Chapter 12 Gracie Mae
Gracie Mae
“Now remember, your inside hand goes up high while your outside hand goes low.” Sasha demonstrates with her hands on the pole.
“And then you’re going to take your outside leg, swing it around in a circle and hook your ankle on the pole while pushing your other leg back.
” She does the move flawlessly and looks ethereal.
And while I appreciate her going over the beginner but effective moves with me one more time before my set tonight my mind isn’t registering any of it.
It’s stuck back on the phone call with Oak
His deep sinfully delicious voice that oozes sex is on replay in my ears.
My thighs clench as my pussy pulses with a need I’ve never experienced before.
I don’t know what came over me to admit that to him.
But I knew that I had to. He needs to know how I feel about him.
He needs to know that I want him. And maybe if I continue to tell him, to tease him with what he could have then he’ll finally take off that armor of his.
Yesterday I chipped some of it away, I know I did.
And I’m not going to stop until he’s completely defenseless against me.
Sasha snaps her fingers in front of my face. I rear my head back as I narrow my eyes at her. “What was that for?”
“For not paying any damn attention.”
I balk. “I so was.”
She crosses her arms over her chest and rolls her eyes at me. “Then what trick was I demonstrating to you?”
I scammer through my brain for all the tricks that she’s taught me. I smile brightly and with full bravado reply, “The back hook.”
“The fact that you said that with so much confidence.” She shakes her head but fails to hide her amusement. “Cupcake, it was The Fairy.”
I smile sheepishly. “I know! I was just keeping you on your toes.”
“If that’s what you want to tell yourself,” she muses. Sitting down on the stage in front of me she then asks, “What man has you so distracted?”
“Who says it’s a man?”
She raises a brow. “You suddenly into women and didn’t tell me about it?”
“No.”
“Then what man has your head in the clouds?”
I glance off to the side and bite my lip. A terrible habit I’ve never gotten rid of. Sighing I look back at her and begin with asking her, “Do you remember the two guys who came in here like three weeks ago?”
She nods her head with a naughty grin. “You mean two of the hottest biker men I have ever been blessed to see?”
I chuckle softly. “Yeah, Snake and Oak.”
“Oak is the massive one, right?”
My smile goes soft as I sigh dreamily, “Yeah.”
“That,” she says accusingly while pointing at my face. “That’s what I’m talking about. The man who has you so distracted is the one I warned you about.”
“About that,” I begin, giving her a pointed look, “he doesn’t have a black heart.”
“Cupcake, a heart that hasn’t beaten in years is as good as dead.”
“It’s not dead,” I insist. I sigh, trying to think how to perfectly articulate the man beneath the rough exterior. “He just doesn’t know how, Sasha. He doesn’t know any other way.”
Her tone is gentle. “And you think you can show him that?”
“I do. Is that so naive for me to believe?”
She smiles at me and then lays her hand on top of mine and clasps with her fingers. “It’s not naive. But I do worry about you, Grace. You have such a big heart and I’m afraid that one day someone is going to destroy it.”
I smile back at her and squeeze her hand reassuringly. “I appreciate that, I do but some people are worth all of the pain.”
“I just want you to be careful. You can’t change someone who doesn’t want to change,” she warns me.
I shake my head. “It’s not about changing him; it’s about freeing him.” Oak needs to be freed from his past.
“You see the good in everyone. And believe me I do love that about you but I’m also scared for you. I don’t want to see my best girl getting hurt.”
Throwing my arms around her I kiss her cheek before sinking into a hug. “I’ll be okay. You know I love you, right?”
Her arms tighten around me. “I love you, too.” After releasing me she then says, “Now let’s go over your routine one more time before your set tonight.”
I groan, getting up after her. “Do we have to?”
She smacks my ass and I yelp in surprise. “Yes, now get that ass on the pole.”
We end up going over the routine two more times. After my routine I can feel my muscles begin to sore and my core is absolutely killing me.
Whoever says stripping isn’t a workout needs to try it for themselves and then come back to me. Because my god I feel it deep in my bones.
I honestly don’t know how Sasha does it but I give all my kudos to her.
We’re in the back room now and she’s hyping me up before I hit the stage later tonight.
It’s a Friday night so the strip club will be busy. Sasha tells me the weekends are the best to work. The only reason I haven’t been is because I don’t like denying Connor the weekend at Vipers MC. And I also love being there.
Which is exactly why I called in a favor with Alice and asked if she could pick up Connor for me before I travel down there tomorrow morning.
