Chapter 58
KADENCE
I’d been in Westhaven for almost four months now, and I couldn’t help the feeling of being watched.
I think I was paranoid, or maybe it was because I was a stripper and people watched me all the time?
My dad wasn’t here, Dom wasn’t here. No one from my last life knew where I was.
And if they did, they wouldn’t think to look at a strip club.
My confidence in the last four months of working at Hades increased tenfold, but everyone from before would remember Caden, the insecure woman who wouldn’t be caught dead stripping. Kadence was different.
I still had my insecurities, but no one made me feel bad about my weight besides myself.
When I danced, people loved it. People wanted private dances and admired my body.
The only person who still had issues was myself and my brain.
Years of toxic relationships did that to a person, and I hated myself for allowing it to happen.
Sometimes I wished I could go back in time and knock some sense into myself.
It didn’t matter now.
I had a second chance, and damnit I wouldn’t let anyone take it from me.
“Hey, girl.” Everly walked up to me, pulling me from my trance. I was working at the bar tonight.
I gave her a smile, swirling my drink around in my glass. “Hey.”
“So I wanna apologize for being a total cunt before. I did some self-reflecting, and I guess I was salty that she fucked you so quick. I guess I have feelings for the grouchy bitch.”
I shrugged, biting the inside of my cheek. “It’s fine. It was a one-time thing anyway. You’re all good. No hard feelings, promise.”
“Okay, good,” she paused before saying, “so how would you feel about dancing with me tonight?”
I looked up at her. “Uh, I don’t have anything planned, but I don’t know your routine.”
“I need you to sit in a chair. I’m basically going to use your body for my routine. At one point in the dance my pussy is going to be in your face, so I want you to lick me.”
My eyes grew wide. “I’m sorry?!”
“I’ll have my panties on. Besides, if you really want a reaction from your lover girl, do it.
If Blaize really has feelings for you, she’ll react to you with me.
” I poured back the glass, finishing the remainder of my drink to give myself liquid courage, and nodded.
This would be a bad idea, but I didn’t care.
It shouldn’t matter what I did because Blaize wouldn’t care.
Hell, she probably wouldn’t even watch the dance.
Everly took my hand and pulled me to the stage, sitting me down in the metal chair in the center as her song came on.
She slipped out of the little black robe covering her arms, letting the lace material fall to the ground before she circled me, her hands lightly grazing my shoulders.
I already knew Everly could dance, and she made it intense.
The first show I saw at Hades was her and one of the other girls. The two of them were on the verge of fucking on center stage, which made me wonder if they hooked up that night, because I know I would’ve been frustrated after that.
Earned It played loudly through the speakers, but all I could really hear was the beating in my chest. She sank down on her knees, opening her legs for the crowd before popping back up.
Everly leaned down, shaking her ass in front of me to the beat of the music.
Her lace top came off before she spun on her heels and straddled my lap.
Her lips were millimeters away from mine as I dug my nails down her back while her hips moved against mine to the music.
I could hear the crowd in the background, and they were enjoying this.
She looked at me and nodded, before she leaned back, kicking one of her legs over my shoulder and arching her back at an ungodly angle so her pussy was in my face.
My tongue licked her lace-clad pussy from clit to center, and to add a little extra razzle dazzle, I used my teeth to pull her panties down before using my hands to take them completely off, tossing them to the side.
The crowd went wild.
She pulled herself up, her drenched pussy on my thighs, her eyes wide with surprise as I licked my lips.
I wasn’t expecting to do that, and I didn’t think she was, either.
Everly gripped the back of my neck, pulling my hair slightly before she slammed her lips against mine, grinding her pussy into me.
That took me by surprise as both our hips moved to the music.
I didn’t even realize the music had stopped when she released my mouth. “You did fantastic. That was better than I thought it would be.”
“It was hot as hell. You did all the work, basically. I was just here enjoying the show like everyone else.” She kicked her leg off me and grabbed her robe, her eyes looking at my wet thigh.
“Uh, I guess I got a little excited. I’m sorry about that.”
“I shouldn't have taken your panties off, so it’s fine.” I fixed my composure as Everly ran backstage, and I walked down the stairs on wobbly legs.
If it wasn’t for that liquid courage, I wouldn’t have done that.
I shouldn’t have done that, but I didn’t care.
It felt exhilarating. I looked around the room, eyeing the shadows to see if I could find Blaize’s glare, but it never came.
Part of me frowned because I wanted to see her reaction, but the other part of me knew it didn’t matter. I needed to move on.
