by Amanda Rose
“Okay!” I screamed
"Do you give up?" Darren asked.
"YES!"
"Say 'uncle’!" Taylor demanded.
"Uncle!"
Darren chuckled and pulled his hands away from my ticklish spots, tucking my head under his chin as he sat with his arms around me. It shocked me how right I felt being between the two of them. The only thing missing was—
"Yo!" My ears perked up as I heard Cody's voice call out to us. Our gazes strayed to the entrance of the library. "The car is already defrosted. You guys down to go get some food?"
I smiled as Taylor and Darren helped me stand up. I didn't need gloves or mittens because with each of them holding one of my hands, they were the perfect heaters. Cody walked straight up to me, palming my head as he kissed me soundly. I laughed when he pulled away.
"What was that for?" I asked.
He shrugged. "Just because I can. let's go." Dex waited down the ramp, around the side of the building where the small parking lot was. He straightened when we approached and Darren and Taylor let go of my hands to each open a door and get in. Dex slung an arm around my shoulders and pressed a sweet, chaste kiss to the top of my head.
"How do pancakes sound?" he asked.
The sun peaked over the buildings across the street, shining rays of orange, yellow, and gold across the plain white snow under our boots.
"Is anything even open?" I asked as he opened the passenger door for me.
"The university was the only place that lost power last night," he said. "We probably have time to head back to the dorms to change if you want, but I predict that most businesses aren't going to be closed when everyone is going to want to go out for hot chocolate and food."
"Hot chocolate sounds good," I said.
"Then get your cute ass in the car, Baby." He smacked my ass as I gripped the top of the car door to bend into the front seat. I sat hard, casting an amused glance at him. He smirked and opened the back door to squeeze in with Darren and Taylor.
"We'll come back for your cars later," Cody said from the driver’s seat as he cranked up the heat.
"No worries," Darren replied.
Cody reached over and took my hand as he shifted gears and pulled out of the parking lot. Last night I had been so worried about passing my final. Now, all of that anxiety was gone and it was thanks to them. I knew my stuff. I knew what I was doing and I felt...special. I glanced over my shoulder at the three men in the backseat. I felt perfect.
Lucy Smoke
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Description
Cadence King is an aspiring dancer working as a dance instructor by day and a cocktail waitress at night. Trying to support her ailing mother and sixteen-year-old sister is getting expensive. When her best friend, Lucy, tries to convince her to join the club’s special burlesque rendition of The Nutcracker, she refuses to do any nudity, even if it is tasteful. That is - until the price of her mother’s medication skyrockets.
Cadence, reluctantly, agrees to the part of the sexy Sugar Plum Fairy. Feeling brave behind her sugar plum persona, she accepts an offer from a gorgeous gentleman: one night of passion for enough money to make life substantially easier. What she wasn’t expecting when she arrived at the mysterious stranger’s mansion was to be whisked into the exciting and dangerous world of five sexy gentleman.
Will This Sugar Plum Fairy find her Christmas Miracle in the form of five valiant Nutcrackers? Or will they devour her like nothing more than a sugary treat?
Dedicated to: Melissa Thompson and Kim Miller; thank you for believing in me. To Cece Rose and Yumoyori Wilson; thank you for your encouragement and knowledge. To my husband; thank you for your unyielding love and support.
CHAPTER ONE
I reach one hand into my corset top and cup my left breast, adjusting my ample cleavage, making sure it's as enticing as possible. While I’m in there, I give my nipple piercing a little tug, sending a nice tingle from my nipple straight to my core, the perfect way to get me just a little turned on before I go out and sex it up for tips. I repeat the process on the other side. Achieving the proper cleavage display takes a lot of work. I might not be a dancer, but I still know how to get the maximum amount of cash!
Taking a final look in the staff bathroom mirror, I tousle my long, curly, crimson locks and check my ruby red lipstick, making sure it’s not smeared. Nobody likes a sexy clown. Next up, I smooth my hands over my embroidered red and gold velvet corset, loving the feel of the soft material on my skin. I trace the corset down until it ends, and my tight, black, leather skirt begins. The textures create such an interesting visual and textural experience. Vince, the owner and my boss, certainly knows how to appeal to all of his client’s senses. I turn around and peek over my shoulder to view my curvy ass, making sure it’s not hanging out of the short skirt. There is a fine line between classy and trashy here. My thigh-high, black, heeled boots are secured in place, completing my Christmas ensemble. I look pretty, goddamn good! It's Christmas in Sin City, baby!