She agreed easily and happily. And Connor was all too happy when I told him Alice would be picking him up from school today. The boy grew ten shades of red.
Alice had already texted me with a picture of her and Connor after she picked him up. Then she texted me again when they both made it safely back at the club house.
Letting him be in someone else’s hands is tough for me but there is no group of people that I trust more.
Thinking about him I send him a quick text.
Everything ok?
Connor <3
Yea. Playin Star Wars but miss u
My heart clenches from the sweetness.
Miss u too. I’ll be there soon. Txt me before u go to bed. No staying up late!
*eye roll emoji* it’s the weekend.
u have until 11:00pm then it’s lights out.
It’s Friday. Midnight?
I shake my head but there’s a smile on my face.
11:30pm final offer.
Thank u! Love u.
Love u more *heart emoji*
Tell Oak I said hi.
My fingers freeze as I read his message. Oak is here? In Hollows Point? Wait, is he going to be here, as in here at Fantasy tonight? My heart thumps hard in my chest.
I’m working. How will I be able to do that?
I wait anxiously for his reply and when Sasha gives me a weird look I smile at her like everything is fine.
Meanwhile on the inside I’m losing my ever loving mind.
I was already a bit nervous about stripping to begin with.
But stripping in front of Oak? Holy fuck I hope I don’t fall flat on my face.
Alice said he’s going to be there. Something about watching out for u.
Alice!
I’m mentally cursing her out in my head but I know exactly what she’s up to. That little minx. As much as I love the girl now really isn’t the appropriate time. Oak is probably expecting me behind the bar being able to talk to him throughout the night. An easy way to guard me and keep an eye on me.
I bet the last thing he expects is me up on the stage.
You know what, I hope he does see me up on that stage. Serves him right for wanting to tease me. I’ll tease him right back. Show him what he’s really missing.
I’ll tell him u said hi. Be good!
ok mom.
*heart emoji*
*heart emoji*
Going through my last messages I bring up Alice and start texting her.
u bitch. I know what u are up to.
Alice:
Whatever could I be up to?
Gracie Mae: Oak. U told him I’m working tonight.
I told Snake u were working tonight before we picked up Connor.
N u knew he would tell Oak.
R u mad at me?
No but I know what ur doing.
Helping???
Next time give me a heads up. A bitch has to prepare.
*laughing emoji* you kill me. You’ll be thanking me later.
Or u know this could go horribly wrong.
It won’t
So confident. Because???
We’ve all seen it. He’s different with u.
Oh god, my heart can’t handle this.
Different how?
He’s alive with u.
I suck in a sharp breath the same time my heart stills.
He’s alive with me.
And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him feeling that way.
In the back area of the room I stash my phone away in my locker and get out my makeup. I sit in front of the mirror with the poor lighting and fix the damage.
My smoky eyes make my blue eyes pop. My highlight can be seen from a mile away and my lips are painted a cherry red.
Looking in the mirror I fluff my hair by raking my hands through it to create more volume. When I’m done it reminds me of the music video vixens in the 80’s.
The bra that I am wearing is black lace and see through.
The lace covers my nipples but barely. It definitely leaves nothing to the imagination.
It’s also strappy and very dainty. I’m afraid one wrong pull will have the whole thing falling apart.
I paired it with a matching black lace thong that has a little bow on the back of it.
Again, it’s strappy on the side of my hips, matching the straps of the bra.
It’s nothing too fancy but it’s above average.
As I stand up I admire myself in the mirror. My legs appearing longer in the stripper heels Sasha made me get. They’re black and sparkly. And incredibly high.
A whistle of appreciation happens behind me and I turn to Sasha with my hand on my hip.
“You’re fucking hot. Total smoke show, cupcake,” she highly compliments me.
I’ve never been one to wear lingerie before. Mostly because I didn’t really see the appeal nor care. And I didn’t really see the point.
But staring at myself in the mirror I get it. It’s empowering. I feel like a seductive goddess.
“Thanks, now let’s pray I don’t look like a hot mess up there,” I joke.
She rolls her eyes and waves her hand in dismissal. “Not possible. Plus you’re going after Cindy. And I hate to be petty but the poor girl never looks like she knows what she’s doing.”
I fake gasp, lightly slapping her on the arm. “Sash!”
“All I’m saying is you can’t be worse than her. And honestly you could probably just twirl around the pole and these men will throw money at you. Look at you,” she emphasizes and makes me look back in the mirror. “You’re gorgeous.”