Page 13 of Sin and Salvation

My jaw dropped for a moment. Cat-like black smoke framed my eyes, bringing out their aqua shade. My cheeks were flushed and shimmering, and my lips had been painted a sultry shade of wine.

Maxime would never have allowed me out of my apartment looking like this. My personal experience with cosmetics was limited to champagne eyeshadow and pale pink lipsticks.

But I looked… beautiful. Sultry. I’d been transformed from a wallflower into a seductress, and… I liked it.

“Yeah? Yeah? Isn’t it good?” Tyri elbowed me. “I’ll give you tips on blending sometime, but I gotta get up there. Next set is mine.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, still awed by how much makeup could change a demon, but Tyri had already literally sashayed away, swinging her hips.

Kylaea smiled at me as she carefully lined her lips with red, and I stood up, trying to sweep away my nerves before my set, glancing at myself in the mirror one more time.

With this mask on, I was no longer Maxime’s silent, demure shadow.

I was a free demon. I had a job I’d chosen to win.

And I would make sure it was my meal ticket out of here.

ChapterSix

The club had just opened, and yet it was already packed. Some of the Black Hearts had clearly pre-gamed before coming in, already hollering at Tyri and Kylaea and crowding around their stages.

I swallowed back my fear and began the sultry climb up the steps to my own stage, praying I didn’t stumble and break a leg on my tall Lucite heels.

The Devil heard my prayers, and I made it up there without incident, swaying my hips as I grasped the brass pole and leaned towards the first demon to take a seat around my stage.

To my surprise, they flocked to me, taking up the bar space almost instantly. Several bills appeared on the polished wood, and under the strobing lights, I could see just well enough to figure out that was enough cash earned within thirty seconds to buy my way out of Concordia.

It’s not all yours, Venus. You’ve got to pay your dues.

Okay. Well, enough for half a train ticket. And I still needed enough for food and to purchase hotel rooms until I found a territory to settle in.

I plastered a smile on my lips and leaned forward, running my hands over myself, pushing back my long hair as I knelt in front of the first patron. He was gruff, smoking as he watched me slowly unhook my bra, his eyes glittering with lust.

As I leaned back, peeling off the silky material bit by bit, my gaze flashed upwards and my heart sank for a moment.

The VIP booth was empty.

I immediately felt like a complete idiot. What had I been expecting, that they would show up just because it was my first real night of working for them?

No matter what Tyri had said, there was nothing truly special about me. I was just like any other demon, seeking refuge out of desperation, and I wasn’t even the prettiest naked demon here.

Of course they’d buttered me up when they’d taken me back to their office. Based on the bills now lining my stage, their girls were solid earners.

It was probably policy to keep their strippers happy so the cash flow was uninterrupted.

But it was ridiculous to feel disappointed by this. I had demons literally lined up to give me their money; they had no idea they were financing my escape from Concordia.

I had no business being sad because the President of the club wasn’t here.

I pasted the smile back on, tossing my bra aside and rolling my hips for the benefit of the demons sitting behind me. One let out a low wolf-whistle, and it felt like second nature to get up on my heels and lean forward, giving them a better look as I ran my fingers down my thighs.

The gruff demon put more money up, leaning forward. Even with a novice’s education, I knew he was going to be the one to pay the most tonight; he had a hungry, almost predatory gleam in his eyes.

I did my best to give everyone a show, but I always came back to him and the ever-growing pile of money.

It occurred to me that the spark of the audition evening was gone. When I’d gone up there, dirty and tired, it had been almost exhilarating to peel off my office clothes for the top three. I’d been shocked by the strength of the feeling.

Right now, the feeling was still there, but muted. I did feel a certain excitement in knowing the demon in front of me was turned on. He kept reaching down to adjust his cock, his eyes fixated on my breasts and ass.

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