That’s right, Viva Las Vegas! and all that jazz. However, I’m referring to Sin City Gentlemen's Club the exclusive club that strictly caters to the richest, poshest, most powerful people in Las Vegas. I roll my shoulders back, straightening my posture and preparing for the evening. I'm not a dancer here, not for lack of everyone trying to get me to be; I’m a cocktail waitress. I could be a dancer here; I mean I am a dancer, just not that kind of dancer. Not that a burlesque dancer is a bad thing, it's just not my thing. Just as I’m reaching for the bathroom door handle, it bursts open, nearly clocking me in the head. Lucy, my best friend, pokes her sexy, little face in.
"Cadence! Hurry your sexy butt up, your shift started five minutes ago! Vince is looking for you.” She opens the door all the way, stepping in and appraising me with her eyes from head to toe. “Fucking Christ you look good! I still don't get why you won't join the production."
"Come on, Luce. You know it's not my thing." Sin City is putting on very large, extravagant, burlesque rendition of The Nutcracker, and I’ve been helping with the choreography. The whole place has been pestering me to be a part of it, since Vince first announced it. I've been dancing since I was four, and twenty-two years later I’ve been in countless versions of The Nutcracker, none of them burlesque. "Yeah, well it should be.” Lucy sighs. “You're hands down the sexiest woman here. If you weren't strictly into dick, I'd give you the ride or your life!" She finishes that line with a dramatic, sexy wink of her smoky eye. With her shiny, black hair twisted up in curls, pearls, and long black gloves, she looks like she just walked out a 1930's movie studio. Unfortunately, she’s wearing a short, green, elf costume, throwing off the movie star vibe. Lucy is they type of girl that can even make that look sexy.
"Thanks Luce, but we both you know you're as addicted to the cock as I am. Now, get your ass out there. I'll see you on stage!" I kiss her cheek, turn her around, and slap her ass as she walks out of the bathroom. Taking one last deep breath, I plaster on my trademark sinfully fake smile. Hopefully, I have enough makeup on to hide how tired I am.
I exit the staff bathroom and dressing room, and walk down the dark hallway that leads into the large, main room. The big stage sits in the center of the wall to my left. It’s fully functioning with lighting, backdrops, curtains, everything for a small production. Lucy is chatting up some of the other dancers just off stage. I wave at everyone, and then turn right and head up a ramp that takes me up to the bar along the wall directly across from the stage. Sin City Gentlemen’s Club is a cozy club hidden away on the top floor of the Wynn Tower. Most people don't know it's here, as it's a very well-kept secret, only available to the elite. That provides a lot of leeway to get away with some of the things we do.
The low lights and dance music give it the usual club feel, just with classier patrons. I walk up to the bar and
wave at Simon, my favorite bartender and friend. Simon is such a sexy specimen. Tall, fit, and dressed impeccably in a crisp shirt, vest, and pants, all in black. His blonde hair is short and styled perfectly, not a hair out of place. Glasses aid in the elegant and sophisticated vibe. Simon exudes classy. He's every woman's dream man, except he's one hundred percent gay.
"Glad to see you finally decided to emerge from the bathroom, Ma Cherie." He scolds in his velvety voice as he sets up his bar for the night. It's nearly 10:00 pm, but we won't start getting a sizeable crowd until closer to midnight when the show starts.
"I'm tired; I was hiding in the bathroom trying to catch five minutes of sleep." I whine, leaning on the bar.
"You've got to give up your day job, Kiddo. It's killing you. You know if you pick up a few extra shifts here, you'd make more, and end up working less. Especially, if you joined the show…” he puts a finger up stopping me from arguing. “You know Vince would hire you in a heartbeat, and probably pay you more than anyone else. You already help with choreography. It's the same as some of your other shows, just with more...skin."
