“And now...” A deep voice says over the speakers. “The Phoenix welcomes our newest entertainer...” There’s a light applause, and then my song begins to play as he says, “The beautiful and talented...Raven...”
I wait for a few more notes to sound and then I wait for the curtain to rise, walking down the short runway—straight for the pole.
Quickly scanning the crowd, I don’t see anyone I’d want to have sex with. Ever. Most of the men—though attractive, are at least ten to fifteen years older than me.
My eyes settle on the table that’s directly below me, where a dark haired man with beautiful green eyes is sitting.
I stare at him and commit to making him my target, until Carter pulls out a chair right next to him.
He looks at me and tilts his head to the side, and for a split second he looks confused, but then he smiles that familiar and cocky smile and I immediately make him my focus.
He’s so fucking sexy...
Turning my back to the audience, I unbutton the front of my shirt—tossing my hair back until I reach the last one. The second I finish, I spin around—exposing my lingerie to the crowd.
As I slowly slide down to the floor, I keep my eyes locked on Carter’s—picturing how hot it would be if he joined me onstage right now. Honestly wishing that he would, I lift the pearls from around my neck and toss them into the audience, earning an outburst of cheers.
The song approaches the chorus—my signal to move towards the pole.
Biting my lip, I picture Carter fucking me against the wall of a private room and gracefully hoist myself up with my arms. As his lips cover mine in my fantasy, I twirl around the pole in utter bliss, letting my legs support my body’s weight.
I slow my spin and arch my back so I’m hanging upside down, watching Carter’s eyes lustfully stare back into mine.
I notice that several dollars have been tossed onstage during my twirls, so I let myself slink down to the stage. When my head touches the floor, I flip over and stand upright.
Swaying my hips to the slowing beat, I reach behind my back and unclasp my bra, letting my breasts fall free.
More dollars hit the stage.
I back my body against the pole—hooking a leg around it, and raise an arm high above my head to grip it. Spreading my legs, I let my other hand slowly travel from my neck, down to my stomach, to the top of my nearly see-through panties.
I splay my hands across the front of them—tilting my head back as if I’m pleasuring myself, as if Carter is fucking me out of my mind. I move my hand to the bow that hangs off the side and pull at it—smiling at the desperate “Take it off!” “Keep going!” “Don’t stop!” pleas that are coming from all over the room.
Pulling harder on the bow, I realize that I’m loving everything about this moment—the attention, the power, the lust.
Moving my hand back up to my exposed breasts, I smile when I notice that Carter is smiling back at me.
I continue eye-fucking him for the final seconds of my song, climbing onto the pole for one final series of spins.
As the song begins its decrescendo, I slow my momentum and hold my position—one leg wrapped around the pole, the other artfully held straight up with my head facing the crowd.
The second the song ends, there’s a roar of applause and I can see more bills being tossed onto the stage. I shut my eyes for a split second, silently praising myself for killing that routine, and then I carefully move myself off the pole.
I avoid eye contact with the audience as the crowd continues to cheer. I grab all of my hard earned money and my bra, and use my shirt to wipe off the metal before leaving the stage.
“Well damn...” Robyn shakes her head as I enter the dressing room. “I feel like I might’ve gotten pregnant after watching that.”
“What?” I laugh. “What are you talking about?”
“Who the hell was your target?” Sarah rushes over, smiling. “You danced ten times better than you ever did in rehearsal! And the bow thing? Nice! I’m not going to lie, I got wet watching you...I’m going to go change now.” She pats me on the back and laughs as she backs away, throwing me the thumbs up.
“Anyway...” Robyn helps me back into my bra. “That was fucking amazing for a debut. I am seriously impressed—beyond impressed.”
“Does that mean I’ll get to dance another set tonight?”
“Hell no.” She scoffs. “You’re a newbie. Go take some drink orders in the private boxes and make yourself useful.”
“I’m banned from the bar, remember?”
“You’re banned from sitting at the bar and staring at the drinks for too long. You can take orders from the private booths. Just write them down, give them to a non-alcoholic waitress, and walk away.”