Bare

Chapter Four- Jealousy

Gwen thought of the proposition brought to her attention by Deacon. Her life could be comprised of one well paying client that would shower her with attention and gifts. However, there would also be the need to be exclusive to him, and for the same reason she remained single, would be the same reason she was planning to decline his offer. But she couldn't help but wonder what lied upon the grass being greener on the other side she only witnessed by rumor and dreamed of as fantasy. Each time she would commit to reject his offer, she then thought of his sparkling eyes and thick sensual tension that made any room present with them, difficult to breathe in. It would be by the simple connection of gazes or brushing of hands that allowed their passion to be seen without the need of words. But neither seemed to act on it, only allow the s****l tension to build as they both became more and more desperate for the next time they would meet. For those on the outside looking in, however, they may have seen hostility and even hate, but it was a clash of their personalities-having sparked their interest in each other. 

These thoughts had set Gwen into a state of pensiveness as she lingered at her mirror behind the stage. The sounds of one of the other girls having finished was enough to allow her a queue on when she was expected. She knew this number down pat, could even perform it in her sleep, and so, she neglected to notice the seemingly small things that others would pick out right away. Such things having been the rose taped to her mirror by an admirer others were desperate to know his or her identity. This would be concealed to even Gwen, as she moved on stage as the announcer spoke her stage name as Bella Rose. 

The first beats of the musical score from "The Pink Panther" could be heard as the club fell silent. A thick hot pink boa had covered her body, showing lines of her lingerie, as she turned towards the crowd. The men of lust cheered at her as others called out sexualized comments involving her oversized chest and round rump. All things, she had grown used to-and managed to ignore as a speck of dust in the air. Instead, she focused on each step while teasing the crowd to the best of her ability. She dropped the boa just enough to reveal the top section of her decolletage and her porcelain skin that accented it. It was clear without prior knowledge that she had been nude, but it was only confirmed by the time the boa slid to her ankles. 

Abandoning the pole, she moved to the crowd with the boa, allowing its feathery existence to brush upon her clients. Most understood the no touch rule, but many that were usually courageous die to whatever spirit they had in their glass, seemed to forget about this. But instead of pushing him away, forcing him out by security, or yelling at him, she set her finger in front of him, showing a no-no. The man roared at her in approval before she moved back onto the stage before the lights cut out completely. 

Thankfully due to existing in a time of modern technology, the clients used their cellphones to illuminate the area in place of the expected lighting. They moved about in different directions; some leaving, some going to the bar, and some freaking out as they claimed it was a sign of the apocalypse. Gwen ignored most of these as she made her way to the circuit breaker that held the ability to restore the power. Much to her unexpected surprise, she saw how it had been forced off. 

Still present with the boa wrapped around her to try and hide her erect n*****s from the set of gazes that didn't pay, she focused on the instructions listed on the inside of the mechanism. With her phone's screen fading every ten seconds, she began to grow frustrated before finding a brighter light to emerge behind her. Without having to turn, she was able to identify the source of light coming from Deacon. It wasn't his cologne or the way he walked that had made her realize it was him. It was the way they had connected, in a way beyond words, beyond labels.

"Need some help?"

She didn't speak, as she suddenly felt vulnerable before him. This was confusing to her as she stripped for a room of strangers every day, and yet for him-it seemed too personal. His presence around her made her nervous, leading to her to become silent and tremulous-unsure how to respond to him.

"I thought it would be easier to turn back on…" he confessed as she turned to him in shock at his confession. 

"You cut the power?" 

He nodded, moving closer to her. She looked to him, feeling breathless beneath his gaze as his muscles clenched around her while resting on the wall behind her. Unsure if he was testing her, she tried to think of anything but leaning to kiss him-but this was made difficult by the plump nature of his mouth, as well as the fresh peppermint scent that came from his lips. She wondered how he tasted and if he was a good kisser, but she fought the urge to discover this now. 

"You could have cost the club thousands…"

He scoffed, bringing out his wallet and showing it to her. 

"Money isn't an object." She rolled her eyes from a mix of jealousy and aggravation as he thought he could throw money at any problem and it would then go away. She wasn't one of these instances...and it certainly wouldn't make her go away. Not anytime soon, anyway. 

"Not only that, you could have rushed my clients away…" he seemed disconnected to her words, as if he truly didn't care, while her eyes remained upon his. 

"Have you given any thought about my proposal?" His eyes were full of pleasure, as if he expected her to say yes. But being a modern woman, who could be labeled borderline feminist, responded in a way that acted as a rebuttal or decline of his offer. 

"I can't be bought…"

"Everyone has a price." He spoke seductively, his hand moving upon her waist. She knew this tactic of alluring someone in with seduction...it was her literal living...but he seemed to do it so much better than her. "You can't own me." She spoke before he leaned down to her. 

"But just think of all the fun we could have if I did." Her mouth fell agape as she could feel his breath rest upon her lips. Her body could have collapsed onto the floor from how he made her feel. Her legs became like gelatin and her fingers reached for him, but she was able to keep herself upright to see him pull away. 

Needing a moment in the bathroom to cool off, she stood before the bathroom mirror with the lights from cellular devices to light the area. Butts of cigarettes and vape pens also gave a firefly-esque appearance as she used the water to try and calm her blood pressure. She wasn't a saint by any means, but there was something about when she was with him that had allowed her to feel both angelic and sinister, and this was part of the allure. 

The cold water against her skin did nothing to counteract the emotions she had begun to feel for Deacon. It was purely sexual...she knew that...but there had been something underlining this desire. It was something that was palpable and deep...sweet and sexy-on the basis of what could grow into love. The thought made her Cinderella moment a possible reality before she heard the sound of grunting in a nearby stall. With it being a strip club, it wasn't uncommon for men to release tension in the bathroom...but it was rare for it to be done in the ladies room. Due to this, she happened to pass the door to where the couple was embraced and saw it opened just enough to reveal Deacon with one of the other dancers. Sickened and jealous, she froze and then ran from the bathroom and into the alleyway. 

A part of her hoped and prayed that he was different, that he was abstinent and perfectly singular...but he was a man with hormones-and as much as she hated to admit it, she gave him every reason to look elsewhere. But being in this city, Gwen learned rather quickly with her arrival that one doesn't get peace or an apology… one gets even. And so, she set her plan in motion, knowing the only thing he wanted was her-and she would give him enough of a taste before pulling away. This would make him understand she was not disposable or a toy for him to tease, vow, and dump whenever he became aroused by someone else. Even if pain was present within this-so was clarity. She knew she would never be owned by him...not after this.