KAYSEN*

I’m perplexed by the effect this man has on me. There’s an indescribable allure that leaves me breathless and my senses heightened. No one, not even Michael, whom I adored with every ounce of my being, has ever ignited such intense desire within me. This stranger, with his eyes fixed on me like a hawk, exudes a magnetic charm I find impossible to resist. My body reacts, every nerve tingling, as if electrified. I crave him with an intensity that consumes me. What on earth is happening to me? I shouldn’t, but I want this man with every fiber of my being.

As I swayed and sensually removed my clothing before the vast crowd of men, my unwavering gaze remained locked with his. In that moment, he became the sole figure in the room, while the others seemed to vanish into thin air. With every piece of fabric discarded but my thong, I envisioned him forcefully undressing me, his desire igniting a fiery passion within me. My body moved with a grace that surpassed any previous pole dance I had performed during my six-month tenure at Hector’s strip club. I left nothing to the imagination, each seductive move a tantalizing invitation.

As I stretched out on the cool, smooth concrete floor, my fingertips traced delicate paths across my supple skin. In my mind’s eye, I could feel his hands, strong and skilled, expertly massaging my breasts. The dimly lit bar was alive with pulsating music, mingling with the faint aroma of alcohol and sweat. Because I had performed well, both with pole dancing and stripping, I could sense that my tips would be generous tonight. Unlike the other girls, I always stayed to waitress after I danced, and the men respected that. Instead of tucking their money into my thong like the others, they left it as tips, a sign of their admiration. They had learned that I didn’t particularly enjoy being touched. Still, I would dance around the tables, just like the rest of the girls, tonight aiming to captivate one specific man, to make him crave me.

I made my rounds, saving Connor and Wade’s table for the last. As I approached the captivating stranger, his intense gaze pierced through to my soul as it had all night. With a seductive sway, I indulged him with a tantalizing lap dance, my hands gliding along his shirt, tracing the contours of his chiseled abs. As I turned to depart, he seized my hand, pulling me back towards him. My breath hitched as our eyes locked, the electric tension between us palpable. A mischievous smile played upon his lips as he winked, slipping money into the delicate fabric of my thong, just above my exposed core, which throbbed with desire.

I couldn’t comprehend his thoughts as I watched, anticipation building. Hector would wipe the floor with him once I exited the stage. Nervously, I nibbled on my bottom lip, feeling the excitement in the air. The stage beckoned me, and with an erotic sway, I returned, captivating the audience with my movements. 

A rush of adrenaline surged through me as I escaped to the dressing room, desperate to distance myself. But his touch, when he grabbed me, sent a surge of electricity coursing through my body, igniting a primal desire. My heart skipped a beat, leaving me lightheaded and overwhelmed. I can still feel his hand around my wrist and that action makes me want him even more now than I already had. 

I’ve got to find out who he is and how he knows Connor and Wade. It’s a bad idea for me to talk to him after that display of him grabbing me and putting money in my thong, but I feel the overwhelming desire to have him near me. On me, consuming me.

I dashed towards the bathroom, slamming the door behind me, and turning the lock. As I removed my undergarment, a cascade of three crisp hundred-dollar bills fluttered down onto the cool tiled floor. A pulsating desire surged through the depths of my being, urging me to address the building tension. Aware that a moment was all it would take, I prepared to release the coiled, intense energy, pulsate within me.

I closed my eyes, immersing myself in the vivid image of his tongue flicking and caressing my sex, as I circled and pinched my bud between my fingers, then dove a finger inside. With one hand, I tweaked my nipples, mimicking the sensation of his touch on my sensitive globes. As I quickened my pace, the pressure and heat in my core intensified, causing me to break into a gentle sweat. In a moment of ecstasy, I exploded, feeling my essence trickle down to the floor. This was a level of self-pleasure I had never experienced before. What was it about this man that drove me so wild?

TANNER*

With her piercing, sky-blue eyes locked onto mine, Raven held an enigmatic allure that seemed to unravel me from within. The magnetic pull she exerted begged me to distance myself, yet an irresistible desire consumed my every thought. As the ache within me grew stronger, I yearned to find solace, to numb the persistent longing. Deep down, however, I knew Raven could not be the remedy for this insatiable craving. Perhaps a fleeting encounter with someone else would quell my desires, ensuring I wanted nothing to do with her thereafter. It’s a matter of relieving the pent-up need that has plagued me for three agonizing days. Just a release from someone, anyone, other than Raven, and I would be fine. But damn, the intensity of my longing for her is overwhelming.

“Man, you must be begging for trouble. Did you witness anyone else slipping cash into her thong? The whole joint knows Raven is off-limits. I’m amazed Hector hasn’t booted us out already,” Connor whispered, the deafening music drowning his words as the lingering scent of sweat and alcohol hung heavy in the air.

