Lust (The Stripped Bare Series Book 1) (4 page)

“Call me Vix. I hate Vicki, it sounds so formal.” Pulling her nose up, she turns and heads towards the curtain where the man with broad shoulders disappeared.

“So, what do you really think?” Piper asks.

“It’s really nice. Where do the stairs lead?” I ask, inquisitively.

“I’ll show you.” She winks. We both stand and I follow her up the winding staircase. When we get to the top the sheer beauty of it stuns me. It’s like an underwater ocean, everything is blue and there’s an indoor waterfall running down the back wall. The carpets are dark blue with slivers of silver swirling around, and the walls are light blue with silver sconces dotted at regular intervals, they are the only light in the room. There are private booths situated along the walls, the seats are a grey colour and they look like rocks. One of the booths is currently occupied and I notice a man in a suit getting a lap dance from one of the girls.

“It’s stunning,” I gasp. It really isn’t what I was expecting at all, it is quite beautiful, definitely an upmarket establishment.

“The men who come in here have to pay a membership fee, i
t’
s expensive and w
e’
re paid well, even the bar staff. I
t’
s a great place to work; all of the girls are amazing. Yo
u’
d think that they would be real bitches, but they’re not. The men are brilliant; they really look after us all. No one gets near us.” She has me sold. I hope I can get the job. The money will come in really useful to get Austen and I settled in a new home, and it will get me out of the house, too. I’m actually looking forward to my interview now.

We make our way back home. Piper offered to let me sleep at her apartment tonight as i
t’
s closer than my parent
s
’ house and I won’t have to worry about waking Austen when I go in. We decide to walk, as it is only a short distance across the racecourse. My feet are killing but I try to push the burn back out of my mind, I’m not used to wearing heels. It’s dark on the course without the streetlights to brighten the path. I jump when I see a figure stood in front of me, before I realise it is just a sign. Piper doubles over, laughing at me, not realising why
I’
m so afraid of shadows lately. We finally make it to her apartment and I crash into a deep sleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.

“Why do you want to work at Lust?” Jacob asks, as I sit across the huge table from the boss of Lust. I’m nervous but confident in my ability to do the job that is offered. It’s been over two weeks since I arrived in Chester and I’m eager to start working. Piper has spent the last week trying to get me this interview. She told me that her boss, Jacob, had wanted to employ some girl from Cruise who had been asking about the position but she finally talked him into giving me an interview. After a week of waiting, I didn’t think it was going to happen, but I got the call yesterday to come in and meet with him. 

“I’ve just moved back from living in London, where I was a waitress in a restaurant. I loved my job there but I had to move back to Chester.” I watch the man sitting before me, he nods at every sentence, but he never looks at me. “If I’m honest, it was my friend, Piper, who told me about the job. I wouldn’t have even thought about taking a job like this. However, I’m really excited at the prospect of working for you. I love the look of the club, it’s very elegant and I really do feel like I’d fit in well.” I try to keep my voice confident throughout the speech, which I’d prepared last night. The silver haired man nods his head, scribbling something onto a piece of paper.

“Would you have a problem with the hours? Obviously they’re unsociable. We do open in the daytime, but you would be required to work mostly evenings.” I look him in the eye as he finally raises his head to look at me.

“I’m available to work any hours that are required.” I don’t tell him about my son, I don’t want to give him a reason to think that I wouldn’t be committed to the position. I’d spoken to my parents a few nights ago about the possibility of a job in a call centre, which would be unsociable but well paid. They believed my cover story and agreed that they would help out with babysitting. Dad even suggested they decorate Austen’s room for him so that even when we move out, he has his own room to sleep in. Austen loved the idea and dragged my dad around the DIY shops yesterday.

“Are you happy with the dress requirements? You would be required to wear the same as our other bar staff. Also, I’d like to ask, would you be interested in training to take a dancing position? You have the right look and figure to be one of my girls.” I’m shocked at his suggestion, I’d never even thought about being a dancer, I’d just thought about the bar work.

“The dress requirements are fine. Um, I’m not entirely sure about dancing. I’ve never really given it much thought. I’m not opposed to the prospect, though.” I guess I could give it a shot. There’s no harm in training. A knock on the door breaks me out of my thoughts.

“Come in,” Jacob booms. I turn my head to look at the door and watch captivated as the man from the club, who I’d spotted the other night, walks in. He nods his head in my direction, walks over to Jacob and whispers something into his ear. He’s entrancing; his t-shirt flexes with every strain of his muscles. Those broad shoulders that I first noticed strain against the fabric and I want to rip it off and lick him. He has short black hair that’s longer at the front and flicks up slightly, and he has a spark in his chocolate coloured eyes. He radiates sex appeal; I feel damp just looking at him. I want this job, if only to get closer to him. He walks towards the door but as he turns to leave he gives me a quick wink. I evaporate into a puddle.

“So, Jasmine, when can you start?” Jacob says, breaking me out of my lust filled stupor.

“Any… er… any time you’d like,” I stumble my reply, still trying to control myself. The calm, controlled Jasmine that was present earlier has been replaced by a mumbling wreck.

