by Megan Noelle
“Happy birthday.” I whispered before removing myself from his lap.
Before I ran off I couldn’t resist one final glance at the man in the corner. His lips curved up in a deliciously wicked smirk as his eyes devoured me. Heat swelled deep in me—I needed to get the hell away from him.
Whoever the fuck this man was, he had an inexplicable power over me and I couldn’t have that.
I was always the one in control. At least, until now. Until him.
I raced to the bathroom, peed, and cleaned myself up before returning to my station. I flipped off my heels, my skirt and my top closely followed. Reaching down I yanked my gym bag out from under my station and pulled on my oversized black hoodie over my bare chest. I slipped my soaked G-string off and replaced it with my cotton pink booty shorts. I needed a cigarette. I needed to breathe in fresh air and get the hell away from this pounding music. Not to mention escape the smell of sex in the air. Just as I was about to slip away Maurizio came stomping towards me.
“How’d it go?”
“He came. Now, I need to get outside.”
“No, you need to talk to me, little girl. That was a very important table and if you brought any of your attitude along I’m gonna fire your ass.”
I grabbed a new pack of cigarettes from my bag and packed it against the palm of my hand. “I know the table was important. I did my job, now I’m taking a break.”
“Fine, get out of here. I’m just gonna go ask him myself.”
“Yeah, please do. Whatever gets me the hell out of this room.” Maurizio stormed away and I took that time to rush to the exit. Through the dark red hallways, out the back door, past our security bouncer.
My legs didn’t stop until I reached pavement and a cigarette of my own was between my lips. I flicked my lighter, the flame pierced through the darkness in the night. The blue and orange flame flickered in the wind like a slow erotic dance. I couldn’t even look at it without thinking of that man and how badly my body ached to give him more. To feel his body beneath mine, to run my fingers down his back and through the long hair that carefully framed his face. But with him, there wouldn’t be a room full of people cheering or watching.
It would be a chair. A pole. Me. Him. And the sound of each other’s deep breathing and erratic heart beats. The feel of his eyes devouring every move I made. His hands moving up and down my skin setting my body on fire. I shivered at the thought and finally put the swaying flame to the end of my cigarette. The first deep inhale was better than anything else in this world right now. The tension in my body immediately began to simmer down from the emotionally heightened state I’ve been in for the past hour. My mind cleared of everything. The money I’ve made tonight, my dance, him, and every other little piece of my broken soul.
I exhaled, letting everything that was locking me up inside out. I slumped against the brick wall and took a few more revitalizing drags. Slowly, I felt my sense of control return. Whatever happened in there was disappearing like a cloud of smoke against the starry night. I watched my momentary lapse of judgment slip away. That wasn’t me, and hadn’t been for years. It was crucial I remembered that before I slipped into a situation like the one from my college years. I lost all control over myself, my life and the person I was becoming. I was nothing more than an onlooker in my own life. Watching myself from the sidelines fuck up one thing after another.
I refused to go back to that. I wouldn’t be that girl anymore. I was strong, independent, and could sure as shit take care of my own needs. Financial, emotional, sexual, whatever they were.
Sometimes I amazed myself with the levels of clarity that came with a single cigarette. Maybe if Maurizio would have let me take that smoke before I danced for Kayne, none of this would have happened. Damn that man.
Speak of the devil. Just as I was getting ready to put out my cigarette, Maurizio’s unmistakably booming voice echoed through the emptiness. He was still around the corner so I couldn’t tell who he was talking to or what he was doing. I contemplated going back inside to prepare for my next dance, maybe throw an elbow into his ginormous gut as I passed. That was when I heard that whoever he was talking to and the topic of conversation was me.
“So, you sure my girl took care of your nephew? Girl’s got a real fucking attitude problem. I just never know what she is going to do next.”
There was a soft laugh, chills raced down my spine at the sound. “She was wonderful. Kayne loved it. I knew I could trust you to only send the very best.”
