by Hayes, Emily
And with Jackson turning six years old this year, she knew expenses would only continue to rise.
As she approached a stop sign, Katrina suddenly remembered the note that she had received from Queenie, one of the featured dancers at Minx, who had become a friend to Katrina. Queenie helped to show Katrina the ropes and made her feel comfortable at the club. Before Minx, Katrina had never even been inside a strip club, so the learning curve was sharp. But her years of prior bartending experience combined with a good work ethic and positive attitude made the transition smoother, which included helpful guidance from Queenie.
It was no secret that Queenie had a crush on Katrina. As a lesbian herself, Katrina picked up on the signs fairly quickly. By all accounts, Queenie was a stunning woman, tall and lean with rich, coffee-colored skin. Like Katrina, Queenie presented as a high femme with full-face makeup and hair and nails done at all times.
During Katrina's first shift at Minx, Queenie revealed the clinic's name where she had her breasts enhanced, which turned out to be the same office where Katrina worked.
Even though Katrina was hired on after Queenie had already had her surgery, the pair seemed to bond over that interesting fact and soon became fast friends.
Katrina appreciated Queenie in her life as a co-worker and buddy, but she could tell that Queenie was interested in much more than just friendship. However, Katrina herself was more attracted to studs. While she was drawn to Queenie's beauty and energy, her sexual desire lay with strong, masculine-presenting butch women. But Katrina knew that she needed to tread lightly because she valued their friendship. She was also keenly aware that Queenie
had the power to make her job a living hell if she ever got on Queenie's bad side.
Katrina reached into her purse and pulled out the note that Queenie had slipped to her towards the end of her shift. With one hand, Katrina unfolded the small piece of paper, smoothing out the crumpled edges.
Hey gorgeous! You make me smile every time I see you at work. I’d love to take you out for dinner sometime and get to know you outside of Minx. I wanted to ask you in person, but I am too shy, lol. If you are down to have some fun, call me: 213-798-6754
Katrina smiled as she turned her attention back to the road, keeping the note in her lap as she rolled through the green light. She was flattered by Queenie’s attention and even somewhat intrigued by the offer, but at the same time, she didn’t want to lead Queenie on. She knew firsthand that when a femme’s pride is hurt, they can become ferocious, and Katrina wanted to approach this situation carefully.
Pulling into the driveway of her tiny home on Hancock Avenue, she noticed the light in her kitchen was still on.
Ah, good. Kristin is still awake. I wanted to ask her about watching Jackson next Thursday. Katrina checked the time on her phone; it read 3:45 am. Thank god I have the day off tomorrow. I couldn’t handle going into the office on four hours of sleep!
Working two jobs to make ends meet was starting to take a toll on Katrina, but she was grateful for Kristin, a neighbor from across the street who offered to watch Jackson on the nights that Katrina worked at Minx.
As Katrina unlocked the door, Kristin came to greet her, speaking in a soft voice not to wake Jackson. “Hi, Katrina!
How was your night?”
Katrina gave Kristin a tired smile. “It was long, but the tips were good. How was Jackson? Did he give you any trouble at bedtime?”
Kristin shook her head. “No, he was an angel as usual.
We read a little after dinner, and then I let him play on his tablet a bit before bed. He was fine, although he said that he missed you.”
Katrina felt a pang of mother’s guilt in her heart. “Ugh, I hate leaving him in the evenings. Hopefully, this is just a temporary situation. It would be so much easier just to work one day job, you know?”
Kristin replied in a comforting tone, “Aw, I didn’t mean to make you feel bad. Listen, you are doing what you need to do, and that’s okay. He doesn’t understand now, but when he is older, he will realize that his mom worked hard so that he could have a good life.” She then added, “Don’t be so hard on yourself. I am always here to help if you need it.”
Katrina looked at Kristin with gratitude. “Thanks so much, girl.” Taking off her shoes, Katrina then reached inside her purse to find her wallet. Pulling out a few bills, she handed them over to Kristin as payment. “I wanted to ask if you might be free next Thursday night? I was asked to cover a shift, and I can always use the extra money.”
