‘Ok, it’s looking good,’ nodded Lexi.
‘It is,’ I smiled. I’d struck a deal with our regular florist not to rip us off on red roses which were strategically dotted around. ‘So get Luke to open a bottle of champagne for us and not the stuff we’re serving to the masses, my Bollinger Rose please, on my tab.’
‘Hey, it’s my night off, less of the bossy ordering about,’ she laughed.
‘Sorry, habit,’ I giggled. ‘Am I really that bad?’
‘No, best boss ever, best job ever. I’ve not going to want to carry on with the counselling at this rate.’
‘No!’ I exclaimed.
‘Duhhh, teasing you,’ she chuckled as she flicked my head. ‘About the not carrying on, I meant the best boss, best job bit.’
‘You know I’m never sure with you, you bluff up there with the best of them.’
‘Says the woman who still has a shot of my naked arse,’ she winked. ‘Can’t believe Gabe was cool you coming out wearing that.’
‘Why?’ I asked as I smooth my hands over my halter neck mini bodycon dress. It was black with silver sparkle edging above and under the bust area and teamed with my silver and crystal winding shoes.
‘Bit sexy for ladies night, that’s all,’ she shrugged.
‘I have to look good as club owner, besides you look sexy in your leather trousers and that red cowl neck.’
‘Yeah but my tits, legs, arse and vadge aren’t on display.’
‘It’s not that short, Lex,’ I uttered as I looked down to double check.
‘Please!’ she rolled her eyes. ‘Don’t bend over behind the bar. Luke will mistake your arsehole for one of those bloody suckers on the wall that grip the tea towels.’
‘You’re so cruising for a bruising,’ I laughed. ‘Not missing Sam tonight?’
‘Nah. We don’t do emotional and soppy. It’s hot sex, that’s all.’
‘Well, I know but it’s been a year Lex, it’s your first ever anniversary and you’re not together, it’s kind of sad.’
‘Holy shit, it is a year. O my God, a whole year since you French kissed me and tried to get in my knickers.’
‘Really pushing your luck now,’ I laughed.
‘Mrs. Austin,’ came a deep voice and I looked around to see Jackson, the head of our security team approaching.
‘Hi Jackson, and I keep telling you it’s Mia. Is everything ok?’
‘The male dancers have arrived, they’re in the lobby.’
‘I’ll be right there, thank you,’ I smiled as he walked off and rolled my eyes as I heard Lexi chuckle. ‘Stop it.’
‘Come on, you can’t tell me that’s natural?’ she asked.
‘So he’s a bit out of proportion.’
‘A bit! His bloody forearms are bigger than his thighs and it looks like his arms have been dislocated at the sockets the angle they stick out at. He reminds me of Odd Job from Bond, but seventy-five percent bigger.’
‘Lexi,’ I giggled. She was right, but I made it a point not to take the piss out of the staff. ‘He’s very good at his job.’
‘Well yeah, no one would mess with him.’
‘Go and sort the champagne and I’ll settle the dancers into the studio.’
‘Who’s the single one here? I should be on dancer duty.’
‘Who’s bankrolling them?’
‘Champagne, on it,’ she sighed and headed off to the bar. I made my way to the lobby and had to remind myself to keep my lower jaw firmly in upright position. They were worth the money and I hadn’t even seen them undressed yet.
‘Hi, you must be Mia,’ smiled a Taye Diggs look-a-like with the whitest teeth I’d ever seen.
‘I am,’ I replied as I stretched out a hand to meet his.
‘Dwayne, I’m in charge of this motley crew. Firm shake, I like that in a lady and even more attractive in the flesh than I imagined,’ he nodded as he bit his lower lip and scanned my body.
‘Easy Dwayne,’ I laughed. ‘I’m spoken for, happily married.’
‘That’s what they all say,’ he winked.
‘In this case it’s true. Right, let’s get you settled in, do you want to come with me?’
‘Changed your tune pretty fast, married Mia.’
‘Wow, and you didn’t even list comedian on your resume, I’m two for one,’ I smiled and nodded for them to follow me through the key coded side door into the dance studio.
