with Blake,” Alena stated.

Royce nodded.

Alena continued, “He said that unless we worked out some sort of arrangement he would tell you about where I worked.”

Anger
quickly flowed through Royce’s veins.

“
You are saying that this all happened because of me?” he replied angrily.

“
Royce...” Alena replied putting her hand on his arm.

Royce
pulled away.

“
THAT MOTHER FUCKER!” he yelled.

“
Royce, please calm down. You’re going to wake Gavin,” Alena replied shakily.

“
CALM DOWN?” Royce exclaimed.

“
Alena, he has gone too far this time!” he continued.

Royce
sighed and sat back down, “Damnit! He’s really crossed the line this time! I really fucking hate that piece of shit.”

“
Royce, I’m OK now and I’m here with you that’s all that matters,” Alena replied.

“
No, Alena! No— that jackass! I can’t believe he brought me into it!” he replied heatedly.

“
Royce, I’m sorry,” Alena replied.

“
I’m really sorry,” she added.

“
Alena, you have nothing to be sorry for,” Royce replied.