by M. N. Forgy
I pull a wad of cash out, wanting her to come closer. To notice ME! To know that I’m the fucking King of this place.
I stand at the edge of the stage and Aspen looks to the left, her teeth biting her bottom lip nervously. She doesn’t want to see me, but she doesn’t have a choice. She needs the money, why else would she be stripping. I wave the wad of cash, summoning her to me.
Now on all fours, she slowly crawls to me, and my dick twitches with excitement. Her hair frames her face, her eyes hooded with either lust or anger, I can’t decide. The stage lights hitting her every curve just right as she palms her way toward me. Finally reaching me, she places the heels of her fuck-me shoes on the edge of the stage and lays back. Her stomach flat with the cutest fucking belly button I’ve ever laid eyes on catching my attention just before she swirls her hips. I imagine my cock inside of her while she dry humps the air, much like the rest of the men behind me. I want more of her, so I toss a fifty on her stomach, then another just because I can. Her eyes widen at the amount of cash I just recklessly threw at her.
Raising my right brow, I lift my head at her top, willing her to take it off and show me her tits. The lustful look I was unsure of turns into a full-on glare now, but she knows the rules. You make so much money, you drop a piece of clothing, starting with the top. Pulling herself up on her knees, she slowly unties the knot keeping her top on and holds it open like a pair of fairy wings before dropping it to the floor. There. They. Are. Two perfectly round tits with nipples so pink and perky I want to break every rule of the club and reach out and touch them. Slip one into my mouth and bite down on the softness of her breast. If I did, would she slap me, or would she enjoy it like most of the women here?
The familiar smell of Valley suddenly washes over me, the simple smell of rose mist crashing my little one-on-one moment with Aspen, I look over my shoulder and find Valley closer than I presumed. Her lips skim the shell of my ear, her hand seductively running over my shoulder.
“We have a problem in the back,” she whispers.
Looking back at the half-naked Aspen, her green eyes the color of ivy, I use my finger to silently tell her to come here. She gets closer, her chest heaving from her routine. I slide another fifty into the waistband of her shorts, her eyes never leaving mine as I remind her that I’m just another paying customer wanting to see her tits.
Valley taps me on the shoulder again, gaining my attention to the problem in the back. Smirking at Aspen, who glares at me with parted lips. I follow Valley through the club. The music vibrates the floor, mood lighting flickering making it nearly impossible not to bump into some horny man, I try to focus on Valley. Her body is fit as hell in the tight black dress she’s wearing. Her heels just as slutty as the girls dancing but probably some designer brand as her daddy makes sure his daughter has everything she needs. In layman's terms, she’s a daddy’s girl with a silver spoon stuck up her ass.
Pushing the curtain to the side, we step backstage, past the office and the dressing rooms before I come to a full stop. Valley doesn’t even have to tell me what the problem is. I see it.
At the end of the hall, a table and chair are placed and there sits a little blonde-haired girl coloring with headphones on.
Valley crosses her arms, the act pushing her tits up, and leans against the wall beside me.
Rubbing my chin, I examine the kid. Trying to figure out who she looks like, where she came from.
“Who the fuck’s kid is this?”
Valley shrugs.
I don’t know any other girl that works here that would do this except Aspen. She’s new. Sensing us, the kid looks over her shoulder at us, the softest of cheeks and greenest of eyes staring at us.
She’s definitely Aspen’s.
“Goddamn it, Valley, did you teach Aspen any of the rules or etiquette of work here?” I snap.
Valley’s chest lifts with a large inhale that already answers my question. She didn’t.
A blood-curdling scream echoes through the club and my head snaps to the left, my feet are moving before I even have a second thought about the child. Back onto the floor, I find a man in a suit on the stage, his hands wrapped around Aspen’s midriff, trying to get her to dance with him. His hands continue to grope all over her, ignoring Aspen’s attempt at removing his grimy palms from her. She starts to get frustrated and slaps at him, telling him to get off the stage, but he’s not listening. The bastard’s entourage encourages his behavior, fueling him on further, he grabs her by the face trying to kiss her. She snaps her arms out straight trying to push him as far away as she can but he’s overpowering her by the second.
