I clear my throat. “Do you do more?” I ask, and he laughs, throwing his head back a little.
“Yes, but only because I like it.”
Riley puts some unscented oil on his body as he looks in the mirror.
“But don’t you want a pack?”
He smirks in the mirror, looking at me in its reflection. “One day, but I’ll be damned if I don’t try out every knot on my way to happily ever after.” That gets a laugh from me and a few of the other girls around me. “A lot of the dancers find packs, if that’s what you’re hoping for.”
I sigh, getting my makeup out of my bag and placing it on the vanity.
“Maybe. Really, I just need the money right now.”
Riley shrugs. “Then go out there, dance, get your bag, and only do what you feel comfortable with. You can make good money just by dancing. You don’t need to do private shows or more,” he says.
A girl behind him nods. “Seriously, most of the Alphas are honestly the sweetest.” She holds out her hand, and there’s a glimmering bracelet around her wrist. “Heath just bought me this just because.” The bracelet sparkles under the soft light of the dressing room.
“How much longer are you going to hold out?” Riley asks.
The girl clicks her tongue. “He said he wants to help pay for the pottery classes I want to take.”
Riley rolls his eyes. “She’s in love with Heath and wants to bond, but Heath doesn’t have a pack yet.”
My brows furrow. “What’s wrong with that?”
Riley and the pretty woman shake their heads. “Established packs are always the way to go,” Riley says.
“Why?”
“First and foremost, more stability. Second, jealousy issues. Third, well, more the merrier for your heat.”
“That makes sense.”
Riley turns and chats animatedly with the girl who was showing off her bracelet. All of these Omegas have seemingly turned what should be a downside of our designation to a positive. I want that; I want power and control over my body and who I choose.
It’s at that moment I feel myself grow a spine. I’m dancing tonight, and I’m going to give it my all. If it doesn’t work, then it doesn’t. But if I don’t try, I know I’ll regret it.
Tonight’s theme is cowboys and aliens, and I’m extremely thankful that I’m a cowgirl. My bra is silver with little tassels hanging down. I have assless chaps and silver boy shorts that are nearly digging up my ass. I’m having a hard time getting used to the shoes, but I’m able to walk to my stage. Which is really like a giant bird cage with a pole in the middle.
“You good, hun?” Gina asks as she holds out a hand and helps me to my stage. I take a deep breath and nod. She gives me a kind smile, and I wait for the doors to open. “Only Girl” by Rihanna blasts through the club. The lights are drawn down, but each ‘stage’ has an overhead light featuring the dancer.
My stage is circular, and there are seats around the cage. I can feel my hand shaking, but I shake my head. I notice all the other dancers have started moving, so I do the same.
Gina told me I don’t need to be the best dancer, that my scent and personality are the most important things. But as I look over at Riley doing insane acrobatics on the pole, I feel so insecure.
A group of Alphas are already planting their asses in everyone’s chairs but mine. I try to keep dancing, to just be patient. I’m new, they don’t know what to expect.
When an Alpha sits in front of my cage and slips a twenty between the wide bars and smiles, my heartbeat stops for a moment. He’s not unattractive, and he seems kind as he sits and spreads his legs wide. He licks his lips as he watches me dance slowly to the music. I make sure to dance close to where he’s sitting.
I know the rules, no touching unless I say. And I don’t think I’m ready for any touching quite yet. But letting them scent me, yeah, I can do that. I bend down, my knees bent as he leans forward to speak to me.
“You’re new,” he says. I kind of want to reply with ‘no shit.’ Instead I smile and nod.
“I’m Selene.”
“You smell amazing, Selene.”
I give him a wide grin. “Thanks, what’s your name?”