Kristin nodded, taking the money from Katrina. “Yup, I can do that. Same time as usual?”
“Yes, Ma’am.” Katrina beamed, feeling grateful. “Thank you. I really appreciate it.” As Kristin began to put on her shoes, Katrina stretched her arms and yawned with fatigue.
“I am going to say goodnight to Jackson and then off to bed I go.”
“Have a good night, Katrina. I will see you next week.”
Katrina said goodnight and shut the door behind Kristin, twisting the lock on the door.
Quietly tiptoeing into Jackson’s room, she saw her son snuggled under the covers, sound asleep. Katrina leaned over his tiny body and placed her lips gently on his cheek.
“Good night, my sweet boy. Mommy missed you too,
tonight. I love you, baby.” Standing, she took a few more moments to look at him, marveling at his peaceful slumber.
Putting a hand to her heart, Katrina sighed with love.
She had never known anything more precious. Jackson had come as an unexpected gift during a turbulent time in her life. He formed as a miracle in her womb and gave her new hope. As exhausted as she was from raising him on her own, she never felt so fulfilled. Jackson had breathed a new sense of purpose into her existence.
Hopping into the shower, Katrina began to melt as the warm water cascaded against her skin. It was in these rare moments alone that she was able to be present in her body fully. Being a single mother meant that she was forced to consider the needs of her child before her own, and while most of the time, it seemed like a small sacrifice, there were times that Katrina missed being a free and sensual woman.
For the sake of her own sanity, Katrina usually pushed away her loneliness and desires so that she could concentrate on her responsibilities and caring for Jackson.
But being surrounded by a child and multiple co-workers was no substitution for an intimate partner. She missed the companionship of another adult and the excitement she felt in the presence of another woman. Katrina longed to be touched in arousing ways; she missed sex.
As she ran a soapy sponge over the curves of her voluptuous physique, her mind began to wander to earlier in the evening. She recalled the sexy strippers on stage at Minx, as they snaked their way through the hungry eyes of the men in the audience. She reveled in their power and ownership over their bodies.
Every so often, Katrina would lose herself while watching the dancers seduce the crowd before a customer would snap her out of her reverie. Sometimes, Katrina would become positively mesmerized by how slowly and rhythmically the dancers would discard their clothing,
tease the bra straps over their shoulders and pull down their thong underwear, revealing firm, delicious butts.
Thinking back to the stage shows, Katrina felt a tingle in her pussy and the sudden urge to run her fingers over her breasts. She almost felt self-conscious indulging herself in the shower, but then she remembered that it was late at night and that Jackson was sleeping. It’s okay, no one needs you right now. Just relax and let go. Katrina’s inner voice coaxed her, giving herself permission to pleasure herself.
Taking the showerhead in her hand, she aimed it as low as it would go, so that the water pelted hard towards her vulva. Tilting her lower body upwards, she leaned back to feel the sensation closer to her clit. Using two fingers, Katrina began to rub herself, adding to the friction of the water pressure. She sighed deeply and softly moaned as her delicate pearl began to harden with excitement.
&nb
sp; She continued to stimulate herself as a pleasurable feeling rose from inside her, growing in urgency. Katrina’s breathing quickened as her fingers curled against her vaginal lips, her muscles beginning to tighten. Raising one leg on the ledge of the bathtub, she slipped two fingers inside her vagina and thrust them in and out, reaching towards her g-spot. Finally, she felt of bloom of pure ecstasy as a powerful orgasm burst inside of her.
Mindful of her volume, Katrina came hard yet silently with her mouth open wide. She collapsed forward, gripping the wall to maintain her balance. Immediately, she felt a tingling sensation light up her entire body. Fuck, I needed that so bad!
In her blissful glow, Katrina stepped out of the shower and dried herself off with a fluffy towel. She wiped the steamy mirror and gazed at her reflection, noticing the glow on her skin that was a result of an orgasm and heat from the water. Closing her eyes for a moment, she remembered what it felt like to revel in pleasure.