It was him. How in the hell had I not put that together? This dark, mysterious man was a complete 180 from everyone else at the table. Although his face was mostly hidden, I could still see he was older than the others. I was a fucking idiot. I dropped to a squat against the wall, lighting up another cigarette. All that regained power was fading away at just the sound of the man’s velvety British accent. The hum of his voice, the way a single word rolled off his tongue, was so damn sexy.
“Yeah well, girl can be a real piece of work sometimes. But that doesn’t change the fact that she is good at what she does.”
“Immensely.”
“Yeah. Anyway, you come back now whenever you want. Drinks on the house, and I’ll make sure to get you another dance with someone else next time. Give you a sample of all we have here on our menu.” Maurizio let out a har-har, making me roll my eyes.
If it wasn’t for the money being amazing here, I would have quit long ago. Maurizio can be such a perv, an ass, whatever. You name it—he can pull it off. I hate working for him, but the money is something I could never turn away from.
“Oh you know me, old friend. Not much into the whole erotic dancer scene. I prefer to get my women a different way. Not to mention, then I know that those lap dances are always just for me.”
Maurizio chuckled. “Oh, I hear you there, man.” Right. Who does Maurizio think he is fooling?
This man seemed to have a level of class I never expected—if what he said was true. Was he a one woman kind of man? Or just a possessive pig? Hard to tell at this point, I suppose.
“Have a good night. We’ll keep our eye on your nephew. You have nothing to worry about.”
“Don’t you worry, he’s a big boy and I trust you. Thank you for everything.”
“Yep. Have a good night.” Maurizio’s voice was the last say before the heavy door squeaked open and slammed shut.
My heart was in my throat. I stopped breathing, I just stared. If Maurizio said goodbye to this man, where was he now? I highly doubted he would have gone back inside, so where was he parked? Most of the parking for the club was at the front of the building, some to the sides, but mostly the back where I smoked was vacant.
Usually. For the first time since being out here I spotted a black chopper in the far back of the parking lot. I thought about praying, but I wasn’t sure if I would be praying for that to be his bike or not. Which left me crouched here, my eyes fixed on the space where the corners of the wall met. Streetlights illuminated the area he would be coming from and as I focused, a silhouette slowly grew. Footsteps crunched against the gravel, the unmistakable sound of biker boots echoed throughout the deafening silence.
Then he appeared. Smoke from his cigarette swirled around him like it couldn’t bear to drift away from him. Dark jeans and a black leather jacket hung tight to his body. From the side I could make out just how thick his biceps were. The ends of his dark hair brushed against his shoulders, a breeze caressed the back making it flow around. I squeezed my fingers tighter around my cigarette. Anything to keep the desire of it being my fingers that got to brush over him.
He inhaled another drag, making the cigarette cherry blaze bright. The man stopped walking and deliberately turned his head my way. If I wasn’t frozen in my awkward position, I would have stood. I couldn’t though. Not as his eyes narrowed slightly with recognition. Not when his sultry lips curled up into a mischievous smile nor even when he turned his body to face me.
One slow footstep after anothe
r, he gradually closed the distance between us. My heart pounded against my burning throat. My legs trembled under my body and the instinctual fight-or-flight response that should have arose was nowhere to be found. Nothing about this moment should have been okay deep in my psyche. Alone in the empty back parking lot of a strip club with a mysteriously intriguing man. Yeah—wanting to be here to see what was going to happen was not normal.
He stopped in front of me and for a few rapid heartbeats he simply stared. My eyes roamed over his body and the place deep in my core began to respond the way I wished it wouldn’t. Muscles standing out through the sleeves of his jacket, a slimming black t-shirt showed off his strong broad chest. He was toned all over, that much was clear but what really made me wet was that face. Full lips, defined jaw, strong neck and these incredibly distinct cheek bones. I could tell he was older than me but there was something alluring about that undeniably sexy face.
