The Heirs: Fated Heirs

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Ariana

"Please tell me you did not volunteer to go with me just so we could be alone together," Josh sighs as he opens the car door for me.

I smirk at him. "Once again, your ego never ceases to amaze."

He smirks back as he slams the car door in my face.

I give him the finger as he climbs into the driver's seat.

"I feel like I've been so MIA with everything lately...with dance and whatnot last semester, I let the girls pick up too much slack. I want to play my part. And I can help here." I buckle myself as Josh starts the car.

We've got two more of Josh's guys and a guard trailing us as he speeds towards town.

"Just follow my lead, yeah?" he asks.

"Maybe you could follow my lead," I sigh.

"If you're going to be a fucking brat, I'll drop you off back on campus."

"You wouldn't dare!" I shove his arm. Josh grins at me and the glint in his dark eyes goes straight through my system. "Plus, I thought it would be nice to be alone together for a little bit..."

Josh runs a hand through his hair. "Alone together at a sex club. What could go wrong?"

I giggle despite myself. Josh smiles at the sound as he puts the car into sport-mode and speeds around the winding roads into the downtown area of Gilmore Island.

I've never been to the "gentleman's club" – obviously. And I don't really know what to expect. What I don't expect is having to hand over our phones as soon as we walk through the door.

"Don't worry," Josh assures me, placing his hand on my lower back. "I won't let anything happen."

"I won't let anything happen to you," I retort.

"You are a very good protector," Josh smirks down at me. I roll my eyes with a smile.

The hostess leads us down the dark halls of the club. There are several rooms – which I assume host different...activities. I don't bother looking. I just keep my shoulders high and my eyes straight forward as the hostess leads us to the main floor, which is more like a high-end strip club versus the private rooms.

Josh only had to use his name to get in the door and he's gotten us a booth.

I give him a look once we're settled in, trying to ignore the naked women dancing onstage.

"Come here often?" I snap, giving him a look.

"I've been here before, yes," Josh sighs, running a hand through his hair. "But not for reasons you think. I come here for business. That's all."

"Right," I scoff. "You know, you can be honest with me."

"I am being honest with you, Ariana."

He gives me a dark look like he wants to punish me and I tighten my jaw in an attempt to prevent myself from saying something else I might regret.

I can't control who Josh was for the two years we were apart. I assume he got his kicks – hell, I'm sure of it. It doesn't mean I have to like it.