- ISOBEL -
Something about having money makes you addicted to it. The scent. How it feels in your fingers. The respect it can give and no matter how much you have, you just want more. Greed kills the good girl training in you and you find yourself doing what you never thought you would. But you enjoy it, of course. For once, you want to be a bad girl and dine with rich men. Enjoy luxury with a fake smile. Not that you hate it, but because you have to smile to get more. The lust in the eyes of men as they take your presence in, the desire pulsing through their veins, and knowing you're wanted and needed does things to one's mind. It reshapes the mind to bask in the moment. It makes what's wrong become right, after all, it aids with escaping the painful truth of your tragic life. That's why I'm in a fucking club, half naked, dancing in front of them. Because it fills a hole in my heart not love, care or family can give. I pour wine on my body and swirl my head backwards, turning to face them. All eyes are on me, every man in this room is getting aroused by the sight of me and every woman is jealous. I love it. Mainly because this will be my last night here and I plan to make the most of it. I sit and curve my upper body backwards on the hoop that draws down from the ceiling. My legs surround a portion of it and I trap it between my thigh and lower leg, keeping my eyes on the crowd. The key is to look at everyone of them without staring at any of them. Men want to feel needed. They love seeing a lady needy. It feeds their egos. Boost it and pretend innocent and dumb and they shower you with money. It's so easy yet so stupid. I'll never understand men. My brows curl and I bite my lower lip gently, swaying my torso to the side and letting my fingers caress my oily skin from my toes, to my spread open legs then up to my thighs. I move my hand lower, sliding it beneath the lingerie then stick it out. I gently place the finger in my mouth. I didn't stick my finger in me, but I gave them the notion that I did. And it ignites their hunger. I can tell because this is not my first time entrapping a man. I know what hunger looks like. The soothing music blaring sets my body ablaze. The cheers are a different melody in contrast in my ears. There's something about being noticed amidst a ton that's pleasant. Especially in a room full of women. I take my hand slowly out of my mouth, eyeing every gentleman and dare I add, ladies, in the crowd with lechery eyes. Letting my fingers slink on my skin, I untie the netty veil strap wrapped around my neck and it falls down to the ground revealing my not so decent, thin, georgette, thigh length, see through, body hug dress. Underneath that dress is the nastiest lingerie a club stripper could ever put on. And they can see it. My dress makes it almost impossible not to. Especially with all that light directed my way. Every gentleman will gnash their teeth just to have a taste of me. The knowledge boosts my confidence even more. The hoop starts to move and with a last stretch of my legs apart, I clap them together and clench my fingers on both sides of the hoop keeping my head arched backwards. Water rains down my body in gentle yet rough showers. It's warm, hence evaporates. Steam is another good way to intoxicate someone. Now my dress glues my body, making my lingerie very noticeable. The first thing I do is raise my legs, which are stuck together, up and distance them a little bit while doing the sluttiest movements with them in the air, still clutching the hoop tightly with my hands. I fold one leg down, followed by the other steadily and open them wide. This time, I heard growls. I accept the amorous advances of the crowd with a subtle grin. The time for the audience to place a bet on the private entertainer for the night has come and I already know a lot of them are going to wager on me. This is how my money comes and I am not ashamed of it. The number one rule in this club is never to sleep with clients and customers. We're simply meant to entertain and feed their fantasies from a distance. Maybe let them touch you, only if you want them to, but just on the external body parts. Unlike the other strippers in this club, I am the most wanted. Hence, I make my rules. And nobody dares defy them unless they never want to see my face up close again. Which they cannot afford. The hoop whirls, giving the audience a good view of my body three-sixty. I stick my tongue out and twist it to the side, imitating a felatio. My tongue is one of my best assets. It's quite long and flexible. Just like my body. I stretch my hand to the side and grab a glass of champagne from a waitress not too far from my left and curl my tongue around the brim of the champagne flute before sticking it in then drowning the contents down my throat. This isn't part of the show but no one's complaining. I drop the glass back on another waiter's tray and straighten my posture on the hoop. Now the hoop is at the center again. From what I witnessed in the little maneuvering amidst the stage and crowd, the betting seems to be going well. Very well in fact. Familiar faces are noticeable amongst the crowd tonight. A shroud feeling runs down my spine. I hope I don't end up with any of them. Not tonight. I'd be bored out of my wits having to