“What’d they pay for anyhow?” Some women only want one song. Others want me to move my body in front of them for an hour. I stay in shape; I have to. I guess this new coaching gig gives me a little more wiggle room too. Maybe I can stop the private dances altogether.
With a goofy smile, he holds up nine, one-hundred-dollar bills for me. One’s missing. That means whoever asked for me just dropped a grand to have me dance for them. Not gonna lie, it boosts my ego, and I find myself puffing my chest out a touch more.
“She said she wanted whatever Bliss would give her,” he laughs, handing over my cut. The owner gets fifty bucks off every private dance as does Pork Chop since he makes sure to watch our backs. Most of us don’t need it, but occasionally you’ll have a crazy chick or two that don’t want to give up their time or take no for an answer.
With a smirk, I take the money and stuff it into my personal locker. I secure the lock and ask, “Did she request a theme or song?”
“She just said she wants you in a room, alone, and that she doesn’t care about anything else.”
“Okay then. I guess, set the private system to Nine Inch Nails, Fuck You Like an Animal.”
He rolls his eyes.
“What! It’s the standard strip song, Chop; you should know this by now.”
“I do,” he waves me off. “That’s why you need to get creative. This chick just paid a grand to watch you do your helicopter shit.”
“Pork Chop, you been spying on my moves, bro?”
He snorts and I laugh, pulling my assless chaps on.
“Fine how about ‘The Weekend’ from The Hills?”
“Better.”
I’m a bit surprised at his reply, as Pork Chop is even more country than I am. Apparently he knows stripper music though. I can’t do that set in assless chaps though. Putting them away, I pull on my black boxer briefs, my basketball shorts and a full zip up hoodie. The woman’s paying me to take my clothes off, not to wear them, so I’ll go for something easy to move in and remove.
Pork Chop sends the song via Bluetooth to room number three and I enter the dimly lit secluded space. The song begins and with it, I listen for the beat. My body sways and moves as Pork Chop hits the button from outside the room to move the curtain. My eyes are closed as The Hills sing about only fucking after five and I begin to remove my clothes. The hoodie comes off first and gets tossed to the side in a flawless move. I’ve done this dance so many times over the past two years I’ve worked here, that I know my movements are fluid and perfect.
Spinning back to my customer, my eyes are open this time. It takes everything in me not to pause and choke up, when I meet Sunshine’s honeyed gaze. Of course she spent a cool grand for a dance. The money’s probably nothing to her. Swallowing tightly, I force my body to keep shifting in sync with the beat. I can do this much in my sleep. The hard part is not allowing my pride to get in my way. I could end up fired if I up and left right now like I want to.
The song ends, morphing to ‘Earned It’. A reminder that this woman owns my time until she’s tired of it or the club closes, whatever comes first. I shouldn’t have picked The Hills to dance to for her, especially this song. It hits a little too close to home for me. My shorts are next to drop, leaving my ripped body nearly on full display for her to look her fill. It makes me sick knowing she’s payed me for this, to see my body naked.
She wants a show; I’m going to give her everything she paid for. Grabbing her hands, I pull her to stand, placing her palms on my chest. Moving them up and down, I silently tell her I want her to feel my body, feel how cut I am everywhere. She may be perfect in my eyes, but I also know how she becomes putty when it comes to my solid frame. I use the change in position to push the chair aside and dance around her. I pull her back against my front as I continue to dance.
Getting close, my hips gyrate against her plump round ass so she can feel exactly what she does to my cock. My hands skate over her front, groping, rubbing, but never pausing long enough for her to catch them. I’m going to make her pant for me. I know exactly how to work a woman’s body and I’m going to give her everything she paid for. My warm excited breaths hit her neck as I lean in and lightly lick up the side of her throat. I follow up with blowing lightly to give her goosebumps.
