Chapter 21
Cipriana
That night I rubbed my backside into Trino, giving my first real lap dance to the man who deserved it for rescuing me. He asked to put it in seven times. Seven . I almost caved too.
Soon, I will.
But I’m planning something special for that.
A part of me worries that once he gets the golden lips, that’s it.
He’ll be onto his next main squeeze and I’ll just be stuck as an undercover dancer until I can legally divorce his ass.
That’s all in my head, though. He’s been nothing but a grumpy teddy bear to me, and a bulldozer of an enforcer if anyone so much as looks at me the wrong way.
His scorching arm hangs over me like a weighted blanket. It just keeps me there, staring at the ceiling as I inhale his comforting scent until the clock ticks eleven a.m.
He was on the phone the whole ride back home last night, and we passed out after I jerked him off under the covers, so we never really got to address the beat down of a certain Reginald Glisper. Sounds like a king of olden times. Treason, Trino! We committed treason!
“Mph.” Trino rubs his eyes, relieving me of what feels like a thousand pounds of pressure.
“Morning, sunshine.” I poke his ribs, making him grunt.
“Shh.” He swats me and sits up.
I can’t help but be annoying when I see such an easy target.
“You were something else last night,” he says, getting to his feet.
“Oh, you liked my little dance?” I wink at him while lying on my belly, kicking my feet.
“That too. But I meant at the club. You’re a dangerous little firecracker.”
“And you are going to lose all your new customers just as the name’s starting to catch.”
He licks his teeth, knowing I’m right.
“What was with that yesterday? You’re the one who told me to—”
He grunts again and walks out of the room.
I’m fake mad at him, smiling because I know he can’t handle his own emotions. “Trino! Don’t walk away from me! Don’t you have something to say?”
Following him all the way to the balcony makes me giggle.
He runs a hand through his hair while languishing down the steps.
He’s so hot in the morning and he doesn’t even realize it.
Every line of muscle flexes in his legs, his tight ass bouncing through the boxer-briefs.
Skull tattoos on his back scowl – telling me it’s too early for my shenanigans.
Once he’s out of sight, I walk into the bathroom to brush my teeth and hop in the shower. Thinking of last night still gives me shivers – when he barged in like an uncaged bull, making a pompous man cower.
He punched Reggie so hard, I felt it for him. That mark left on his belly looked like he got shot with a cluster of paintballs. That’ll be a good reminder, for sure.
I’m starting to get used to my owl life.
I was wrong about Ruby and Diamond. They’re nice women, even if they change their tune whenever Britta’s around.
Naomi is cool too. After the last shift every Saturday, we all gather in the changing room to see who’s the queen bee of cash tips.
I’m just watching mostly, since my measly winnings are all from the stage.
Apparently, that’s not where the money is.
Britta is the winner, night after night. It’s always her by a cool G or higher. Look at me, talking in their lingo. Anyways, it happens so often I wondered if she pre-stuffed her bag before the night began. But nope. It’s real. She’s got these guys wrapped around her finger.
Walking out of the steamy bathroom while drying my hair, I catch a waft of eggs cooking downstairs. What?
I about-face from the bedroom and head right down to the kitchen. Usually he’ll pick up breakfast or brunch from a restaurant, but… using his own stove?
My mouth is agape as I tiptoe closer to the kitchen.
He’s seasoning eggs and flipping them like a pro.
His eyes are still beady from sleep – which is adorable – and my knees are weak from the gesture.
There’re two decorative plates I’ve never seen before on the island, with settings already prepared.
“Tristano DeMatteo.” I put my hands on my hips. “What’s going on here?”
His brow is all lines, like a caveman, which makes me want to pinch him more. I can’t contain how giddy I am. All my old boyfriends who did stuff like this… it was in their DNA. I expected it. But Trino? Never in a million years.
He carefully shakes the eggs onto each dish, then empties a second pan with hash browns. In fear of fainting where I stand, I carefully grab the arm of one of the island chairs and take my seat. He glances at me here and there, but refuses to say anything.
When he gets out the ketchup and all is complete, he gently nudges my plate across the island to where I’m sitting, and takes his own seat. He offers a shadow of a smirk, then digs into his meal.
I take a stab of egg and hash brown and shove it in my mouth.
Oh my God. The man can cook!
“Mm!”
“Don’t patronize me,” he growls.
“What? I’m happy you did something sweet for me, and that it doesn’t taste like boiled shit.”
He sighs. “You’ve been hanging around Bruno too much.”
