His Deceitful Queen

Chapter 10

Amaya's POV

I woke up Saturday morning with a text from Jake. I woke up every morning to a text from him. I was falling hard and fast for this man, but I was still pretending with him. He didn't know the real me and probably never would. I could only let him in so far. One day Dominic would get out of prison, and I knew he would come for me. I just had to hope that I had enough money put away that Clay could live out the rest of his life happy and healthy and would have everything he needed.

I miss what Dominic and I had. It was the realest relationship I had ever had. He let me in completely and I still lied to him, and I had to betray him. It was that or my brother would have been killed or me. My father always found a way of finding me. I have changed my name so many times now that I haven't even heard my real name in a long time. I just wished that I could have had a normal life and not something on the run or picking up the pieces my father left behind.

I sent Jake a message telling him I would love to go on a date this afternoon. I had to be part way honest with him today. I couldn't tell him the full truth, but I did need to let him know I was a stripper. That word I hated. It was so degrading but at this point it was the only way I could think of to make enough money to pay for Clay.

I called and talked to him for a few minutes. His attention span wasn't very long so the best I got was a few minutes. I did miss him like crazy. He was always so happy that it was infectious. He really couldn't talk but over the years I had learned to understand the things he wanted with the noises he made.

I felt better after talking with him and knowing that he was still doing good, I got up and got ready to go meet Jake. He said something about Central Park. I hadn't been there since I came here but I had wanted to. He didn't give any indication of what we were doing so I slipped on a pair of shorts and a tank top and a pair of sandals and headed out.

I jumped on the subway, ignoring the horrible smell. Some days it wasn't bad but when the weather got hot and muggy like it was today the smell was horrible.

I walked to the meeting point that Jake and I had set up but didn't see him yet. I found a bench and went and sat down and people watched as they walked by. A few lovers, a lot of people on skateboards or rollerblades and bikes. Several runners and then you had the mom groups. Always in yoga pants and crop tops. It didn't seem to matter how big they were or weren't they all wore the same thing. It was judgmental of me but damn some of these women needed to cover up.

"What are you thinking about so hard?" Jake asked as he sat down on the bench with me. I didn't even see him come up.

"Nothing important."

"You were laughing to yourself."

"I was just judging the mom groups that were walking by and god this sounds awful but some of them really should wear more clothes and that their crop tops and leggings aren't attractive." I told him and he busted out this deep laugh that made me laugh.

"Come judgy mcjudgerson, I thought we could go to the zoo."

"The zoo?" I question because I had never been to one and always wanted to go.

"Ya, is that OK?"

"I've never been to a zoo, and I've always wanted to go."

"How did you never go to one growing up? Isn't that like a field trip thing in school?"

"I didn't live close enough to one."

"Well come on then, let's go look at some animals. What do you want to see first?"

"Oh, you can't ask me something like that."

"Why not?" he asked as he grabbed my hand and held it.

"I can't possibly decide."

He just laughed and then paid for our way in, and we looked at a map and I saw they had penguins. I pointed to it and started giggling.

"To the penguins first I guess," he said.

"Yes." I said excitedly and we took off towards their exhibit.

It was as great as I thought it would be. They were so cute looking like they were in little tuxedos. We went around to see all of the animals and I think I got more and more excited. I was like a little kid getting to spend an unlimited amount of money in a candy store.

"What would you like to eat?" he asked, and I was feeling guilty because so far, he had paid for everything. As much as I hated paying for things, I needed to pay.

"Let me buy lunch," I told him.

"Not a chance. I invited you out. I'm paying." he said and honestly, I was relieved.

We got some burgers and a milkshake, and we walked over to their picnic area and that's when he pulled off his backpack and pulled out a blanket for us to sit down on. We got everything situated and started eating.

"So, what was your favorite animal?" he asked, "Wait, let me guess, the penguins?"

"Yes, but I will say that the red pandas were a close second. How about you?"

"I would have to go with the lions."

"I need to talk to you about something. I need to be honest before this goes any further and I really hope that what I'm about to say doesn't change anything." I told him. I placed my burger down and took a few deep breaths.

"I'm sure whatever it is, isn't as bad as you think it is."

