Temptation (20 page)

“Why are you always so nervous to be around me?” Viktor asks, and I don’t answer right away. I don’t know how to answer that yet. I still have no clue why I’m nervous around him, but then again, when he’s near I feel the most comfortable. Like last night. I was nervous all night until I was around him. All these emotions are too much for me to comprehend.

So instead of admitting this, I avoid the question. “I’m not nervous. I’m going to go shower,” I snap back at him as I make my way to go upstairs. I don’t get very far when I hear that demanding voice of his.

“Ava.”

“No, Viktor. I … I just can’t go there. I’ve been burned once before, and …” I sigh running a hand across my face. “I just can’t, okay? Plus you never answer any of my questions, so no. I don’t owe you anything.” I start to turn and walk away but I stop and say, “Thank you for cooking, but I think you need to go.”

He sighs and throws the dish towel he has over his shoulder onto the counter. “Fine, but we are going to talk about this. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but mark my words, we will be having this conversation again.”

I watch Viktor as he storms out of the house and slams the door as he does. I sit on steps, and rest my head in my hands. I have no clue what Viktor wants from me. I thought I’d be safe and he would leave me alone once I signed the contract. I guess I was wrong.

One year later-present time

The music from the club vibrates off the walls in the dressing room. I sit at my vanity, while the other girls rush and run around trying to get ready for their turn on stage. My turn ended a short while ago. I gaze at myself in the mirror still not sure who this person is staring back at me.

A lot has change over the past year.

Not only has Gabbie grown like a weed, she’s so smart for an eighteen month old. I smile thinking of her and how much she has changed. She keeps me on my toes at all times and the things she does keeps me very entertained. There isn’t a day that she doesn’t do something that makes me burst out in laughter. I’ve no clue where she picks up on some of the things she says or does. Just a few days ago, she told me she wanted Ariel to come live with her. When I told her Ariel couldn’t because she lived under the sea, she calmly stated that she could come live in the bath tub. Her exact words were, “But mommy, hers can wive in the tub. Hers needs wader to breeve. Cause hers a fish.” I couldn’t argue with her logic.

Gabbie isn’t the only one who has changed. I’m not the same timid and self-conscious girl anymore. Since working for Viktor, I’ve slowly gained confidence. No longer worrying so much of what people might think of me or what they say. I’m sure of myself now. I’m not as shy when I walk into the club anymore and I’ve gotten used to stripping for the clients. Even all the girls walking around topless doesn’t bother me. I’ve gotten the hang of being a single mother. Granted, Viktor is always at my house helping me. He never leaves. At one point I really thought he was going to move in.

Things between Viktor and I haven’t changed much. I don’t know if I want them to. I’m still scared, and I really don’t want to go through another heartbreak. Viktor has the power to ruin me for life, and I know if I give into him, it’s a huge risk. I will admit, he has gotten better at giving me space and not flirting with me. I still catch him staring at me, or reaching out to me only to realize what he was doing, then he’d drop his hand back down to his sides. Those are the times I want to say the hell with the contract. The hell with being afraid. I hate that I miss when he used to touch me lightly, like a lover would. I hate that I’ve gotten used to him being around. He still watches me every night I work and every time I dance. It’s sort of our thing now. Viktor helps me in some weird fucked up way. I know I couldn’t continue to dance for money if he wasn’t out there, sitting in that chair, watching me.

“Scarlet, you have a request for a private dance in room four.” I hear Margo tell me and I sigh knowing my break is over. I nod to her and I turn back to the mirror. I touch up my red lipstick and sit back looking over myself once more.

I’m definitely not the same girl.

I might look like Ava, but right now Scarlet’s here, and she’s ready to make money. I don’t consider letting her take over a problem. An addiction, yes. Making this kind of money is consuming. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever known before. Almost half of what I make goes into a savings account for Gabbie. I only use what we need, preferring to save most for Gabbie’s future. Then having all the attention focused on me when I’m on stage, it’s very powerful feeling. I want to say I can stop whenever I want, but deep down, I’m not sure if I’ll ever want to stop. Being Scarlet Rose has let me grow as a person, and I’ve never felt more like myself that I hid away, and more beautiful than I do when I’m working.

I get up, and take off my robe. I toss it over my chair and I go stand in front of the full length mirror. Once I approve of how I look, I follow Margo to the private room. Tony, my very own personal body guard compliments of Viktor, follows right behind me. I don’t mind Tony being around. He’s my extra protection I need now days while I’m at work. Since that first night of dancing, I’ve gotten very popular. Everyone seems to want more. The night I was cornered by three drunk customers, was the only time I wanted to quit. Viktor being Viktor, took care of everything. Those men were banned from ever returning to the club, and the next night Tony showed up. I feel safer when he’s around.

Margo stops when she gets to room four and opens the door for Tony and me. I hear her shut the door and I give the client a once over before I tell him the rules. The client looks to be in his mid-forties.
He’s wearing a suit, but his balding head and his pot belly make me think he’s a father or a grandfather. He seems uptight and uncomfortable in the suit and tie. We get men like this all the time. I hope this one doesn’t offer to take me away from this life and promise me the world. Even men have a Cinderella fantasy. It’s happened so many times now, that I usually ignore it. I don’t understand why these men think this life’s so horrible. He does look nervous and I have a feeling this is his first time. I hear the client clear his throat and I begin the ritual before starting. It’s becoming a habit to tell them how the private dance will go, before I get down to business. Tony leans against the wall close by the door and crosses his arms over his chest. The client moves uncomfortably seeing how big and scary Tony looks. I find it amusing since Tony’s like a big teddy bear. At least to me he is. I’ve seen him beat the shit out of client once.

