But it could be fun, right?
Ashlei
Pulling my tight spandex shorts out of my ass, I wipe down the pole and pat my hands together around a pinch of chalk. I don’t usually chalk my hands before I work out – especially after seeing so many of my teammates start to rely on that method – but today, I need it. My palms are sweaty as hell.
There’s a nervous pit in my stomach and I’m not sure if it’s because the competition is less than a week away or if it’s because I know what Hayden is doing behind the studio right now.
Regardless, even with the chalk, I’m straining more than usual when I grip the pole and climb my way up, warming up with basic climbs and spins to keep my mind off everything else.
Skyler caught me sneaking in the house the other night and I know she’s getting more and more curious about my whereabouts, which means I have to be extra careful.
Pole dancing fitness isn’t something you can easily explain to just anyone.
Hell, I was a judgmental bitch when I first started learning about it.
But then I met Hayden. Once he and Leslie started training me, I felt myself become addicted.
Over the summer, I trained hard and used everything I learned from dancing my entire life to transfer into the moves on the pole.
My flexibility made some of the moves almost natural for me, but building the body strength took time and patience.
I’m proud of everything I’ve accomplished, but there’s no way I can ever tell the girls about my hobby.
I’m pretty sure Erin would faint.
Jess would be pissed and say it’s slutty.
Skyler would probably laugh and broadcast it across campus.
And my parents? Jesus… I can’t even imagine.
No, I can’t tell anyone. Sometimes, it’s just better to keep certain parts of your life separate from others.
“Damn girl,” Hayden smacks my ass playfully just as I transition into my Russian splits.
I giggle and drop back down to my feet. “Way to break my focus.”
Hayden pulls me into him for a long, sensual kiss that I feel all the way down between my thighs. “All part of the training, I swear.” As much as I love the way his hands feel on me, I can tell he’s high, and it turns me off as much as his tongue turns me on.
“Mm hmm. I’m sure.” I push him away and climb back up.
Leslie and Kya enter through the door he came through just moments ago and Leslie immediately starts warming up while Kya changes her shirt.
Both of them are gorgeous, but Leslie is just downright hot.
When I first met her, I was more attracted to her than I knew how to handle.
I’ve always known I have a bisexual mindset, but I’d never really considered trying to openly hit on a girl until Leslie.
That was, until Hayden stole my attention.
“Just us today?” I ask just before performing a simple drop.
“Only the ones who want to win, it looks like,” Leslie answers. Her long, jet-black hair spins around her tight body as she warms up and I can’t help but be temporarily mesmerized. The chick is still insanely hot, whether I’m with Hayden or not.
And I’m not even sure what we really are, anyway.
The South Florida Pole Dance Event is this Saturday and everyone in our troupe is entered in the competition.
Leslie is the owner of Kitty Heels, our small-but-talented dance company, and she tells me every day that she could all but kiss Hayden for bringing me to them this summer.
She sees potential in me, and this will be my first time to prove her right.
“You ready for your first competition, Ashlei?” Kya asks, her eyes shining in the flattering lighting of the studio.
Kya is another star student of Leslie’s.
She’s been dancing with Leslie since the beginning.
Standing just shy of six feet and breaking that point in heels, she’s the tallest girl in our troupe.
But, she’s also the strongest, and her moves are perfected to a point that I’m envious of.
I’m not easily intimidated, but I’m threatened by her, for sure.
“Getting there.” I answer, trying to feign confidence.
“You’re going to be amazing,” Hayden says, stretching on the floor by his pole.
They brought Hayden in a little over a year ago, but he seems to fit in perfectly.
He’s one of only two males in our entire studio and when he’s on the pole, he’s absolutely hypnotizing.
His strength is out of this world. “When you bring home better awards than the rest of us, I expect a kiss of appreciation.”
“And just where do you want this kiss, Hayden?” Leslie teases.
Hayden flashes his model grin. “I have a few ideas.”
The girls chuckle and I drop to the floor long enough to toss my sweaty towel at him.
Hayden Rivers is trouble walking. He’s covered in beautiful tattoos, has a pierced eyebrow, and wears his shoulder-length hair back in a man bun that I swore I would never find attractive but did after the third time we hung out.
He’s lean, ripped in every muscle group from his neck to his ankles, and has just the slightest bit of facial hair.
