Nights In Paradise

Chapter Four: Aspen

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I come back to the club for the third night in a row and I see the other dancers and bouncers standing around, their eyes following me, envy and glaring judgment visible as I make my way to the back changing room that’s becoming mine.

I sigh as I close the door and lean on it.  I just wanted to be one of them and now thanks to Carlos’s weird possessive streak I’m more judged than a hooker would be.  I’ve heard the whispers.  They all think that I’m sleeping with the boss.

I flush and turn into the door, groaning.  The truth is that Carlos hasn’t touched me since that first night.  And I want him to.  I want him to so fucking bad that my body aches with need.  At the same time I feel bone-tired and frustrated beyond belief.

I want to perform on the stage.  I take that back.  I huff out a breath.  I don’t want to.  I need to.  I need that money.  The money I’m getting every night is damn good for a few dances in private for Carlos.  But I’d make more on the stage and I know it.

There’s a knock at the door and I open it to find one of the dancers standing there with a smug smirk on her face.  Anxiety sparks in my belly.  I don’t trust her.  I don’t really trust anybody here.

Except Carlos.

She shoves her way inside, glancing to the left and right.  I back away, my nerves increasing.  I don’t like how she looks.  Like she’s up to something.

Then she smiles so wide that her red lipstick spreads to the corners of her botoxed lips.  “Hey, nobody’s gotten much of a chance to talk to you yet.  Carlos has been keeping you under wraps.”

I nod and stiffen, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

But she just grins wider.  “My name’s Tiffany.  Like the jewelry you know.”

I nod but it takes everything in me not to roll my eyes.  Jesus!  She sounds like an idiot.  But she’s beautiful.

She’s tall and willowy with big boobs that I’m pretty sure aren’t real.  She flicks her long blond hair over her shoulder.

“I hear tonight’s gonna be your first night on the stage.”

My heart stops and then pounds in my chest.  “I haven’t heard that.”

“Of course not.  I’m kinda in charge of the girls.  I’ll pass along any messages from Carlos from now on.  He runs everything past me.”

I narrow my eyes at her.  For some reason I’m not sure I believe her.  Mainly because Carlos doesn’t seem like the kind of man that delegates for his club.  He’s hands-on.

I feel my pussy clench and a flood of my juices in my panties.  I can still feel his hands all over me, sliding in and out of me and taking me over the edge into a pleasure that I never even knew existed.

I flush and step back again, turning away from her.  “Really?  I felt sure he’d let me know when he thought I should go onstage.”

“Well, I’ve got the sheet right here and you’re on it.”

I whip around and yank the paper out of her hand.   And there’s my stage name.  Sapphire.  At 9:30.  Which is kind of early but hey!  At least I’m on the stage schedule.

“Okay.  Thanks.”

“Make sure you’re ready.  The assistant manager is on tonight and he’ll come get you when it’s time.”

“Great.  Thank you.”  Warmth and nerves battle in my belly.  I’ve got my chance.  I can’t believe it!

Tiffany smiles at me one last time and then steps out of the room, closing the door behind her.

I sit at the vanity in the room and smile.  I’m finally getting my chance.  I make my face up carefully, using my signature red matte lipstick and adding some shimmering smoky eyeshadow.  Highlighter added to my high cheekbones and the top of my breasts and shoulders and then I step into my new costume.  I bought a shimmering gold costume that glittered with small amber rhinestones and big glittering clear crystals that catch the light and reflect it back like a rainbow.  I have a new pair of gold stiletto heels with clear platforms .

Fluffing my caramel hair over my shoulders, lightly separating the loose golden curls until they dance around my head in a wild mane that makes me think of bedhead.  Or sex.  I eye my look from side to side an decide it’s acceptable.

I glance at my watch and realize I still have half an hour until I’m due onstage.  I twist my hands in my lap and my mind wanders to Carlos.  If the assistant manager is here then Carlos is not.  I don’t know whether I’m happy about that or not.  On the one hand, Carlos makes me more nervous than I’ve ever been in my life.  His eyes are like dark chocolate melted and hot.  He’s so tall and ripped.  His biceps bulge under his dress shirts like he’s about to rip out of them.  His strong neck rises out of the v-neck of his shirts.  I can see a little spattering of hair on his chest and I feel that tightening in my pussy again.  Pleasure rips through me and I swear I can feel a steady stream of my juices running down my leg.

I jump up and try to force my mind away from him.  I don’t want to get thrown out of the club tonight.  I think it’s kind of unprofessional to be so turned on by your boss that you almost come without him even in the room.

But his short dark hair begs for my fingers.  His dark eyes so stormy and turbulent pull at me.  Making me restless and breathless, unable to settle at anything.

I stand and pace around the room.  I’m shivering and it’s not fear.  It’s anxiety.  Arousal.  So many things.  My body feels like it’s out of control whenever I think about him.

I want him here to protect me tonight.  But I also feel like if he were here, I’d be a puddle of want in front of him.

I take a deep breath when someone knocks at the door.  I open it and the assistant manager is there and his slimy eyes slither along my body making me want to cover up.  I hold my head up and grind my teeth.

“Yes?”

“It’s time.  Get your ass out there, baby.”

I grimace and hold my tongue.  I want to tell him not to talk to me like that.  And for fuck’s sake, back out of my space and use a breath mint.

But I pull the door closed and follow him to the back of the stage.  I watch Tiffany up onstage, her lithe body wrapped around a pole while she spins like a top and then drops to the ground, her breasts completely exposed.

I feel the first uneasy qualm.  I didn’t think we were supposed to go naked at all.  I’ve never seen the girls do that.  I don’t think I can.  She struts off the stage to applause and grins unashamed at me.

“I’ve warmed them up for you, princess.  Go out there and make some money.”

I nod my head and smile.  But inwardly I’m wondering if I can do this.  Before I have a chance to question it further, a large hand shoves me in the back and I hear a man’s voice announcing me.

“And now, for your viewing entertainment…Aspen!  And she’s a virgin dancer, guys!  So let’s hear it for this new dancer to our club!”

My eyes widen and I stand there in the stage lights, frozen and scared.  They used my real name.  That uneasy feeling in my gut is stronger now.  Something’s going on.

But I hear men start hissing when I stand there and don’t move.  So I start moving sinuously to the slow, sexy grind on the speakers.  I don’t know the song but I do my best to follow it.  Men start clapping and I smile.  Then I relax and let myself flow through the music, losing myself to the rhythm and words.

The woman’s voice singing about rings helps me loosen up and forget what I’m doing.  I make it to the end of the song and smile when I see all the money on the floor.  I’ve made a lot tonight.  In one dance!  At this rate I should be able to pay off my student debt in no time.

I step to the side of the stage and frown when I see a man standing there.  He’s older and dressed really nice.  His dark eyes slither along my breasts and hips and I wish to god I had a robe to put on.  But I push my shoulders back and step forward, moving around him.  He grabs my arm and I pull at it, wondering where the bouncers are.  No one’s supposed to touch the girls.  That gets your ass tossed out.

But nobody moves towards me.  Instead they’ve all disappeared.

I tug and yank but he doesn’t let me loose, pulling  me along behind him to the back hallway with the offices.

I try to dig my heels in but a bigger man comes up behind me and shoves a hand behind my shoulder blades, almost knocking me to the floor.

“Go,” he growls.