"God, would everyone just leave me alone about this. I like my day job. Those kids love to dance, and I love to teach them. I don't care if I don't make much. I'm not dancing in the damn productions, so just drop it already." I spit out, slamming my palm on the bar with a loud slap to emphasize my point.
"Fuck, sorry," he recoils.
"No, Simon. Shit, I'm sorry. It's been a long day. My mom isn't doing well, and her insurance is being a bitch." I groan. I leave out the part about Mrs. Talbot’s Dance Academy not being able to pay me anymore. If I continue to teach, it'll have to be for free. I may not have a choice but pick up more shifts at Sin City, but I still don’t like it.
"CADENCE!" Vince bellows at me from the door behind the bar that leads to the small kitchen. I jump up and turn to face him. "Where the fuck have you been?" He tries to act tough, but I've known him long enough to see through that bullshit.
"Hiding from your ugly ass face! I don’t even think your mom could love someone as grotesque as you." I reply sweetly, and he chuckles. He’s more like an Uncle to me than a boss. He was close to my dad, and really stepped in after he died. Usually, he’d have a smarter come back, so he must be nervous about The Sinful Nutcracker Suite production tomorrow.
"Caddie, you're still coming in tomorrow afternoon for the final dress rehearsal of The Night Cracker right? I'll pay you for it." Yep, definitely preoccupied with the show.
"Nutcracker, you idiot! Tomorrow I am your slave, at your beck and call, Vince." I say, and take a slight bow, careful not to bend over too far and expose my ass in this short skirt. Vince just shakes his head and walks from behind the bar to give me a hug. Vince isn't exactly tall, and I tower over him in my four-inch heels.
"You know, you could be in the show. You'd be the star. I'd pay you extra." He slyly offers.
"Enough already!” I groan. “Are you all on some kind of mission?" Vince lets go of me, and steps back, looking up into my eyes. He's a short Italian man in his late fifties, though he'll tell you he's in his mid-forties. He's only slightly graying in the temples of his nicely cropped black hair. He smiles one of his famous disarming smiles that reach all the way to his eyes.
"You know we wouldn't pester you if we weren't so impressed by you. It's Burlesque. A show, a production. You, are full of talent just waiting to burst free."
"For the last time, no thank you. I will be here tomorrow to help, though." I softly reply, trying to gently let him down. He just shakes his head.
“Merry fucking Christmas to you too.” He grumbles as he walks away. I can’t help but laugh under my breath He’ll forget he’s mad by the end of the night.
I look down at dance floor in the very center of the room. Sin City is set up so that the large stage is in the center of the wall. There are tables scattered throughout the lower first tier, the VIP section. The second and third tiers also have tables.
If you take the staircase in the right of the entrance, it takes you to the second floor, which has more of a club feel, mostly used for dancing and where patrons can mingle with the dancers after the show and have their own party. There is another bar upstairs as well.
I admire all of the elegant Christmas decorations taking over our fine establishment. I’m hit with a ping of sadness remembering how much we used to put into decorating our own house growing up. I don’t think we’ve decorated since mom was diagnosed.
"Let me know if you need a ride later!" Simon offers, interrupting my perusal of the place.
"Lucy said she'll take me home."
"HA! You know she'll end up going home with someone like usual. I'll give you a ride, Sweetcheeks!" He says, then leans over the bar and kisses my cheek.
A short while later Sin City Gentlemen's Club begins to fill up. Dance music plays in the background while people drink and mingle. My fellow cocktail waitresses and I are scattered about flirting and bringing drinks. I seductively float about the tables of the VIP section, flirting tips out of my patrons. Then the main lights shut off, and a spotlight illuminates a circle on the center stage curtain. This is our cue to clear the section. No serving happens while the show is on, so we all filter out and stand at the bar, waiting for a break between numbers to continue serving.
The seductive music starts up, and very slowly you see a long, sexy leg wearing a very sexy, red stiletto peak out of the curtain. Inch by slow inch, seductive, creamy skin is revealed.