perform and feign that I'm actually enjoying being with them. I drop my weight on the floor and roll to my side. My show's about to end. After this one, I have one more performance before I'm requested to be a private entertainer. I may give my audience quite the peak before my last performance tonight. Or I may save the stripping for my last performance before getting in a private room with one of them. The choice is totally on me. I kneel and widen my legs on the floor, assuming a submissive pose. My hand runs down my face to my collar bones then down my breasts. I grope one tit gently before sliding my hands down. My fingers are wide on the floor and I hump my hips up and down then fall my torso to the ground. My head plasters forward. A half grin forms on my face as I hump my behind up and down on the ground. My eyes wander around the guests once more and I sight the door. That's when I notice someone walk in. My throat clenches. I'm still performing but my eyes are on him. The man made his way to the bar and sits. From his stance, I can tell it's not his first time visiting the bar. But his build... Fuck. He has a very sexy build. Putting on a navy blue shirt that hugs his muscular torso finely is the hottest man that caught my attention tonight. From his hair to as much as my eyes can see, he's gorgeous. I spin around. My night just got more interesting. Who is this man? I've never seen him here before, yet, while on this stage, he's all I can look at. He's the only one worth looking at. And he's not looking at me. The thought alone stings down to the bone. I'm not even sure he's aware of this part of the club. He seems so into his liquor. The man throws another glass of whatever he ordered up to his mouth and swallows. His adjusts to the side and turns. He's handsome. I can feel my heart beat faster against my chest already. If only there was a way to catch his attention. My show will be over soon and a man I've never seen before waltzes into the club. The worst part about it is I don't know how long he'll stay. Come on universe, favour me this time and let him gaze my way. Let this man notice me. Do this as a goodbye present to me. He turns my way. My body burns. It's kind of hard to breathe. How can the gaze of one man cause so much heat to brew in my body? I avert my gaze to the side and look down as I stretch my hand forward while letting the other hand caress my body. My face returns to the bar and my throat tightens. He's still watching me. Is he intrigued? I can't tell. I'm nervous. Never in the few weeks I've worked here have I ever felt cautious about my moves before. But he makes me cautious. I swallow. Well, if he's watching, I might as well give him one hell of a show before he leaves. I raise my hand high and let the other one fold to meet it without colliding. Then raise one leg up. I can feel his eyes linger around my body carefully. Fuck. That makes my pussy pool. How is this possible? How can one stranger's stare do this to me? I fake fall to the side and churn my body in the opposite direction while swaying my hips. It's all about the gentle movement of my legs this time. There's something about the movement of nearly bare, sexy, straight legs of a woman in heels that does something to a man. Hopefully, it does something to him. Or I'll make it spicy enough to. I squat down, keeping my knees far apart and fold my torso forward. Now my tits are resting on the ground and my hips are raised. I collapse my hips on the ground and swirl around, keeping my back on the floor then arch my legs up. My hand makes its way between my legs then up my body. I turn to the side. He's not there anymore. My heart sinks for a moment till I look forward and catch him behind the crowd, staring at me. He made his presence known. My lips curls to the side. I bite my lips. If I got him watching me till now, then I'm doing something right and I'll keep doing it. Foot steps resonate in my ears, causing my attention to waver. At the back of the stage are the staff in charge of stripper's performance. It's time for another stripper to have the stage. I kneel. I have one more thing to do before I exit. My hands fondle my skin from my thighs upwards till my fingers touch the hem of the dress fabric and I rip it in two while letting it glue my skin. The spot light is on me and my eyes are on him while doing that. I don't know if I was mistaken but I notice his eyes widen and his lower lip drops. This fills me with content. I stand and flaunt my hips before exiting the stage. Let's see what happens next.- CAMERON - Mourning. It drives someone to a lot of possibilities life can't seem to give. Gives us the need to be what we aren't and wonder what it would be like if positions were reversed. If I had the chance to go back in time to change things, I would. Unfortunately, mourning is something I'm well accustomed with. The disgusted look I had on my face as my eyes bore the smelly, rotting, bloody head of my father in the sack delivered to me that day replays in my head as I drown another glass of alcohol painfully down my throat. Anchester, my very close acquaintance and enemy of my father, had no remorse with dismembering my father's body and delivering it to me via my request. Now I have to suffer and live with the guilt of not being there when it happened. Even after months, father’s death plagues my soul. The fall of the mighty, most feared San Su Li. I hit my hand on the counter and it makes a loud thud as the tumbler entangled between my fingers came in cont