Taking off through the crowd, I climb on the stage and pry his hands off her body, causing her to fall to the floor. My nostrils flare to the beat of my racing heart that this motherfucker thinks he can come to my club and touch my girls.
“You can’t touch the dancers!” I snap at the man, my hands rolling into fists.
“I’m getting married tomorrow!” he says, thrusting his hands into the air like he’s the man.
“Get down,” I growl, pointing to the floor. I swear to God if he’s doesn’t get out of my sight I’m going to lose my shit.
He ignores me, coming at Aspen again and before I let him within two feet of her, my fist connects with his face, throwing him to the black-speckled stage, knocked the fuck out.
“North!” Valley screams from the floor. I broke a rule, a very important rule. Never lay a finger on the customer until outside. Why? Because his friends will try to redeem their perverted buddy.
Raising my hand, I gesture for Aspen to get behind me as some of the guys climb the stage ready to avenge their friend I just knocked out. I live for a good fight, but the thought of Aspen getting hurt by one of these fuckers has me on edge. The need to protect her more than get my rocks off on kicking someone’s ass has a fist slamming into the side of my head. Rage filling my chest, I come to and hit one after another in the face, becoming outnumbered faster than the DJ can stop the music.
Just as I think I’m about to get my ass kicked by a bunch of squares, Jinx is on the stage helping me take the motherfuckers down. Once the bachelor party notices there’s another one of us bouncers taking control of the situation, the drunk men start to descend the stage. Never breaking a sweat or removing his sunglasses, Jinx is handling the situation like he works with me regularly. We contain the men without causing serious bodily harm to the drunk fucks so we can kick them out.
“Get your friend and get the fuck out now!” I demand, my lip stinging from one of them swinging at me. I took a couple hits because I was distracted, I was worried about Aspen.
They do as I say, two of the men grabbing the groom and carrying him off the stage. I follow them, making sure they’re leaving without incident. Last thing I need is them trying to go backstage or coming at one of us when our backs are turned. Once outside, the air fresh and crisp, I slowly begin to get my shit together.
“Don’t come back. I mean it. You don’t come here and disrespect my girls. Ever,” I scorn. My lip bothering me, I use my shirt to wipe the blood.
They flip me off, call me names, but eventually head over to their minivans. Fucking minivans. Adrenaline starts to wear off as I fight the urge to go break some of their bones and instead give my attention back to the business in the club.
Shaking my head, I go back inside and one of the girls is on stage dancing, trying to cover up the drama that just went down. I head to the back to check on Aspen, but she’s not in the dressing room or by the lockers. No, she’s in the hall with a robe on, bent down talking to the little girl.
“Well, I guess we found out who mommy is.” Valley sneers from behind me.
Glaring at the so-called house mom, I wipe at my lip again knowing Jinx is watching over the front, I can focus on the mess that is a kid being in a strip club.
“What were you thinking? You know better.” She glares at Aspen with jealousy laced in her voice.
“Shut up, V
alley. I’ll handle this, you’re dismissed.” Scowling over my shoulder at her, my nostrils flare.
Arms crossed in front of her, she raises an angry brow before leaving. Her heels clicking against the floor. I thought she would protest, but I guess she’s smart enough not to push my buttons tonight.
The little girl tugs on Aspen’s robe. “When do we get to go home?” the little girl asks, a yellow crayon in her hand.
“Aspen, is this your kid?”
Her head snaps up at me, innocent eyes hitting me right in the chest.
She stands, rolling her shoulders back. “My sitter quit, I didn’t have anyone—”
I lift my hand in the air between us, silencing her. “Then you call in, you don’t bring a fucking kid to a strip club!” My voice rises.
“I didn’t have a choice!” she yells back. The little girl stares at us, watching us argue. Something twists inside me. Taking Aspen by the elbow, I escort my newest dancer to the office right down the hall and slam the door so the little girl can’t hear.
