Page 15 of The Lawyer
It does the trick, and she shoves past me with nothing else to say on the matter. She might be Jackson’s cousin, but I'm a prized asset here, and Jamie hates that. Especially as I know—along with everyone else—that he has a soft spot for me. He’s always treated me well, given me whatever I’ve asked for, and for a gangster, he's surprisingly protective. But I see the look in his eye, I see the desire he’s held at bay, and that means I hold the power.
Of course, I’ll never cross that line. I work at The Priory for me—free of obligation and judgement. I’m not a hooker. That’s a line I won’t cross, and any kind of relationship with him is way off the cards. He knows it. Everyone knows it.
Doesn't stop him trying, though.
I get to the dressing room, dump my bag, and set about changing. It doesn’t take long, considering how little I put on. I have a floor-length silk robe I’ll start with, so there’s a build-up to the show.
“Knock, knock.” Jackson opens the door after his announcement as I’m securing my mask. “Fuck.” He stops, and I watch his eyes drink me in from top to bottom. “Juniper, you … you’ve ignored all my fucking messages.” I see him catch up with his reaction, shifting from first impression to what he came in to say.
“I’ve had a shitty day. Can I just get through this and we can talk about whatever it is you wanted to talk about later?” I smile and take a step closer to him.
“Don’t forget. I’m serious Juniper. It’s important.” His voice softens at the end.
“I promise. So, will I do?” I give him a little turn. I know it’s a tease move, but this is what he pays me for.
“You know you don’t have to ask. Jamie says the boxes are full. Make sure they get what they’ve paid for.”
“I always do, don’t I?”
I secure my mask with a double knot and walk out, leaving Jackson behind so I can get into position on the ramp. The platform of the plastic box is my stage. A two-meter by two-meter podium. I step up and take a breath, waiting for the adrenalin and excitement to fuel my blood. As I rise up, I strike the first pose—wanting to make my entrance and set the tone for the next fifteen minutes.
Seductive, sexy, elusive and untouchable.
The strings of the tune start and build, but I hold my position until the change of key. My shoulders roll, and my body sways as more and more instruments join in, adding layers of sounds. My arms take flight, extending my movements, and I can feel the silk of the robe ride up my skin, exposing my flesh for the first time. It’s a tease and one that will continue.
I extend my hand, making sure to finish every line to the fullest. With the mask on, and the lights focused on me, I can’t see anything past the box, but I know there are eyes trained on me. A thrill burns through me and sends a shiver over my skin. As the music intensifies, my body flows to the rhythm.
Billowing silk wafts around my legs, and I bend to grasp the edge, sliding it up to allow everyone to see my shoes. My fingers toy with the fabric working it as a prop, covering and uncovering my legs, all the way to the apex of my thighs.
The more I allow the song to take hold, the more confident I become, and that’s when I can fully escape and forget about anyone behind the glass screens. My body responds to the show I’m putting on, the endorphins floating me higher and higher. The pace of my dance quickens, and I slip the shoulders of the robe down, one at a time, twisting and swaying with the music.
It’s not until over halfway through my dance that the robe pools at my feet in a dramatic reveal. It’s timed to perfection with the crescendo before the second wave of beats forces my hips to rotate as my body twists. My arms rise above my head. The sheer fabric and the lights will ensure I’m on full display, and I don’t want to disappoint.
My heart starts to race, my pulse quickening as I reach the final part of the show. I keep one arm straight above my head, my wrist bent into a right angle as my other arm wraps seductively around my stomach, trailing a path across my chest between my breasts and up to meet my other hand.
Each thrum of the music is another highlight for me to use to my advantage. My hips, my legs, my hair—I dance with every part of my body. Seductive. Sexy. Dirty and unabashed until the buzzing from my toes builds, and I can feel it over my entire body.
Just as the music peaks, I stage my last pose and stretch to let the final notes fall away. I'm breathless and spent, smoothed out and yet tense enough to feel the need building between my thighs.
The heat of the box clings to my skin as I draw in a deep lungful of air and wait for the platform to lower me out of sight. I pick up my robe and hold it against my chest as I reach for a bottle of water from the table and take it back to the room. There will be two more repeats for tonight. Some evenings I dance for longer—some, just for five minutes at a time.
~
A few hours later, all the dancing is done, so I check the time and order my ride home. I know I’ll have a visit from Jackson before I leave, and I set about taking my mask off and unpacking my clothes to change into. It doesn’t take him long.
I glance in the mirror and find him looking at me from the door, one hand rubbing the scruff of his jaw. He looks tired, and tired usually means angst.
“What did you need to talk about?” I ask as he comes into the claustrophobic room. He takes the only other seat available, and I let his eyes stray as I tilt my head to the side and wait.
“You know we have some big-name clients through the door. And I get regular requests-”
“No, Jackson, I’m not interested. You know what my limits are. I thought we’d been through this.” I turn back around and set about packing up my stuff. The usual high from my night of escape evaporates with Jackson’s proposition. He knows better.
“You’ve not heard what’s on the table.”
“I don’t need to, the answer is no. We’ve been through this before."
“Hear me out. He’s willing to pay a lot, June.”
