‘You keep checking your watch, is this surprise time sensitive?’
‘Yes, the taxi’s booked for quarter to eleven so we don’t have long. Excuse me a minute.’ I went and handed my card over to make sure I paid before Gabe tried to and then headed to the toilet, grabbed my stuff from my bag and brushed my teeth, reapplied my gloss and looked at myself in the mirror, wondering how he was going to take this. I was more nervous at the thought of his reaction than taking most of my clothes off on stage. It was amazing what a few weeks with a man who adored my body, plus a professional dancer who taught me how to move it even better, could do for a girl’s confidence. With all this exercise I’d been doing, I’d never been in better physical shape. Gabe had finished his coffee when I sat down next to him and took a sip of mine.
‘Minty breath baby? You don’t usually carry tooth cleaning equipment with you. Come to think of it, I’ve never seen you bring anything but a small bag out on a night out.’
‘Then it’s good for me to be mysterious and shake things up. I need to keep you interested and from getting bored of me, don’t I?’
‘I’ll always be interested and never be bored of you, Mia,’ he smiled as he ran his fingers down the side of my face. ‘You’re mine as long as the sun continues to rise.’
I closed my eyes as his lips pressed against my temple. He always knew the right thing to say and with such a sexy voice as well. I looked at him and bit my lip nervously. ‘Will you promise me something, Gabe?’
‘It depends, ask me first,’ he replied as he tilted his head to examine my face.
‘If you don’t like your surprise please don’t get mad, you can just tell me calmly afterwards, without getting mad or causing a scene. Ok?’
‘Christ Mia, what is it if you think I’ll react that badly?’
‘I’m not telling you, but I need you to promise me, please. I’ll be upset otherwise, I’ve arranged this especially for you, to make you happy.’
‘Ok, I promise,’ he sighed and kissed me again.
We were interrupted to be told our taxi was ready. Gabe stood up and waited for me and took my hand as we headed downstairs and got in.
‘Peppers, wasn’t it love?’
‘Yes, please.’
‘We’re going to Peppers? You’re taking me to see women strip? That’s my surprise?’ asked Gabe looking confused.
‘Yes, pretty much,’ I replied. Technically it wasn’t a lie, he just didn’t know one of the stripping women was going to be me.
‘Baby I’d much rather take you home and watch you strip and save some of my millions while we’re at it.’
‘Firstly, it’s not your millions. We agreed I was paying and you were on alcohol duty. Trust me, you’ll be so turned on watching the girls strip, that when I strip for you later, you’re going to want me so badly.’
‘I already want you so badly, let’s go home.’ He started nuzzling my neck, going straight for my weak spot.
‘No.’ I pushed him away. ‘Stop trying to woo me with your ridiculously masterful knowledge of my body’s erogenous zones. We managed five weeks, we can manage a few more hours and I want to see what you think, what turns you on.’
‘Mia, I’m constantly hard around you, you’re what turns me on,’ he grumbled.
‘We’re going, my date, my rules. Honestly, what other guy would complain at his girlfriend making him go to a strip club?’
‘I wouldn’t, love,’ shouted the taxi driver over his shoulder and I smirked at Gabe, who proceeded to sulk. He still tried to talk me out of it even as I paid the taxi fare. I stepped out quickly before he took the opportunity to pay the driver more to take us home. He followed me out reluctantly and I smiled at the bouncers. They weren’t on duty at the times I came to practice so luckily they didn’t recognise me. I asked Gabe to wait at the door while I paid for him to come in, as I was doing an audition it meant I got in for free. I nodded to him and took his hand and walked through. I looked around and saw it was so much busier than the Thursday night that I’d been with Lexi and Milo. We headed for the bar and I noticed Gabe didn’t even glance at the girl on stage, or the ones giving lap dances, but squeezed my hand tightly when he saw some men looking at me. I asked for a double Archers and lemonade and he had a single Jack Daniel’s and I walked him over to the only spare seats around the stage, right at the top facing the pole, and he looked at me surprised when he saw the ‘Reserved for Mia Page’ sign on the table.
‘Mia seriously, this must’ve cost you some money, please let me at least go halves.’