‘Nice set up,’ he nodded.
‘Thank you. It’s all quite new, we’ve only been open for about six weeks.’
‘Forgive me, but you seem a bit young to be running a club like this. It usually takes industry experience.’
‘I’m twenty and I have certain experience like you wouldn’t believe,’ I winked making him laugh.
‘Have we met before, I have a feeling I know you from somewhere.’
‘I get that a lot,’ I replied quickly. It was true, ever since I’d been all over the news in November and then again in January it had become worse. ‘So if you want to get yourselves unpacked there’s a table over there, strictly water only as per your instructions and we’ll provide food a bit later. I’ll get Luke our bartender to come and liaise with you on a regular basis to see if you need anything else.’
‘You’re fine, we tend to intimidate other guys.’
‘Well, I’m sure you don’t want me wandering in when you’re all in various states of undress.’
‘Why not, you’ll be seeing us like that in a while, we’re not shy,’ he replied as he dropped his bag, grabbed the bottom of his white t-shirt and ripped it over his head. I gulped and blinked rapidly. He was built a bit like Gabe, but bigger and with a number of black tattoos across his chest and around one bicep. Mia Austin, you’re married, happily, I reminded myself. O well, no harm in looking.
‘Ok, then warn the boys that either myself or my assistant manager Lexi will be coming in and out throughout the night, quite possibly on a very regular basis in Lexi’s part once she catches sight of you all.’
‘I like the sound of her already. Right, you’d better show us the way to the main stage and we’ll get set up before the ladies get here.’
‘Holy shit, I’m in man heaven,’ groaned Lexi as she joined me back at our table. ‘I keep coming up with excuses to go in there. It’s like Magic Mike on steroids with a truck load of baby oil.’
‘I know,’ I giggled. ‘Even I’m enjoying looking. I mean I still prefer Gabe, but it’s like man candy heaven in there. I feel like a kid who’s at one of those pubs with a ball pit, I just want to dive in and swim.’
‘Plenty of balls in that room,’ she laughed as she topped up my glass. We were already on our second bottle of champagne and Luke had told me to stop checking on things and enjoy my night off, he assured me that he and the male bar team were in perfect control. ‘Right, well Dwayne says they’re ready to start if you want to go and get them in position and do the announcement.’
‘Hell yeah. Christ, a room full of horny excitable women chattering and screeching is more painful to my ears than pounding music.’ I stood up and adjusted my dress and headed back to the studio. ‘Ready?’ I asked.
‘Born ready,’ he nodded.
‘Tuxedo’s? Damn, and I was hoping for one of those snapping crocodile posing pouches or a mankini, soooo much sexier than a tux. I ask you, do you have any idea about women?’ I teased.
‘I’d be happy to prove that to you in one of those private rooms later,’ he winked.
‘Easy tiger,’ I giggled and headed out grabbing the microphone. ‘Good evening everyone, welcome to Greyson’s first Valentine’s Ladies Night. We seem to be having a serious shortage of men in here this evening, who’d like me to organise for a few to come out and entertain you?’ I burst out laughing as the screams nearly took the roof off. ‘Then put your hands together for the talented, sexy and gorgeous “Abs.olution.”’
I stepped off stage laughing as everyone went crazy and joined Lexi, Cindy, Max, Shey and Sarah, Doug
’s girlfriend, at the best seats in the house. The noise was deafening as some of the guys took centre stage and Dwayne winked at me as he adjusted his bowtie and the music started. I watched fascinated, and seriously turned on. They were seriously good dancers, sexy, well-choreographed and buffed within an inch of their lives. I tore my eyes away for a moment and looked around at the hoards of screaming and applauding women, some fanning themselves. There was definitely a market for more nights like this. I made a mental note to talk to Dwayne about maybe booking a couple of set dates a year.
‘Wow Mia, thinking of turning to the pink side?’ laughed Max as she caught me looking behind me instead of in front.
‘No,’ I laughed. ‘Just seeing the green pound signs for more nights like this given their reactions. Anyway why the hell are you and Cindy so keen to watch this?’
