Private Dancer (11 page)

        
The music stopped and the announcer warbled something to the crowd, which started a ruckus. She looked towards the stage to see the big fuss and a little spotlight was fixed on Cori. She fought the urge to turn away, even though it felt like she was looking at her own sister moving about suggestively in her underwear. Watching her best friend parade around shaking her parts almost made her angry, until she saw the amount of money she accumulated. Just then, Cori started to disrobe and Faith couldn't help turning away.

        
Oh man, I could never do that. I give her credit.
The crowd was cheering wildly and she peeked again. To her amazement, there was a small pile of bills on the stage and Cori was swinging around naked on the pole, her garter was completely full of money.
Holy shit...there must be a hundred dollars there!
she thought in awe.

        
*  

        
Meanwhile, Reece was on her way to her favorite place wondering what Cori meant by that last comment. "Why wouldn't she want me to tire myself out? What does she care? Unless...nah, she wouldn't want, but maybe her date..." She mentally slapped herself. "Cut it out, you need to get rid of this tension, she's right. You're going to explode, you predictable slut."

        
She started to think about what she was doing and this was bad. She'd hastily find a woman, be unreasonably hostile with the poor girl, and wind up having either a terrible time, or really rough sex. The latter not usually bothering her much, but with the images that kept popping into her head lately, this would never do. The last thing she wanted to do was manhandle her little fantasy woman, and it was bound to ruin her evening.

        
Shit! Now what?
This was bad, very bad. Not only had the blonde been slipping into her dreams, now she was letting her disrupt her real life. She thought about Faith, about approaching her, maybe seducing her. With an evil grin she thought,
Yeah, just do it. Just go up to her, tell her like it is, and take her to your office.

        
The tall, extremely frustrated woman started walking back towards the club.
No, I can't do that. Cori said she was better than that. Fuck, I'm not better than that, what the hell do I care? She
does
have the hots for me anyway.
She stopped walking, and felt something odd inside, a sick feeling when she thought of using Faith for her own benefit.
Man! I am losing my mind! Okay, let's stay predictable and go get laid.
She started towards the subway, changed her mind again and just started home, deciding a really long walk would do her good. She kept herself focused on a cold shower and a hot coffee, which was very hard to do since she had always thought with her crotch at times like this.

        
*  

        
Back in the dressing room at The Lounge, Cori was changing for her next set, when Faith came in for her break.

        
"C'mere, Blondie." She patted the overstuffed chair, "Sorry I didn't get to check up on you...how'd it go?"

        
"That's okay. It went great, smooth. I got it covered. How'd you do?"

        
"Oh, not so good, I got $93 and a food stamp. Assholes."

        
Faith's eyes bugged out. "That's not good? $93? Shit, girl, that's a weeks worth of tips at my old job, and you still got another set!"

        
"What...you want to dance now, too?"

        
"I couldn't, but the money...nah, I can't." She was fidgeting just thinking about it.

        
"Okay, chica, but if you change your mind, just tell me. I'll show you how it's done." With that, she bumped and ground her way around the chair, making them both giggle. "Hey, you want to get some coffee? I could use a cup."

        
"Yeah, but I don't want Reece to get mad if I leave."

        
"Are you kidding? She won't be back tonight. She went out..." The dancer narrowed her eyes and looked evil, "...on a mission. She took one look at you and needed to get laid."

        
"Oh, come on. You don't expect me to believe that." She got a serious look in response. "Yeah?" she smirked. "Wow, I guess it's working then, huh?"

        
"Uh huh. But I don't want you getting in too deep with her just yet. Yeah, she wants you, but let's get her to want to know you first. I have another plan that just might work." She dangled the keys.

        
"What's that?"

        
"Boss' keys, now you get to see how the other half lives."

        
"Oh, I know how they live. I was the other half remember?"

        
"Oh yeah, sorry. Hey, speaking of living, why don't you come stay with me? I'm not going to be able to foot the rent myself and you want to move so bad, you can taste it."

        
"You mean that? I'd love it! How much do I need to give you for security? I need to know how much I have to save."

        
"Nah, no bother, just move in now, and you'll pay me half the rent next month. Get yourself settled in, you know?"

        
The bartender was trying not to cry. She wrapped her arms around the dancer and hugged her. "You are a godsend do you know that? I'm so lucky to have met you. Thank you."

        
"No, Blondie, thank you. I'm the lucky one. Hey, let's go get that java, I want to tell you what I have in mind for tonight."