Dark eyes caressed my legs, and my face. Then he did something I hadn’t been expecting, he flicked his cigarette away from us and held his hand down to me. My right hand trembled with the cigarette but my left acted with a mind of its own and took hold of his. He pulled me to my feet, and closed the remaining distance until his body was just inches away from mine. My lungs pulled in air like it was disappearing from within me. My nipples hurt with their growing hardness, desperate to feel his touch.
“I do believe you owe me a little something, sweet Kandi.” If the brick wall wouldn’t have been behind me, I would have collapsed.
What in the world did I owe this man? I’ve known him for all of an hour. How was I already in his debt? Typically strippers are the ones using lines like these.
“What would that be?”
His eyes left my face and locked on my cigarette. Did he want me to give him one? I was just about to ask when he looked up and locked eyes with me. Flickering within the dark pools was a deep desire, arousal, and undeniable need. That’s when it hit me.
I put the cigarette to my lips and inhaled a drag larger than normal. I moved my hand to my side and waited as he lowered his mouth to mine. It was excruciating to have his mouth back on mine and not be able to fully taste him. To trace my tongue against his mouth, to bite down on that pouty bottom lip. My eyes could no longer stay open of their own accord. Instead of watching, I let them close and gave in to my senses. The feel of his lips against mine, the way he took the smoke from my own mouth, literally taking my breath away.
He backed away, tilted his head backwards, and blew his smoke into the night sky. I couldn’t look away from his neck, the bob of his Adam’s apple, and how tempting his skin looked. Before I could even figure out what I was doing, my mouth attached onto his. My tongue slid against the incoming stubble, tasting a mixture of sweat and him. The salt of his skin tingled against my tongue. I didn’t hear his moan so much as feel it. The taste was just so intoxicating, I couldn’t resist sinking my teeth in for a swift nibble.
I moved my face away from his and watched as he focused his blazing eyes on me.
“Did you enjoy that?” His serious tone made me quiver
I inhaled another drag and blew it out leisurely before answering. “Greatly.”
“But I’m not as sweet as candy.” He replied with a smirk.
“You were still delicious to me.” The way his eyes roamed over my body. Taking me in, memorizing the curves of my hips and thighs. I was suddenly hating the way I threw on my oversized sweatshirt to come outside. The way his eyes lingered on me was empowering. I felt sexy just having him stare, I wanted to let him see more. I wanted to give him more than I ever gave just any man that came to the club.
“I should leave before you make it impossible to not return.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I don’t come to strip clubs for pleasure, sweet Kandi. There was one reason for me to be here tonight. But you are standing there giving me endless reasons to return.”
“Oh.” There was much behind the way he spoke almost in riddles. But there was only one question I wanted the answer to. “What would those reasons be?”
“Well, that dance, for one.”
“Never had someone dance like that for you?” My eyes scanned him from head to toes. There wasn’t a single imperfection to be found about this man’s appearance. Not only was the man dead sexy but he held himself with undeniable confidence that was making my knees weak.
“Oh I never said that, love. I just don’t have a habit of paying for my women.”
“If I’m not mistaken, you were the one paying tonight.” I pointed out.
“Different circumstance. That was a gift. However, you’re making me want to treat myself.”
His eyes roamed over my body once again, his arms pressed against the brick wall on either side of my head.
“Aside from that, there are these legs.” A firm, hand with long strong fingers moved from the wall to my leg. He slid rough calloused pads of his palm from the top of my thigh to my knee. In an instant my leg was hitched up around his waist. The denim bulge of his crotch pressed against the thin cotton of my shorts. My leg squeezed tightly against him, the sensation was making my body shiver.
His fingers were rough but lightly caressed the surface of my skin. My head was spinning. All sense of reality was fading away as I lost myself in the feeling. The air slowly escaped from my lungs as he moved his face closer into mine. A heavy male scent swirled around me as he let his dark curtain of hair brush lightly against my shoulder.
