I cringe a little at the use of my stage name, but I don’t let it show. Seductively, I run my hands up my body, feeling the smoothness of my skin and the softness of my lacy lingerie, before diving into the thick, synthetic strands of my wig and dramatically flicking it back. “Dancing makes me feel alive. Do you have anything in your lifethat makes you really feel alive?” I ask as I turn around, moving my hips to the beat of the music. Paige suggested keeping some sort of conversation with the men we dance for. It makes it feel less awkward and keeps them interested longer, which makes us more money. Win, win. She said most of them are just lonely, horny, and way too cashed up, and that makes me feel sad for them. But I’m broke and desperate for my independence, so I guess it makes me just as miserable.
“Watching you,” he says, his voice a low rumble, and I think it’s supposed to make me feel special. In a way it does. I like the attention.
I circle back, drawing closer, playfully taking his tie in my hands again, dancing flirtatiously around his lap like I have been shown. Getting close enough for him to smell my perfume, then backing off, teasing him just a little. I’m more comfortable tonight than when I did this with Asher. Paige’s lessons have helped, but it’s more than that. It’s easier with someone I’m not attracted to. “You can watch me all night, honey.” I laugh mischievously.If you keep paying for it.
“I just might.”
I shift until my back presses against him, settling into his lap as I keep moving to the music. My hands rest on his thighs to give me just enough space. “Have you had a rough day at work?” I ask, trying to keep the conversation flowing.
“Just flew in from out of town. You’re the pick-me-up I needed after a long day traveling. It’s hard to be away from your family, you know.”
He has a family, oh my God, I didn’t want to know that. “I’m sure,” I say back, playing along, even though I’m kind of disgusted right about now. I need him to tell me he’s divorced.
“My wife would kill me if she knew this is what I did every time I came to town, but this club and the girls in it are the best in the world. I couldn’t believe my eyes when you took the stage tonight. So youngand pretty, I just knew I needed more of you.” This time his tone is creepier. Predatory even.
Goosebumps scatter up my arms, something in his tone freaking me out just a little. I laugh, trying to keep it light, even though I’m about done with him. “What do you do for work?” I ask, trying to keep the conversation lighter.
“I am the managing partner of a large law firm in New York City.” He raises a brow, and I think it’s to ask if I’m impressed.
I grin. “Wow, impressive.”
His lips lower to my ear. “How much for an hour with you in one of the private suites?”
The goosebumps turn to all-out prickles over my whole body. I knew to expect this question but wasn’t quite prepared for it to happen on my first lap dance, and not with this guy. “We haven’t even finished the song yet.” I try to keep my voice light and pleasant, not sure what to do. The money would be helpful, but I’m not sure I’m ready to dive headfirst into what going back there with him would mean. Especially now that I know he has a family and a wife back home. That doesn’t sit well with me.
“How much, Princess?” he asks again, his voice a low murmur as his lips hover too close to my ear. So close I can smell the waft of scotch on his breath.
“Normally one thousand for the hour, but it’s not on the menu tonight, sorry, handsome.” My voice is a little sterner this time.
He chuckles, carefree. “You like to play hard to get?” His hand moves to my thigh, and I freeze. “How about I triple the offer and we skip the back-and-forth? I can be very persuasive when I want something.” He rubs his hand up my thigh, sending a scattering of goosebumps with it.
“No hands,” I warn him, shifting my position so he is forced to remove his hand from my lap. I make eye contact with Lee, one of the guards; he’s watching us from not too far away. I’m not ready to give him the signal yet, but I’m glad he’s keeping an eye on me.
“Five,” he says, his voice now laced with a serious tone that tells me he means business.
I break into a hot sweat, not sure what to do. Five would really get me out of trouble. But there is just something about this guy that sends alarm bells ringing in my ears. Themarriedpart makes me think of Valentine, and disgust fills me when I imagine this man’s wife back at home taking care of their family while he’s out on the town looking to get his dick wet. Asher’s words from earlier come back to me as well.Be careful.I have to go with my gut, and it tells me, no way in hell. “Not tonight, handsome,” I say as the song ends. I go to move off his lap, but his hand comes around my middle, clamping me in place against him. I can feel how turned on he is. Shit! A white-hot sweat comes over me.
The next thing I know, I’m on the floor, someone having knocked me out of the way, and when I look up, I find who did it.
Cruz has the man held around the throat. “She saidnohands, motherfucker. Do you have an issue with listening?”
“N-no,” the man stutters out, looking like he’s about to piss himself. “She’s just new, she doesn’t know what she wants yet. I was about to educate her.”
“Cruz, let him go,” I warn him, seeing the crazy bubbling out, and this guy is a big-shot lawyer.
“You stay out of this,” he spits back at me, his voice filled with venom, like I’m the one who has done the wrong thing.
“Who is this, your pimp?” the man asks, his voice strangled. “Tell him I will cut him in if I can have the hour.”
Shakily, I get to my feet, trying to pull Cruz off the man, my fingers clenching tightly around his biceps. Not because I care so much if he hurts him at this point—the man deserves it—but more because I don’t want to cause a scene on my first night. “Cruz, please, I have this under control.”
He ignores me and shoves the man further into the booth seat, his face turning red. I’m sure by the force he’s using and the crazy look in his eyes, he’s about to kill him with his bare hands. Shit. I move out of the booth, looking for one of the bouncers. Lee sees me and is over here in just a few large strides. He grabs Cruz’s shoulder and pulls him back with a hard tug.
The businessman gasps for breath, glaring back at Cruz. “Finally. This cocky fucker is batshit crazy.”
“Get the fuck out of here before I have to drag you out,” the bouncer growls at the man.
He stands quickly and shoves past me. “Frigid little bitch isn’t worth the trouble,” he mutters under his breath. “Who turns down five grand?”