“She can’t be here.” I fight to control all the emotions inside me. “You gotta go home.”
“Then I can’t be here tomorrow either.” Her voice cracks, emotion thick in her voice. “Or ever,” she whispers.
My brows furrow, realizing there’s more to the story. I have so many questions. “What’s going on?”
She shakes her head. “Nothing, I’ll—I’ll figure something out.”
Rounding the desk, her body heat mixing with mine, we’re so close I smell the sweat and apple body mist mixing with my own. Using my thumb, I tuck it under her chin and raise her eyes to mine. “Stop fucking around and talk to me, Aspen.”
“It’s my ex.” She shrugs and I wonder if she’s going to elaborate. “He’s made it impossible for me to do anything in this town. I lost my old job, now my sitter. He’s… he’s going to get custody of her and there’s nothing I can do.” Her eyes fill with tears.
Fuck me. Not the waterworks.
Wrapping my arms around her, I pull her close. I’m a sucker when girls cry. Listening to her cry and attempt to take deep breaths, I can’t help but wonder who the fuck her ex is to have this much power over her and this town?
“Your man, he a cop or something?”
She takes a step back, wiping the tears from under sad eyes.
“Used to be. He got fired for being dirty, but he has everyone eating out of the palm of his hand, including the judge in our divorce.” She reveals, throwing her hands out emotionally.
A knock at the door has both of us cease the conversation.
Valley peeks her head in. “Again, we have a child in a strip club, can we do something about this before we get shut down!” she states.
“I’m handling it, Valley,” I tell her. Raising a brow, I’m really unhappy with how she’s handled Aspen. It’s obvious she sees Aspen as a triple threat.
“Mom?” The little girl comes in underneath Valley’s arm, walking into the room. She’s so small and looks identical to her mom.
“Baby, what’d I tell you?” Aspen whispers harshly. The kid ignores her mom and stares at me.
“Who are you?” The little girl ignores her mom.
“Who are you?” I ask back. My tone laced with annoyance. I don’t like kids. Never have.
“I’m Halle Moon,” the little one states proudly and standing tall. Standing in front of the desk, I lean back on both of my hands and cross my feet at the ankles.
I fight back a smile. “That’s a stripper name, dear.”
Aspen’s eyes widen with fury. “Hey!” Her cheeks redden. I think this is the first time I’ve seen our little snowflake get angry.
“A stripper?” Halle looks up to her mom with confusion.
“Jesus.” I half-laugh. Halle has no idea what her mom does for a living. Then again, it’s not really a job you want your daughter running around the school telling her friends about either.
“Take her home, Aspen.” I start shuffling papers on the desk, not making eye contact. I can’t look at the kid. They’re ruthless. There is no escaping a kid, ever. Not having a clue as to when to say or not say something. They’re messy and always in the way. They’re fucking monsters.
Aspen whispers something into Halle’s ear, and the little girl walks out of the room.
“Bye, North!” She smiles with a way too cheerful tone.
I scowl at Aspen.
“How does she know my name?”
She rolls her eyes. “It’s on your leather thingy.” She points to my cut, making me feel like an idiot.
“We’re going to have to let you go,” Valley says from the doorway without an ounce of remorse.
“No, we need her. We don’t have enough girls in rotation as it is,” I explain before sitting down in the office chair behind the desk. Immediately, I start trying to find a solution to the problem at hand. “Don’t you have family or friends she can stay the nights you have her?”
Aspen looks down and just shakes her head no.
Bouncer walks into the office and stops short. I don’t know when he got to town, but given how the night is going, I’m glad he’s here.
“There’s a fucking kid down the hall.” He points over his shoulder. The surprise in his voice matches the feeling I had laying eyes on the kid myself.
Elbows on the desk, I hang my head. I should fire Aspen, it’s what Chaos would tell me to do, but for some reason, I don’t want to. Looking up, my chin resting on my hand, I look Aspen over.
So innocent, yet so flawed. I love watching her dance. She’s a breath of fresh air this club needs.
