8 the black rose

[Helena]

It was d-day, the time to give the performance of my life. I was backstage with the remaining girls who were preparing themselves to go on after me, tired from their last number.

As I walk past each open door, the smell of strong perfume, hairspray and body cheap glitter permeated the air.

I head to the door that has my stage name, black rose, written in white paint to contrast against the jet black color of the door.

When I go inside the room, I am met with Ricky Melvin, the club owner, and longtime friend. I first saw him at my old strip joint sassy's when I was sixteen and was doing backdoor deals with the boss so he could let me strip.

Long story short, when Ricky was stopping by in town, I survived and my boss at the time, good ole' bob ford didn't.

I knew he was dangerous, I mean, it didn't take me much to deduce the fact that after he went to have a word with bob, the news the next morning said he was dead at the wheel of his truck from lethal injection.

After that, he told me to do something with my life then I told him to "screw off I'll find another joint" so he hired me. However, it was under the condition that I return to school and I agreed.

Nevertheless, he has been there for me in every way possible and he is the only thing resembling a friend I allow in my life. Besides Morgan but she doesn't know the darker things about me like Melvin does.

"Ricky baby, what are you doing in my holy sanctuary? I need to prepare for my show." I rest my hands on my hips in a reprimanding pose like a mother. He is lounging on my black designer couch he gave me and a line of cocaine in front of him.

His eyes are half closed and a stupid but funny smile is on his face. "LeLe, my muse, come here and have some fun with me." He beckons me closer and I go to him like I always do. He hands me his custom made pipe and I take it to sniff the line waiting for me.

"Ah, nothing like a good hit before the show." I lean back into him, now thoroughly relaxed and ready for the show.

"I'll cheer to that. so, LeLe, I heard from Joe that you got benched again." I am over this topic of my life at this point. I groan my frustration so he gets the point but knowing rick he doesn't know how to quit. "So you did get benched. Wanna talk about it?"

"No. Ask morgan when she comes in." I glance at the clock and jump up when I see the time. Where did the last fifteen minutes go? I just sat down.

"Shit, I have to get ready!" As if the universe wants to fuck me in the ass, the ending song of the last set rolls by. I only have three minutes now to get ready. "Dammit, it where is the black thong and garter set?" I hear rick laughing behind me and I don't have the time for it now.

"Here they are." I snap my head to his direction where he is swinging the missing pieces around his index finger. I almost stumble in my pursuit for the items and swipe them from his hands when I reach the couch.

Without wasting time, I begin stripping down to my birthday suit so I can get ready for the set. after taking off my sports bra, I fling on the full sequins top that goes with the rest, my stockings that clip into the garter and finally my red bottoms.

Ricky smacks my ass and grunts after. " I approve."

I roll my eyes then turn to face him. "As if I need your approval. But thanks for the vote of confidence." I lean to him and give him a wet one then fluff my hair and head out.

I take the backstage route to get to the front of the stage and as the final song finishes, I open the partition to see all the guests of the club looking forward in anticipation of my entrance. little do they know I was behind them.

As the song Lady Marmalade begins, I move through the crowd and the excitement is evident. I swing my hips in a sensual rhythm as I strut and the kick out my leg to step on the chair. I trace a line to my crotch and make a top class orgasmic face that has the front row to my right groaning.

I turn around and sit on the chair and the crowd goes wild and I haven't even started yet.

And so it begins.

❀

There are some days when some gazes move something in me. today was one of those days. The way he was looking at me made my heart throb and skin burn and I didn't like it.

Because he was the first to make me feel like this. He was the first to look at me like I was the answer to everything right.

So I made the decision to not look at him. I didn't want to see his grey eyes that made everything more electric. it made me uncomfortable because it made me conscious of every move I made.

Even if I couldn't see him, I knew he was looking at me, so I gave him a show, something to look at.

With that in mind, I put a little more spice in my step. every twirl, spin, split and smile was for him. As I finish the performance, I meet his eyes once more and smirk in satisfaction so he could know it was for him.

As if by magic, the sound of the whooping and cheering floods my ears once again and I take a bow, leaving in nothing but my thongs, thigh highs, and stilettos.

On my way to my dressing room, I see the next wave of baby dolls and corsets make their way to the stage. eager to keep the buzz that the black rose created alive.