“The Hills by The Weekend.” She smiled thinking of the sexy song.
“Shit, you’re really trying to work it tonight, girl.” Laughter rang in her friend’s voice.
How could she explain why she was changing things up without actually giving the reason? Pixie was the only real friend she had, but the other woman had no idea of the things Ev had and was going through. She just thought she was shy, and that worked for her. Or it did. Now, she wasn’t so sure.
Smiling, her name was announced. “Gentlemen, get your bills ready. You don’t want to miss this next act. She’s sexy, she’s sweet, she’s in a class of her own. Please welcome the lovely Evie!” Cheering could be heard amidst the darkness when she walked on stage.
A light, thin black curtain was drawn down, and the smoke machine was let loose as her music began. Gripping the pole above her head and stepping back, she placed her feet shoulder width apart. After the first drum beat, her hips began to sway from side to side. When the words flowed, the curtain lifted.
Unveiled, she sensually worked her way around the pole. One hand still above her head, she smoothed the other downwards until she was holding it at pelvic level. With her head still looking down, she began grinding in a sexual motion. All the while, her eyes remained closed, and she pictured Casey as her subject.
She was holding his strong shoulders while wrapping her legs around his waist. Bending backwards just as the lyrics picked up, her eyes popped open dramatically, and she was met with the audience. An intense gaze met her own as she realized that while she’d been picturing Casey as her dance partner, he was, in fact, watching her intently. His hard features drawn into a tight scowl as she reached behind her to undo the jumpsuit.
The crowd howled for her to take it all off, to show them more. Suddenly shy, she almost didn’t undress until she remembered he’d abandoned her for a week. No word, no call, no nothing. Granted, he didn’t have her number, and he didn’t actually owe her any explanation, but she was still hurt by his cold shoulder.
Turning from her audience, she slowly began to shimmy the suit down her arms. Flicking her hair over her shoulder, she shot a wink at Casey’s friend purposely to piss him off. From her distance, she could almost feel his growl.
As the bass boomed and the drums pounded, she slowly dragged the sleeves of her costume down and off her arms. Reaching for the pole, she gripped it with one hand. Dipping backwards, she clutched the heel of one shoe, gliding it off her foot before dropping it on the stage with a thud.
The beat of the music picked up a small notch as she swung around the pole in a pirouette, head thrown back, eyes closed. She could almost imagine she was a real ballerina.
So lost in the pulse of the music, she barely noticed the hush that came over the crowd as she discarded her other shoe. Kicking the jumpsuit off and into the crowd created a small uproar and had her smiling.
Down to her G-string and pasties, she caressed the metal bar like a long lost lover. Slamming her back to it, her front was to the audience. An audible gasp from the crowd could be heard as she slid down, legs spread wide, nearly naked for their viewing pleasure.
In that moment, she felt powerful. To have all those men with their eyes glued to her body, she had control. For one split second, she was the one in charge. They were hooked on what she was offering.
Crawling to the front of the stage, she flipped to her back and arched her chest high in the air, feeling all the hands putting bills in the strings on her panties. Closing her eyes in pretended pleasure, it was a swift reminder that she had no control at all.
Hearing the song wind down, she got back to her feet. Dashing for the pole, she leapt, gripping it high and winding her legs around it in a tight hold. Ensuring she wasn’t about to fall, she plunged her upper body so she was upside down, arms spread wide. Maneuvering so her legs would slowly spin her around the pole in a circle, she finally reached the bottom of the stage. Placing her palms down, she did a swift handstand, landing back on her feet just as the song ended and the audience broke out in applause.
Sweat poured down her back from the workout. Her breaths were choppy, and she suddenly felt exposed. Needing to cover up, she took a light bow in thanks, grabbed as much of her money as she could before darting backstage to put real clothes on. Hardy met her at her dressing room door. “Grab a drink and I want you back on the floor.” His voice brooked no argument. She was confused. He’d always let the girls change after a show, to feel a little less exposed. Looking down to herself, she suddenly wished she hadn’t decided to be so brave.
“She’s fucking hot,” Ace commented after Ev left the stage.
Much as he wanted to gut his friend like a pig for saying it, Case knew he was right. She had a gracefulness to the way she moved that left a person stunned. She captivated you, held your attention from the moment she came on stage until the second she left.
“Shut. The. Fuck. Up.” Case ground out through clenched teeth. He was still shocked at the outfit she came out in and lack of one she left with. All her other performances left her more or less covered up. Tonight, though, she fucking bared all and then flirted with his friend.
He was about to push his chair back when Ace gripped his arm, telling him, “Don’t fuck this up. If you go back there demanding what I know you want to, she’s going to tell you to get fucked. Sit your ass down and let her come to you.”
Shooting him a dirty look, he replied, “You’ve been hanging around Creed for too damn long.” A curtain to the side drew his attention away from Ace and whatever he’d just said.
“Son of a motherfucking bitch!” he hissed angrily. She was coming out in the same fucking outfit she finished with on stage. Rather the lack of an outfit he supposed.
“Case, don’t.” Ace was trying to get him to see reason again, but all he saw was red. Not just because of her heels and lipstick, either.
“Do you fucking see her?” When Ace went to turn his head to look again, Case quickly bit out, “Don’t fucking look, you ass.”
“Dude, you asked.” The fucker had the gall to laugh at his predicament.
He watched as she walked straight through the curtain. Fidgeting, her fingers kept balling into a fist. Her shoulders were slumped as if she were trying to hide herself from the staring. He almost couldn’t take it, and when some man grazed her arm from wrist to shoulder, Case wanted to rip it off and beat him to death with it.
At some point, he gripped the chair arms to keep himself still. Now, his fingers were cramping from the tight hold he had, and he knew if he let go, he’d go caveman on her and drag her out. His eyes didn’t leave Ev’s as she made her rounds, talking, touching, flirting with those men she knew nothing about.
There was one man that tipped his hand, and Case was on his feet before he could think, or Ace could catch him. The smarmy, bald, bulging waistl
ine prick had his hand on her hip and kept sliding it down to her ass. No matter how many times she tried to move away, he would pull her back. He’d had enough. She was done for the night.