Chapter 4
Chapter
Four
JUDE
I’m nervous as I get ready for my first night of dancing at The Rusty Pipe. It’s easier to get dressed in the dressing rooms than to come ready to hit the stage. Too many people want to touch what doesn’t belong to them, and it may cause issues with my alpha later when she finds out.
She looks adorable, but her bite is fierce.
Black straps cross over my toned chest, and my black leather chaps show off my ass in the thong I’m wearing.
There’s just enough material to cover my dick, and I smirk as I line my hazel eyes with a chocolate eyeliner.
My lips look pouty and biteable with some lip balm, and I’ll be dancing in a pair of comfortable dance shoes that remind me in a way of when I danced professionally.
Once it’s time for me to walk the floor to flirt for tips, I’ll be pulling on some knee high combat boots with my new outfit. Funny enough, this is the first time I’ve ever worked at a strip club. A year ago, I was dancing for an incredible ballet company, and it’s all I’ve ever wanted.
My alpha came to every one of my performances, and even saved me from an admirer who took things too far. Everyone told me that he wasn’t dangerous, but they were wrong. He tore off my clothes backstage while I had a break in the performance, and no one heard me scream.
Willow felt that something was wrong. She said she had this pain in her chest that wouldn’t settle, so she snuck backstage and killed the male alpha who had me pinned naked to the ground. He broke my leg when he stomped on me to get me to stop moving, and I was fired from the company.
My alpha made sure I got my revenge, though it didn’t change the fact that I’ll never be able to bear weight on my standing leg the way I used to.
Willow almost went to jail for it since she lost her mind and stabbed him forty-six times.
The law threw it out of court as defense of an omega, yet the ballet company simply said it didn’t matter.
My professional dance career was over, not only because Willow defended me, but also because I was no longer able to dance the way I used to.
My mentor cried as she hugged me and said goodbye once I was able to come see her with my crutches, and I got the feeling this is simply how the dancing community works.
The victim is always at fault.
Dancing at The Rusty Pipe is how I want to take back what I’ve lost, though it’ll never be the same.
I need the eyes on me as I lose myself to the music, the dopamine rush of having a captive audience, and Willow agreed to this crazy plan with the express demand that I be as safe as possible.
God love her, because I know I’m not easy to love.
Between the mood swings, depression, and clawing anxiety that comes with nightmares, she’d be right to leave me. Hopefully, that day never comes, because I don’t think I’d survive it.
Swallowing hard, I force myself to get a grip. I’ll never be alone because Willow loves me. I know this, but my anxiety is an asshole.
“Jude, are you ready?” Hazel Black asks.
Turning to face her, I give her a small smile. She’s the manager at The Rusty Pipe, and did my initial interview. I immediately got the impression that she doesn’t take any shit, protects her dancers to the best of her ability, and runs a very tight ship.
She mentioned the owner drops by when he can, and that she’d introduce me later. As much as I love attention, I prefer it from afar for my dancing ability. It’s a safer way to get my dopamine rush. I almost told her I didn’t need to meet him.
I mean, what if he decides he hates me? After working at such a highly competitive level, I’ve been denied jobs simply because of my body or my jaw line. Ballet is one of the most difficult jobs to get and keep. It’s not simply about the dancing, but also the aesthetic of the dancer.
I don’t need to be popular here, I just want to be able to create something meaningful with my body.
“I’m ready,” I say, forcing myself to take a deep breath.
“In that outfit, with your body, you definitely have nothing to worry about,” Hazel says appreciatively. It’s not done in a creepy way, merely an observation and it helps me relax slightly.
First day jitters are hitting me hard tonight.
“I’m going to start you in the cage,” she says, signaling for me to follow her through a back hallway.
I can hear music thumping and people cheering, but I can’t see them.
“I like to ease you into things at the beginning. No one is allowed to touch you without permission. We have bouncers to throw out those who don’t respect our rules, and the owner has been known to toss assholes out on their asses.
Thea is currently on stage shaking her ass, and I’ll set you up in the cage so that once she finishes, you’ll start. ”
“Is my playlist alright?” I ask, shaking my hands out at my sides to dispel the energy building inside of me. This is how I feel anytime I go on stage in front of people. It’s as if there’s nervous bubbles inside of me, and the only way to get rid of them is to dance.