"I work two jobs." I said and before I could even finish, he spoke, "I'm not sure why you think working two jobs is such a bad thing. It just shows you're driven and a hard worker."

"Ya well it might since my second job is stripper." I finally managed to get out and looked down. I didn't want him to see the shame on my face. I was embarrassed about it, but it was the truth.

He didn't say anything for a long time, and I knew this would be our last date, which was probably for the better. Who knows how long I will be here anyways.

"Jake, thank you for the great time. I will just be leaving," I told him and went to stand but he grabbed my arm and jerked me down to him. He laid us down on the blanket and made sure that my head was on his arm.

"What are you doing?" I asked him.

"I want to relax after our big lunch."

"OK but what about I just told you."

"I do have a few follow up questions?"

"OK, let me have them."

"Do you let men touch you?"

"No," I told him even though it was a lie. I did one man but that wouldn't be happening anymore.

"Do you do private dances?"

"Yes."

"Will you do a private dance for me?"

"Maybe if you play your cards right." I told him and he just laughed.

"Can I come see you at work?"

"Absolutely not."

"Why not?"

"Because we aren't at that point and besides it usually creates unnecessary jealousy."

"Not going to lie, I am a little jealous."

"Trust me there is nothing to be jealous of."

"Oh, but there is. You see all these guys have seen these amazing t**s of yours and I haven't."

"Well maybe we will have to leave here, and I can change that for you." I whispered but his phone went off and he reached into his pocket and pulled up a text. I turned my head to not be snoopy. It was his business, and I didn't need to know.

He replied back to his text and then pulled me closer. "Let's get a picture of us," he said, and I rolled further into him, and he snapped a picture and then closed his phone.

I didn't bring up going back to his place again although I really wanted to. God, I needed a good lay and this man had been playing all of his cards right, but something seemed to be holding him back. That wasn't the usual for the men I've dated. They usually wanted that first and so this whole dating thing and getting to know each other first was weird but it was nice.

We laid on that blanket for a solid hour just watching the clouds go by and finding different shapes in them and laughing at each other. When we finally decided we had had enough we packed up and he walked me to the subway after I turned him down for a rideshare.

He pulled me close and brought his lips to mine and kissed me deeply at the top of the stairs that led down to the subway and when we finally pulled apart it was like everything around us had stopped and started once we stopped kissing.

"Wow," I said and brought my hands to my lips rubbing them. They were red and swollen and on fire and I loved it.

"Ya, princess, I agree," he said as he gave me one little peck on the cheek and walked away.

After I got back home, I laid down and thought about my afternoon with Jake. It was perfect. I had never had someone like him. He seemed to want more than just my body. I had that too with Dominic, but this just feels different. With Dominic it started off as s*x and man was it fire, and it turned into more but with Jake it feels like we're building a foundation. Something we could build a real future on. The only problem was my past. It was going to catch up to me at some point, it might be tomorrow, or it might be in twenty years, but I knew it would and I don't know if and when I should tell him.

Maybe he could keep me safe. Maybe we could run away together and start a whole new life and I would never be found. I also had to figure out a way to get back into nursing. It paid the bills and then some. I knew what I had to do in order to do it, but it was going to cost me too much. I needed a lawyer and a judge to sign off on things. It was also traceable. I learned that the hard way. That's how my father found me last time.

I took a late afternoon nap and got ready for work and when I walked into the club Jake had sent me a text asking if I was really sure that he couldn't come and watch me work, with a smile emoji at the end.

"No, you can't. I told you jealousy and all."

"If I promise to be a good boyfriend and not get jealous, could I?"

"Boyfriend??"

"I mean if you will have me?" he replied back, and I thought for a minute. I would love nothing more than to call him my boyfriend but there were still some truths that needed to come out and I wasn't ready to do that just yet.

"Let's keep it slow lover boy," I told him and put my phone away.

I pulled my makeup out of my bag when someone ran straight into my chair.

"I warned you and you didn't listen. That spot is mine and if you think you are going to take it you have another thing coming. Just wait," said the same dumb blonde that threatened me on my first night, but I shrugged off her words and finished getting ready for work.