The song switches to ‘Often’, the set going quicker than I’d anticipated. Nine minutes alone with her and I’m damn near ready to cum. Stepping around, I use the movements to drop my boxer briefs. We don’t always have to get completely naked and we rarely do, we usually just hint at it. Offer up some small flashes, and women go nuts, but not Sunshine. She’s seeing everything. I want her to remember how every thrust of my cock felt when I’d decided to make her mine. Right before she fucked it all up, and left me hanging like her personal kicked dog.
Spinning her around, I bend her over to brace against the chair. With her ass pushed out, my hand runs down her thigh, pulling her leg up to prop on the chair. She’s open and exposed to me. If she weren’t wearing so many clothes right now, I could drive deep inside her. I take my heavy cock and rub it between her thighs. She moans wantonly and it has me closing my eyes with pent up desire. I want to make her cum so badly. She needs a heady reminder of exactly how I can make her feel.
“Wait!” Sunshine pleas. It’s loud enough for me to understand her over the music. My hands automatically squeeze her hips, not wanting to let her out of my grip. I have her right where I want her. Well, minus the damn strip club in the background.
She spins around, breathing heavily. Her cheeks are flushed a tantalizing shade of pink. It instantly has me thinking of the tannish-pink folds of her tight pussy. My fingers go to the button of her jeans, eager to get her naked while her palms fall to my chest. Her tits brush against my flesh with every inhale and exhale. My cock’s hard as steel, just begging for her attention. The thickness throbs against her abdomen, wanting to be inside her silky warmth.
“This isn’t what I came here for.” She lightly protests, her lips dipped in a frown and I groan. What’s she talking about, this’ what they all come here for. They want the fantasy of being with a man they wouldn’t normally have the guts to touch, let alone fuck.
“I know.” I push her further. “I’m about to fuck you raw. It’s what you wanted, right? What you paid for?” My right hand moves to grip her sharp jaw, holding her so her gaze is trained on my heated, angry stare.
“No,” she whispers, her plump bottom lip trembles slightly. She’s partially lying.
“No?” I repeat and she tries to shake her head, only I don’t allow her to, my hands holding her face to mine. Leaning in, I breathe the words against her mouth, “Then tell me what you want. I’ll make your fantasy come true.”
A tear crests and drops, running over her cheek. Finally she admits, “I’ve dreamed of you...but never like this.” Her words are like ice; cold, sharp painful. Of course, how could I be so fucking stupid? She never called or came back because she didn’t want me. Why would that change now?
I step away, releasing her and yank on my boxer briefs. I’m furious inside. She’s managed to break my heart once again, and I’m afraid if I stay here any longer I’ll end up destroying the room in a fit of anger. Grabbing my hoodie next, I jerk the material over my large biceps, and she comes at me again. Her hands land on my shoulders. “Please let me explain.”
“I’m good,” I mutter, stepping out of her touch. Reaching around her, I grab the basketball shorts I’d shucked earlier. I stripped to multiple songs for her; she’s gotten her money’s worth. I’m not going to put up with this shit any longer.
“Please, Nate. This was the only way I could get your attention long enough to warn you.”
I pause, curious at what on earth she could possibly know that would warrant a warning of some sort.
“You can’t do this anymore,” she begins, and I roll my eyes, pulling my shorts over my hips. “I’m serious. I wanted to tell you, but you wouldn’t give me a chance. It’s in the contract you
signed.”
I stop moving, and blink a few times, suddenly growing a bit unsure of myself and what she could possibly be insinuating. I give her more of my attention. “What are you talking about?”
Maybe this has nothing to do with our personal ties. Her hand reaches up, a finger swiping away the sweat droplet on my brow, and I jerk back.
“Don’t touch me,” I nearly growl, and her hand drops, her gaze flickering with hurt. I can’t bring myself to care when my heart is shredded into pieces.
She releases a sigh. “The job with the school you took. As the new coach there, you can’t work in an establishment like this. You aren’t allowed to be associated with any business or promiscuous behavior such as stripping, porn, photographs, escorting, etc. You signed a legal binding contract stating you wouldn’t do anything that can reflect poorly on the school.”