“If you head out into the bar and speak to Candy, she will provide you with a uniform.” He looks at his computer screen, scrolling the mouse. “Can you start tomorrow night?
”

“Yeah, sure. I can’t wait. Thank you for the opportunity Mr Rothberg.
”
I finally gather myself together.

“Please, call me Jake.” I smile at my new boss. He pulls his slender body up out of his chair and offers his outstretched hand to me. I shake it and he gives me a small smile. He isn’t what you would expect in a strip club owner. He’s handsome and, for an older man, he’s kinda ho
t
– think Phillip Schofield, but a bit more rugged. Normally, I’d expect someone like him to be fat and sleazy.

Very stereotypical of me
.

I leave the club and make my way to the bus station, calling Piper to tell her the good news. She’s really excited to be working with me. However, I’m a bit nervous about watching my friend, who I’ve known for most of my life, take her clothes off.

Max

Goddamn it, I’m so sick and tired of this job. Making my way through the back of the club, I enter the girls changing rooms. I don’t even bother to knock anymore; it’s not like I haven’t seen a pair of tits before.

“Vicki, I need to talk to you,” I scream at the tiny, bottled redhead (and I mean the curtains don’t match the carpets) who is sitting on a chair in front of a mirror, doing her makeup for the evening.

“What do you want, Max?” she replies, sounding bored.

“You can’t be taking the customers back to your apartment, Vix. It’s bad for business. We ain’t a fucking brothel!” She rolls her eyes at me and carries on with her mascara. 

“Maybe if Jake paid us better then I wouldn’t need to whore myself out,” she replies, angrily.

“You get paid the same as the rest of the girls, you get great tips just the same. How much fecking more d’ya need? Jake is on the verge of sacking ya arse. You need to stop.”

“Okay, okay, I’ll stop.
”
She throws her mascara brush down on to the table, crosses her arms, and pouts. I’m not convinced that she will stop but it’s her funeral. Turning around, I walk out of the door, slamming it to make my point. Letting out a deep sigh, I bang my head gently against the wall, before heading towards Jake’s office.

I’ve worked at Lust for over six years now. I love the job but the girls can drive me crazy at times. Yes, some of them are hot, but I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t get involved with any of the girls who work here. Not because most of them are strippers, but because I don’t think I’d be able to handle watching another man look at my woman the way these sleazebags do. I have to keep a clear head when I’m working; I need to protect my girls. Yes, they’re still my girls, and I love each and every one of them, but not in a sexual way.

I knock on the door to Jacob’s office. Usually I don’t bother but I know he has an appointment with a new girl this morning and as I’m about to leave for a few hours, this can’t wait. Entering the room, I notice her immediately. My dick twitches in my pants, it’s this weird feeling like there’s this hidden piece of string attached between my balls and dick and it’s being pulled between the two. Mentally I think to myself
,
‘Jake, don’t hire her,’ not because I don’t like her, but because she’s the type of woman that I’d love to shag up against the toilet wall. Trying to act casual and not pay any attention to the perfect woman sitting in front of me, I walk across the room. Her auburn hair flows gently down to her pert tits. She’s wearing a short black skirt that shows off her beautifully sculpted legs, legs that I’d love to have wrapped around my waist. My gaze makes it’s way up to her white blouse, I notice the buttons are open seductively. I will my dick to stay down, but looking at the top of her heaving breasts, it’s impossible. I don’t do relationships, I have too much shit to deal with in my life to worry about women, but I’d make an exception for this girl sat here. Whispering my message to Jake, I try to get the hell out of there as quickly as possible before I embarrass myself. I watch her from the corner of my eye as I make my way towards the door. I open it and I can’t resist giving her a small wink before I exit. Oh shit, I’m doomed. She blushes and it’s beautiful. The reaction I got from just a wink excites me. Shit! I can’t be feeling like this for one of Jake’s girls.

Grabbing my jacket and helmet from out of the staff room, I make my way out of the back door. As soon as the cool air hits me I feel better. I take a deep breath and let the air fill my lungs. I just need to get laid. It’s been a few weeks since I stuck my dick into something.

Yes, that’s my problem.

I climb onto my bike and start her up, heading out into the midday city traffic. It always makes me feel so much better when I’m out on the road, it helps to clear my mind. The wind rushes through my body making me feel alive. I’m in control, everything else is out of my head, and the only thing I concentrate on is the road ahead. Not today, though, I can’t get her out of my brain. I saw her for less than a minute and already she has weaved her way inside my head. Fucking woman!

I make it to my flat and head inside, pulling my helmet off as I go - the one on my head, pervert.

“Dex, are you home?” I call out to my roommate. Dexter and I have been best friends since school. I couldn’t ask for a better mate; he always has my back and vice versa. He has been there for me through some of the worst, and best, times of my life.

“I’m in here, man,” he calls from the kitchen. I head in but stop in my tracks when I witness the half naked girl sitting on his lap, at my dining table.

“What the hell, Dex. How many times do I have to tell you about bring whores home?” The blonde bint gives me the evil eye.

“C’mon, Max. She’s not a whore. She’s leaving now, anyway.” I watch as he pats her on her bare arse and leads her out of the room.