- ISOBEL - I can't only hear my heart beat violently against my rib cage, I can feel it thumping on my chest. As I make my way back stage, I try my hardest not to drop to my knees. He was staring at me so intensely and I felt every bit of it. It took every nerve in me to hold myself from folding on that stage. Not to lie, I loved the thrill. When his eyes were on me, it was so easy to focus on just attracting him. Now that I'm far from his sight, my body is finally acting like a girl. Not to talk about the fact that I have to get ready for my last performance before going private. I really want him to be the man I go private with. "You spent quite the time on stage, Cleopatra." Leo, my manager says taking me out of my reverie. Cleopatra is my stage name. I arrived in Miami for a vacation to clear my head and I've been here for months. During my stay, a crazy suggestion to work illegally in a club popped in my mind and I followed my desire. It was worth it. Today mak
- ISOBEL - It all happened so fast. One minute I was at the back of the stage, getting ready for my final performance then the next, I was drinking alcohol before getting on that stage. And I saw him there. This time, in the front, seated with his legs spread open and he wore a confident smile. I felt my heart beat resonate in my ears when I descried his form. I wasn't touching him, nor was my body in contact with his in any way, yet he reacted to my advancements while letting it be known to me. My head was spinning with satisfaction after the performance. That was till I was notified that I had been bought. I wasn't told by who and the suspense kills me. Now I'm making my way through the dark, expensive VIP corridor to meet him. Whoever it is. A cold shudder runs down my spine as I take a quick breath in preparation, standing in front of the black door with the room number. I don't know what lays behind this door. More like who. I stretch my hand holding the room
- ISOBEL - My body lands on the bed with a sharp push and I gasp, feeling the the hardness of landing on my back. I got naked first. I never thought it would take this long to get a man between my legs. I never thought I'd be the first to get naked but here I am, laying flat on a bed under the prying eyes of this luscious male. Having his attention sends fires through my veins. My whole body is on fire and this is just the effect of rubbing his cock. I moan softly and feast my teeth on my bottom lip, the feel of his dick in my hand replaying in my head. I would take that in all day long. Fit it through every hole fuckable till the only thing my body gets used to is his dick. Although, just for the night. His pants drop and he climbs the bed, moving to me. My words hang in my throat. I knew this before, but not having him stand by my side blinded me, his body is huge. Way huger than mine. The stranger's hand slowly undoes the buttons of his shirt. My brows crease.
* SIX MONTHS LATER * - ISOBEL - 'You're such a good girl.' The deep voice of the stranger rings in my head again. I try to shake it off. It's been months, yet, I can remember all of it like it happened yesterday. Every damn graphic experience. Every reaction. Every orgasm. Every word. I clear my throat as I parade the busy streets of the city, walking to the venue, a hotel. My friend, Nina, and I are supposed to dine together. She didn't tell me the occasion, but I sure as hell won't miss it! I sip out from the straw in my plastic cup, drinking boba tea. Correction, Nina is not just my friend, she's my only friend. My best friend. And the only one my aggressive step brother didn't chase away from me. I cover the side of my face with my hand and pass by a tattoo shop. It's a Friday night and people are everywhere, either getting wasted or occupied with one thing or the other. I throw my empty cup in a city bin. The hotel is just a few blocks away. I can't wait
- CAMERON - Depressed? No. More like adjusted to accompany the pain. They say time heals agony, I wonder if that will be the case for me. I'm sat at the back seat of my limo, heading to my hotel. It's been eight months since my father's passing. I've succeeded in avoiding every being in my life while pausing my own life with pubs and clubs on a daily. It was high time I did something about it. That's why I started my own business. Managing several hotels along with my father's businesses is no easy task, that I've come to know. At least tonight, I'll have my father's lawyer read his will and then I'd know which shares are mine and manage my time properly. As funny as it sounds, father loved us all and left his will for all of us. If only he showed us how much he did during his time alive... My fist clenches. If he did, maybe I would've done something to keep him alive. And if I couldn't, the pain would hit harder but maybe I wouldn't have the guilt of hating him the e
