Her Dark Protector

Chapter 2

Julian's POV

He sat at the same private booth every night. Never touched the dancers. Never stuffed bills into their thongs or shouted obscene things. He just watched—intensely, respectfully. A single glass of whiskey at his side, always untouched. And his eyes—those storm-grey eyes—never left her. She didn’t know his name, but he knew hers. ‘Velvet,’ he murmured once when she passed his table. Just that. And her breath had caught, because the way he said it, it sounded like a vow.

Julian was a quiet man, a loner here in the club. Although he recognised some of the other men and acknowledged them as they did him. They never came to him, they never spoke. Not in the club. This was a sanctuary for them. Especially Julian. The demands placed on him outside these walls required a place of respite. Although others took meeting here, he came purely for pleasure, and to watch her.

He had been watching her for weeks now. Only moving to the city a few months ago, this place was new for him and had been recommended by a colleague. Julian was grateful to that man and had rewarded him well for it. She was dancing on stage when he walked through those velvet ropes. It was only due to his natural agility that he made it to his table with nil incidents.

The young woman looked to be in her mid-twenties, long black hair and her grey eyes that gave a spark under the club’s lights. He watched her well-toned body swing around the pole using it barely as a prop to her performance. This woman was everything to him, even as he watched her fragile human body. He longed to feel it underneath his own.

When the waitress came to take his order, he asked for the woman’s name.

‘That’s Velvet.’ Though he knew that wasn’t her real name.

‘Thank you, I’ll have a whisky.’ The waitress nodded and moved away. She watched him carefully as most did. He had an aura of strength and power, but also danger that was palpable to those around me. Most kept a wider berth. Even the bouncers just nodded from afar.

Even after learning her name, he didn’t approach her. He just kept watching her. He knew that a couple of the other dancers had retained sponsors, married men who wanted a beautiful young woman on their arm until they returned to their wives. He despised the game they played. But he also understood it. Velvet was so enticing. But he kept his thoughts to himself while he drank his whiskey and watched her dance night after night.

Night after night he also watched every other man in the club watch her. He had to contain his jealousy. Some nights were harder than others. The night he watched a man approach the manager after Velvet danced, he knew. He knew that man would reach out to sponsor her. Julian also knew the man and knew his wife. But for now, there was nothing he could do.

Julian watched Velvet leave backstage and enter a private room. He knew that was where they would discuss their arrangement. Julian hoped more than anything that she would turn the man down. But he knew she wouldn’t so that. No one ever turned down an offer like that. It wasn’t love; it was business. Even if it always ended up the same. He also knew she wouldn’t stop dancing, and he wouldn’t stop being there to watch her. Waiting for his chance.

He watched as they exited the private room, the man was happy, but Velvet, he sensed something off about her. She had agreed, but she wasn’t pleased. She was putting on an act for everyone. She wouldn’t fall for him; she wouldn’t fall for his act. She knew it was a business transaction for both of them to benefit.

The next night Julian arrived at the club at his usual time and was taken to his usual table. His money and membership afforded him these things. Tonight, he was wearing a navy suit and white shirt. He liked to wear a well-tailored suit and no tie. To him it portrayed power. Many of the men here wore their three-piece suits and ties, throwing their money around trying to get the attention of everyone here, especially the girls as they wondered around.

He watched Velvet enter the room and most people turned to her. Even the bar staff watched her. She was wearing a short black velvet dress tonight. It was obvious she wore nothing underneath as well. The closer he got the more he felt the need to touch her. Just once, as though to prove she was real. Instead, he just whispered her name as she walked past. She didn’t stop, or turn, but he watched her breath catch as she kept walking. Walking to the man from last night.

The man reached out for her and passed a small package to her outstretched hand. She smiled as though she meant it, but Julian saw her eyes, they didn’t light up. The man stood and followed her to the private room. Julian counted down the minutes until they came out. She was now wearing a diamond bracelet around her wrist. Julian rolled his eyes at the gesture. He may not have spoken a word to Velvet, but he knew she wasn’t a diamond girl. She wore very little jewellery. A simple silver ring on the middle finger of her right hand and slim silver chain around her neck, and a small silver moon pendant that sat just above her sternum. He loved it was a moon. The moon was his Goddess as well.

Julian finished his drink and left the club. He couldn’t stomach watching her dance for that man. He practically stormed from the club, trying to hide his anger. But it must have shown. A couple of his colleagues watched him leave and the bouncers stepped well away from him as he left. The curtain swung behind him as he breathed in the fresh air. Thankful the scent of s*x would clear from his mind, along with her scent.

He pulled out his phone to text his driver when someone followed him from the club. Without even turning he knew who it was.

‘What do you need Logan?’

‘I wanted to check on you sir, you seemed angry.’

‘I am fine.’

‘Are you sure?’ Julian turned to face his second in command and almost growled at him.

‘I am fine Logan.’

‘Is there anything you need me to take care?’

‘Not tonight, Logan, go back inside. I will see you tomorrow.’ Logan nodded and returned to the club. Julian just wanted to go home and brood with his own thoughts. When his car arrived, he climbed quickly in.

It wasn’t a long drive home, but pulling up to the house helped calm him. Here he had purpose, and no Velvet to preoccupy his mind. Instead, his sister greeted him at the door.

‘Why do you keep going to see her?’

‘I don’t know, but there is something about her and, I just don’t know. Are there any messages?’ He asked trying to end the conversation.

‘No, nothing tonight.’

‘Good, I’m going to bed.’

He made his way up to his rooms. He removed his jacket and threw it over the back of his black leather reading chair and poured himself another whisky. The liquid burned down his throat as though trying to burn the memory of her from his mind. But nothing could take her away. There was only one way to clear his mind. He needed to run, under the spectre of the Goddess hanging in the sky above. The one that guided them all. He needed her more now than ever.