As she prepared for bed, Katrina thought about Christmas, which was happening next month, and the presents that she wanted to buy for Jackson. Damn, the holidays are so expensive. I hope I can score more shifts at Minx.
Katrina then considered Queenie’s advances and her position within the hierarchy between dancers and bartenders. With Queenie on her side, Katrina knew that she would have access to the best tipping customers.
Hmmm, maybe I should play it cool for now. I mean, if the woman wants to flirt with me, far be it from me to stop her.
The last thing I need is to lose any perks that come from having her on my side. What would be the harm in having a little dinner with a co-worker, right?
As Katrina tried to justify her reasoning, she felt a rush of frustration. It suddenly occurred to her that what Katrina really wanted was to go on a date with a woman she liked and was attracted to. As she floated off into slumber, she envisioned a strong, handsome stud sweeping her off her feet; she desired romance and hot, primal sex.
Envision what you want, Katrina, and allow the Universe to make it happen….
3
As Mickey entered the office at Lix, she heard Chelsea call out from behind the desk, “Hey Mickey, how was your weekend?” By weekend, Chelsea was referring to the past Monday and Tuesday, which were the days that Mickey had off from work. Today was Thursday, and the pair arrived at the club early to tend to some administrative responsibilities.
“Hey, girl. It was alright. I started my Christmas shopping, actually. Found some cool tech gadgets for one of my cousins. How about you?” Mickey peeled off a light jacket and hung it on the rack behind the door. “I can’t believe I had to wear a jacket today. Today was only forty degrees. Crazy, man!”
“I know, right? If it snows in L.A. this year, I am going to die. I mean, what would I wear? A latex jumpsuit to keep me warm?” Chelsea joked, speaking about her mostly fetish-inspired wardrobe.
“Don’t worry, the last time it snowed was in 1962. I am assuming that Christmas will be green as usual.” Mickey plunked herself down in a chair, facing Chelsea. “Oh, speaking of which, I picked up my tree.”
“Oh, that’s cool. Do you have any plans for the holidays?” Chelsea asked, moving away from the screen to
look at Mickey.
Mickey replied lightly, “Nah, man. My cousin Femi is taking off to Las Vegas, so I’m looking forward to having the place to myself. Besides, with preparing for the annual Christmas Eve party here and all of the hustle and bustle, it’s just best to stay put for now.”
Secretly, the holidays made Mickey a little sad. She missed her family, with the majority of them still living in Jamaica. But Mickey had long since come to terms with the rift caused when she came out as a lesbian to her mom. At this point, Mickey preferred to focus on the upcoming holiday events at Lix and her chosen family that supported her identity.
Chelsea thought for a moment before speaking up. “So...
I saw Thandie here last week. I was actually quite surprised that she had the nerve to bring a date.” Chelsea looked at Mickey with concern. “Did that bother you at all?”
Mickey sighed, “Yeah, I saw her, too, in the Grand Ballroom.” Chelsea made a small gasp and covered her mouth.
“I mean, it bothered me a little only because Lix is my territory, ya know? Like, she never came here before we were together, and even as a couple, we didn’t spend a lot of time here.” Mickey sucked in her teeth and mumbled under her breath. Nanny rass!
Chelsea nodded sympathetically. “I’m sorry, Mickey.
Ugh, yeah, that is grimy.” She then smiled mischievously.
“Well, you know the saying, the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else!”
Mickey raised an eyebrow and gave Chelsea a look.
“Why do you say that? Are you offering?” Mickey and Chelsea shared a laugh, both knowing that their relationship was strictly platonic.
Chelsea backtracked. “No, but I am serious, though.
Maybe it’s time for you to find a new woman. Treat yourself to some love for the holidays, Mickey!”
Mickey shook her head and chuckled softly. “Girl, I don’t know. You know how it is, working in a nightclub. The nights are long, and the actual weekends are pretty much nonexistent. Ain’t no nine-to-five woman gonna be cool with that.”
Chelsea shrugged and rebutted, “Hmmm, I'm not so sure about that. I mean, look at Quinn and Lauren!” Mickey nodded in agreement. Chelsea continued, “I think it's all about finding someone who is compatible and who shares the same values.”
