Kiss the Girl (Naughty Princess Club 3)

I’m basically wearing an iridescent green, strapless, one-piece spandex bathing suit that hugs every curve I have like it was painted on me. A black fish-scale design covers the entire thing. The cups of the outfit, where my boobs are pushed up and almost spilling out, are purple, and I’m wearing sparkly purple, six-inch stilettos to match. Along with that, I have on a pair of sheer purple thigh-highs with lace trim around the tops and lace garters that attach to the high-cut leg holes of the sexy suit. My only accessories are a chunky necklace made of various sizes and shapes of white seashells, and a pair of green iridescent elbow-length arm coverings with the same fish-scale design and a ring that attaches around my middle fingers.

I smile at my reflection as I run my hands down my sides and over my hips, feeling like a fucking goddess and unable to hide my excitement about going out on that stage.

“I’ve got ‘Wide Open Spaces’ by the Dixie Chicks cued up and ready to go as soon as you get out there,” Belle tells me, grabbing a container of body glitter from the dressing table and using a huge makeup brush to start dabbing glitter all over my cleavage.

“Tell me she’s kidding,” I complain, looking at Cindy.

“What? What’s wrong with that song? It’s fun, and it’s got a great beat you can dance all slow and sexy to,” Belle informs me.

“Say the name of that song again. Slowly. And think about what Ariel will be doing out there on the stripper pole with her legs,” Cindy orders her.

“‘Wide Open Spa . . .’ Oh. Okay. I hear it now. Yeah, I see why you guys never want me to pick the music,” Belle says sheepishly as she continues dabbing glitter all over my chest.

“Cindy, grab my purse and get my cell phone. Pull up ‘My Superman’ by Santigold on my iTunes account,” I order, running my tongue over my lips as I think about the last time I heard that song.

“Oh, that’s a good one,” she mutters, reaching for my purse.

Yep, it definitely is. Eric and I dry humped to that song. It was a good night. And regardless of the fact that I told him I loved him and then ran away like a pussy, tonight is going to be a good night as well. So what if he didn’t immediately tell me he loves me back? I know he cares about me, even if he isn’t in love with me just yet, and that’s fine. I’m not weak anymore, and I’m not going to let it break me or make me second-guess everything that’s been happening between us. The bitch is back, and she’s ready to go out on that stage, remind the man she loves how fucking amazing she is, and hopefully go back to one of our boats afterwards and have a repeat performance of what happened in the parking lot.

“All right, ladies, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got an audience to turn on,” I tell my friends, turning away from them and heading for the dressing room door as I hear the announcer start to give my introduction.

“She’s coming up to the surface from under the sea, to drive you wild and make you wet! Put your hands together for Ariel!”

“Go get ’em, tiger!” Cindy shouts after me. “Swing on that pole and show them your wide open spaces!”

Both of my friends laugh hysterically, and I give them the middle finger over my shoulder as I walk through the door and up onto the stage, grabbing onto the velvet curtain with both hands as I take a deep breath.

* * *

Holy shit, I did it. And I didn’t die.

Those are the only thoughts going through my head as the song ends and I hold my final pose, my feet spread apart on the stage with my back against the pole, which I hold with one arm flung above my head. My chest heaves as I try to catch my breath, so fucking high on adrenaline right now that I feel like I’m going to come out of my skin.

Everyone in the club is on their feet and the sounds of their screaming and cheering and clapping is deafening. I can’t stop the ridiculous smile that takes over my face, or the giddy laughter that bubbles up and out of me. They’re all chanting my name and holy shit, all I can think about right now is that I can’t wait to do this again. It was so freeing and amazing and fun. I want to kick my own ass for taking so long to gather up the courage to get out on this stage, and I appreciate Cindy and Belle a hundred times more than I already did because they were able to suck it up and do it before me.