Kelsey #2
Two glasses have been filled with ice and amber liquid.
A solitary man is relaxing on one of the couches. Legs spread and bent at the knees, his gaze follows me as I strut toward him. He wears a rumpled suit; his tie loosened around his throat and the button on his shirt collar undone.
“What’s your name, darling?” he slurs.
“Cherry.” I give him the stripper name I chose. No other details, nothing too personal. A name born from the lipstick color I wore in my old life.
“Cherry.” He stretches out his hand and curls his fingers. “Come show me what Gary has for me tonight.”
Acid stings the back of my throat. When I choose my own clients, I have some say in what kind of people they are. This man gives me the ick.
Heaven has the right idea working with couples.
They are a safer bet than a friend of Gary’s who has obviously been drinking for a while if the way he speaks is any indication.
Still, I tack on a flirty smile and prowl toward him.
“It’s lovely to meet a friend of the boss. Can you tell me your name?”
“Loverboi.” He smiles and bares his crooked teeth. He grabs my hand now that I’m near and drags me closer.
His breath smells like whiskey. It’s potent. He ogles my body like he’s inspecting it.
It’s disconcerting and makes me want to snatch my hand away and leave the room. But he’s paying for my time, and to have me dance. I can’t do that without Gary taking it as me quitting. And I don’t quit. And even if I was a quitter, I can’t afford to.
“Can I sit next to you, Loverboi? Or perhaps you’d let me sit on your lap?” I pour sweetness and sugar into every word. I need to be professional. I can’t have him telling Gary he didn’t have a good time.
He sits back and pats his knee. “Take a seat, Cherry.”
I step between his legs and lower onto his lap.
“Pass me my drink,” he orders.
Picking up the whiskey, I hand him the glass. “Could you buy me a drink, Loverboi? I’d like to talk and get to know you a bit better.” I’d like some liquid courage in my veins tonight. This room is isolating. That alone is enough to make me wary.
He hands me the other glass. “Already taken care of.”
The spirit heats my throat and belly as I swallow it, softening the uneasiness. His cologne doesn’t quite hide his body odor, but he keeps his hands to himself while we make small talk that mostly consists of me flattering him.
Perhaps Loverboi isn’t as big and bad and shady as he seemed at first. It’s only because Gary ordered me in here that I’ve been on edge.
I finish the dribble of whiskey in the bottom of my glass before stealing a piece of ice from the tumbler. Placing the glass on the table, I run that ice cold chip across the top of my chest as I start to move. “Would you like me to dance for you, Loverboi?”
“I’ve been waiting all night, Cherry.”
Maybe Gary was just trying to creep me out with all the talk before?
This probably isn’t going to be as bad as he wanted me to believe.
The whiskey has kicked in and is helping me loosen up.
I get into the seductive moves that have me eventually grinding over his lap.
Loverboi is just like any other client wanting a fantasy, and his fantasy will provide me with a paycheck.
Just as I’m getting mentally adjusted and more comfortable with the dance, Loverboi grabs my hip yanking me down on his lap. He is hard underneath me. As expected. I don’t want any part in this.
“Uh-uh.” I attempt to keep my voice sweet while also authoritative as I remove his hand. “Loverboi, remember the rules.”
He coils his arm around my waist, pinning me to his crotch. Then uses his other arm to reinforce his hold. “You’re too tempting, Cherry.”
A little frantically, but pretending not to be, I struggle against the grip he has on me. Staring him down, I muster every bit of authority I can into my voice, “You need to let me go.”
The door to the outside room cracks and light spills in.
Instantly, Loverboi’s grip on me vanishes. Momentum catches up. My body weight shifts, my ankle twists, and I land on my hands and knees on the sticky floor. Adrenaline spikes my heart into overdrive and I quickly crawl away from Loverboi, making sure to put the couch between us.
“What are you doing here, boss?” Loverboi sounds confused as another man enters.
Brown square-toed alligator shoes fill my line of sight. Dark trousers. From this vantage point that’s all I can see of the newcomer.
The door closes.
His steps are measured and heavy. “You stole from me.”
A chill zaps up my spine. I don’t need to see. That voice is too familiar. It’s a voice I’d prayed I would never hear again.
“Hang on a minute.” Loverboi backs up, hitting the couch with his leg.
I crawl deeper into the shadows until I’m behind the couch.
“I would never,” Loverboi’s voice shakes. “You and me... we got history. I’m loyal to you. Hey, what are you... you don’t need to—”
Tick.
I cover my mouth with both hands to stifle the involuntary sob that breaks free from my chest. I recognize the sound for what it is.
Loverboi grunts. His body hits the floor with a thud that’s softened by the carpet. Footsteps come closer. I need to disappear, but there’s nowhere to run to and nowhere to hide.