Sometimes, I’ll drag Willow into a dance party at our apartment while she giggles. She pushed me to do everything the physical therapist told me to do, and moved us to Colorado when she found out there was better treatment here. She’s given up so much for me, and all she asks for in return is love.
I’m not sure what I ever did to deserve her, but I’m so glad she’s my bonded alpha. We’d only been dating for four months before the attack, and she never once wavered.
“It’s got moody beats and will work well for you I think,” Hazel says with a grin. “They’re going to eat you up in the best ways. The eyeliner is a really nice touch.”
My cheeks heat at the compliment, and I bob my head as I accept it. I’m tired of staying home all day. If this goes well, I’ll be able to take other shifts and maybe even make friends. I fully plan to drag my alpha out to all of these hypothetical social situations because she’s on the shyer side.
“I’m going to lock the cage so there’s no way you can fall out.
Feel free to throw yourself around and enjoy yourself,” Hazel explains.
“Lacy will hit the button that’ll pull the cage up until you’re hanging front and center in front of the crowd, and then you’ll be ready to shake your ass. Any questions?”
“None,” I grin.
I’m so excited I could puke. I won’t, but the butterflies in my stomach are very excited inside of me.
Hazel opens the cage for me, and I get inside of it.
I actually really appreciate that no one will be able to accidentally touch me while I’m in the cage.
I haven’t danced in front of anyone but Willow and Hazel, and the latter was simply for the audition.
She wasn’t worried that I’ve never danced at a club before, she simply grinned and said this would be a walk in the park after dancing in front of hundreds of people.
As the cage goes up, I’m not sure if she’s right.
I can’t usually see the people I’m dancing for, and I swallow hard as I’m placed in front of fifty men and women.
I’m almost impressed there’s a good mix of patrons, and then the music changes to something I can dance to.
My mind goes blank as lyrics about someone who doesn’t know my name fills the air, and I grin with a wild split of my lips.
Grabbing the bars of the cage, I lift my leg to show off my thong covered crotch as my hips gyrate slowly to the beat.
It’s not meant to be poppy or fast, just a slow grind to show off my moves. Leaning back, I grab the bars behind me and kick my other leg up so I’m almost humping the air as people gasp at the explosion of movement.
I wedge my foot in the bars so I won’t fall and continue to dance, my ass and crotch the star of this show.
My muscles strain as I hold my body suspended in the air, and I ride the cheers as people scream.
I hear my name as Hazel shouts encouragement, and I can’t stop grinning as the next song comes up.
Dropping my feet, I slowly undulate my ab muscles before standing upright.
Nerves burning away, I continue to dance through a series of movements that show off my body but also my ability as a professional.
My chaps fall away as I pull away the straps, and I drop it like it’s hot with my ass facing the bar.
There are people all around me while I hang suspended and safe, and I allow myself to let loose.
This also means the pheromones rising from the crowd hit me right in the face, and my eyes flutter closed at how heady it feels. Pressing my lips together, I let my hand travel down my abs, dropping my head back as I feel myself begin to slick.
It doesn’t mean anything, I know it’s a normal omega reaction, and Hazel warned me to go with the flow if I begin to get hot and bothered while I’m dancing. My position in the cage keeps me safe, and the thin slats underneath my feet only allow for cash to be slid through as I hang just above them.
I’m definitely going to be pouncing on my alpha when I get home. Maybe this will be an added benefit to my new job.
A scent of musk and amber rises above all the other scents, and my eyes roll back as I clench my teeth together to keep back my whimper. I cannot fucking make those sounds for anyone but my alpha. It is completely unacceptable.
I’ll bend to some of my omega instincts. This isn’t one of them.
I’m surprised when the notes of my last song float away, and I’m breathing hard as I lean against the cage wall.
There’s a sheen of sweat along my entire body, exhibiting the fact that some of my dance moves weren’t as easy as I made it look.
Flicking my sweat stained hair out of my eyes, I sigh happily.
There’s cash littering the floor of the cage as I’m pulled to the side with the mechanical chain, and then safely on the ground again.