“Okay, keep Halle at the desk and I’ll make arrangements.” I breathe heavily. Maybe one of the club girls can watch the kid. A thought hits me, a scary thought, but it’s at the forefront of my mind. Fuck, I could watch her if I have to. That will be the last resort though. I hate kids.
“What?” Valley snaps, her arms going straight. She’s clearly unhappy with my decision.
“This is the Kings’ club, Valley, not yours. I’ll handle this the way I see fit, now why don’t you go make sure the women have everything they need before they go out onto stage? You know, your job?”
Valley looks Aspen over with a searing sneer before leaving the room and it occurs to me I just started a war Aspen doesn’t even know begun. I fuck Valley from time to time, but that’s as far as it goes. There’s no relationship or favoritism. However, it’s come to my attention she’s silently been marking her fucking territory this whole time.
“You don’t have to do that,” Aspen says in a mere whisper, not wanting my help. Normally I wouldn’t help, but look at her. Someone needs to step in because whoever this ex is, he’s doing a number on her, and dare I say I want to help.
Standing from the chair, I walk around the desk. Her eyes look all around the room avoiding my gaze, her body is tense, and suddenly the stripper is shy. I want nothing more than to break her in. To snatch her by the hair and throw her fragile ass up against the wall.
“Just keep dancing for me, Aspen,” I whisper, my eyes bouncing back and forth between her emerald irises.
“I can do that.” She breathes heavily.
Since I’ve already dug myself in deep with this one, I might as well give it all to her. “Tip the DJ or he’ll skip you and not play your music and tip Aerial so she will take care of the men that keep coming back to see you,” I explain, she nods taking in the information.
“But, how do the girls tip everyone and still pay their payout?” she asks, doe eyes looking up at me for all the answers. The club has a payout for the girls to dance in our club. Ours is a hundred dollars a night. If we have special guests such as a celebrity, it raises.
“Trust me, Aspen, you keep doing what you’re doing and you won’t have a problem with paying the house fee.”
Her cheeks blush, her eyes again avoid mine. God, she’s so sweet and pure. I want to dip her in whiskey and lick her clean just so I can dirty her up again.
>
“Oh, and Aspen?”
She looks back up. “Give me the name and address of this fucking ex-husband of yours,” I add.
Aspen
In the dressing room, I pull the fifty North stuck in my shorts out and place it on top of the other tips in my hand. The shame of stripping isn’t getting any easier, but I made this money on my own and that blossoms a little bit of pride inside my chest. I at least made the house fee, but it’s probably all I’ll make tonight seeing how unhappy Valley is with me about bringing a kid here. I didn’t have a choice. I’m the new girl, I couldn’t call in and my sitter told me she couldn’t take Halle anymore, that she was suddenly overcapacity. But I know what happened. Kace. He’s doing everything he can to make sure I lose Halle, and he’s only doing it because he knows she’s all I want.
I told the judge in the divorce settlement that Kace could have the house, the car, the cat. All of it. I just wanted my daughter, the child I carried for nine months while he was off cheating on me with girls I’m trying to be. How is that for irony?
That’s where I fucked up though, showing Kace my weakness. Halle.
“You okay, sweetheart?” Bad Bunny asks, pulling her bunny ears off and tossing them into a locker. I don’t answer because a lot of things just happened in the last twenty minutes and I’m not sure what she’s concerned about. Trust isn’t something I give away easily.
“I hate men that have no respect for us. Like, just because we dance for a living, it’s like we’re not considered real people or something.” She shakes her head before continuing on, obviously referring to the man who literally man-handled me until North stepped in. At least the other women don’t know about my daughter yet.
My lips purse remembering how hard my heart hammered when that man climbed the stage. I tried to talk him down, but when he tried to pull my bottoms off, I screamed for North. I freaked out. I forgot everything Valley taught me about keeping calm. My brows furrow thinking about all the extra information North gave me. Why didn’t Valley tell me those things too? Biting my bottom lip, my hand on my locker, I look to Bad Bunny.