        
"If it involves a certain tall boss, do tell." They started to walk.

        
"You're too much. Yes it does. We'll go over there...after she's gotten her fix, if you know what I mean. She's easier to talk to that way, and all I can get her to talk about is sex really. So we have a plus, we talk about sex, she joins in, and we can play a sort of twisted version of truth or dare. I don't know if she'll go that far, but it's worth a try. Did I tell you we're spending the night there?"

        
The bartender ordered her coffee and thought about the implications of sleeping at the boss'.

        
"She has the most awesome bath tub...in the bathroom...with a shower...."

        
"Okay, okay. I just don't know if I'm ready for this. What if she gets the wrong idea and thinks I'm like the rest of her conquests?"

        
"I took care of that already. I hope." They entered The Lounge and Faith settled back behind the bar. "Good luck on the next set, Cor."

        
"Thanks, roomie."

        
*  

        
After her cold shower, hot coffee, and flipping through the channels on the TV several times, the club owner wasn't feeling any better than before; still horny, still aggravated at herself, and still wanting the blonde bartender from out of her dreams. She flopped on her bed and finally settled on video games, firing up the Playstation for some serious butt kicking. She felt somewhat better while blowing the faces off of the zombies, and turned up the volume to hear them scream. It was then when her houseguests entered and, due to the stereo speakers, she never heard them arrive.

        
Cori heard the noise from upstairs and grinned. The element of surprise on her side, she took her time showing the slack-jawed bartender around the house.

        
"I can't believe this is in Manhattan! It's unbelievable. That table there," she pointed at the table that made Cori blush, "that's a one of a kind. And that painting, my God, I think it's an actual Monet! Where did she get this stuff?"

        
"Jeez, Faith, calm down. This is all as was when Frankie left her the place. The only thing she added to this place, is herself."

        
"Wow. Frankie, huh? What's the deal with that?"

        
"I'm working on it. All I know is that since he died, she," the dancer gestured upstairs, "hasn't been the same."

        
"But look at this place! Are you sure she only worked for him?"

        
"Faith, trust me on this one."

        
"I'm just amazed is all. What's upstairs? I mean, besides Reece."

        
"Her boudoir, with connecting frickin' Roman bathhouse."

        
The bartender felt warm suddenly, thinking about a certain someone in a bath. "Is she coming down? I'm not so sure I want to surprise
her
. It can be dangerous."

        
"Nah, don't worry, I told you she knows we're coming. Anyway, I want to surprise her somewhat, she has no way out of it then."

        
Faith nervously took off her jacket and sat on the couch, while Cori grabbed some wine from the kitchen. They could hear Reece laughing wickedly while explosions filled the air. They giggled, knowing that if the boss saw them she'd flip out, which made them giggle even more. Finally they composed themselves enough to sit down and wait for the right moment to alert Reece of their presence.

        
"So, Faith, what makes you think you can't dance?"

        
"It's not that, it's just no one has ever seen me naked before, and I'm not entirely comfortable with a crowd of strangers gawping at me that way."

        
"No one?! Not even..."

        
"No, no one. The only time I had sex it was in the dark and we had most of our clothes on anyway." She took another mouthful of wine, enjoying the way it made her insides all warm.

        
"You mean to tell me, you only had sex once? How do you survive?" She made a look of horror.

        
"Just fine, thank you. It wasn't all that wonderful anyway. Nothing like when I...." she blushed and drank some more.

        
"Yeah...like when you what?" Cori refilled their glasses. "Come on, Blondie, spit it out."

        
"Well, I can't believe I'm going to tell you this...it's gotta be the wine, but…." she stalled.

        
"
What!
I gotta know now..."

        
"Remember when we went shopping and… Well, the night before we talked and…" She emptied her glass for confidence. "Well, I fantasizedaboutReece…whenImasturbated." She blushed furiously.

        
Cori sat there for a second to decipher what the blonde said. "Ohhhh, so it was good?" She wiggled her eyebrows.

        
"Fantastic. It's never been like that before, and believe me, I get lots of practice."

        
"Yeah, I know what you mean. So if you'd let her see you naked, why don't you pretend that the audience is full of Reeces and..."

        
"Nonono, no way. I don't even think I'd be comfortable naked in front of you."

        
"Take your top off."

        
The bartender stared blankly at her, both of them feeling the wine kicking in.