I reach my hand over the island, hoping he’ll meet me half way.
He eyes it like a bear wondering whether it’s a trap, then eventually gives in. I rub his palm with my thumb, staring at him all giddily.
“I kind of like you, Toretto.”
His lips twist.
“It’s okay, you don’t have to say anything back.” My smile widens as I ding the plate with my fork. “This says it all.”
xxx
This morning solidified it for me. Tonight’s the big night. I’ve resisted my hot enforcer long enough – I’m going to let him have sex with me.
The cat and mouse game is over. I have to see if what I’m feeling is real.
Where am I right now?
On stage, at the top of my pole – yes, the very top, making eye contact with the patron wagging hundreds like he’s about to shower us. Britta is next to me, being seductive without even trying. Ruby was nice enough to call us the ‘natural beauties’ as we stepped on.
C’mon, drunk rich man, shower us!
I fell into the trap – dancing on stage night after night makes a woman want to feel beautiful and wanted, especially seeing how these drunk dogs cheer for some of the other girls.
Up until now, I’ve been getting a bit glassy-eyed tipsy until I start my routine.
Not sure if it’s because I lack Naomi’s enthusiasm, or Britta’s seductress powers, or what, but they eventually move on to the other girl.
I’d like to think it’s because my body is reserved for my husband and it’s holding me back from shaking it, or maybe it’s because I suck.
Wrapping my legs around the pole like a snake is a new move Ruby thought I was ready for.
Twisting down it with my head whipped back has to be done just so, otherwise my legs will be a pole-burned mess.
As I spin down, I can see my flat stomach sucking in, making my breasts look nice and big like Ruby said they would.
Eye contact, make eye contact.
Remembering all their tips, I try to carry them out as naturally as possible.
I gasp internally when I see the man’s eyes shift from Britta’s ass to my face. Yes!
Smirking flirtatiously with him makes it a fun game, even if a twinge of guilt tickles my belly. I’m just playing a part, nothing more. I’m not touching anyone. It’s harmless, and Trino’s the one who put me here. My husband… put me here…
The thoughts start to go bad…
My smirk turns into a scowl, legs burning all of a sudden because I’m squeezing too tight.
Scrreee!
The scrunch of skin against pole makes me unfold my snake-like position and hit the floor abruptly.
Britta looks over like a cockroach just stepped on stage. And she’s right too. A dancer trying to regain her balance on heels is not sexy. But unlike my first day, I’m not giving up.
Default twerk alert!
Shaking my ass while bending all the way down to look through my legs is something of my specialty. It’s not like my ass is perfect for it like some of the other women, but it’s toned with enough jiggle to wave down a drunkard.
He’s back. Yes!
Fssh!
The hundreds come raining! Twenty of them, at least. He must be a partner at one of the firms, and he must be trashed .
Britta rightly crawls toward him on stage, taking her time to thank him with her seductive eyes, then spins so her legs hang over his shoulders. She wraps them and brings his face right up to her covered slit.
Damn she’s hot. Even I feel a tickle sometimes. So much confidence…
It makes me wonder if Trino fucked her. Of course he did . Different girl every night.
More bad thoughts. Sometimes they’re not so easy to uproot. We were both thrust into each other unwillingly – just our luck there was real chemistry. You can’t fault him for a past you were never a part of, Capri.
As our song wraps up, I wiggle my fingers at our rainmaker, while Britta gives him a sensual kiss on the cheek, lingering a few seconds too long.
So that’s how she traps them.
We gather the money like Cinderella cleaning the floor, and in the moment when it’s just the two of us, she glares at me.
“Almost cost us a few grand with that wobbly fawn routine.” Her tone is so even I can’t tell how angry she is.
“’Twas an accident, Queen Bee. I hope you’ll find it in your black heart to forgive me.” I put my hand to my chest. Oh yeah, I dropped the stoic Misty persona I adopted day one. Now I’m just… Capri with less clothes.
She rolls her eyes and gets to her feet, strutting off the stage without me.
As I’m about to follow, my gaze is pulled to the front door.
Oh my God.
It feels like I fell into a pool that was struck by lightning. My body freezes with little electrical pulses pinching me to get the hell out . It’s not a bunch of mobsters like I feared. It’s Gil! Michael Phelps lookalike, water master lawyer, Gil.
My old life!
It’s made its way here!
I yelp and shuffle as fast as I can off the stage. His eyes didn’t find mine, at least I think. Would he even recognize me with all this makeup and different hair?