I pop my knuckles, tilt my head, and cockily reply, “Or what? They’ll spank me?”
She rolls her pretty honeyed eyes and huffs. “No, ass. They’ll fire you and then sue you for breach of contract. Trust me on this; I’m their lawyer.”
“Won’t you get in trouble for telling me this?”
She shrugs. “Just trying to help out an old friend.”
I snort, disgusted our relationship has come to this. “Don’t do me any favors,” I say and storm out of the private room toward the back.
I find my boss and let them know about the contract, and how I just found out that I’m in breach. With no other choice besides a lawsuit, I take off for the Beer Barn. I’m not sure even tequila can chase the bullshit away from tonight, but I’ll give it a try.
“I’m proud of you,” Clyde mutters as he brushes the filly’s mane. “About time you had something to look forward to.”
“And you think coaching is it?” I drink heavily from a water bottle. I’ve been helping him in the barn, and the Alabama heat is no joke. Sweat pours off both of us, but you’d swear it’s another day in the office with how easily Clyde works in it. He was born to run the ranch; there’s no doubt in my mind.
The horse nickers a bit as Clyde hands over an apple and then continues to brush the long hair. “I do. You helped Ty out more than you realize. You’ll be good for the school.”
“I could never keep up with Tyler. If anything, I held him back.”
“Not true, Nathan. It wasn’t your job to keep up with him. You had to teach him and allow him to show you his potential. You coached him without realizing you were doing it. Even when you were picking on him or chasing him...all of it helped him become the player he is today. The high school kids are lucky to have you…one day you’ll realize it too.”
“I hope you’re right,” I admit.
He smirks. “I usually am.”
Typical cocky Owens response.
“When did you want to go over spots of the ranch for me to consider building on?”
“What are you talking about? Why do I need to look with you?” He catches my eye, setting the brush down.
“I’ve lived with you long enough to know that there will be places on the ranch you won’t want me to build on. I figured it’d be easier for you to tell me the forbidden zones before I decide on a spot and start ordering lumber. With my luck, I’d pick the one spot you had plans for.”
Clyde stands to his full height and grabs his hat off a hook nearby. He brings the horse with him, letting her graze with the others. “How about that wide space out past the moonshine shed,” he suggests.
I follow him as he strolls pass various animal pins, and eventually, he gestures down past our family home. There’s a small building out there where he makes moonshine, then farther south is a large expanse of land peppered with random matured trees. It’s not far off from the pond either, where I’ve always enjoyed getting drunk with Dallas and floating around in when we have free time.
“You’re the only one who ever got along with the little sister down the road, so I don’t think any of them would bother you over there.”
“Considering her brother’s in jail for shooting Dallas, I think they want to keep their distance,” I mutter, and he nods solemnly.
That was a huge mess that I won’t get into right now. I’m just thankful we all made it through okay. Dallas was shot, but he ended up becoming closer with his family because of it and is back to his usual self. I thought it was going to ruin Clyde’s ideas of marrying Shyla. I wouldn’t have blamed her if it sent her for the hills, but she stuck around. The woman is stronger than I thought, but I should’ve expected it being she puts up with my brother's stubborn butt all the time.
“Did the sister ever recover?” he asks after a moment of us walking toward the area he specified.
I shake my head. “Last time I visited, they turned me away. She tried to kill herself again.” It crushes me that she thinks death is the only answer to her problems, that poor woman. I wish her family would let me visit, but I understand their hesitation. I’d be extremely protective if it were my sister going through dark times too.
“Christ, that family has some serious demons. Glad we never had too many run-ins with them. It could’ve been worse between our neighboring ranches if things had been worse.”
I nod, nothing left to say about it. “You think I should build something small to get out of your hair quicker?”
Not that I want to be out of the house right away, but I know Shyla is important to him, and I respect that. I’d probably want my space if the roles were reversed.
