Page 110 of Injustice and Absolution

“This is so sweet of you, thank you so much. You always know exactly what I need.” I place a hand over Drew’s cheek then pull him in for a kiss before he backs away again.

“I’m really happy to hear you say that,” he says with a smile.

He’s dressed in a fitted white T-shirt and gray sweatpants. Both his pecs and his cock jut out, causing my saliva to thicken and my stomach to rumble.

“My girl is hungry, huh? You worked up quite an appetite from all the strenuous exercise you got last night... And again early this morning.” He winks, and I blush, recalling the fuzzy details. “Not to mention your epic performance on stage.” He rearranges himself with his last sentence.

“The money!” I gasp, suddenly remembering it on the ground in Drew’s office.

“Is drying out in the basement of the club.”

Talk about filthy money.

I recall how it got wet in the first place, and like clockwork, moisture drips from between my legs onto the sheets beneath me.

“As soon as it is, I’ll deposit it for you. I don’t want you walking around with that kind of cash in your pocket.”

“You think it’s safe in the basement? Won’t someone steal it if they find it there?” I worry.

“Nah, the basement door is locked, and I’m the only one with the key,” Drew explains, making me feel better.

“How much was there?” I pick up my coffee and take a sip.

No amount will ever get me back up on that stage, but that doesn’t mean I’m not curious.

“Twelve seventy-three.” A proud gleam shines from Drew’s eye and bathes me in warmth. The shock of how much I made hits me.

“Twelve hundred dollars?” I choke, and carefully put my coffee cup back on the tray.

“Twelve hundred and seventy-three dollars,” Drew repeats. “I’ve never seen anything like it. At least not at Spotlight. There are girls who used to work for me who moved to some of the larger clubs. They make double that on a busy night.”

“Holy shit...” I breathe.

“I’m not surprised.” He winks, pulling his cell phone from his pocket. “It’s Keith. I need to take this.”

He answers, entering the hallway and closing the bedroom door behind him. Keith is Drew’s tech guru. They’ve been discussing a website overhaul, and when I hear Drew explain that he uploaded something this morning, I’m assuming that’s what the call is about.

After a brief discussion, Drew enters the bedroom again, kisses me on the top of my head, then walks into the bathroom, leaving me to eat my breakfast in peace.

* * *

Walking into the club tonight feels different. Part of me feels empowered that I worked through my fear and got up on that stage last night. Doing it for Drew, and in a way, for myself.

And everyone loved me.

But there is also a sense of shame for what I did.Part of me feels like I cheapened myself by allowing everyone to see me like that. That I allowed them to glimpse the part of me that I promised not to give away freely anymore.

It wasn’t free... Or cheap... You made $1,200.

But when I’m hit with encouraging smiles from Josie, a high-five from Ethan, and a round of applause from a couple of regulars who were here last night, I can’t help but smile. I feel like a damn celebrity.

And I wasn’tforcedinto doing it. I did it because I wanted to please Drew.

Imade that decision. No one else.

Josie may have helped me realize it, but without that push, Drew probably still wouldn’t be talking to me. Pride wouldn’t beam from his eyes the way it has all day, and we wouldn’t have had such earth-shattering sex in the early hours of the morning.

If nothing else, that’s all I need to prove to myself it was the right thing to do.

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