‘No. Now watch the blonde who’s up there and tell me what you think,’ I said as I nervously knocked my drink back and shuddered as it warmed the back of my throat.
‘I can watch her baby, but I’ll be imagining it’s you up there,’ he said without taking his eyes of me.
‘Really? You think it’d be hot for me to do something like that for you?’
‘Most definitely Mia, I’m hard again at the thought of it. Please can we go and do it for real at home?’ he asked as he moved in to kiss my neck again. I looked at my watch, it was quarter past eleven and I needed to be ready by half past.
‘Let’s just give it half an hour now I’ve paid. I need to go to the loo anyway, my tummy suddenly feels funny, so don’t worry if I’m a bit longer than usual.’ I grabbed my bag and headed towards the toilets and looked back to see he was watching me. I opened the door and went in, waited a while and opened it carefully to see he was fiddling with his phone instead of watching the stage. I let out a happy sigh with a smile, sometimes he was so sweet. I hurried out and across to the employee only section and gave them my name and they let me into the back. I went straight to the dressing room to find Cindy waiting impatiently for me.
‘Shit Mia, you’re cutting it fine. I thought you’d bailed on me.’
‘After all the work we’ve put in, you must be joking.’ I kissed both of her cheeks. ‘I’m just worried he’s going to go nuts.’
‘Nuts with lust. Quick, get your dress off and we can put your outfit over the top, straighten your hair and put more eye makeup on.’ I undid my dress and hung it on the back of the chair and stood in my underwear, stockings and boots. ‘Damn Mia, these workouts have done you good, your body looks great. Do you have your pasties on?’
‘Shit no, they’re in my bag, I tried them and they kept falling off. I can’t go totally topless Cindy, I’m not ready for that.’
‘Get them out, I can fix them on with special adhesive, this stuffs the bomb,’ she smiled. I passed them to her and she coated them and told me to lift my breasts out of my bra cups, then she applied them for me, cupping my breast as her other hand secured the pasties on.
‘Christ, not only am I stripping, but I’ve just had the closest I’ll get to a lesbian experience,’ I giggled and she laughed.
‘You’ve got my number if you change your mind on the whole guy thing,’ she winked and helped me put on the skirt and top.
‘Thanks Cindy, but I’m madly in love with that guy out there. I still find it amazing that you dance for men.’
‘It’s all about the money, honey. Close your eyes, I just need a minute to put on some fake lashes and more eye shadow.’ When she was done we put on the accessories and I applied my gloss and Cindy stood me in front of the full length mirror. ‘What do you think?’
‘Looks good,’ I nodded.
‘I think he’ll blow his load when he sees you like this.’
‘He’ll blow something,’ I stated with confidence. I studied my reflection in the mirror, my eyes looked amazing with extra-long lashes and the black liner all the way around, my hair was straight, full and gleaming. I had on the tightest and shortest leather skirt I’d ever seen with a zip up the side. There was a gap from the top of my stockings to the base of the skirt which just covered my knickers at the back. I’d a black tie shirt with the buttons undone to below my bra and tied at the waist, showing off my stomach and new diamond piercing. What really took i
t to the next level was a thin black dog collar with buckle and d rings and thick buckled pair of black leather studded handcuffs with a break in the chains so I could move my hands freely on the pole. When Cindy placed the whip in my hand, I looked every inch the sexy dominatrix. I twirled and looked from every angle, I liked it.
‘Ok Mia, you’re on in five,’ called a voice from behind us.
‘O shit, Cindy,’ I moaned, my eyes wide with sudden panic.
‘Mia, you can do this. You nailed it every time and I bet knowing he’s watching you’re going to make it even sexier. Focus on him and forget all about the others. You’re not going to be naked, so it’s no different to a normal dance performance.’
I turned as I heard my phone go off and grabbed it out of my bag.
Baby are you ok? You’ve been in there for ages x
I’ll be out in less than five minutes, I’m fine I promise x
At least I wasn’t lying. Cindy took my hand and led me to the stage door. ‘Remember, focus on him Mia and you’ll do great,’ she squeezed my hand and pushed me toward a petite blonde who checked me over and led me to a recessed gap in the back drop of the stage.