“You have a point, Chelsea, but how am I supposed to find a woman with my crazy schedule, especially with the holidays coming?” Mickey exclaimed.
Chelsea grinned and said, “With online dating, silly!”
Upon seeing Mickey's expression, Chelsea's eyes went wide with disbelief. “C'mon, Mickey! Do you mean to tell me that you have never been on a lesbian dating site?”
Mickey shook her head and stared at Chelsea with wide eyes. “Oh, hell, no! Nope, not for me.” While Mickey was quick to discount the suggestion, she wasn't entirely sure as to why. Still, the idea made her nervous and uncomfortable.
Chelsea looked surprised. “Mickey, seriously. If you have never tried online dating before, how do you know you won't like it? Honestly, it's a great option for people like us who work in the industry. Unlike our customers, we all know how hard it is to find love in a nightclub.” Chelsea then became defiant. “Personally, I like it. In fact, I have had lots of success.”
Mickey rolled her eyes. “Yeah, that's because 90% of the women on those sites are white. Obviously, it's easy for you to find someone that you have something in common with.”
“Well, if you haven't tried it yet, then how would you know?” Chelsea challenged Mickey. “Besides, you can set your settings to narrow down your preferences. And you
can be specific about what you are looking for in your profile.”
Mickey furrowed her brow and pursed her lips, determined to negate the suggestion while underneath, her thoughts were racing. Huh! Can I really create my own settings? Hmmm..interesting. I mean, that does sound kind of cool, but I don't know…
It was as though Chelsea could read her mind. “Why don't you just give it a shot? What do you have to lose?”
Suddenly, Chelsea brightened. “Oh my god, I have an idea!
Why don't I create a profile for you?”
Mickey almost fell over. “No, Chelsea! I mean, how would you even do that? Like, would my picture be on the internet?” Her heart began to race with nerves and confusion. “I-I don't know. It just seems weird.”
Chelsea replied in a calm voice, determined to convince Mickey. “Listen, I will show you a few sites so that you can see how it works. Then, you give me a few pictures of yourself and tell me what you are looking for. I will create a draft of a profile, and before it goes live on the internet, you can approve it, okay?” Chelsea put her hands to her heart. “I swear, I will not post anything unless you absolutely love it
.”
Mickey thought for a moment. On the one hand, the thought of meeting strangers online seemed completely out of her comfort zone, but another part of Mickey was strangely intrigued.
Even as Mickey resisted, she had to admit that Chelsea had a good point. It was difficult to meet women while working weekends and evenings, and if she was going to meet someone, she didn't want to waste her time weeding through undesirables or spend her time dealing with drama. Plus, Mickey trusted Chelsea as someone who knew her well. If anyone were going to talk her into this, it would be someone that she respected as much as Chelsea.
4
Katrina flung open the door to the staff room at Minx. It was Thursday evening, and she arrived early for her bartending shift. Katrina was determined to make a lot of money in tips in the coming weeks, and as such, she decided to put more effort into her appearance.
While she didn’t make as much as the strippers, the male customers definitely showed appreciation in dollar bills towards a hot-looking bartender with a killer smile.
Positioning herself in front of the full-length mirror, she opened her coat to reveal a black lace push-up bra, which she had paired with a short, black mini skirt, accessorized with a delicate silver belly chain.
She adjusted her ample breasts, squeezing them together so that they appeared to overflow inside the bra cups. She opened up her makeup bag and pulled out her favorite lip gloss. Leaning towards the mirror, she applied the sticky goo over her pouty mouth.
She saw the door crack open from the reflection, revealing Queenie, who had arrived for her dance shift.
Katrina turned and greeted Queenie.
“Hi, Queenie. How are you?” she asked warmly from her stance in front of the mirror.
“Hey, girl! I’m as fine as you are looking tonight!”
Queenie gave Katrina a flirtatious smile before heading to her locker. She extracted a large duffle bag, which contained various costumes. Setting it down on a bench, she sauntered over to Katrina, admiring her from behind.