- ISOBEL - What is taking her so long? I'm starving. "Nina, get out of the bathroom!" I yell from the other side of the door. She locked the bathroom. I can't freaking go in and I don't know what she's doing. "Just a minute!" She yells from behind the door. "You said that thirty minutes ago. Who on earth goes late to their own event?" I ask annoyed, rolling my eyes. "Me apparently." Nina says. I groan. Nina hasn't told me what she's celebrating nor who the mysterious person I'd meet is and I'm going crazy here. I swallow. Especially when all my mind can think of is him. I want him. Crave him. It's been months yet he's painted my mind with his finger prints. Delicious fingerprints. What I'd give to feel his lips on mine again. A gasp leaves my lips. When I woke up the morning after, he was gone. There was no trace of him nor of us ever spending the night there. Not even the scent of whiskey. If my body didn't feel the way it did, I would've thought it was a
- CAMERON - Such an unforgettable speech. Nina is quite the character. If I wasn't so occupied with disturbing thoughts, I would've eased up more. Maybe even forced a smile. I groan. With my head like this, this evening won't turn out to have much of resting. I am in desperate need to retire. My whole body craves it. I need a drink. Something to clear my head. My eyes examine the hall, searching for the bar or any waiter serving refreshments. My gaze lands somewhere. More like someone. At the other end of the hall, a lady, dressed solely to kill and attract the eyes of viewers is standing by a champagne stand. I can't see her front view, but the striking figure her dinner dress reveals from behind is more than enough reason to approach her. "Wait here." I say to my body guards and walk across the room. The last thing I want are people clinging behind me to scare the lady away. It's been a while since someone could capture this loner's attention since I've been subje
- ISOBEL -I squeal as I step into the bathroom to rinse my face. I’m sleepy but not too sleepy and since I’ll be on a bed for much longer, I know I’ll dose off but for now, I’ll do my best to stay awake as much as I can.He touched me! My heart dances in my chest.I can’t get over the fact that Cameron laid his hands on my skin. I felt his need. I felt the desire as he fondled my skin. My eyes close as the images of us together drops in my mind. I move my hand over my body, imagining his, and a smile forms on my lips. My eyes comes open and I stare at my reflection in the mirror. I turn the sink tap off, maintaining my smile.I guess some good does come from having no place to stay. Speaking of which, I need to start virtual apartment hunting, it’s urgent. I walk out of the bathroom and sit on my bed, pulling the covers open so I can lie down comfortably. Just the thought of Cameron funding my apartment gives me an unsettling feeling but I guess it’ll be alright. It has to be. Back
- CAMERON - My thumb flips over my lower lip. I’m in the cubicle, under the shower and warm water runs down my body. My decision shocks me sometimes, I had her right where I wanted yet I chose to be decent. I raise my chin up and close my eyes, letting water pour down my face. I have a lot of things on my mind. I’ve got so many questions about our dinner night and other things yet I choose to ignore finding the answers. Is this what we call fear? Is it possible I’m afraid of something that I don’t want to accept as a reality so I choose to bask in the moment rather than doing what the old me would do? I have no answer to this and it’s shocking. Who is the old me? The old me was a ruthless punk who preyed on weaker beings. Sometimes. Deep inside, there was a human who yearned to be seen and be free and now I’ve got that freedom, I guess part of me doesn’t want to ruin it by reading too deep into situations. I guess this is me trying so desperately to be normal. The ends of
- ISOBEL - I can feel my heart pounding ridiculously fast in my chest as he leans over me. Did I just ask that? How bold can I actually be? I feel my throat tighten as his thighs brushes over mine. He hasn’t laid his lips on me yet but his body movement is already playing mind games in my head. The sharp fall of the chair backwards makes me squirm. “For easy access.” Cameron mutters. As I open my mouth to speak, he slips a tongue in, closing the distance between us as he kneels in front of me. His hand holds my head to his face as he devours my mouth and claim my body in his arms like it’s his. I want it to be his. My eyes close voluntarily the moment my tongue tasted the spiciness in his tongue. I moan. Every movement, every suck on my tongue and bite of my lips leaves my head in a temporary distortion at how good I feel. Like I’m being revived into a whole new world through the feel of his tongue. I moan in his mouth, shifting back a little. “Cameron,” I breath sharply wi
- CAMERON - I’m sat outside on an open street bench, waiting for her. She said she was coming. It’s been quite a while since I’ve been here in this freezing cold night, yet I’m still waiting. I hold my phone in my hand and exhale slowly. I can see the steam formed due to the hotness of my breath in contrast to the weather. I’m putting on my suit jacket and a long, black coat yet my skin still feels the effect of the cold. Another sigh leaves my lips as my eyes peers lower at my phone screen. I’ve gotten no text since the last time. I raise my head up. Parked in front of me is my car with the front lights on. Apart from that, no one is in sight. I dip my hands in my pocket, leaving my phone on my thighs. The only reason I’m not in the comfort of my car with the heaters on is because I want her to see me when she arrives. But that is taking forever. She sure has a nack for making people wait. It’s cute but not that comfortable. “Cameron!” Someone calls my name. From the faintn