I walk to the center of the small private room and I put a hand on my hip. I tilt my head to the side trying to figure out what would work best for the client. Everyone’s different. They all want different things. This one, I think just wants to talk. And I don’t do talking while I dance.

“This is how it’s going to go. You are never to touch me. You see this big guy behind me,” I tell him as I point to Tony. The client gulps and nods. “Good. If it even looks like you’re about to touch me, Tony will escort you out of the club. No refunds either.” I walk closer to him and I lean down so he’s focused on me instead of Tony. I can see the sweat forming on his forehead and upper lip. “Keep your hands behind your head. Follow these simple rules and I’ll give you the best thirty minutes of your life. Got it?”

The client nods, and shifts in his seat. He moves his hands behind his head, and I turn to Tony. I nod my head at him and he reaches over to push the red button for the music for the room. It’s very convenient each room has its own sound system. I reach down to the side of the recliner the client’s sitting in and I pull the lever to lean him back more. I kick his feet apart and when I hear the music come on, I straddle him. I don’t miss the intake of his breath or the look on his face. I start to slowly grind my hips onto him and I put my hands on either side of him. I lean my body towards his, making my tits come very close to his face. I see him watching me. I feel him tense underneath me and I know he’s fighting hard not to get a boner.

I grab his tie with my hand as I lean back and roll my body on his. I get off him slowly and bend down to my knees. I run my hands on his legs and rub my body on his as I slowly come up to his face. He clears his throat and I know he’s about to start talking.

“Have you been doing this for a long time?’ he asks and I can smell the whiskey on his breath.

“No talking,” I warn him as I continue to grind and move on him.

“Why don’t you let me take care of you?” And there’s the million dollar question. The one every single client asks.

“I said no talking.” I turn my back to him and put my ass on his crotch. I move around on him some more and I lean my back against his chest.

“This is not a life you have to have. I can give you anything you want.” I look up at Tony and I can see he’s trying not to laugh. I roll my eyes as I whip around to face him. I sit hard on his lap, and the client jumps. I slowly run my hands up his pot belly, trying very hard not to show how disgusting he is, and I grab his tie. I roll it up while I smile sweetly to him and then, I shove it in his mouth.

“I said, no talking.”

I hear him try to speak, but his words are muffled by the tie. I continue to work him over, enjoying it a bit more now that I can’t hear his words. Every time I do a private dance, I can’t help when my mind starts to wander. I think of him sitting here instead of an uptight and disgusting stranger. Dark green eyes stare back into mine as he watches me. It’s his broad and strong shoulders I hold onto as I roll my hips and press my breasts in his face. His unique smell fills my nose and I take in a deep breath taking it in. It’s all for him. I can’t help my mind from thinking of Viktor. As much as I fight him, I know there’s some sort of connection between us. I know by the way my body comes alive just thinking of him. My heart starts to speed up, as does my breathing. My body flushes with heat knowing how much Viktor would love for me to do this to him. How much I want to do this to him. I ignore the muffled sounds the client makes as I think of Viktor. Of Viktor’s hands on me as he directs how me wants me to move. Of him reaching up to pinch my already hard nipples. I can feel how rough and hard his hands feel against my skin and I let my head fall back as I let out a small moan. I continue to move with my hips and my legs as Viktor runs his hands up my thighs. Going to the spot where I want him to touch me the most. I feel him getting closer and closer to my pussy. His movements are slow and he enjoys teasing me. I can feel the brush of his finger on the outside of my panties then he--

The loud buzzer going off snaps me out of my fantasy. I look down to see the client staring at me, panting. I reach up and pull out his tie from his mouth and I get off him. I don’t say a word to the client or to Tony as I walk out of the room. I don’t hear what Tony tells the client before I make my way back to the dressing room. I’m in a daze with Viktor still clouding my mind. I don’t know why I always think of him when I do a private dance. I don’t even feel guilty for thinking of him while I dance either. The first time it happened, I told myself I wouldn’t go there again. But I did, and I still do. I don’t try to figure out the reason behind it as I come closer to his office. I might not be able to have him in real life but my fantasies can’t be stopped.

His office door is slightly ajar and I can hear him and Sebastian talking. They speak in Russian, and the conversation seems heated. Viktor’s voice is raised and I shake my head at hearing Sebastian talk back to him. I’ve gotten used to hearing them argue when Sebastian’s here. I’ve no clue why they’re always going at it. No one at the club does. Viktor keeps his private life and the club under a tight leash. No one even knows when his birthday is.

Trixie and I tried once to get it out of him, but that didn’t go over so well. Margo told us more than once to stay out of Viktor’s business. I tried once more when he was over at the house, but he of course, ignored me and brushed me off. I gave up trying to find out. All I wanted to do was give him a little something for his birthday.

I pass by his office and I turn down the hall to the dressing room. My shift for tonight is almost over and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t ready to go home. I miss my little girl like crazy, and the last night of the week when I work is always the worst to get through. Even if the club’s busy like tonight, I can’t wait to pick up Gabbie from my parents in the morning. It’s become a normal routine for us. I work my four nights a week, then for the next three days, Gabbie and I spend every second together.

Trixie’s cleaning up her vanity as I walk in. Some of the other girls are doing the same as others change into different outfits for their last turn on stage. I walk over to my locker and pull out my bag of comfy clothes. I turn and head to the dressing room where I quickly change. I can hear the girls laughing and talking outside the room, and when I walk out, they come over to me to show me why they’re having a blast.

“OMG,” one of the girls named Star says. She draws out her O-M-G as she shows me the schedule for the VIP room.