His piercing blue eyes top off his look and I swear he’s the most exotic creature I’ve ever come in contact with.
He’s just as handsome as he is strange – and I love it.
He’s also into hard drugs that Leslie doesn’t know about, which makes me worry more often than I care to admit. But, he’s a big boy – he makes his own decisions.
We run through our routines until we can barely stand anymore.
By the time we finish, it’s past midnight and I know I’ll have to figure out a way to sneak back into the house again.
Luckily, I room with Erin this year and she’s always passed out by this time.
With all her campus and sorority activities, she’s exhausted by the time night rolls around and she sleeps heavier than anyone I know.
“Stay with me tonight,” Hayden whispers into the back of my neck just as I pull a loose white t-shirt over my sports bra. He wraps his arms around my middle and pulls me back into him, pressing his hard on against my ass and forcing me to exhale a long, needy breath.
“I can’t,” I turn toward him, wrapping my arms around his neck. “I have class early in the morning and a sisterhood event tomorrow night. I have to get some sleep or I’m not going to make it.”
“Sleep is overrated.” He holds me tighter and nips up my neck to my earlobe, pulling it between his teeth. Hissing, I place my hands on his chest and try to put distance between us.
“You’re killing me.”
“I could be pleasuring you if you’d come home with me.”
I push him off and grab my gym bag. “Goodnight, Hayden.”
“Temptress,” he teases, but he lets me go and I silently thank him for not trying again. Lord knows I can only say no to that kind of offer so many times.
When I climb into my little white Lexus SC convertible, my phone rings and I’m surprised to see Erin’s name on the screen.
“Hello?”
“Where are you?! It’s after midnight!” she yells into the receiver. At first I think she’s scorning me, but then I realize it’s exceptionally loud wherever she is and she has to yell over the noise.
Shit. The O Chi party.
“I… uh,” I stammer, trying to figure out how to save my ass. I promised the girls I would go out to the Omega Chi Beta party tonight since I’d bailed on so much this semester. “I’m on my way. I got caught up working on this group project thing.”
“Listen, if I’m up past my bedtime on a school night, you can blow off a group project,” she jokes. “Get your ass here!”
“See you soon!”
I end the call and curse. All I want is a hot shower and my bed, but it looks like I’ll have to settle for a quick shower and a frat party. I guess there are worse things I could be complaining about.
Running to the sorority house just long enough to rinse off and change, I make it to Omega Chi just after one. Erin and Jess find me as soon as I get through the door.
“About fucking time!” Jess yells. “Here, drink this.” She shoves a red plastic cup full of beer into my hand and tips it up to my lips.
Before she has the chance to spill any on me, I meet the lip of it with my mouth and drink.
She’s not satisfied until it’s drained. “You have some catching up to do.”
“I see that,” I laugh the words, wiping beer from my lips. “Sorry I’m late.”
“Whatever,” Jess cuts me off. “Let’s get hammered!”
Erin leans in to whisper to me. “I think someone already is.”
We both giggle and start to follow Jess toward a game of flip cup in the next room when Clinton’s booming voice carries from down the hallway.
“Just fucking drop it, Skyler!”
He emerges from the hallway just as Skyler tries grabbing his arm. He rips it away and turns to face her. Seething, he yells so loud it silences everyone else.
“It’s none of your fucking business. If I wanted to talk to you about it, I would. But I don’t, so leave me the fuck alone. Stop being so goddamn nosey!” With that, he storms through the front door and slams it hard behind him.
Everyone is staring at Skyler, including us, but like a pro she doesn’t miss a beat. Smiling, she shrugs. “Well damn. Anyone got a shot ready?”
The crowd laughs, although a little uneasily, and then the games resume and everything is back to normal. Skyler’s eyes find ours and she makes her way across the room.
“What was that about?” Erin asks.
“It’s nothing. He’s fine, just stressed.”
“He shouldn’t talk to you like that, Skyler,” Jess points out. “That’s fucked up. Whatever has his panties in a wad, he didn’t need to go all douchebag captain on you.”
“It’s all good. I’m fine.” She turns to me and smiles. “And Lei is here! Let’s drink!”
And we do. All night long. By the time we stumble our way into the house, I only have two hours to sleep before I have to be up for class. So much for sleep.
Tomorrow is going to be rough.