I swallow down the fear. “I can handle you, I just wasn’t sure,” I mutter, turning quickly for him before he kicks me out.
“Drop the cardigan,” he instructs, the authority in his voice getting me all hot and bothered. Why does he have to be so devilishly handsome and charming? It’s a lethal combination.
I fumble with the cardigan that’s tied around my waist and throw it on my bag. Staring back at him, I wonder what he wants now. “Happy?” I force a smile, trying to look less uncomfortable.
“Again.” He twirls his finger as if he wants me to turn. “Slower this time, I want to see every inch of you.” His voice is playful now.
Oh, dear God, that last part makes my cheeks glow and my heart race. I do as he says, spinning slower this time, mainly so I can hide the color of my face. I can feel the burn of his eyes on every part of me, and when I make it back to where I started, I can see it in his eyes. He’s a little turned on looking at my body. I guess I have to take that as a compliment in this line of work. “Ditch the dress.”
Fuck. My heart thumps so hard I can hear it. I know this is what the job is, stripper implies as much. I just wasn’t prepared for this when I walked in here this morning. Please be wearing matching underwear, I pray to myself. I swallow down the lump in my throat and move to untie the wrap-around part of my dress, opening it up to reveal my red lace bra and pale blue silk panties. Not a matching pair. Damn it. I ditch the dress and toss it toward my bag, turning for him again so he can get an eyeful. My breasts are well-proportioned, not overly large, and I have maintained my figure with the personal trainer Valentine insisted I hire in Italy. So, it’s not like I have huge hang-ups about my body, but I also know I don’t look like the girls I saw on the stage earlier. I’m more petite, and I’m praying that won’t be a problem.
His silence has me squirming. His eyes rise over every inch of me and settle on my face, a slow sexy smile crossing his face. “The men here are going to fall in love with you. You have a nice face, ample tits, and your ass…” He almost growls the last part. “You will certainly get some attention and make decent money, and honestly, that’s what we are here for.”
I smile back at him awkwardly, not sure what else to do. It’s odd being looked at just for your body, treated like a piece of meat, only good for the pretty face, tits, and ass. But strangely, I’m okay with it. It’s better than being someone’s arm candy, not even really looked at, just expected to keep quiet and do as you’re told. I’m about to be earning my own money for the first time, so if I have to endure a littleogling from strangers with their pockets lined with cash for that to happen, so be it. “Thank you, I guess.”
His grin widens, and I think he knows how nervous he’s making me. I’m sure it’s damn obvious. “You know you’re pretty, but you’re way too pure to be in this place.”
“I’m not,” I snap back, taken off guard.
He raises a cheeky eyebrow. “I’ll humor you. Now let’s see what you can do.” He relaxes back onto his seat, spreading his legs a little wider as he makes himself comfortable.
Damn. He wants me to give him a lap dance while I’m only in my underwear. I blink back at him, trying to get my racing heart under control so I can focus and do what he wants. But I have nothing. I’m not sure where to even start.
“I have a job going at the bar if you would prefer something tamer. Not every girl can handle dancing up there. They think they can, but the reality is different.” There is a challenge in his eyes, like he is silently trying to push me to see what kind of girl I really am.
Right now, I don’t know. I love to dance, it’s in my bones, but like this? Can I really do it? When I got on that plane in Italy, that was my plan. But now, hearing the seductive music playing through the club and seeing that look of lust in his eyes, I’m not sure I have it in me.
Asher reaches out and takes my hand, running his thumb over the back of it like he’s trying to calm me. It makes me feel young and naïve in a way I can’t stand. Like he pities me. “You must be desperate for work. Why don’t we get that dress back on and go meet Erica? She can put you to work behind the bar.” His eyes have a kindness to them that tells me he’s not going to push me to do anything I’m not comfortable with. But I’m not here to quit on this. I know I will make better money dancing, and I know I can do it.
I shove out of his grip on me and push him back in his seat with an air of confidence I don’t have. So, he relaxes back again. His cheeky-as-hell smirk returns, along with a playful glint in his eyes that tells me he’s about to get exactly what he wanted. I let the music invade my soul and move to the beat, swaying more provocatively than I ever have before. I run my hands up my body, cupping my breasts over the fine lace of my bra, running them all the way up and into my hair. I remove my long, dark hair from its scrunchie, feeling the cool air on my neck as I toss it over my shoulder, trying to be seductive but not quite sure I’m pulling it off.
Then I turn, swaying my hips as I lower down onto his lap, leaning into his body like I have seen the girls at my husband’s club do thousands of times before. I grind up against him as I dance, trying to keep my focus on the beat of the music, not what I’m doing. I stiffen when I feel how rock hard his cock is under my ass. Hard and massive, straining against his suit pants and digging into me. Damn.
My heart kicks up a beat, and I spin around suddenly so I’m straddling him, thinking maybe this position is less dangerous. But then I see the hungry look in his eyes and regret it immediately. Oh, dear God, I’m not going to survive this interview. What next, is he going to ask me to drop down on my knees and suck his dick? I’d probably do it.
His lips tug up at the sides. “You’re going to have to get used to feeling a hard cock if you want this job, little princess.”
I fake a smile and keep moving, rocking my hips as I play with the collar of his button-up shirt, trying to keep some distance between us, because this, even though I know what it is, feels way too intimate, and I think it’s more than the proximity of our bodies. I think he’s making it feel that way by the way he’s looking at me—no, not looking at me, but staring into my soul.
He captures my hands in front of me, gazing right into my eyes for longer than he should, for longer than anyone should. My heart thumps hard as I stare back at him. His eyes are a dark brown, but they have the prettiest green flecks in them, and I get lost. Electricity swirls between us, the moment seeming to last for an eternity, and I never want it to end. “That’s enough,” he mutters, his voice thick with the same lust that’s thumping through my body.
I stand immediately, hopping off his lap, the heat in my cheeks now a glowing red, I’m sure. But he doesn’t let go of my wrists; he keeps them hostage. I suck in a breath, trying to get my racing heart under control. “Did I get the job?” I whisper, knowing I’m going to burst into tears if I don’t.
He tilts his head, searching my eyes, looking way deeper than he should. What on earth is going on? “Do you still want the job, princess?”
Princess? There it is again. “Yes?” I answer, but I know how unconfident my voice sounds. It comes out like more of a question than a definite answer.
He releases my wrists and stands, his body still way too close for comfort. It’s then when he gets to his feet, I realize how damn tall he is, towering over me. I have to kink my neck to look up at him. “Spend the afternoon with Paige, our dance coordinator. You can start at the end of the week if you make it through her training…” He looks me over again. “And if you’re still interested.”
A flutter of excitement runs through me, and I can’t help but grin back at him. He’s giving me a chance.
I did it! Yeah, Daisy, you ground up on some dude’s lap until he got hard and decided to flick you a job for the privilege. Good work. I squash down my inner thoughts that want to keep me small. They would be happy to see me go home and marry some new asshole. Justso I was “safe” and taken care of. But I know living that life all over again would just kill me. I need to be free, I need to be me, and I’m a dancer, even if it’s on the stage of a strip club.
“Thank you.” I have no idea why I do it, but I throw my arms around him in a hug. I’m just so happy I did it. I got a job.
He hugs me back just for a second, then he picks up my dress and drapes it over my shoulders. I shrug into it and do up the tie at the side. “I’m taking a chance on you. Don’t let me down, princess.” He knocks my chin and grins so wide it shows his dimples.
His words make me feel all warm inside. No one has been willing to take a chance on me ever. And this gorgeous creature knows I have no damn experience here but still wants to give me a go. Thank the Lord.