The crowd is silent, and you can feel the excitement brewing, waiting to explode with whistles and cheers. The music builds, and the horns start up, sounding so cheeky, yet sexy. The curtains burst open in a flourish, revealing our dancers. The long stunning leg belongs to Bella Rouge, our current headliner. She's wearing a short, sexy, red Santa bustier with a little, black belt in the center, complete with a Santa hat, and little else. I never knew Santa hats could be so titillating. Feel free to roll your eyes along with me.
Lucy and two of our other female dancers are surrounding Bella in shadows, waiting for the stage lights to come up fully and reveal the sassy little “sex toy shop” scene. I inwardly groan at the cheesiness of this one. Vince doesn’t always get it right...
Bella, the tall, blonde bombshell gyrates around center stage, seductively moving her hips to the beat. God, she’s terrible at this; all pelvic thrusts and boob shimmies and almost no real dancing. Why Vince cast her as the Sugar Plum Fairy, the star of the tomorrow’s production, is beyond me. Yes, I know, technically the main character is Clara, but for our sultry production, the big number is the Sugar Plum Fairy who seduces several Nutcrackers. I didn't come up with this; you can blame Vince for this one.
I jump when the music crashes in a crescendo of horns, trumpets, and percussion! As the music picks up, the stage lights come on fully, illuminating the rest of the stage. Before anything exciting can happen, Bella stops mid corset removal, and covers her mouth with her hands before bolting off the stage with the same swiftness an Olympic relay line-up. Well, fuck me, that's new.
The two other girls run off after her, leaving Lucy standing center stage like a deer in headlights. Fuck. I can't leave Lucy up there floundering. I'm so going to regret this. I prop my drink tray up against the wall, then run down the ramp toward the stage, which is not an easy feat. Hopefully, the stagehands figure out what I'm doing and don't cut the music and lights. I'm almost there when a spotlight hits me. Good, maybe we can save this show. Lucy runs off stage and grabs a mic just as I'm running up the stairs. We meet center stage.
"Good Evening, gentlemen!" Lucy's sexy voice echoes over the mic. "We apologize for the minor interruption. We have a special treat for everyone tonight." She glances over to me for my approval. Fine, I'll dance, but my damn corset is staying on. I nod to her, and she smiles.
"I’m sure you all recognize our best cocktail waitress! Miss Cadence King will be making her debut appearance tonight!" The crowd applauds, and I graciously curtsy
as much as my short skirt will allow. Though I suppose that's pointless. Lucy and Vince are going to owe me for this.
"If we can have the score for the routine I was rehearsing earlier? Now, without further ado." Fortunately, I helped her choreograph this one. The lights dim, and a slow melody picks up. In the darkness, Lucy takes her place center stage.
The dramatic violins start over the speakers at the same time the spotlight hits Lucy as she begins her first enticing steps. Back straight, arms lengthened, fingers pointed, head straight; she twirls across the stage as if she's dancing the erotic dance with a partner.
This looked a lot better when she was practicing in a feathery, black teddy. The elf costume isn't quite hitting the mark. I shake off negativity, and take my queue.
I saunter right up to her, taking her hand, and twirling her into me, just as the drums and violins build and come crashing together, symbolizing when our dance really begins! Together we own the stage, nearly kissing more than once. That's the fun of a tango; there is so much lust and build without actually doing anything. Fortunately, Lucy and I are close enough to get a little steamier. This is the part that has me nervous.
Before I have a chance to change my mind, I spin Lucy out of my embrace and towards the chaise lounge left on stage from Bella’s act. Ripping off her elf dress as she goes, leaving her in her sexy, lace bra and matching thong. The crowd erupts in whistles in cheers. Even the classiest of men lose their shit at the sight of a sexy woman in her lingerie. Lucy catches herself on the chaise, before lying all the way down. She looks at me startled, then smirks. This wasn't part of the routine I helped her with, but I come alive on the stage! This is where I belong. I rush over to her, and begin seductively removing my clothes. I unzip my corset, but stop just before I take it completely off. Lucy joins me, and pulls me in for another almost kiss. Then, she winks, spins me around, and rips off my corset, exposing my perky breasts and nipple rings. I'm glad I wore my red ones...kind of goes with the whole Christmas theme.