Chapter 1
I lean across the bar,perspiration beading along my hairline, and I feel a trickle run down my spine.
“Good set,” Lance, the bar guy, gives me a wink as he slides a glass of water over to me.
“Thanks,” I smile, my eyes lifting to the time. It has just turned ten p.m.
I have worked at Prestige since last year. The club is pretty cozy. Black walls with chrome lights bringing a dim ambience to the space. Large ceiling lights hang, but of an evening, the brightness is turned up a little more, so everything is a lot more visible. No hiding away in the corners when they’re on. The sofa booths are wrapped in grey leather where expensive suits sit while smoking on their cigars. Off the main floor you have four red, metal doors. Behind the doors are private rooms with beds, sofas, toys, cameras. Occasionally we have to do online cam work, though it’s very rare. But if someone wants you all to themselves, that’s where they’ll take you. Then at the end of that hallway is a cigar lounge. Only the richest go in there. They offer extras to the girls and me, but I have never been brave enough to cross that threshold yet. I am comfortable here.
I like what I do.
I sigh, thinking about how much everything has changed in the last six months.
The truth was, I did graduate early. I did get into med school way before my peers.
But I failed my first-year exams.
The familiar prick behind my eyes reminds me of how I felt back then. Disappointment surges through me and I hate that I lied to my dad, not as much now as he lied to me too, but it still stings.
But he doesn’t need to know.
I’ll go back one day, but just not yet. The thought of having to work under my class as their intern was too much to bear. I was embarrassed.
Little Arizona King.
Top of her classes.
Flew through school years ahead of her friends.
Gets into med school.
Fails her intern exam because of a careless mistake.
I shake my head from side to side as I turn to face the stage, Roxy is giving the guys a hell of a show.
Roxy, Lucy, Autumn and April. The ones that took me in with open arms with not an ounce of judgement.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Connie and Reese, even though they’re slightly older than me, they’re my friends and I know if I spilled my truths, they would be there for me.
But my girls here?
They know everything and I have no secrets with them.
I can be who I want to be here; when I am with Connie and Reese I have to slip back into old Arizona, and I am starting to dislike the old me.
“Hey,” a soft voice pulls me from my thoughts, and I turn to see Sage.
Long, black straight hair that sits under her ribs, beautiful tattoos covering her arms and midriff. She wears a black fitted crop top and wet look leggings. She is curvaceous and simply stunning. Her piercing green eyes sparkle like sapphires under the club lights.
“Hey!” I call out, placing my water on the bar next to me as she stands from her stool and envelopes me in her arms. “I didn’t know you were coming over!” I pull away and step back, my smile wide.
“Last minute trip; Dex and Rhaegar had some business…” she trails off and rolls her eyes.
“Ah,” I laugh, and follow her eyes as she focuses on Roxy.
“She is something,” Sage whistles.
“She is, best of the best.”
Sage lives in England with her fiancé Dex Rutherford. I would never tell her this, but Dex is hot as sin. Tall, dark haired, covered in tattoos and muscles that ripple under his glorious skin. They’re a match made in heaven.
From what I have heard through the club walls, Sage used to dance at one of Dex’s clubs and she was dating his dad, Rhaegar but left him for Dex. I mean, don’t get me wrong, Rhaegar is the definition of silver fox, and I am sure that he was very much like his son back in the day, but Dex…
“How are you getting on?” She asks me and I turn my head away from the stage and push my thoughts to the back of my mind.
“Yeah okay, things seem to be picking up a little more now which is good,” I smile as Roxy finishes her set.
“That’s good,” she takes a sip from her tall glass.
Prestigeis one of the most upmarket Gentleman’s Clubs here in New York. Members only and no touching unless a private dance has been booked. You get the few familiar faces here and most of them are respectful.
“Little One,” I hear the low rumble of a man’s voice and my eyes fix on how Dex wraps his large arms around Sage’s body, nuzzling his nose into her hair. She giggles, her cheeks turning crimson.
I look away, suddenly feeling a little nosy. I sit quietly enjoying the music until the next set is due. I am on the floor for the next couple of hours which suits me. I like walking around and taking in the ambience of it all.
“Arizona,” Dex’s voice is cool as it breezes over me like the cool spring air.
“Oh hey,” I wave softly at him. I would have said hello before, but I didn’t want to interrupt.
“Nice to see you again, you okay?”
“I’m perfect, thank you,” I nod and turn my gaze away. I am definitely not perfect. But no one needs to know just how broken I am.
I’ve met Dex and Sage a few times as they come over every few months to check in, but it never looks good if you’re ass licking the boss now does it.
Sasha comes bounding over, hands on her hips.
“Ari, sweetness. Move your little tush and get going, you need to get changed and out on that floor baby girl,” she rolls her eyes in an overexaggerated manner, and I give her a small smile.
“Sorry,” I shrug my shoulders up and wave off Sage and Dex as I begin to walk towards the changing room.
I dress in a silver bra and thong, finishing the look with nude fishnets with diamantes on each cross over. Slipping into black, killer platform heels that finish my look. My dark brown hair is in its natural curl. It’s shoulder length but when straight it sits just under my shoulder blades.
Rubbing bright matte red lipstick across my lips I roll them and rid the excess, so it doesn’t mark my teeth.