“And then there was that kiss.” He whispered, lifting my chin with a single finger. I stared into those dark endless pools and lost all strength to think clearly.
“That wasn’t really a kiss.” I stammered.
“Well then, my mistake. I actually meant those delectable lips.”
My eyes fluttered from his dark ones to the luscious lips, waiting for a kiss. I thought about saying something witty but nothing came to mind. I was lost in everything about this man and I still didn’t even know his name. Before I had the chance to think about it any longer, he pressed his mouth against mine. The instant our lips touched an overwhelmingly passionate sensation rippled throughout my body. The simple touch turned into a heated erotic dance between our lips and our tongues. My other leg was lifted around his waist, his firm upper body held me up while he rubbed his hardness against my throbbing lips. The need for release was back. Twice in one night I needed to let my body explode, all because of this one man.
Just as my hand moved to grab his zipper I was back on my wobbly legs as he backed at least a foot away. Fire swirled with pleasure in his deep pools as he watched me like I was his prey.
“I have to leave.” He finally said.
My heart lurched forward. I hardly knew him but I couldn’t imagine him leaving. It was foreign for me to care about any of the people that walked through the club doors. In fact, it never happened. Yet here I was, staring at a man, aching because I knew he was slipping through my fingers.
“Will you be back?” I asked, hoping the desperation in my voice was masked better than I believed.
“One never knows, love.” There was that non-committal that I was famous for.
Never promise anything. Never say I swear, just walk away with as little said as possible. Don’t let anyone depend on you and even more important—never depend on anyone.
The slight change in his body language, the way he backed away, it was all a page from my own way of life.
“Will you at least tell me your name?” I called out as this mysterious man slipped further away from me.
He stopped backing away, the corner of his lips turned up while a wicked gleam sparkled in his eyes.
“Only if you tell me yours, sweet Kandi.”
I swallowed back the fear of someone knowing my actual identity. Anyone that knew me as Kandi, did not know me by my real name, and vice versa. But I had to know him, all of him—starting with his name.
“Alexandria. Andie for short.”
“That suits you much better, love. As for me, people just call me, Onyx.”
“Onyx.” I repeated back to him. I had never heard that name before but suddenly I loved it. Or at least, I loved it for him.
“Until next time.” He said, bowing down his head for a moment before finishing the walk towards his chopper.
I watched him mount it, start it, and felt the deep vibrating rumble of the heavy black machine throughout my body. He cast one last glance at me before riding off, letting the darkness close around him like a curtain.
Whatever had just happened, I wanted an encore.
I stomped back into the dressing room and saw Maurizio talking with another dancer.
“Maurizio, I’m done for the day.” He sighed, and shook his head all without looking my way.
“You’re fucking with me, right?”
“Not a chance.” As if the building was being engulfed in a slowly burning fire, I stuffed my things into my gym bag one after another. I couldn’t explain what was going on inside my head right now, but I knew I needed to get out.
Stealing a quick glance at Maurizio I didn’t miss the pulsing thick vein popping out of his neck.
“Follow me.” He seethed through his teeth. I finished gathering my things and followed after him. It wasn’t hard to miss the eye-rolls from the other dancers. A few delightful words like bitch, smacked me on the back as I walked by. I didn’t bother turning around. It was just another day in the life of my alter ego Kandi to simply be the pain in everyone’s ass.
Through the dressing room was a door that led to a small waiting room, followed by Maurizio’s tiny office. He actually used both little spaces as one office in the past. However, when complaints started coming in about our peeping Tom of a manager, he rectified it. Of course, now it allowed him to slam two doors shut in the midst of his temper tantrums.
“What the fuck! Do you have no respect little girl?? I gave you a table I knew was going to pay well. It was important and yeah, you did a fine job. My buddy Onyx was very pleased with your performance tonight. That is the only reason I haven’t kicked your ass out of my club. For some reason you know how to keep them coming back. But just because you have one good fucking dance doesn’t mean you can just be done.”