Chapter 23 #3
Sasha complied with my request, readjusting to sit in my lap. I made small circles on her lower back. “You think me encouraging you to go back to doing something you clearly loved means I’m not jealous?”
She shrugged again. “Maybe. I watched plenty of girls have their relationships go south because their partner eventually had
an issue with them takin’ they clothes off for other folks. And here my wife is practically shovin’ me to do it.”
I slipped my hand under the hem of her shirt and pressed my palm against her warm skin. “I’m not shoving you to do nothing.
Baby, I remember the first time I saw you onstage, you were fucking amazing. Look, I’ve seen plenty of strippers in my time.
Some are just dialing it in, others put on a show, but you, when I watched you, you were in the zone. Even when you do private
dances for me at the house.”
I turned her face so she looked at me and not her hands. “I would never ask you to stop or keep you from doing something that
you love. As far as jealousy goes, baby, you come home to me. I trust you plain and simple. ’Cuz like I said, when I met you,
dated you, and married you, that’s who you were. I can’t speak to other folks, but if I wasn’t secure enough in myself to
handle your job, I wouldn’t have bothered.”
She chewed the corner of her lip while nodding. “I get it. And it’s probably another of my hangups since I started strippin’
as a way to get back at my parents.”
“I get that.”
She shifted, sliding one arm behind my neck. It felt good holding her. These were the moments I enjoyed and wanted more of.
I closed my arms around her waist, bringing her body closer and keeping her in place, then looked back over my shoulder to
make sure the tiny terror was still sleeping.
“I’m sure they’d take me since I still have a good relationship with Viv. Hell, last time I was there, she told me there were
still folks askin’ ’bout me.”
“I’m sure they do miss yo sexy ass.” I squeezed it for emphasis. “I know it had me tossing all my lil’ coins up on that stage.”
She laughed and shook her head. “You did make it rain a time or three.”
“Money well spent.”
I puckered my lips, and she leaned in to complete my silent request. It was supposed to be quick. A little peck in passing.
But Sasha placed her hands on either side of my face to deepen the connection. The kiss felt like old times. It felt like
hope. It felt like possibilities of things to come. When she pulled away, Sasha ran her thumb over my lips, and I playfully
nipped at the pad of her digit. She laughed and snatched her hand away while attempting to slide free from my lap. I tightened
my hold on her, keeping her in place.
“But what if I have a plan B?”
I rested my chin on her shoulder. “Tell me about it.”
She ran the tip of her nails back and forth over my hand. “Well, at brunch I was tellin’ the girls I was thinkin’ about goin’
back. They both were confused as to why and I was tryin’ to explain. Anyway, afterwards Nish gave me this card to a pole studio.”
She turned to look at me, eyes wide. “Did you know that pole dancin’ was a damn exercise class now?”
“No.” I laughed. “Why do you sound so offended?”
She shoved my shoulder. “Anyway. A friend of hers runs this place and she said they be lookin’ for teachers. She said she
could get me in touch if I was interested, but I wanted to talk to you first.”
“Well, what were your initial thoughts?”
Sasha moved off my lap and I missed the weight of her instantly. “I don’t know,” she said with a heavy sigh. “I’m not ashamed of my time on the pole. I loved it. I felt sexy, and powerful, and got the biggest rush of endorphins from being the center of attention.”
I laughed when she said that, because one thing that was true about my wife, she thrived being the center of attention. And
as she talked, her eyes sparkled with excitement. It was the same joy and passion she’d had when she would talk about her
job when we were dating, and I was glad to see that she hadn’t lost it even though she no longer did it.
“Do you know what it’s like to completely captivate an audience?”
“Not quite like how you experienced, but yeah. When the fans are there, chanting for us at the games, it gives a rush. So
I think I understand.”
“Right. So you get it. I thrived off that.”
“Are you worried that without the audience it won’t be the same?”
She nodded.
“Baby, playing ball and stripping are different. And for me playing ball is about the game, the joy, the competition of it.
Even if you take the fans out of it, those parts remain. Would it be the same for you? Do you think the dancing part is enough
without the audience?”
She bit the corner of her bottom lip, then slowly released it. “I don’t know,” she answered after a moment. Sasha looked up
at me, uncertainty all over her features. “I’m not sure if it’ll be the same, but I was leanin’ toward at least givin’ it
a shot. I need something for me, and it’ll help us.” Sasha linked her arm through mine and rested her head on my shoulder.
“Whatdya think?”
I pressed my lips to the top of her head. “I think if it’ll make you happy, you have my full support.”