Page 38 of Firecracker

Chapter Eleven

The second story is full of big lounge chairs and couches that line the walls of the room and a bunch of chairs around the stage. The stage is a fair size with the pole towards the back. Which is a good thing, so no one can reach up and grab us during our set.

One of the girls from Ginger’s dad’s club is dancing right now. Her name is Lolli, and she’s dancing to the song “Lollipop” by Lil Wayne. I start to laugh when I see she is actually sucking on a lollipop while doing some floor dancing. The men are all standing next to the stage, some throwing money while others whistle and make catcalls around her.

Our group moves to the back next to the bar. There’s an L shaped sectional with a few big lounge chairs. I stand to the side watching Lolli dance, moving toward the pole where she does her walk around, still with her lollipop dangling from her mouth.

The girls move to stand next to me, also watching Lolli. I sense Quick near me, but I don’t look around. Instead, I keep my eyes on Lolli. Before long, Quick, Dallas, and a few other guys walk passed us heading toward the bar. I smiled giving him a wink when he looks at me. I love this feeling of having power over someone. I’m usually always walking on eggshells or feeling shitty about myself. Brody would always put me down making himself feel better.

Fuck that! I deserve to feel good. I smile to myself, feeling that jolt of self-esteem come to life inside me.

“Girl, I hope you know what you’re doing. That man has never, and I mean never, settled for one woman. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him with any woman twice. You have him acting like a schoolboy over here following you and shit,” Ginger states, chuckling in a low voice.

He makes me have all kinds of feels too.

Lifting my drink, taking another sip. “I told him this is just a weekend fling. I have too much shit on my plate to deal with a new man. I am still married, for fuck’s sake,” I reply mimicking her low voice so only us girls can hear.

Ginger shakes her head. “You must’ve never been with a biker before, because that man has his sights locked on you and it doesn’t look like anything is going to change that, so just don’t go fuck around with someone else. It will start a huge fight,” she warns me.

I look over at Izzy who has kept her mouth shut but smiles at me and I turn to Ginger. “I don’t want anyone else here. Don’t get me wrong” —I look around at all the men— “there are some hot motherfuckers here.” I turn back to Ginger with a smile. “ But I only have eyes for Quick.”

I hear Izzy thanking Jesus next to me while Ginger smiles big. “Good. I love Quick, and you two are cute together.”

Great, now they’re playing matchmaker.

Three performers, two stiff vodka tonics and numerous shots later, I’m itching to be on the stage. I already told Ginger the songs I wanted to dance to and told her to keep them to herself. Izzy doesn’t know what I have planned, but I know she will be down for whatever I do. I see the look in Izzy’s eyes too, and she loves dancing just as much as I do. It was always something for us to escape to, being able to just let ourselves go and feel the music. She does that when she DJs too, but my only escape is dancing.

“Rube, you ready to do this?” Izzy asks next to me. “Because you’re coming up.”

I look my best friend in the eyes and I smile, directing a wicked little smile at her. “I’m so totally ready. Just be prepared for the second song when I point to you.” I turn back to look at the performer. “Because you’ll be in the hot seat.”

Izzy squeals next to me. “This is going to be fun. I can’t contain myself it’s been so long.” She rubs her hands together excitedly.

Ginger heads over to the DJ booth and butterflies erupt in my stomach. The room’s at full capacity now with men standing around the room with a few in front of the stage. Quick hasn’t left his perch next to the bar except to hand me another drink and stealing a kiss here and there but he always returns to the bar. I’ve kept myself away from most of the men just standing in the back with Eva mostly while Izzy and Ginger bounce around with their men. Maze just got up here and informed me she has an hour before she must be back downstairs at the bar.

Everyone’s here, and I’m getting nervous. I haven’t performed in front of a crowd besides the girls at my aunt’s club or pole classes, in years. Brody always told me I couldn’t and that he didn’t like me acting like a whore. I called it dancing, but he thought of it as stripping.

Snap out of it. Don’t think of that fucker.

Needing some reassurance, I look over at Quick who’s laughing with the boys drinking whiskey. He glances over, and when our eyes meet he gets up and strides over finishing his drink.

Goddamn, he’s too good to be true.

I smile. Jesus Christ, he’s so fucking hot with his shaggy hair falling around his face. His white t-shirt snug against his chest with his cut hanging just perfect against him, showing off his enormous biceps. I run my hand through my wavy locks, licking my lips when my eyes finally reach his.

“Firecracker, you best quit eye fucking me before I take you around the corner and fuck you senseless,” he says, grabbing my waist, pulling me to him.

My body comes alive, wanting more of him, I reach my arms up locking them around his neck pulling him down for a kiss. His enraged cock pushes against his pants in protest.

“Sorry, you’re just so fuckin’ yummy,” I tease sexily, nipping his lower lip.

Quick moans my name, leaning down, he sucks my neck, tonguing up to suck my lobe. “I don’t know if I’m going to be able to handle all these motherfuckers watching you dance. And, if you’re as good as Dallas says you are, I’m fucked.”

Hold up, one minute. What. The. Fuck.

I pull back, breaking our embrace. “What the fuck do you mean, as good as Dallas says? How the fuck does Dallas know how good I am?” I demand.

Quick smiles and before he can answer Ginger’s voice booms across the speakers.

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