Stripe Search: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Furocious Lust Shorts Book 5) by Milly Taiden Read Free Book Online

where my dancing helped me.”
    So many things ran through his mind. How brave and amazing she was to stop her life for her brother when he clearly didn’t give her the respect she deserved. “Was it weird? Dancing for men in those small outfits?”
    She cocked her head to the side. Her lips turned up in a smile. “At first, yes. I had to be broken in.” She laughed and shook her head. “I danced for the employees for a few weeks. Got used to the eyes looking me over and people making comments. But Charlie is great. He made sure I knew there was going to be no touching and that I would never get naked. Some of the girls have private events they do and will take it all off for more money, but I just can’t. As it is, I’m lucky I know my routine so well I can do it with my eyes closed.” She bit her lip and inhaled deep before letting it out slowly. “I fantasize I’m just dancing for myself when I dance. The crowd disappears, and there’s just me and the music.”
    His gut clenched as he watched the multitude of emotions cross her face: disappointment, sadness, and longing. “Do you ever have issues with clients?”
    “Rarely. Charlie will send me out with a guard any time we have someone waiting around too long after a show. Or when they act like I’m their girlfriend even though they don’t know my real name.”
    The tiger beat at his muscles, wanting out. He didn’t like her words. She was his. Only his. There was no other man that could touch her, that could claim her. Her words filled him with the need to protect her, to make sure that she knew she didn’t have to do anything else alone. He was there for her now. He’d take all the burden of her problems and gladly fix things. Her happiness and peace would be payment enough for him.

 
    TEN
     
    Gabby was torn. She wanted to see Jill and loved visiting with Janie, but once they reached Janie and Jill’s apartment, Gabby was ready to leave. She hated the conditions her niece lived in, but she could not help any more than she already did and keep Joel bailed out.
    She knocked on the door, her hands feeling frozen from nerves, and waited.
    “Are you okay?” Slade asked. “I can tell something’s wrong. You’re highly agitated.”
    “Jill’s got Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. She is super energetic but a handful for Janie.”
    “That’s it? You sure you’re okay?”
    She blinked up at his handsome-but-worried face. “I’m fine. I just hate how Janie and Jill live. If I could, I’d help Janie find a better job, but she’s had a tough break between my irresponsible brother and the pathetic amount of money she makes working at one of the lower end casinos.”
    The door opened, and her niece, holding her favorite cloth doll, flung herself into her arms. “Auntie Gabby!”
    Gabby sucked in a breath to stop herself from bursting into tears. It was like this every time she visited. Jill was so desperate for some time with family. As an only child who didn’t have any friends because Janie worried over the neighbors, Jill was lonely.
    Gabby hugged the six-year-old and kept from glancing at Slade. He’d probably sense her sadness, too. “Look how big you’ve gotten, in less than two weeks,” she exclaimed. Jill’s tiny body and angelic face tugged at her heart. With curly dark hair, warm brown eyes, and mocha skin to match Gabby’s own, Jill reminded her of herself when she’d been a kid. “What is mommy feeding you?”
    Jill was followed out by Janie. Gabby’s ex-sister-in-law had bags under her eyes and looked pale. “Hi, Gabby.”
    She frowned, scanning Janie’s face for an illness or something she might not know about. “Janie, are you okay? You look like you’re not feeling well.”
    “Mommy’s tired. She’s working all the time,” Jill supplied, bouncing on her heels.
    Gabby handed the gift bag to Jill. “This is for you, sweetheart.”
    Jill squealed and dug into the bag, pulling out a brand-new baby doll. “Oh,