Page 17 of Rum & Coke
Before the song ended, Vinny beckoned with a crook of his finger for me to come closer. I didn’t hesitate as I crawled toward him, topless. He held out a twenty between his fingers, and when I got to him, I leaned back on my heels, thrusting my hips forward so he could slip the bill into my bottoms. But he didn’t. I narrowed my eyes at him in a playful manner, silently asking him what he was doing. He motioned for me to come closer again and this time I placed my hands on the stage and got within inches of his face.
“How much to get you to go to dinner with me?”
I chuckled. “You don’t need to pay me to have dinner with you.”
“Then come to dinner with me.”
“I can’t. I have more sets to do.”
“I’ll pay whatever you’d usually make—”
“Vinny …” I sighed. I could leave. If I did, I would have to pay the house more for missing my sets, but it was possible. But I needed every dime I made.
“Tess—”
“Scarlett,” I corrected.
He grinned. “Fine, Scarlett. How much for a private dance?”
My second song of the set was ending, so instead of prolonging our flirting, I whispered, “For you, I’ll do it for fifty.”
“Then I want two.”
I nodded and stood. After grabbing my top, I left the stage and went into the dressing room to change into a fresh red bikini and spritzed myself with my body spray that smelled like cotton candy.
When I came out from the back, Vinny was waiting near the door. As soon as he saw me, his face lit up. I had to admit I would never tire of that look on his face. I motioned for him to follow me, and I took him into one of the private rooms. Across from the entry, a red leather loveseat spanned the small space. Red wallpaper with black metallic roses lined the walls, and a crystal chandelier hung in the center of the room.
“Do you want a drink?” I asked.
“Can’t. I’m on my lunch break.”
I closed the door behind me. “Escorts get lunch?”
Vinny chuckled. “A man’s gotta eat Tess—Scarlett.”
I grinned back. “You can call me Tessa in here, and you’re not eating.”
He got more comfortable, spreading his legs as he leaned back on the couch. “You’re the one preventing that.”
“How?” I asked.
He furrowed his brows and cocked his head to the side as though I was an idiot for asking such a question, then he slowly grinned again. “Do your thing, Tess.” He motioned with his head toward his lap instead of answering my question. Then it dawned on me, and I swallowed.
I wasn’t nervous until now. I’d done plenty of lap dances in the past year, but none of them were for a friend. Taking a deep breath, I pushed my nerves aside and did what I always did by running my hands up my sides as I sashayed toward him. His brown eyes lowered from my face to my hips, and he licked his lips.
“No touching,” I reminded him and myself.
He held up his hands. “I’ll try.”
I chuckled and turned my ass toward him. I slowly rotated my hips in a circle and ran my hands under my hair, bringing the long brown curls off my shoulders and neck. “What made you come in tonight?”
“I wanted to see you.”
I stilled my movements.
“Friends visit friends at work.”
I turned and faced him. I was about to argue with him, but then I realized maybe he was right and I was reading more into it than I should. While some of Vinny’s actions and words implied he wanted there to be more between us, he hadn’t come out and said it, nor had he actually made a move. So, I went with it as I continued my dance on his lap.