I’m wound up tighter than a ball of string. I’m not irritated with Dex, I’m jealous that he’s getting some and I’m not.

I jump in the shower, needing to find a release to get the gorgeous redhead out of my head. I take my already stiff cock in my hand and start stroking, but all I can think of is her. Her heaving breasts in my mouth, twirling her pert, little nipple around on my tongue. Her delicate pink lips on my cock, sucking hard whilst she stares up at me with those big emerald eyes, hidden under her long lashes. Jeez, I’m turning into a fucking pussy! It doesn’t take me long before I find my release, holding myself up on the tiled wall until I’m done. Maybe masturbating to the image of her wasn’t such a great idea.

Sitting on the bed, I can’t stop the thoughts of her running through my mind. I don’t do girlfriends. I can’t do girlfriends; my life is already full. I’m the fuck ‘em and chuck ‘em type. No strings attached is what I like. It’s one of the reasons why I don’t get involved with people that I see on a daily basis. There’s just too many complications and awkwardness when you know you have to go to work and see them the day after shagging them. Throwing some clothes on, I shout to Dex to tell him that I’m going out. He mutters something in between moans that I don’t want to hear right now, and I get out of the flat as quickly as possible.

“Hey, Ma. You okay?” I give her a peck on the cheek as I sit down in front of her.

“Can’t complain, son. How’s my boy?” 

“I’m good, Ma. The nurse said you’ve had a good night?” I look towards one of the care assistants. I think her name is Mary, I can never remember their names, they don’t seem to stay in the job long and there’s always a new one every few weeks. I hate this place, but I couldn’t look after Ma after she had her stroke. I always said I’d never put her in a nursing home, but shit happens. At least I come to see her every day to make sure she’s getting the best care possible. I work damn hard to provide the best care, so she better get it.

“Slept like a baby. So, have you got a girlfriend yet?” She asks me the same question every day and the answer is always the same.

“No, Ma. You know I don’t have time for that.” She looks down, regretfully.

“I’m sorry, son. You’ll be better off when I’m gone. You do know that you don’t have to come and see me every day. You need to have a life and enjoy yourself, find yourself a nice girl and make me a grandma before I die.” I hate it when she talks about dying. She’s only sixty-five but the stroke has aged her. She can’t look after herself anymore and I feel responsible.

“When I find the right one you’ll be the first to know, Ma.” I kiss her lightly on the forehead, brushing away her short greying hair. “I’m going to go and get your lunch.” Standing, I head towards the kitchen. I hate that she feels like she’s a burden on my life. Truth is, I’d happily look after her and put my life on hold forever, just to have her around. I grab her lunch from one of the nurses and take it out to her. She eats it and we say our goodbyes. This has been our daily routine for the last year and the main reason for my lack of relationships. She had her stroke just over a year ago; it was possibly the worse day of my entire life. I got the call at the club from her next-door neighbour, telling me that she had been rushed into hospital. I remember being so shook up that Dex had to drive me to the hospital in his car. He stayed with me the entire time, bringing me food to make sure I ate. When the doctors told us what had happened, I was numb. I didn’t know what to do or how to care for her. Dex was the calm one; he was the one holding me together, telling me that everything would be all right. I’ll never be able to repay him for everything he has done for me.

Climbing back on the bike, I make my way back to the club for the night shift. I took the deputy manager’s job as soon as Jake offered it. I was looking for a new job; something that paid more with better hours so that I could pay for Ma’s care. Jake got wind of this and offered me the job. Before, I was just a doorman, like Dex, and occasionally I’d work the stage, but now I deal with the girls, I handle the money and order the stock. I also cover for Jake when he’s away. I love doing this job but, at times, it’s exhausting.

I don’t bother knocking this time. I know that Jake will be getting ready to leave for the night, so I check in with him to make sure that there’s nothing I need to know about.

“Alright, boss.” I nod, taking a seat in the chair in front of his giant table. He doesn’t look up from his computer to greet me.

“I’ve taken on a new girl to work the bar.” I get a flutter in my chest, but ignore it. I can handle this; she’s just another one of the girls, it’s fine. “She wants to train on the pole, too. Can you arrange that with Scotty, please?”

“Yeah, sure thing, boss.” Well, that seals the deal; I can’t have a relationship with or even shag one of the pole girls. I just need to get her out of my head. “When does she start?”

“Tomorrow night.” He states, finally looking up from his work. Why am I irritated at the thought of not seeing her again until tomorrow? Shit, I’m turning into a girl!

“Okay, I’ll go call Scotty now.” I stand up and leave the room, making my way towards the staff room.

“Yo, Max. Who pissed in your cornflakes this morning?” Dexter shouts as he comes through the door.

“Piss off, Dex. The only thing that’s pissed me off is you, bringing dirty slappers back to my flat.”

“Hey, it’s my flat too, bro.” I realise I’m being a complete twat. It’s not Dex’s fault that I can’t keep my shit together.

“Okay, I’m sorry, man. I’m just having a bad day.” He nods his acceptance of my apology and leaves. I pick up the phone and dial the number for Scotty, our dance teacher.