My muscles were sore and my stomach was flooded with butterflies. I peeked out of the curtain and saw the giant room full of half-dressed women walking around in g-strings and garters. Beautiful women.
Men were lounging around drinking and talking, their eyes always glued to one woman or another, sitting in their laps or dancing in front of them.I got the job. Since it was a trial run, I would only be serving drinks for the weekend, topless, and sitting and chatting (flirting) with the clientele. Kimmy and Hayley said that it was the easiest job to start with and they still got tipped big for it in the beginning. I was almost afraid that I wouldn't.I knew I wasn't ugly, but I was lacking their self-confidence. I shook my hands to get rid of my nerves and blew out a breath. I took one last look in the mirror back in the large, lavish dressing rooms. My hair was in soft waves and my makeup, done by Kimmy, was smoky. I looked hot, but my stomach was not agHis eyes were full of lust as I slowly slid out of his lap, bending over in front of him to grab my tray. He brought his hand up to his mouth, biting his knuckle as I straightened up. That was one other thing the girls told me worked wonders."I'll be around." I husked at him. He nodded as I went to the bar upstairs and got more drinks. Behind the bar, we each had our place to keep our tips and I deposited mine quickly with a small smile.I made my rounds, flirting with a few guys as I went, but as I promised, I visited the older gentleman's table more often, receiving tips from the other two men as well as my first one every time I'd sat and had a chat with them.So far, no touching had occurred, which was a relief to me, but maybe these guys knew the rules and wanted to keep coming back.After serving them most of the night, the man told me to call him Dave. His other friends were Ethan and Daniel. They often frequented on Saturday nights and re
"I just don't understand why you can't just leave me money for pizza?"I roll my eyes and shake my head. "Because I'm not trusting you with money. I don't need you trying to go out and buy alcohol while I'm working.""Stripping?"My face flames and I grit my teeth at how judgemental she sounds. "You know if I didn't do this, we wouldn't be able to afford half of your damn medications right now. So yes, stripping.""Oh if only your daddy could see his precious girl now. Shaking her ass and t*ts for extra change.""Look, Mom, if I wasn't out here shaking my ass and t*ts for money on the weekends, we wouldn't be able to afford half of your damn medications. Shut up and be grateful. If it's beneath you to take any of my stripper money, then I suggest finding a more suitable place to live."She pressed her lips together and walked and sat on the couch in front of the TV. "Fine, can you just order it for me, then?"I grit my t
On my way to the club, I decided to call James. Mostly because I don't want him to try to call me while I'm working. Another part is because of that needy part of me that wanted to hear his voice before I went out there and walked around half-naked for other men to ogle at me.It rang through the first call, so I tried him again. And again and again. On the fifth phone call, when he still didn't answer, I began to get nervous.I parked at the club sent him a message and watched my screen like a hawk for about two minutes straight, waiting for him to open his message. My stomach twisted, because he usually answered my calls, even when he was busy.Why wasn't he answering? Where was he? What was he doing? Who was he with? All of these thoughts flooded my brain as I got out of my car, turned my phone off, and shoved it in my purse.I walked to the back door of the club where the dancers and alike went in through and sighed, feeling completely insecur
I closed my eyes, ignoring yet another call from one of the Starrs. I rubbed my scratchy, sore eyes and lay on my side. I called out of work today, knowing that I was losing out on good money, but I could force myself to go. I didn't want to be anywhere or do anything today Thanksgiving was always an amazing holiday before my dad died. We would stuff ourselves full of food at my uncle's house at lunchtime then the women would all make a trip to all of the stores for black Friday deals. When we would get home from shopping, we would all eat again and karaoke and just have the best of times.My dad's favorite song was Highway to Hell and he would belt it out, his face pink from drinking the afternoon away. My mom would even be there, smiling and laughing and just having an all-around good time.Last year was hard, but I had James. He ate my sh*tty attempt at Thanksgiving food and hung out with me instead of being with his family. And he hadn't even called t
The taste of him, the smell, the way his hands felt as they roamed my body had me so hot and bothered, if anything happened right now, we would for sure miss out on Thanksgiving with the Starrs.He scooted me up on the bed gently, crawling over me, kissing my neck fervently, then down my chest. His hands moved down my torso, pinching my n*pples, then tugging the hem of my shirt up. I lifted my arms and let him take it off of me as his hot mouth found my n*pple.I moaned and gasped as he continued to move down my stomach until his face was buried in between my legs, kissing me over my white cotton panties.He pulled at them but I placed my hand over myself and he paused and looked up at me. His eyes were full of lust and disappointment as I shook my head."I haven't showered.""Baby, I don't give a sh*t. I really don't. I will enjoy my Thanksgiving dinner." I laughed and rolled my eyes at him."No, I need a shower.""Okay