‘Once the lights go out, get in position on that x honey. Good luck.’
I looked up at the ceiling. What the hell was I thinking doing this? I must be crazy, but that seemed to be the story of my life since I moved here, nothing was normal. I heard a noise and saw the back of the stage go dark and an x on the floor glowing. I took a deep breath and stepped out and stood on it, my back to the audience, legs parted and held the whip in two hands, hooked behind my upper back and wished Lexi was with me for support. I shook my head and shoulders to loosen up and reminded myself that it was no different to dancing on stage at school, or up on the podium in my school girl outfit, except a bit more breast would be on display.
I heard the music start then suddenly the stage was illuminated, and as I looked at my shadow on the backdrop, I heard wolf whistles going around the room and wondered if Gabe was looking, or if he’d even twigged it was me. I’d chosen Britney Spears, “I’m a Slave 4 U” as it seemed appropriate given my growing love for mild bondage play and how I was hopelessly addicted to Gabe. I caught the beat and swayed my hips as I went down then slowly straightened up, my stomach churning as I turned, released and cracked the whip and did a sultry stroll past the pole to the front of the stage. I was deafened by the whooping and hollering from the crowds of guys who I avoided looking at. I just needed to remember I was doing this for Gabe.
As I did a couple of stomach rolls, I dared to look at him. He was on the edge of his seat, elbows on his knees with his mouth wide open and the look on his face was a mixture of hot carnal lust and pure fury, which turned me on so quickly. I parted my lips and licked them and mouthed to the music ‘I’m I slave for you’ as I cracked the whip at him and moved my hips. I saw him grasp his crotch and adjust himself, so I winked before dropping the whip at the side of the stage and walking away, undoing my shirt and slowly teasing it off as I looked over my shoulder then flung it, before turning and striding back as I unzipped my skirt and threw it and a roar went up.
When I did the straddle splits and crawled forwards on my hands, I thought he was going to have a heart attack. I was really feeling the music and lost myself in it as I did a backwards roll and sat back on my heels parting my knees. I closed my eyes, titled my head back and opened my mouth as I ran my hands over my body lingering on my breasts and crotch, then opened them and looked straight at him. I couldn’t tell what his expression was trying to tell me as I stood, turned and reached for the pole. I grabbed it and swung myself around and climbed it and worked through the routine Cindy had spent so long working on with me. I could feel the testosterone in the air, hear the men swearing and whistling and soaked it in. I felt so powerful and in control, I was doing things to them and they could do absolutely nothing to me.
As I did a graceful dismount from the pole and started walking to the front of the stage, I locked eyes with Gabe as I started undoing the blue ribbons holding my bra together at the front. He bolted up right and shook his head furiously at me, as I carried it out amidst the noise of all the other excited guys. I took a deep breath and pulled it off, praying Cindy had stuck those nipple tassels on firmly, and threw it at him. He glared at me as he caught it and the crowd went crazy, but despite his obvious anger, I could see his desperate need to fuck me oozing out of every pore. I went down into side splits again and crawled forwards right to the edge of the stage and slid my knees forward raising my bottom and blew him a kiss, with a wink as the music stopped and cheers went around the room. His eyes were so dark and his forehead creased and fists bunched up as he stood and quickly looked at the other guys leaning over the edge of the stage waving notes at me. I quickly got up and ignored them all and sashayed my way back stage, covering my breasts. I went through the gap to the backstage area and Cindy was waiting jumping up and down clapping. My legs went to jelly and I dropped to sit on the steps.
‘O my God Mia, I watched on the screen. You were sensational, you’re such a good dancer and you’ve come on so well on that pole. The guys are going crazy out there.’
‘I know mine was, he looked furious Cindy.’
‘He’ll get over it,’ she laughed with a flick of her wrist, I wasn’t so sure. ‘I’ll give you a copy of the recording so you can watch it back yourself. One of the girls is collecting up your tips if you want to hang around? Mike will want to talk to you after that. He’ll want to book you as a regular, I guarantee it.’
