11. Skyler
11
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The curtains are drawn. I take my place center stage. Deep breaths. Close my eyes and listen to the sounds around me. The sound of people chatting, glasses being placed on tables, the shuffling of chairs all filter through the room behind me. A few catcalls are off in the distance, probably the large party I saw in the VIP section upstairs.
The place is packed. I peeked at the room before taking the stage. I like to know who’s here. Who else is hiding amongst the crowd?
Our regulars came early to claim their usual seats. Three parties fill the VIP section for various celebrations. Vincenzo Parisi is entertaining guests in his private seating area. I pay them no mind.
This is my time. I get to let myself go and get lost in the music, let it carry me away to a place far, far away from my reality. This is the perfect place to get lost. No one would ever think to look for me in a place like this. Especially not Ethan.
When I take the stage in full costume, everything about my true self is disguised. From my hair to my eyes, to the silky-smooth appearance of my skin. Any hint of my identity is buried beneath make-up and accessories. Hidden to the natural eye. Up here, I am Lady Scarlet, everyone’s fantasy made real. Even mine.
Even Ethan’s.
The way his hypnotic brown eyes follow every movement of my hips as they sway with the beat. The way he licks his lips as my hands slide down my torso following the full length of my body and back up again. My fingers gracing over my skin from my ankle to the curve my ass where his heavy-lidded eyes linger. The hunger I see when his gaze meets mine speaks of all the dirty things, he wishes he could do to me. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I want him too. Especially after I watch the way the pink tip of his tongue glides over his bottom lip after each sip of whiskey, not wanting to let a single drop of the golden liquid go to waste. I find myself feeling jealous, wishing for a moment I could be the glass and he would run his tongue over me so thoroughly.
I shiver knowing he’s sitting there, patiently, nursing his glass of whiskey, waiting… for me.
For Scarlet.
Tonight, I’ve decided to break my own rule and have asked Vincenzo to prepare a private room where I’ll dance for him. Just him. I never do private lap dances or mingle with the audience, it’s generally against my contract, but Vincenzo agreed as a personal favor to me.
Just this once. I’ll give Ethan what he wants. What we both want. Just this once. He just won’t know it’s me. But I’ll know it’s him and that’ll be enough.
It has to be.
He wants me, but only because he has no idea who I am. I know it makes me a sadist. It’ll only make my heart ache more in the end, but I want his hands on me again. I want to feel his desire for me one last time, without all the anger and hurt between us.
“Ladies and gentlemen. The Velvet Pearl is proud to present for your viewing pleasure, our very own…Lady Scarlet,” the emcee announces my stage name riling up the crowd. This will be my first solo performance. I chose the song specifically for Ethan. My own little fuck you moment.
It’s rare I put clothes on when I’m dancing. Usually, it’s the other way around. But tonight, I want to drive him insane. Make him so hot with need that he won’t be able to turn down my invitation to some one-on-one time with Lady Scarlet. I went old school for this one.
Tonight, I’m Giving him something he can feel.
The house lights go down. I feel the heat of the spotlight through the curtain. The chattering stops. A few men whistle, more catcalls go out around the room. Then everything ceases when the curtain goes up and the stage lights pop on with the first beat of the bass. The bass starts pumping through the speakers and my hips snap and sway with each beat. The fringe pieces on my barely-there skirt swish across my ass keeping time behind the white screen. The rhythm in sync with the beating of my heart as the music and I become one. I focus on my movements, the music, and him.
I take a seat in the chair behind the screen, the reflection of my mask-covered face and bare shoulders in the make-shift vanity mirror, surrounded in large white bulbs the only thing anyone can see clearly. My shadow moving behind the thin white paper screen the only clues they have for what I’m doing.
I stand, still swaying to the beat, unhooking my skirt, I let it drop to the floor, spinning so the reflection in the mirror is now of my bare back down to the dimples just above my ass. There’s no question I’m nude behind the screen. Or so they think.
The men in the crowd whistle and call for me to come out where they can see me. But that’s not how this show is going to go.