- ISOBEL - Benjamin, my step father, is infuriating and mom just stood there watching him degrade me! Like she didn’t meet me first, love me first, live with me first. Like I’m not her daughter. I called her name. I remember yearning for her to step up to him when he called me names but she didn’t say a word. I would’ve believed it was due to the tiredness caused by the gasoline and oil mix up accident if this was her first time, but it’s not. She always does this. He blamed me for wanting to harm HIS family, like I am not part of it. He blamed the for the fire the moment those men left. I mean, I’m guilty, but in that house, I’m the least person to be suspected of doing something devious. His son is a master at it. Both of them are basically devils in human form. I huff, staring out the window in Nina’s room in the comfort of her bed with my legs folded to my chest and arms crossed around it. I’m crashing here for a while but not for long. I resume the thoughts protr
- CAMERON - ‘Please wait in the car’ The text from Isobel glares at me from my phone. I’ve been here for over half an hour since a group of people waltzed out of her house yet she’s still inside. If I choose to calculate how long I’ve been out here in total, I’m sure it’ll be nearly an hour or a few minutes past an hour. I sigh. I wanted this so I’m ready to wait, just right now, I’m torn between going in there or waiting. Her message does tell me to wait in the car, not sure if that entails actually staying in the car. I run my hand through my hair and let out an exhale. The last two days were insane. I couldn’t think. She severed a serious injury while alone with me and I couldn’t help but be worried. I felt uneasy and just then, I forgot everything else. This woman is really amazing. I don’t know anything about her yet she’s on my mind twenty four-seven, occupying my thoughts. She’s definitely an intriguing character and has my restraint hanging on a thread. The next time I
- ISOBEL - “Thank you! Please wait in the car.” I breath out loud to Cameron, getting out of the passenger seat while heading to my phone. My heart is beating fast against my chest. My house looks normal. It’s not ash as I expected but since my mom was home when everything happened, it is a good thing, right? It means Nina probably had to stop the fire which I still can’t process how. I look back for a second. Cameron is out there waiting for me. Good. I may need to run away from this place soon. I knock on the door. I have my key although I’m not sure my mind is at the right place to remind me to search for it. I left my purse in the hospital and I never thought I’ll be coming back to this place. My fingers scratch each other as I wait for an answer. I got none. This time, I ring the door bell. I am anxiously eager to meet someone. I want to see mom. I wonder if she’s in a hospital or if anyone’s home. I got no message from either of them. Cain is probably in jail, so th
- ISOBEL - Guilt. I’m laying down on a bed with people by my side pushing the bed I’m on forward. My vision is blurred and I can’t make sense of my environment but all I can see is white and so many lights. What happened? I hear the sound of my breathing. It’s loud. Almost like my mouth and nose are enclosed in something I can’t wrap my head around. I want to move but I can’t. My hands feel glued to the moving bed even though I know they’re not. I may be partially out of touch with my environment and my body but one thing I can tell is there’s nothing binding my body to anything. Where’s Nina? Where’s Cameron? My eyes close. They slowly open. I’m not moving anymore yet the lights are still as blinding as ever. I squint, trying to block excessive light from reflecting on my face. Why is there some kind of guilt eating me up like something bad happened to them and it’s my fault? My head turns to the side. Someone’s standing by my side. I try to move my fingers out
- ISOBEL -My ears buzz from the noise. Laying on the floor, with my side pressed hard on his chest and his arms around me and palm pressed around my ears, is my traumatised self.My body is quivering and the continuous sound of gun shots gives me a reminiscing trauma of what it felt like seeing Cain murder someone in cold blood. It was night as well and I was just coming back from work when he killed my colleague.That was the main reason I quit my job and the scenes are replaying in my head. I feel my chest heave and my breathing quicken as a panic attack hits me like a wave. “Are you okay?” Cameron’s voice comes as comforting as he clenches his arm around me. I try to raise my upper body and feel a prick on my shoulder. This makes me wince. Glass.Broken glass pieces are dug into my skin. I shake my head ferociously, trying to breathe. “Panic attack.” I manage to murmur.He leans his chest forward and raises me up. The moment his hands rests on my arms, I shriek. He takes them o