‘Like writers should read, dancers should watch other dancers. Besides, where else would a couple of lesbians want to be if not in a room full of hot horny women? You’d be amazed how many are bi curious.’
‘Cunning plan,’ I nodded, then looked back at the stage as the excitement volume rose and I turned and let out a high pitched squeak to see Dwayne rip his trousers away to reveal a toned torso, thick muscular thighs and a tiny pair of white trunks with a very obvious bulge.
‘Ay caramba!’ whispered Lexi. ‘Mamma likes.’
‘Hmmm, me too.’
‘Well, he likes you too.’
‘I know,’ I smiled.
‘Ooooo, look at you all cocky and confident.’
‘I learned from the best,’ I smiled and let out a sigh as I thought of my gorgeous man waiting at home for me. I shook myself down and enjoyed the show, feeling hornier by the second. I ordered another bottle of Champagne and sent one over to Jess’ table too and we laughed and swooned at some new outfits and routines, but our table had laughed even harder when Dwayne went to walk off stage, frowned at the pole and did a half-hearted attempt at a spin.
‘Come on, give a guy a break,’ he laughed. ‘Who’s up to showing me how it’s done?’
‘Mia,’ yelled Cindy pointing at me and I glared at her.
‘Yeah, Mia’s your girl,’ shouted Lexi, with Shey and Sarah whooping as I looked at them mortified. ‘Come on, you miss performing and you get to dance with hottie Mchotterson.’
‘You tell Gabe about this and that arse shot gets displayed,’ I growled as Dwayne stepped down and held out his hand to me. I took it and stood up as everyone started cheering.
‘So, taking the dress off?’ Dwayne whispered.
‘Most definitely not, but if you play your cards right Lexi may take her trousers off.’
‘Do the two of you come as a package?’
‘Men,’ I sighed with a shake of the head and he laughed and led me to the pole.
‘So Mrs. Austin, walk me through some of the basics and give all these lovely ladies some tips on how to tantalise their husbands at home,’ he ordered. I looked at him with a wide smile. He was giving me loads of money making ideas today. I could run stripping, pole and lap dancing classes.
‘Ok ladies, let’s start with the walk up to the pole and the sexy hip roll,’ I advised as I settled into my forte for a while and enjoyed it, although my dress wasn’t the ideal item to be wearing for a spin on the pole. I’d just climbed it and wrapped one arm and leg around it and started spinning when I suddenly gasped as Dwayne launched himself up to curl around me and follow the spin as everyone cheered. ‘What the hell?’ I uttered and my eyes went wide as I felt his firm erection pressed against my backside.
‘I’m a fast learner,’ he chuckled as he pressed his body weight down on my hips forcing us down until my feet were back on the ground.
‘You liar, you can work the pole.’
‘Maybe, now I’m going to use you to perform a sexy one on one dance too,’ he laughed and I squealed as I suddenly felt him cuff my hands behind me around the pole. My breathing hitched, and not in a good way. I’d not even let Gabe cuff me, not since … I quickly looked over at Lexi who read the terror in my eyes and leapt up onto the stage.
‘Ok, performing a sexy dance on the owners wife probably won’t go down very well, anyone want to take Mia’s place?’ she yelled as I closed my eyes and tried to breathe through the panic as I heard a chorus of women screaming “Me.”
‘Mia, it’s ok, deep breathes, ok?’ Lexi advised as she turned back to me. ‘Get her out of them right now, Dwayne.’
‘It’s just a bit of fun,’ he laughed.
‘Please let me out, please,’ I pleaded as I looked at him and he frowned.
‘It’s not fun to her arsehole. Don’t you recognise her? She was fucking abducted last year, get her out of them, now,’ Lexi hissed.
‘Shit. I’m sorry, I had no idea,’ he uttered as a look of horror spread across his face. I nodded and closed my eyes as he stood behind me and released them. Lexi grabbed my hand and quickly marched me off the stage into my office as Dwayne picked someone else to take my place.
‘O my God, are you ok?’
‘I’m fine, I feel so stupid, it was just a bit of fun, I was perfectly safe … I don’t know why …’ I shook my head and my hands and I breathed in slowly again. Lexi came and wrapped her arms around me.