I pick up a long red dress, holding it in front of my body in the mirror, then spin again as I shimmy it up by legs, over my hips, all the way to the top of my breasts, zipping the back slowly as they all watch in the mirror.
I spin around into the chair, leaning out from behind the screen so they can see my face…well, my red mask. I sway my arms to the rhythm of the song, popping one naked leg out, then slowly sliding the thin black nylon thigh high over my foot all the way up to mid-thigh. The screen moves ever so slightly with my movements allowing the full view of my legs to be seen as I continue to drag my fingers feather lightly over my skin while putting the other stocking on, followed by two four-inch black stiletto heels. All the while my body moves with the rhythm of the music. Ever touch, every caress, every article of clothing is applied in time with the song.
When I stand, I’m no longer behind the screen, it’s been removed completely from the stage and all that’s left is my little chair and the pretend vanity.
Turning my body to the side, I gently snap two black gloves I have tucked between my breasts and begin sliding them on one at a time, caressing my arms, chest, and shoulders along the way. The final touch…applying bright red lipstick to my lips, while my eyes connect with Ethan’s from across the room. A silent promise of what’s to come.
After my set on stage, I ask my guard, Santiago, to go to Cash’s table and have his friend in the black button-down shirt escorted to a private room. I was pissed when I first saw Ethan, Hawk, Jake, and Xander all seated at Cash’s table. He’s my bodyguard tonight. Having them here could blow my cover completely. Knowing Cash, he probably told them Walker was with me, knowing he would cover for us.
I listen as Santiago tells one of the stagehands to handle extending the invitation as ‘his job is to protect me not run my errands.’
Grump.
I change my outfit, fluff my wig, and touch up my lips. If I’m going to do this, I want it to be perfect.
Just this once.
I wait outside the door of the private room, listening as Santiago gives Ethan my rules.
“Lady Scarlet invited you to be here. She doesn’t give private dances for anyone and as such you will follow all her rules, or you will answer to me.” He pauses. I roll my eyes. He’s so fucking dramatic. As if his hulking size stretching the material of his suit to almost breaking point wouldn’t be enough to intimidate anyone. There’s a reason Vincenzo made him my backstage bodyguard and it wasn’t his shining personality.
“The music will start. She’ll dance for thirty minutes. You will not touch her without her express permission, and you will tell no one of this experience or you will not be allowed to return to the club per Mr. Parisi’s orders. Are we clear?”
“Crystal.” My eyes close as I exhale to the sound of his agreement.
This is really happening.
Santiago exits the room, closing the door behind him, stopping right in front of me. He lifts my chin with two fingers.
“You sure about this, babe?” I nod. I don’t have the words to explain to him what this means to me or why I must go through with it, but I do.
Santiago brushes a finger down my cheek, dropping a kiss on my forehead.
“I’ll be right outside this door. The cameras are on. Tony is watching. If at any point you change your mind, you call my name or come out this door and I’ll get you out of here. We clear?”
Leaning up on my toes, pressing my hand to his chest, I kiss his cheek.
“Thank you. I’ll be fine, I promise.” He nods, taking a step around me to take his place stationary by the door. “Santiago?” When his eyes meet mine, I tell him, “When the timer ends, I want to leave immediately. Will you take me home?”
“Of course.” As I turn the handle on the door Santiago is already on his phone telling someone to pull a town car around and leave it running.
“Tell Cash privately and he’ll make his way back to the house to meet me.”
Taking one last deep, shaky breath, I open the door and step inside. The room is softly lit. I stand with my back to the door taking in all that is Ethan.
He’s sitting on the kidney-shaped black leather couch, his elbows resting on his knees. He holds a glass of whiskey between his hands. He’s yet to look up at me, focused solely on the ice in his glass as the amber liquid swirls around.
“You don’t do private dances, Scarlet. I know. I’ve been asking for weeks, and you’ve turned me down. So, tell me, what changed your mind?”
“Hmm.” I shrug one shoulder. It’s not an answer, but it’s all I have to offer. I don’t dare tell him the truth or this night will end right now. My fantasy burned up in torrential flames.