“Hey Arizona,” Sage walks round the corner and into the changing room. My brow furrows.
“All okay?” I breathe as I open my locker and grab my phone to check it.
“Yeah, fine, I was just wondering whether I could do a set with you? I haven’t been on a pole in years, and I don’t know, watching you and Roxy up there earlier, well, I just thought that you could show me a few things and vice versa.”
My mouth falls agape for a moment.
“You want to dance with me?” I half giggle, thinking she’s joking.
“Well, yeah,” she smirks, eyes bouncing between mine.
“I’m better on the floor I think, my pole needs a little more work.”
“Then let me teach you? I am here for a few weeks. Dex and his dad are going to be in back-to-back meetings for the next couple of days. If you don’t want to its fine, I will ask one of the other girls.”
“No! of course, I would love to.”
“Cool, I’ll catch up with you later,” she winks at me before turning and walking out the room.
“Did Sage just come on to you?” Lucy pipes up from the sofa and I spin quickly, my brows pinching.
“No, well…” I stammer for a moment, “no,” I shake my head laughing, “no, she didn’t.”
Letting my eyes fall down to my phone, I click the screen and see a message from my dad. I sigh, ignoring the begging and apologetic spiel and lock my phone. I don’t want to hear his excuses. I am done with him. Hands washed clean.
I swallow the bitter taste down and ignore the way my stomach rolls.
Putting my phone back into my locker, I slam it a little harder than intended.
“Ready,” I turn and plaster a fake smile on my face.
“Are you?” one of Lucy’s brows lift. Her long, blonde mermaid wavy hair cascades down her sides. She is wearing a white bra and hotpants which are covered in sequins. She is tanned and lean. She’s one of the favorites.
“I am,” I give her a small nod.
“Man, you get to dance with Sage. I have such a crush on her,” Lucy tsks.
“She is something… but so is Dex,” I whisper the last bit in case anyone hears me.
“I mean, yeah, he is hot, but out of the two, I would take Sage, nah, Dex…” Lucy stands, hands on her hips, “you know what, I would take them both.” She wiggles her brows and licks her lips.
“Why don’t you try and initiate a threesome?” I smirk as I begin to head for the main floor.
“Don’t tempt me,” she slaps my ass as she catches up with me.
Lucy is probably my best friend out of the girls here. She took me under her wing when I arrived. I was so nervous. This is not the job I thought I would be doing, but things change and well, I actually really enjoy it.
Me and Lucy walk hand in hand as we begin to scope the floor, stopping at the large tables with the expensive suits sitting there. They’re loud and drunk as they lean across, one of them reaching me and pulling me onto their lap.
“Hello sweetness,” he purrs, and he smells expensive.
“Hey,” I smile, ignoring the way my heart is thrashing inside my chest as I try and push off him, but he pulls me back down.
“You’re not going anywhere, how about a little private time for me and you,” his dark eyes fall to my parted lips and then to my heaving chest as his hands curl around my hips, smoothing over my skin.
“I have to work the floor first,” I breathe, my heart ricocheting in my chest.
“You’ll earn more with me than you will on this floor sweetie.”
I half laugh, half choke as the smell of his whiskey hits me. Heat blazes across my cheeks and I know he is telling the truth. I would earn a killing if I took him up on his offer.
“No touching,” I hear a deep voice boom behind me, and I freeze.
“Sorry man,” said suit drops me quickly and I stand to rebalance myself on my stilettos.
I turn and see Dex standing there, arms crossed as he looks between me and the guy. I give a small smile, then tuck my head down as I begin walking, Lucy hot on my heels.
“Fuck,” I gasp, looking over my shoulder to see Dex leaning down and talking to the guy.
“You okay?” Lucy asks, her brows pinched.
“Yeah, fine,” I nod, letting out a deep sigh.
I’m not okay. Far from it. I don’t really get called for privates and honestly, I am fine with it. There are some things I am keeping to myself and not giving away at work.
“Okay cool, come, let’s keep moving.”
After an hour of walking and flirting, we take a moment and slip our notes into our pouches behind the bar. We don’t like to keep walking when we’re full of small notes. We feel it puts people off, plus, the really drunk ones forget that they tipped you.
Lance takes our pouches and puts them away before giving us both a water.
“Slow night, isn’t it?” Lucy puffs her cheeks out.
“A little,” I half shrug.
“I need a fuck; I slept with that pretty little redhead I met at the bar last weekend,” she smirks, “she was a rocket in the bedroom.”
“Was she now,” I hum, my eyes skating round the room.
“Mmhmm, knew what she was doing. She acted all shy at the bar, but once we were in that bedroom…” she trails off then mouths wow.
“So hot,” Lance groans from behind the bar, “shit, I would have loved to have been there.”
Lucy spins, her eyes pinned to Lance, “You couldn’t handle me,” she winks.
“Try me,” Lance bites back.
Lucy becomes quiet for a moment. “Don’t tempt me, I’m horny as hell and I’ve seen your dick before; I mean, I’ve had better but yours is definitely adequate enough to get me off,” her blue eyes trail up and down Lance’s body as she slowly licks her top lip.
I giggle as I watch the both of them going back and forth when suddenly I am frozen on the spot. I hear him before I see him.
“Well, this is a funny looking hospital.”
Shit.