We stop, hands on hips, staring at the open space in front of us. The only thing ever out this way is Clyde’s dogs—his Doberman Titan, and his coon hound, Gracie. The pooches like to chase after the field mice or whatever else they may find.
He absently scratches at the light scruff on his cheeks as he gazes at the spot in question. “Start with the living room, bathroom, and kitchen, then go on from there. Trust me when I say not to make those three rooms small. Your future wife will thank you.”
“Does Shyla think the house is too small?” I can’t help but wonder about my sister-in-law who’s recently moved in. She and Clyde are still newlyweds where everything is sunshine and rainbows when they look at each other. I’m truly happy for him but a little bitter inside, if I’m honest about it.
“No. Shyla loves the house, especially since the barn’s been repainted and such. She’s always sharing when she comes home what happens and that her customers complain the most about those three rooms in a house though. Figured it’d be some good information to pass on to you.”
Right, ‘cause I’ve got a wife just ready and waiting to move in. I roll my eyes and keep my thoughts to myself.
“Have you found some plans or anything?” Clyde inquires as his dogs come running up, leaning on his legs for attention.
I hadn’t said anything, not wanting him to think my idea is stupid, but I guess it’s time to speak up. “I was thinking sort of the rustic cabin look. I wanted to pick something realistic since we’ll be building it. Even if I remain a bachelor forever, at least it’ll look manly. If I get married someday, we could always add flowers or whatever she would want to spruce it up.”
“That’s a good plan, and it fits you.” His words shock me. Could it be this new job that has him taking me more seriously now?
He kicks a rock and continues. “Shyla could help you come up with some house plans and measurements if you’d like. She offered the other night, and I forgot to mention it. Kadence may be helpful too. She might be able to come up with something more concrete on the computer for us to go off of. We need blueprints and the right permits to build.”
“I’ll ask for Shyla’s opinion and then send what we come up with off to Kadence. With two women on board, I can’t go wrong, right?”
He nods his approval, and my stomach starts to flip like I’m a kid again. All of this is actually happening and rather than dreading it, I find myself excited over the prospect of building something with my brother. I have football to thank for my relatio
nship with Tyler. Maybe this is something that’ll bring Clyde and me together in the long run. It’ll be quiet living in a house alone, but with the coaching job, I’ll most likely stay fairly busy. If I don’t end up screwing it up somehow.
“When’s the new job start?” he questions as we head back to the house with the dogs trotting along beside us. I finally feel my mood in general lift as I have good news to share with my brother, the man I’ve always looked up to.
***
The weeks pass quickly as I get settled in at my new job. Before I know it, I’m reviewing tape on the weekends and busy planning out the best strategies for the upcoming games. I haven’t run into Sunshine, and I don’t know if that’s a good or a bad thing with the way things went the last time. I’ve stayed busy, yet still find myself watching for her wherever I go. It’s stupid really; she doesn’t even live here. I’m sure she left long ago, and I’m being the loser looking for her. Seeing her threw me for a loop, and I’ve been off-kilter with females ever since.
Sure, I’ve slept with some women over the years, but nothing ever came of it. I couldn’t exactly be celibate with Sunshine gone for so damn long. Once I’d come to terms with it being officially over, I tried to move on the only way I knew how to. I got someone else under me. No matter whom it was, how funny they were, how gorgeous or good in the sack, none of them stuck for me. Now, Sunshine seems to have disappeared once again, and I find myself like a lovesick fool, hoping to catch a glimpse of her once again.
For a short time, she was everywhere I turned, it seemed, and I was losing my mind over it. To go from running into her repeatedly to absolutely nothing has left me hanging. I can’t help but wonder if maybe I should attempt to find someone new. Perhaps the time has once again arrived for me to actually put in the work to move on with another woman. There’s still something holding me back from doing it whenever I think about it. There’s this what if factor. I know realistically I should give up on her. She’s the one woman I’ve always loved, but I don’t know if she’ll come back here again. Let alone stay or want me in return.
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