It's true what they say about distance making the heart grow fonder. My heart was completely and irrevocably James'. Spending the little bit of time he had with me before he had to go back felt like he had never left.I felt like I had never laughed harder and felt lighter in such a long time. Even when I had my shift on Friday night at the convenience store, he was there with me, sitting by the counter and telling me about school and classes and everything. I did notice one thing, though. Not once did he ever mention his close friends, Sarah or Liam and it made me wonder if they had a falling out or something, because it wasn't like him to not mention them.I also wondered if he knew that it bothered me when he talked about her. But it didn't matter, he was amazing and on Saturday morning when I had to drive him to the airport, I was a f*cking mess.Before I even drove him there, I ugly cried in his arms for a while because I hated that he had t
When they call my stage name, I take a deep breath and plaster my seductive smile on my face and walk out onto the stage. My song ques up and all I can see is the men by the stage and the spotlights.At first I kind of freeze. Kind of. I'm moving, but my brain doesn't fully get into it until I concentrate on just the music. After I do that, then I begin to loosen up and just do what I rehearsed. It's different with an audience, but seeing their hungry looks and then feeling them tuck money into my thong while I crawl around, I know that I'm doing okay.It's nerve wracking but as soon as it's over and I'm in the back, the Kimmy and Hayley are cheering and jumping around for me and our den mother is walking over to me with a robe and a glass of water.Simon, the guy who goes up and gets our clothes and the rest of our tips from stage comes back after a few minutes and hands me my box of tips and my leather bra. My heart is still beating a million miles a min
JamesIt was hard coming home. And not to Vegas. I meant home, here in Massachusetts. Because ultimately, that's where home was to me now. I missed Kelly so f*cking bad, and seeing her reinforced all of my feelings for her tenfold, but...the entire time I was back in Vegas, I couldn't help but think of the trauma bond sh*t Sarah told me about.It stuck in my head and I tried to analyze Kelly while I was there, to see if maybe she had some of the markers. But, maybe I had some too? I didn't know because I felt a sense of relief to see her, to be with her, to touch her and kiss her.It felt like I was missing something and she was there to fill in my missing parts.And now, back home, I kind of felt off again. We talked, but that didn't feel like enough. I wanted her here. I wanted her with me and I felt like a selfish prick for wanting it so bad, but did that make me a bad person?Her mother left her for months, stole her money and didn't
I have found myself to be more relaxed than I have ever been before and it all has to do with Liam. I go to school and because my schedule for work is so different now, I actually have time to study. I have lunches with him almost every day and when I'm off and he comes home, I'm deliriously happy.It feels almost too good to be true, which is the scariest part. I feel like here lately I've been too happy and something sh*tty is about to come around the corner and bite me in the ass. And I wait for it. I may be comfortable, but it doesn't mean that I'm not waiting for my happiness to turn to ashes in my mouth.Until then, I'm enjoying just being with him. When his stuff arrives from Boston I unpack most of it while he's at work after school. I hang up his expensive looking suits and fill the bathroom vanity with all of his toiletries. I'm happy seeing my space being shared by someone I care about. I'm excited and also scared of the future that is coming o
LiamIt's done. Everything to do with my parents and my old life is finished. I'm home. It's exactly how it feels, laying next to a sleeping Kelly, watching her chest rise and fall underneath her sheets.I have an important interview in the morning, but I'm too wired to sleep. I had been at the airport when I had talked to Kelly before she went to work and although I was tired as hell, especially after ravaging my beautiful woman, I couldn't sleep.Seeing her walk into the club in the lacy lingerie had me wired. She was sexy as hell, I knew that, but seeing her in action at work, even before I paid for six dances, there was no denying that she was a goddess. I smile at the memory of her shoving my money back in my hand as soon as we get home. "I didn't dance for you, so you take it back." "I don't care, Kelly. Keep it. It's from your job.""Ew. No. It makes me feel icky if you pay for me to do stuff for you. I like giving it to
Leaving Liam this time was hard. We were so close now, closer than ever to not have to do this anymore. But I ugly cried in the SUV when it was time to say goodbye. I mean, snot and tears and everything. It was bad. And Liam, who was usually so put together and happy go lucky teared up as well."It's okay, Kel. I'll be there soon. I've got some loose ends to tie up, but don't worry. I'll be in Vegas before you know it. I promise."And so I got on my plane alone and went back home. I started getting ready for Liam's arrival as soon as I did. I would go to class and instead of hitting the gym, I started organizing my closet and taking clothes and shoes out to donate. I made drawer space and cleaned out my spare bedroom to give him a special surprise.I ordered some office furniture so that if he wanted to, he could work from home as soon as he found himself something here. Did I tell him about it?No. I was afraid that if I did, he would tell me I was doing too much but I was just excit