Walking off stage, Hunter grabbed my arm.
“You’re needed upstairs.” She didn’t say anything else and turned on her heel.
Odd. I needed to cool down after that scene anyway, so I made the strut upstairs.
The upper level was pretty empty except for Blaize’s office and another area that was closed off. Why did she need me to come up here?
Suddenly, I was grabbed and pulled, but before I could react, Blaize had her hand wrapped around my throat and my body pushed up against her door. Her glare was intense. “You really are a fucking whore, aren’t you?”
I clawed at her hand, not taking my eyes off hers. “What do you want from me, Blaize?” I barked back at her. Her grip loosened but was still firm, keeping me in place. “You already said you don’t want me. You fucked me, that was it.”
“You were an easy lay.” Her words felt like a gut punch. “I don’t want you sinking your claws into one of my girls and hurting them to get to me.”
“You want nothing to do with me, but you get jealous if someone else touches me? That’s not how this fucking works, Blaize!” I yelled at her, clawing at her hand again. “If I want to fuck Everly or eat her out on stage, I fucking will.” I wouldn’t, but Blaize didn’t need to know that.
“Keep away from my girls. If you hurt any of them, I will end you.”
I forced back the tears burning in my eyes, refusing to show any weakness.
“Whatever, Blaize. If I wanted to hurt anyone, it would be myself. You’re a grown woman, but you’re acting like a fucking child.
You either want me or you don’t.” My voice cracked, but I kept going.
I needed to get this off my chest while I could.
“You already declared you don’t want me.
I can let anyone in this fucking club fuck me until I’m screaming their name.
I don’t belong to you, mistress. Just leave me alone.
I have my own demons I’m fighting, I don’t need to add yours to the mix. ”
My chest was heaving under her touch. I expected her to let me go, but she didn't. Instead, she crashed her lips to mine in a dominating kiss, and I sank into her touch as she forced her tongue into my mouth.
Her hand released my neck and skimmed down my front, but before she could attempt to touch my screaming body, I shoved her away, catching my breath as I glared daggers into her.
“You don’t get to do that,” I hissed. “My body was already used against me once. I’m not a toy for you to manipulate because you can’t accept that you might actually want me.
” She looked at me completely dumbfounded.
“The next time you want to touch me, you better be on your fucking knees begging.” I stormed away and ran back downstairs.
I didn’t care if she made me feel alive.
I wouldn’t risk my mental health for someone who couldn’t love me wholeheartedly.
I didn’t even know what real love felt like, but the emotions in my chest when I was with Blaize were not what I felt with everyone else.
Regardless of my feelings, I refused to let my heart be used as a punching bag again.
I rushed past everyone and slammed open the back door going into the alley. A frustrated groan escaped my lips as I hit the brick wall. My hands ran through my hair as I sank to the asphalt, ignoring the rainwater dripping onto me.
Why did she have to kiss me?
I was perfectly fine screaming my monologue to her until her lips made me weak in the knees.
She had power over me, but I refused to let her play with my heart because she couldn’t admit that she might actually like me.
My heart was too damaged to deal with half-assed love again.
I knew I deserved a love strong enough to move mountains and destroy cities, and she couldn’t give that to me.
I closed my eyes and leaned against the brick wall, taking a deep breath. This might be a lot harder than I thought.
“Rough night?” a gruff voice asked, lighting a cigarette. He flipped the red pack open, offering me one, but I politely declined.
“Rough life,” I admitted. The hooded man turned towards me and stood a few feet away from me in the shadows. “Being in love with your boss kinda sucks when she can’t feel the same way.”
He chuckled. “She’s probably in love with you.” It was now my turn to laugh.
“Please. That woman wouldn’t know how to react to the words “I love you” falling from my lips.”
“Blaize, huh?” I cocked a brow, nodding. “She’s something else.”
I let out a long sigh, watching water drip from my fingertips to the puddle beneath me. “She’s intense, to say the least. Fucking gorgeous, but also the most confusing human I have ever met since being here.”
“New York?”
“Accent that easy?” I watched him flick ash from his cigarette.
“I know a few people from up there, it’s easy to tell.” I knew I let that piece of information slip already with Hunter, which meant Blaize probably knew at that point, too. “I guess I should get back in there.”
“I’ll be seeing you around, Kadence.” He vanished before I could respond. How did he know my name, and why did it sound like nails on chalkboard coming from his lips?
I stepped back into the club, wiping my wet hair away from my face. Tonight had been a whirlwind of emotions after the next, and I was ready to get the night over with.