Page 105 of Injustice and Absolution

Stopping at the stage’s steps, she grabs my hand and squeezes it reassuringly. My eyes desperately find hers.

“You’re going to be amazing!” she screams over the music. “Even if you don’t climb the pole, just dance, sway back and forth, anything. You are beautiful, Delilah. Your looks alone will sell what your dancing skills can’t.”

Her words don’t exactly inspire the confidence needed for meto get up on that stage, but it does help knowing I don’t need to bend over backwards to do my best up there.

It gives me the smallest boost I need as the music ends, and I hear the DJ announce my name.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

DELILAH

“All right, everyone... We’ve got an extra special treat for you tonight. Making her Spotlight debut, please welcome to the stage the lovely, the delicious Deeeeeeeliiiilaaaah!”

My heart thumps wildly in my chest, its beat stronger than the bass of Muse’s “Supermassive Black Hole” bumping through the sound system. At least it’s a song I know so I can get the beat right.

With one final breath, I climb the two steps up onto the stage. I picture Drew’s smiling face the night of the bonfire at the clubhouse. The fire in his eyes as he stared into my soul the first time we made love.

I miss that. I miss him.

Thatis why I’m doing this.

Finally stepping out from behind the curtain, I let the bright lights blind me so I don’t have to see anyone. I get into a groove, shaking my ass and rotating my hips just like Haven showed me.

I silently congratulate myself for not falling over as I go.

Halfway across the stage, I take off the sarong around my waist and let it drop.

One step down.

Gripping the pole next to me, I twirl myself around it, paying close attention to my feet so they don’t get tangled in each other. Falling to my knees, I crawl to the figure closest to me, keeping my eyes unfocused.

If I can’t see them, maybe they won’t see me. I give them a little shimmy then tug on the elastic thong around my hips. They glide their money down my ribs, and I quickly snap the elastic back in place, holding the cash tightly to my body before moving to the next person.

And the next.

And the next.

Somewhere along the way, I strip out of the sheer top. Standing again, I do another twirl around the pole before tugging on the string at the center of my back. I hold the fabric to my chest as long as I can, unsure if I’ll let it go or run off the stage.

Suddenly, I feel his eyes on me.

Drew.

I look up and find him through the near-blinding lights. He’s center with the stage, standing along the back wall in the crevasse of the server’s station. His eyes are glued to mine, flames of desire flickering so brightly I can see them from here.

I watch as he rubs his cock over his jeans, a salacious smile spread wide on his face. When he bites his lower lip and gives me a slight nod, I feel the decadent swirl of desire I wasn’t sure I’d ever feel again ignite in my core. As moisture pools between my legs, I let go.

The fabric falls to the floor.

Lightened by the elation I feel knowing not only that is Drew not angry but he’s also fucking turned on, I’m able to breathe normally again. Pant with the desire I feel for him once again.

I grab onto the pole above my head then shimmy my body down onto the stage. The entire time, our gazes are locked tighter than they’ve been in a long time.

Then he nods to the group of men sitting to my right. Biting my lip the way he is, I crawl over to them. Sitting back on my heels, I hug the closest man to my chest like I’ve seen some of the other girls do, then I bobble my boobs against his face before pushing him away again.

He reaches forward with a crisp twenty-dollar bill in his hand, and I grab it between my boobs before adding it to the growing collection tightly stuffed in the elastic of my thong.

I treat his companions to the same show, and they pay their thanks accordingly before I move on to the next group of people.

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