‘O God, right now all I can think is I’d better get dressed and go and deal with Gabe and I’ll speak to you tomorrow if that’s ok?’ I asked and she nodded.
‘Sure,’ she nodded.
‘God, I can’t stop shaking.’
‘I’ll grab you a drink, it’s hit you now the adrenaline’s worn off.’ She led me to her dressing table and disappeared as I undid the collar and cuffs with my trembling fingers and looked at myself in the mirror and shook my head. I’d so enjoyed that at the time, but having seen his reaction at the end, now I was thinking what a huge mistake I’d just made. Given his temperament over the last few weeks it barely took anything to set him off, I steeled myself for a rough night with him and heard my phone go off and got it out of my bag to see a text.
Get yourself fully dressed and out here RIGHT now Mia. We’re leaving. Don’t make me come in there and fucking drag you out
I muttered ‘Shit’ and texted him back.
Remember you promised not to get mad or make a scene in public. I did it for you Gabe. I love you M xx
I put my face in my hands and felt a hand on my back.
‘Here honey, knock it back. I saw him out there, prettier than he looked on that passport photo you showed me, but he’s pacing like a caged tiger. I think you’d better go and see him before he gets himself into trouble.’
‘Thanks Cindy,’ I downed it in one and stood up and she passed me my dress which I wrapped and tied around me thinking how unimpressed Gabe would be to be called “pretty” by her. ‘Wish me luck.’
‘He’ll calm down, Mia. Most of the girls here get that reaction when their partners see them for the first time.’
‘I hope so. Thanks so much Cindy, I actually really enjoyed it while I was out there. I’ll call you tomorrow.’ I kissed her on both cheeks, gave her a hug and headed for the exit door. I stuck my head out and peaked around into the audience area. Virtually everyone was sitting facing the stage where another girl was performing, or in the lap dance area or at the bar, so it was easy to spot him pacing back and forth, running his hands through his hair. Just seeing him in his suit, with his shirt unbuttoned showing some of his chest made me hot for him. He looked so good, except his soft lips were set in a hard line and there wasn’t a sign of the smile that made me fall for him. He suddenly stopped walking and looked up, right at me and glared, pushing his jacket back and putting both hands on his hips. Shit, that was a sure sig
n he was really, really mad.
He didn’t move a muscle as I braved it and walked out and made my way toward him. I pushed my shoulders back and kept my head held high, it was my life, my body and I wasn’t going to let him see me grovel for forgiveness just because he was pissed at me. A few guys must’ve recognised me and started whooping and whistling in my direction, which made his face go even darker. I walked over and stood in front of him and tilted my head and gave him my best smile as I tucked my hair behind my ear. I could feel the tension radiating off him, but it affected me sexually to know that I could get to him so badly. I took a deep breath, licked my lips and felt my nipples harden under the pasties and push against the material of my dress and I saw him react.
He shifted his stance and his eyes flitted down my body, so I took the opportunity to glance at his crotch, already knowing what I’d see and smiled to myself. He grabbed my hand and walked ahead quickly, pulling me behind him out of the club, through the exit door and out onto the pavement. He looked so furious and focussed on getting me into a taxi that he totally missed my gasp of surprise as we walked past Adam, the guy whose nose I’d broken. He did a double take at us and I was sure I heard him spit out the words ‘Fucking bitch’ as I looked back at him and saw him make to follow us. Gabe was on a serious mission though and I made extra sure I kept up as he virtually dragged me toward the only waiting taxi and bundled me into it and barked his address at the driver. I felt a sizzle as our thighs touched when he sat next to me and I looked at him, but he’d turned his head to look out of the window. I quickly looked behind me to see Adam standing on the pavement watching us drive away and I stayed watching, holding my breath, until I was sure that there were no other taxi’s that he could jump in to follow us. I felt sick enough as it was with Gabe’s mood, but the thought of such a close encounter with Adam, when he obviously held a grudge toward me wasn’t helping. It only made me more convinced that it was him that had been the cause of Gabe’s accident and I felt a cold shiver run through my body and turned to look at him.
The Honeymoon Period (The Austin Series) Page 9