You can do this.
I give myself a small pep talk. I need all the encouragement I can get. If he finds out I’m Scarlet. That Scarlet is Skyler, he’ll never forgive me. I guess that’s a price I’m willing to pay for a few minutes to feel his uninhibited desires.
The cotton of his shirt stretches tight against his bulking biceps. His jeans are worn. His dark hair disheveled. When he leans back against the seat, his arms resting over the back of the couch, his shirt pulls taut against his chest giving a hint of the ridges and plains of what I know to be a finely sculpted body. He’s a fighter, making his mark on the world of martial arts. He takes pride in his form.
I must say I’m damn proud of his form myself.
Finally regaining my nerve, remembering who I am in here.
I’m Scarlet. The confident, sexy, fantasy he craves.
I step away from the door and turn to the stereo in the corner and push play. I already have my playlist downloaded and ready. Five songs that make me think of Ethan. Five songs to drive him crazy with need. Five songs to remind me of this moment even after he’s walked away.
I want to take my time and enjoy this next half an hour. To burn each second into my memory.
“Are you going to tell me why I’m here? Or am I just supposed to sit back and enjoy the show while you keep your secrets.”
Placing a finger to his lips, I nod while shushing him.
The music starts, I close my eyes, and everything else disappears as I get lost in the rhythm. I untie the belt holding my lavender satin robe closed allowing it to open and fall to the floor revealing the sheer matching baby doll that comes just to the tops of the globes of my ass giving him a glimpse of the matching thong. None of my costumes I wear on stage are this revealing. I chose this just for him.
It’s his favorite color on me.
I’m entranced by the beat for a second, enjoying the way it speaks to my body, the freedom it brings taking over. The low growl coming from the couch behind me causes the corner of my lips to curl and my eyes to open.
I walk slowly to where he’s sitting, remove the glass from his hand and set it on the table beside the couch, never ceasing to swish and sway my body to the beat. I stand between his legs, bending down and sashaying my way back up to the rhythm of the song.
With his hand in mine, I guide his fingers to where I want them. One hand up behind my neck, gripping my nape as I straddle his lap. If he notices the wig, he doesn’t say anything.
His other hand reaches forward to lift my mask, but I push back shaking my head again. The mask stays. It’s the only armor I have.
He looks confused, studying me. I close my eyes in a panic. Wanting to distract him I take his other hand to follow a path from my collar bone to my breast, pausing for a moment to enjoy his touch, savoring the feel of his thumb as it brushes my nipple through the silky fabric. It sends a shiver through me straight to my core. I fight to hold back a whimper but fail. Ethan hears it and chuckles softly.
Leaning in, he whispers against my ear, “You like my hands on you don’t you beautiful?” His breath a sweet caress across my skin. Still, I say no words, just nod. I can’t speak, even if I wanted to.
The other hand releases my neck and follows the same pattern to the other nipple. He gives it a pinch and our eyes lock. His lips turn up in a beautiful smile, one that says he has me right where he wants me. It’s the challenge I need to take what I want.
At first, I just wanted to feel his touch. To savor being this close to him one last time, but his goal is to drive me crazy, maybe get me off. It stirs something inside me.
Game on.
I lower my head, eyes watching him through my long lashes. Grabbing his left hand, I drag it down placing it firmly on my hip. I feel his hard length beneath me and grind down on him, once, twice, three times, eliciting a guttural groan from him. The sound makes me smile, but also causes more wetness to pool between my legs. I’m getting close.
Placing his hand between us, I shift my thong to the side and guide his fingers along the seam of my pussy and begin to slide myself along his hand. Ethen doesn’t hesitate. He shoves two fingers inside of me and begins to pump them in rhythm to the music. His thumb circling my clit as he curls the other two and reaches that spot only he can. My climax is building, but I’m not ready to let go yet. I slow my movements.
Ethan slows his fingers, puzzled by my actions.
I’m tired of pretending all the time. I want to feel something real. Even if only for a moment with him.
