Page 371 of Flirting with Darkness

HIRED BY THE WEREWOLVES

ERIN BEDFORD

1

The sensual throb of the music pouring out of the speakers of Your Wish Gentleman’s Club swept me away as I danced on the center stage. My fingers curled around the pole as I lifted and spun myself around, enjoying the hungry looks of the patrons lined along the stage. I lowered myself down to the stage, letting my body writhe and undulate to the beat of the music.

“And that was our very own heavenly being, Angel.” the MC called out from her spot behind the DJ board. “Please show your appreciation in the way you know we love best…in greeeeen.”

I picked up the bills from the nearby customers, letting a few of them slip their money into my g-string before walking through the crowd and depositing my load in the backroom.

Stopping at my vanity, I fluffed up my curly auburn hair and touched up the black and gold liner around my amber eyes. I flicked a piece of glitter out of the corner of my eye and reapplied my bright red lipstick. Tonight had been a bit slow. Not unusual for a Monday night. Though, a few of my regulars had come in so I couldn’t complain too much.

“Hey Angel,” one of the other girls, Donna, dipped her head in the backroom. “You have a request.”

I adjusted the tiny triangles of my top and pursed my lips at myself in the mirror. “Oh? Really?”

While the club catered to all kinds of people looking to lose themselves in some harmless sexy fun, we also catered to those who wanted something a bit more…magical.

“Yeah, they requested the best one here,” Donna clicked her gum and peered down at her long nails with a bored look. “I guess that’s you or whatever.”

I held back a snort.

It just rubbed Donna raw that I was not only a better dancer but a better witch than she was. I got twice as many requests as any of the other girls put all together. It made me a lot busier than the others but the money was good and lord knows that I need it.

My mind flicked to my grandmother who was sick in the hospital room right now. All those tubes attached to her, her hands so cold… I swallowed and pushed back the tears threatening to ruin my makeup.

Suck it up, Angelica. You can’t be thinking about your grandma when you’re about to suck down some guy’s sausage. ‘Cause nothing says sexy like a geriatric woman.

“What do they look like?” I twisted away from the vanity and leaned a hip on the edge.

“Does it matter?” Donna rolled her eyes and snapped her gum again before spinning on her heel and stalking back out into the main room.

I flipped her retreating figure off and prepared to go back out there.

Private sessions made far more money than dancing on the stage but they required more of our time and occasionally they didn’t pan out in more money than I could make on the floor.

I strutted back onto the main floor and nodded at the bartender, Aubree, who tipped her head at me before miming to ask if I wanted a drink.

I shook my head in reply. I liked to keep a clear head when I did magic even if I would likely down a few afterward to bury the memory of whatever John I ended up pleasing that night.

“You sure you don’t want to take that drink?” Herc, our bouncer and one of the most fierce sorcerers I’d ever met, asked me at the entrance to the hallway that led to the private rooms.

Hand on one hip, I cocked it to the side and smirked at him. “You know I don’t drink on the job, sugar.” My Alabama accent came out heavily in the pet name.

I practiced speaking without an accent as much as possible with clients so when the time came I could sound like the Queen of England or the cheapest gutter trash. No one wants to hear a backwoods country accent while they’re enjoying their fantasy woman.

“You might want to start on this one…” Herc winced and eyed back at the private rooms.

Curious but not worried, I asked, “What am I dealin’ with?”

Herc crossed his arms over his chest and peered down at me. “Three of them. All big bulky alpha types.”

I snorted and patted Herc on the big bicep as I passed him by. “Baby, you gotta remember that every man, even the alpha types, turn to putty beneath my hands as long as I know just where to stroke them.” I winked at him over my shoulder and sashayed down the hallway.

When I arrived at the room, the door number seven, my lucky number, I didn’t knock before walking right into the low lit room. A slow beat already played through the speakers and I let it take over my body, swaying my hips from side to side.

Sliding my hands up and down my body, I surveyed the men on the crimson u-shaped couch. Herc hadn’t been kidding when he said they were big. They were even bigger than him. Two blondes and a brunette, based on their looks they had to be related in some way. Wouldn’t be the first time I had brothers or cousins for that matter wanting to have an experience together. I didn’t care as long as I got paid.

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