Free Love or Money by Elizabeth Roderick Page A

and Laina took her hand. Riel’s skin tingled where it touched hers.
    “Sit down,” Laina said, her lips quirking wryly.
    She did, straddling the other dancer and lowering herself onto her lap. Riel’s breath caught in her throat. Laina’s beautiful breasts were pressed up against hers, and her fascinating lips were only inches away.
    “Giving a lap dance isn’t hard,” Laina said, “but there is a sort of art to it. You want to get the guy off as quick as possible, so you can get your money and…well…” Her blue eyes filled with pity.
    “So Isaias can get my money, and I can move on to the next nasty pervert,” Riel said, and Laina winced.
    “I’m sorry, Riel, that’s such bullshit about the money.”
    “It’s okay,” Riel said, smiling faintly. “Just show me how to do this.”
    Laina returned the smile. “Every man is a little different. You have to maintain eye contact, watch his face to see what he likes, how he likes it…some like you to rub up against them slow, some like it fast. Some want you to giggle and bounce, some want you to purr. You get a feeling for what they want after a while, even at first glance. Then it becomes sort of like a game, like acting, and it’s fun, really. At least when they smell okay.” She wrinkled her nose.
    Riel looked into Laina’s beautiful, blue eyes, which were the color of the sky in early spring. There was more kindness in them than there had been when they first met, but they were still distant, cold; Riel could sense the wall Laina built around her feelings, and she wanted that wall to crumble. Gently, she pressed her pussy up against Laina’s, through the layers of spandex and denim. A wave of heat coursed through her, and she wondered what it would feel like if they were both naked. She pressed harder, moving her hips in slow circles. She felt herself get wet, and a mischievous grin rose to her face. “Like this?” she asked.
    Laina’s pupils grew larger, and she blinked. A faint, lopsided smile flitted over her lips. “Not bad.”
    Riel held the other woman’s gaze as she moved, and Laina’s breathing quickened, her lips parting slightly. Their nipples touched, and she felt them harden. Riel wanted to feel the other woman’s breasts, to run her hands up under her t-shirt and squeeze them, to feel her soft skin under her palms. She remembered what they’d looked like yesterday when Laina danced, and longing took her over.
    Laina took an unsteady breath. Riel gazed into those blue eyes and saw the uncertainty in them, but she could feel Laina’s defenses coming down. She could see the wildfire underneath the cold exterior—Riel wanted that fire to engulf her. She leaned down, putting her lips close to the other woman’s ear, slowly dragging her thumbs along the curve of Laina’s waist. “I’m new at this,” she whispered. “Tell me how you want it, Laina.”
    Riel heard Laina sigh, and she felt the other dancer’s body start to move against hers. “I want it just like that,” Laina said softly, the words pouring forth in a rush. Riel looked her in the eyes again, saw their blue ice burning hot.
    “Oh, God, Riel, don’t stop that,” Laina said, her eyes fluttering closed. She arched her limber back, bringing their bodies even closer together, and Riel leaned forward and kissed her.
    Her lips were soft, her tongue sweet, but Riel could feel her trembling slightly, still fighting her need, trying to put out that beautiful blaze that burned in her core. Riel put her arms around Laina. She moved her hips with slow insistence, and a small moan escaped the other woman's lips as they kissed.
    Riel’s fingers crept under Laina’s t-shirt, caressing her smooth waist, running up lightly along her skin and feeling Laina shiver. Then her hands found her round, warm breasts, and Riel pried them from the lacy cups of her bra, gently pinching her nipples.
    Laina’s defenses finally broke. Her lips and tongue pressed against Riel’s, burning