I wrap one hand around his neck, untying the top of my baby doll with the other, letting it pool at my waist. His eyes follow the movement, his bottom lip caught between his teeth at the sight of my breasts. I raise his chin with my finger. Once his eyes are on mine, I tip my chin toward my breast, silently asking him to put his mouth on me.
He doesn’t waste time. He greedily sucks and nips, as I moan and writhe in his lap bringing myself closer and closer to the brink. I pull his head back, gripping his hair tightly with both my hands staring into his eyes as I come. Short pants passing through my lips. His eyes locked on mine.
I reach my hand between us, frantically undoing his pants. His eyes pop from my hands to my eyes, then his hands are cradling my face.
I can smell myself on his fingers.
“We don’t have to.” I place my hand to his lips, silencing him, then bring his fingers to my mouth and suck them clean. The taste of release on his skin turning me on even further.
Yes, we do.
I reach for the bowl on the little table beside us, grab a condom and hand it to him with a nod urging him to open it while I pull him out of the confines of his pants. When his cock springs free, his head lulls back, and a sigh passes his lips. A smile tugs the corner of mine.
He’s wants this as much as I do.
I stand momentarily, dropping my baby doll and thong all the way to the ground. Ethan’s breath hitches. He gets the condom on and grabs my waist bringing me back to his lap and slams me down onto his cock.
My eyes roll back in my head. He stills a moment allowing me to adjust to his size. The burn and stretch of his cock feel like something I’ve been missing all this time.
He feels like home.
My eyes begin to water, but I don’t let him see.
He slides my hips up then down, slowly. Our groans harmonize, and suddenly we’re moving.
His mouth is everywhere. My breasts, my collar bone, my neck. My ear. My mouth.
It’s absolute bliss.
His fingertips roam my skin, digging and gripping down my back, over my ass where they squeeze, grinding me down on his length even harder. The friction of our bodies hitting my clit just right, sending ripples of pleasure through me.
God, if this is a dream, please don’t let me wake.
I grind myself down on him, keeping in rhythm with the last song. It’s harder, an angry love song.
When Ethan sees I’m close he pistons up inside me, once, twice, three times. My body seizes, my hands slipping slightly from his shoulders. I grip his shirt, my orgasm comes fast and hard, stealing the breath from my lungs. I whimper as he pushes on, pumping into me again and again until finally he follows me over the cliff. My walls pulse, gripping him tight. His hand comes up between us, rubbing my clit tenderly bringing me down slowly.
His name rolls off my tongue in a whisper and Ethan stills beneath me but doesn’t say a word.
Shit.
We both sit pressed together, catching our breath as we come back down to earth. A small smile plays on my lips. I’m shocked I went through with it, and pleased I could bring him to breaking point with me.
I needed that. Him.
Ethan cradles my face, searching my eyes. I’m praying my dark make-up, and mask are enough to hide my identity.
My breath is coming in hard pants. My mind is slowly coming back online, tears fill my eyes as embarrassment begins to grip my heart.
I shouldn’t have done this. I was stupid to think I could have him this once and not want more.
I move off his lap and quickly grab my clothes, getting dressed. Ethan is standing with his jeans pulled up to his waist, the button still undone. He looks, confused, maybe even a little hurt, though I don’t know why.
He got what he wanted…a private one-on-one with Lady Scarlet. Why should he be confused about anything?
It’s what he wanted damnit!
It’s what you wanted.
Ethan studies me, his brow creased. I make a quick decision to kiss his cheek and run for the door just as Santiago knocks.
If he knew I tricked him into fucking me…
“Scarlet! We have to go.” Santiago shouts. When I throw open the door, there’s worry in Santiago’s eyes when he pulls me into his side ready to cart me away to the dressing room. He doesn’t speak or give me and explanation which only makes my stomach drop.
“What is it? What’s happened?”
“Nothing sweetheart. You just look like you needed a moment to yourself, and maybe could use a hug.”
I nod, accepting his embrace.
From behind the door of the room I just left, we hear Ethan shouting, “Fucking Fuck!”
I don’t wait to hear anymore and ask Santiago to take me home.
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