Liam and I sat on the floor of his apartment with our gifts in front of us. After our laughing fit in the car, we came inside and neither of us really knew what to say or do.I felt guilty as hell for everything that happened at his parents house. I felt selfish because I didn't want to let him go and I felt responsible for him losing his job and his family. I just...I didn't feel good at all. I mean, I loved that he defended me. It made me feel..I felt loved. I felt like someone really cared for me and it felt like for the first time ever that I was chosen first.But of course, I felt guilty for wanting to be first. I chose my mom over James. Even when she was a raging b*tch, I still chose her. I wanted to choose James, but I didn't. Liam chose me. He chose me. I had no idea why. I mean, yeah, we were together, but...he was losing a lot. He didn't even have a job. He didn't have his parents anymore and it was all my fault. I stared down at my g
We went last-minute Christmas shopping. Despite me being here, his parents still wanted me over for Christmas because Liam flat-out refused to join them if I couldn't go, which made me feel amazing. Not.So even though I bought Lillian a cashmere sweater, I still had to buy it for his dad even though Liam kept telling me I didn't have to. I didn't care if they got me anything or not. I half expected to get sh*t in a box, courtesy of his mother, but it was okay. I would accept it gracefully, just to piss her off.And it wasn't like I was aiming to piss them off. I just wasn't going to give in to their bullsh*t wishes.On Christmas Eve we had dinner with his friends and had a white elephant gift party which was pretty fun. I enjoyed my time there, even though Vivian was there. She avoided talking to either of us the whole time which suited me perfectly. I even drank a little because I was feeling the holiday spirit. I came home with a cute set of Tiffany earrings because these rich peop
When we step off of the elevator I feel almost a permanent blush up my neck and cheeks. I'm not sorry for what we did but Vivian saw and from past experiences, she wasn't very good at keeping her trap shut.I walk into the event center with my arm in Liam's and thank God no one is really paying attention to us. Some people glance at us, but it seems like the drinks have been flowing and people are talking loud and gesturing with their hands. So that's a good sign.I look around and see Vivian sitting at a table with a drink in her hand looking forlorn and I smirk to myself. Serves her right for coming and looking for us. Thoughts have been going on in my head, wondering what she was doing, looking and all I could come up with was that she didn't expect me to be with him.I felt like she thought that maybe she could corner him, thinking I was in the bathroom or some stupid sh*t after what his dad told me. I probably would have been if Liam hadn't noticed I was upset right away. But Lia
LiamI looked around to see if anyone was watching us and took Kelly's hand in mine. Whatever one of my parents told her had her looking like she was going to be sick and I was not going to let that happen. It took me entirely too long to get Kelly to agree to be mine and I wasn't going to lose her so quickly.I took Kelly out of the event center and to the bank of elevators in the main lobby. We hopped into the elevators and I wrapped my arms around her after I clicked on the fortieth floor, where my office was located."You want to tell me what my parents said to you?" I nuzzle her neck, my favorite place to be and she sighs and leans her body back against mine and gives me more of her neck."No. Nothing you didn't prepare me for. It just sucks.""Who was it?""Your dad.""What did he say?"She takes a deep breath and I watch her chest rise and fall. She looks absolutely stunning in her red dress. The mom
I stare at myself in the mirror, feeling nervous. I run a hand down my red, satin dress and smile. My hair is up in an intricate bun that took me an hour to do and I did my makeup as perfectly as I could get it without looking like I over did it. I have smoky eyes and red lips. My dress drops down into a deep v in between my breasts and it hangs down to mid calf with a high slit up to my hip. It's sexy and formal and I hope it says that I don't give a flying f*ck what anyone thinks about me.I put on my matching red stilettos and turn to my side and grin.I walk out into the living room where Liam is waiting for me and watch his eyes dance and darken as I step into the room. He swallows hard and pulls at his bow tie, then runs both hands down his chest. He looks hot as hell in a tuxedo and my mouth goes dry. "Do we have to go?" He asks as he steps closer to me. His cheeks are red and I smile at him. "Yes." I raise my eyebrows at him. "We have to go." He grabs my hips and brings me
The days are passing by slowly. It's almost painful, but there's absolutely nothing to be done. So I go to class, go to the gym, go to work and do it all over again. Liam, since I officially decided to be his girlfriend, has been checking in on me nonstop. It's a complete one eighty from how James would do when he was in school. It didn't matter if he was in a meeting or doing important business man sh*t, Liam would call or text me just because he missed me. We would even just be on the phone while he did paperwork in his office, not speaking, but just being on the line.And every day he would tell me about how many companies he has reached out to. He hadn't told his parents yet because he wanted to make sure he had a job first before he dropped the bomb on them.But he also hinted that his father was getting suspicious. I was on the line with him one day when his dad walked into his office. I knew it was his father because he greeted him as such. I muted