Chapter One
“A strip club? You seriously brought me to a strip club? I ought to arrest you for being an idiot,” Sully Stone said, disgusted. “This lead of yours better pan out this time, or I will lock you up.”
The strobe lights bouncing across the bar and stage illuminated the smoke hanging in the air, turning it to a rainbow haze. A blonde bombshell strutted around working her leopard print mini skirt, bikini top, and knee-high boots. With slightly off-timed movements, she smacked the stage to the music of Heart’s Barracuda. When she jerked off her skirt exposing her matching thong and then followed by ripping off her top, the men went crazy, shouting obscenities and waving money at her.
Sully rolled his eyes. Sure, she was beautiful and sexy, but there was just something off-putting when it came to strippers. They were definitely in his “look but don’t touch” category.
“Come on, Wally, I haven’t got all night. Point me in the direction of this woman who was supposedly the last person to see Vinnie before he disappeared. I’m ready to go.”
When Sully didn’t get a response, he jabbed Wally hard in the side with his elbow, throwing the wily con artist off balance. Still, the man didn’t answer. He remained transfixed by what was happening on the stage.
“Wally, you better not be wasting my time.”
Wally lifted his right hand and pointed at the stage. “Her. She saw him, beelined it for him, and told him to get lost.”
The atmosphere changed dramatically. The music switched to a slow and sultry acoustic guitar, Sully was startled when he recognized The Flame by Cheap Trick. The strobe lights were no longer flashing but illuminated the stage with a warm glow that reminded Sully of firelight. A huge, silver hoop with a long strand of red and gold material attached at the bottom descended from the ceiling. There, one leg entwined in the fabric, looking more like a prima ballerina than a pole dancer, was the girl from his aunt’s funeral.
Sully's mouth went slack. She was breathtaking. Rather than the jarring, gyrating, titillating moves of a typical stripper, her routine was elegant, refined, more like the choreographed poses of an aerial silk performer as she glided through the air. The spotlight emphasized her flat stomach and sleek, toned legs as she used the fabric to wrap and spiral her body into sensual poses. The beautiful woman executed a number of slow, graceful twirls that carried her close to the top of the cloth, then she’d dropped several feet before striking a pose, red hair tumbling about her shoulders lending the illusion of a flickering candle flame.
The words of the song filled him, consumed him from the inside, a slow burn of desire igniting at his core. I probably would follow you anywhere, Red. Was it the music weaving a spell? Or was it the girl herself with her seductive allure? Whatever it was, Sully couldn't stop staring. This girl didn't whip or pull her clothing off. She weaved and twisted the shimmering strands around her body. Her actions far more arousing than the tight, leather bustier and black hot shorts she wore. The patrons reacted differently to her, as well. No loud raucous calls. The other men sat or stood as rapturous as he did.
Sully's breath caught in his lungs as the human flame peeked over one shoulder and made eye contact with him. Hanging upside down, she executed the splits in slow motion, at the last minute hooking her right knee around the fabric ending in a half split with parts of her caressing the red and gold in an intimate fashion that made his groin tightened behind the zipper of his jeans.
As the girl was lowered to the stage, the music stopped. The sudden silence brought him back to reality and he stood taller, trying to tamp down the strong feeling she had ignited and remember why he was here. The men around him clapped and whistled and threw money on the stage, and Red bowed before backing up and exiting, leaving the bills. Relief had Sully expelling the breath he didn’t know he was holding, glad none of the men had touched the beautiful woman with flaming hair.
Eyes still trained on the dancer as she stepped off the stage and headed down the hall, Sully took a twenty from his wallet and tossed it at the man beside him. “Wally, take a hike.”
Red, time to find out your story.
Inner Flame Page 14