Page 63 of Sawyer

“Well, boys,” I purr. “If she wants a show, sit down and shut the fuck up.”

Sawyer

Lotus.

Years ago, when I discovered my designation and my parents were quick to groom me to become a handmaiden, I knew that if I wanted to become more than a slave, I had to find a way to do it myself.

And thus, Lotus was born.

Leaving home was an easy decision. Despite my siblings wanting to ensure I lived a safe life, I wanted one where I could thrive. The only aspect of myself that I could thank my parents for were the dance lessons they insisted on, so dancing was the easy decision.

In mythology, the lotus is sacred. It’s considered an aphrodisiac, not in the way of carnal desire but in the way of forgetting what once was, allowing those who consumed the lotus a moment of reprieve.

That is who I became, offering reprieves for all of those who watched me dance. I gave them a moment of my complete, undivided attention with eye contact, subtle expressions that made them squirm in their chairs, and just the slightest touch or caress.

“Baby girl.” Rumor’s eyes turn heated, his chest rising and falling with each breath, and not once does he look away from me. “You don’t have to do this.”

I don’t, yet I want to. I want to give them something that no other can give them, and I want to do it willingly. We may not have forever, but we have right now, and fuck me, but I want them to remember me.

Me.

“Sit,” I tell them. We aren’t getting out of here until I move anyway. Spying a divider, I step behind it without waiting to see if they listen. They will. There is a small rack back here with hangers full of new lingerie. The tags are still on them, boasting their prices. I don’t care how much it costs. If it isn’t comfortable, I won’t wear it, even while dancing for a short amount of time.

Maybe that’s the secret. So many other girls danced in itchy material, yet it kept them from moving in the way they should—in a way I knew they could.

Uncaring of color, I run my fingers over the fabric and close my eyes. The elixir spreads through me, reaching out to nerve endings and warming my skin. Even the soft texture of fabric against my fingers sends a rush of desire piercing through me.

It’s almost painful, aching, and hot. I feel my core clench and desire drip down my thighs.

Focus.

Shuddering, I grab fabric that’s as soft as butter and yank on it. It takes every ounce of control to pull the lingerie off the hanger. No little latex outfits or fun costumes here.

Bliss operates only with lingerie, which is odd, considering that’s all I ever insisted on dancing in.

Heart pounding, I strip out of my clothing and let it pool on the floor. It doesn’t even matter that they are covered in mud anymore. All that matters is easing the ache that builds inside of me.

I wonder if this is what a heat feels like.

Tossing the thought into a mental waste can, I slide the material over my body. The mewl that leaves my lips surprises me.

“Sawyer?” I can’t tell which guy it is, only that the voice sounds distorted, as though he’s speaking through water.

Music pumps through speakers, and the seductive, thumping bass hums through me. I don’t have heels, but even if I did, I’m not sure I’d wear them.

Nerves flare in my stomach as I step around the divider to find all three men situated on the couch. Their shirts are gone, and their eyes are glued to me. Their chests heave with deep breaths, and sweat glistens and beads down their glowing skin.

This is why I chose Lotus. Power infuses my veins, burning away the elixir just a fraction and allowing my persona to bleed through. My hips sway with the beat as I saunter to the middle of the room.

Biting my lip, I grip the pole and step up to it, giving each man a slice of my attention, just enough to leave them wanting more.

For the first time since I met them, they are quiet, serious.

I allow my hands to graze over each of their legs, and then I begin.

Dancing with a pole is a mastery of muscle strength. Curling my body upright, I hook my legs around the pole and allow the world to fall away. Unlike when I was at Haven, here in this little room with the three men I want as mine, I allow myself to feel desire and become the seductress I know hides beneath my skin.

She lurks within me, wanting to hook these three, and this is our moment.

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