Free Tease by Cambria Hebert Page A

planted my stilettos on the floor, and bent, letting my hands touch the floor. Then quickly my butt sank down, and as I stood, I pushed it out so everyone got an eyeful of the slightly see-through panties.
     
    A couple guys whistled and then I spun. I grabbed the back of the chair and straddled it, gyrating my hips like I was riding a wild bull. Then I reached up for the zipper, lowering it between my breasts.
     
    I went on for several moments, parading around the stage, especially the part that jutted out into the crowd. I even stomped the toe of my high heel down on a nearby table and, feeling brave, leaned down and licked my leg.
     
    Seriously? Who thinks this is hot? the inner girl in me said.
     
    They do, another voice answered. Apparently, a dirty ho had taken up residence within me without my knowledge.
     
    Dirty ho was right, though. Some guy shoved a twenty in the top of my stocking.
     
    On impulse, I grabbed him by the hair (I was taller than him because I was on stage) and towed him back, and the men went nuts. Then I shimmied my still pretty covered chest in his face and then shoved him away.
     
    He fell to his knees and put his hand over his heart.
     
    Oh please, said my inner voice.
     
    Undo your zipper, urged the dirty ho.
     
    I took her advice and slid it a little farther down. Then I took a finger and trailed it all the way down between my breasts and back up again.
     
    As the song winded down, I did a few more shimmies and shakes and then walked toward the back of the stage near the chair.
     
    As the last notes of the song played, I climbed on the chair, stood up, and put my back to the crowd. Then I undid the rest of the zipper, slipping the corset so it was around my wrists, not even on my body anymore.
     
    I couldn’t even hear the pounding of my heart over the whistling and catcalls.
     
    I tipped my head back, like I was going to spin around and show them the goods… and then the song ended and the spotlight went out.
     
    Darkness completely concealed me.
     
    I let out a huge breath and hurried to zip the corset back around me.
     
    I left the chair where it was and collected all the money from the stage and then ran behind the curtain.
     
    Roxie stood there waiting. “Damn, Violet.”
     
    “Was it okay?” I worried as we moved backstage. I hadn’t shown a single glimpse of my really private parts.
     
    “Are you kidding? I’ve never seen men so enthralled by a woman who was still wearing clothes.”
     
    I laughed.
     
    But then I caught a look at her face in the brighter light backstage. “What’s wrong?”
     
    “Nothing,”
     
    “You look like you’ve been crying.”
     
    “It’s no big deal.”
     
    “I know we just met and all, but if you ever need to talk, I’ll listen.”
     
    Roxie smiled. Her long, nearly black hair fell over her shoulder. “Thanks.”
     
    I nodded as she moved away to get ready for her routine. I wondered if she was late for the same reason her eyes were a little puffy. But I wasn’t sure I should press the issue. I mean, she might be showing me the ropes around here, but that didn’t mean she wanted to confide in me.
     
    I shrugged it off and went to check myself in the mirror and decided to just wear this outfit while I served for the hour. Instead of just shoving my cash in my bag and letting it lay back here, I straightened it all out, folded it, and put it in the pocket of the little black apron that I tied around my waist. I would rather have it on me than just sitting back here. I didn’t think the girls would take it, but I didn’t know them and I wasn’t about to trust them.
     
    Roxie was putting on some barely there spandex number when I ducked out of the room to head for the bar.
     
    Cam waited with a tray full of drinks. I smiled when I saw him and my heart skipped a beat. I couldn’t help but wonder if he liked my dance, if he thought it was sexy.
     
    I grabbed for the tray as he leaned way over the bar and reached