As I scanned the space, the pulsating music reverberated in my ears, drowning out any semblance of coherent thought. The smell of alcohol mixed with sweat filled the air, creating an intoxicating yet suffocating atmosphere. Through the haze, I spotted Hector positioned behind the bar, his movements synchronized with Roberta as they served drinks to the rowdy crowd. When our eyes met, I could feel the waves of anger emanating from him, his frustration palpable in the tense atmosphere. Panic engulfed me, realizing that the situation was spiraling out of control.

“We need to get out of here and go somewhere else. I need to find someone to get all this tension released. I can’t be here any longer. It’s fucked up that she’s so off limits. Makes little sense. Every other stripper has had men stuffing money in their thongs.”

Moments later, Raven sauntered back into the room, her jet-black hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail. Clad in a pristine waitress uniform, she exuded an air of effortless elegance. Her beauty was impossible for me to resist. She approaches Hector and engages in a heated argument with him. With an air of dismissal, he waved her away, and she pivoted around the bar, her steps determined. Our eyes locked as she closed the distance between us.

“I need to talk to you for a moment; come with me,” Raven said, her voice filled with urgency, as I rose from my seat, anticipation coursing through me. I followed her brisk footsteps, the sound of her shoes echoing against the tiled floor as we made our way to the stockroom. The faint scent of cardboard and musty shelves wafted through the air, adding to the sense of secrecy and intrigue.

“I, uh… Sorry… I couldn’t resist touching you. You’re so fucking gorgeous,” I stammered, my words punctuated by the subtle hum of the loud bar. With a gentle yet firm push, I pressed her against the cold metal of a clothing rack.

Raven’s delicate hand pressed against my chest, halting my longing to kiss her. The tension in the room crackled like electricity, as if the air itself held its breath. Her voice quivered with a mix of desire and uncertainty, whispering, “Please, don’t do this. I can’t. It’s not that I don’t want you. I do. There’s an ache deep within me and I want you so bad it hurts. But I can’t take this any further with you. Hell, even your name remains a mystery to me.” Despite her attempt to escape, I held her close, enclosing her within the fortress of my arms.

“Tanner,” I muttered, the words escaping my lips like a hushed breath. The room seemed to amplify the tension, as if the shadows themselves held their breath. My grip tightened on the edge of the rack, my fingers trembling as my self-control slipped. The question lingered in the stillness, hanging between us like an unanswered riddle. “Is Raven your real name?” I asked, the words fraught with curiosity and a hint of desperation.

“No. My name is Kaysen,” she murmured, her voice barely audible over the pulsating music. With a gentle push, she broke free from my grasp, her touch sending a shiver down my spine.

Determination etched on her face, she continued, “But I can’t do this, Tanner. I’m not the sort of woman who hooks up with guys. I’ve refrained from any type of intimacy for two years and I don’t want to change that now. The thought of breaking that streak weighed on my mind. I want you, I do,” she confessed, her eyes searching mine. But duty called, and her gaze flickered toward the bustling crowd. “I need to get to work. The club is packed tonight,” she explained, her voice tinged with a touch of urgency. “It would help if you let me go.” And with that, she turned to leave.

I clasped her delicate wrist for the second time tonight, feeling the warmth of her skin against mine. With a gentle tug, I drew Kaysen closer to me, and she melted into my embrace, her body pressed against my chest. I held her, savoring the softness of her presence.

As I tilted her chin upwards, our eyes locked, and I found myself captivated by the mesmerizing hue of her sky blue irises. With an intensity that burned within me, I kissed her, igniting a passionate fire between us. Kaysen responded, her fingers entangling in my hair, holding me closer, before reluctantly pulling away.

“Come home with me tonight, after your shift,” I whispered, my voice filled with longing. “I’ll be waiting for you. We both crave this connection. I want you, Kaysen. So bad, it’s hard to explain.” And with that plea hanging in the air, we shared one final, fervent kiss.

“Don’t do this to me; I have to go straight home from work.” Kaysen said, her voice laced with urgency. “There is no way that you and I could ever work. I’m sorry,” she continued, her words punctuated by the sound of her footsteps echoing through the space. “But I need to get back out there.” She then walks away from me, going through the double doors that flapped open and shut with a resounding thud. Leaving me devastated at the loss of her presence.

I stood there for a few moments in shock over what had just happened, until Hector walked through the doors. “If you dare lay a hand on her, I will not hesitate to track you down and unleash my fury on you,” Hector warned, his voice filled with a fierce determination. The room seemed to darken as he spoke, casting an eerie shadow over the tense atmosphere. Hector’s words hung in the silence, reverberating with an unyielding conviction. With a swift exit, he left as abruptly as he had arrived, leaving behind a lingering sense of unease.