‘You are safe, but don’t make out like you’re being stupid. Small things can trigger memories and those cuffs were a big part of your fear.’
‘God, everyone’s going to wonder what the hell’s wrong with me.’
‘Don’t worry about everyone else. Shall I get Gabe to come and get you and take you home?’
‘No! I just had a momentary freak, I’m fine, I’ll be fine. Besides, we need to set you and Dwayne up from what I felt on my backside.’
‘Here sit down a minute, I’ll get you a Bailey’s,’ she sighed and sat me down in my chair behind my desk and pushed the Jelly Belly jar over to me. ‘Sugar, it will do you good.’
‘Thanks,’ I nodded. I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes as she disappeared. Every time I thought I was over it, something came back to remind me. I decided that Gabe was going to have to start using the cuffs on me at home, letting me get accustomed to them again, I missed him playing with me like that. I looked down at the thin black cord friendship bracelet on my left hand, tucked up against my silver watch. It had a sterling silver infinity symbol linking it and I ran my finger over it as tears spiked at my eyes.
It was my birthday present from Milo the first year I’d met him and I’d never even thanked him for it. I’d not opened it on the night, worried Gabe wouldn’t be happy him buying me a gift and I’d put it on one of the shelves in his wardrobe at his dad’s house and had forgotten all about it until Mrs. Darby spotted it when she was doing a spring clean before the wedding, so I’d saved it for my birthday and wedding morning and hadn’t taken it off since. I still missed him, I hadn’t been back to Pilates or the Uni gym since and even English was hard. The first couple of weeks had been awful with everyone staring and whispering, even Mr. Jenkins was nice to me which felt so out of character. Gabe had moved to take Lexi’s seat next to me when she’d dropped out, which helped, but I knew it was going to take time to accept that side of what had happened. I wiped my eyes quickly and opened the Jelly Belly jar and shoved a load in in my mouth.
‘Here, drink this,’ Lexi ordered as she came in with what looked like a double.
‘I’ll be pissed,’ I moaned. ‘I’ve had at least a bottle of champagne already.’
‘So? How often do you let your hair down lately? Never. I’ll have to start calling you Georgie again.’
‘Sod off,’ I chuckled and took a decent swig of my drink. ‘Come in,’ I called as there was a knock on the door and Dwayne entered, dressed in black trousers and a white shirt.
‘I just wanted to apologise, I’m so sorry.’
‘It’s ok, you didn’t know.’
‘I should have, I knew I recognised you from somewhere. Listen, I’ll waive the charge for tonight as
an apology.’
‘God, so not necessary. It’s really sweet of you to have offered but you’ve earned that money. Just because I have a few issues with being tied up doesn’t mean you and your team should go unpaid. You’ve done an amazing job tonight and I’d like to talk business with you next week about setting up some regular ladies nights here if you’re interested?’
‘Of course I am, I’d better go and change, we only have two numbers left to do. Again, thanks for being so nice about the whole misunderstanding.’
‘No problem, I’d better get back out there, I don’t want to miss you, you guys are superb.’
‘Thanks,’ he grinned and headed out.
‘Sure you’re ok?’ asked Lexi. I nodded and knocked back my Bailey’s.
‘I am, I’m going to get Gabe to start cuffing me at home to get me used to it again.’
‘So didn’t need to know that,’ she smiled. ‘Come on, let’s go enjoy the rest of our evening and I may even forgive the arsehole and find a cosy corner to check out that erection you were talking about.’
‘You’re incorrigible, Clarke,’ I laughed and linked arms and headed back to our seat. Jess, Cindy and Max all gave me concerned looks so I gave them a big smile and put my thumbs up. The atmosphere in the club was crazy, the ladies were on fire with the show about to end and I squirmed in my seat as Dwayne and the boys did their sexiest number to date. I seriously hoped Gabe still didn’t have this ridiculous “you’re drunk, I’m not taking advantage of you” thing going on, because I was feeling very in the mood.
‘Mia, you so have to do this again,’ sighed Shey.
Infinite Love (The Austin Series) Page 19