Chapter 5: VIP Dance

As I scrutinized him, my heart raced. It was indeed Justin standing there amongst the group. Just what the hell was going on? This was the last person I expected to be in a sordid place like this, not to mention with such unsavory company.

Nothing was making sense. Justin was so uptight, conservative, judgmental and rigid. Had that all been an act? Was he a hypocrite after all?

It took a lot to surprise me, but this contradictory behavior in Justin had my world turned upside down. I was intrigued, not only that he was at a strip club, but because he was accompanied by the mafia boss. Just what other secrets did he have hidden under his belt?

Judging by the terrified expressions and rushing away of the guests, this boss was not to be toyed with in any way. But how did Justin tie in here? Where had they met? Did this have anything to do with my parents' deaths?

I wanted to approach him; I was dying to know more, but I couldn't let him know I was a dancer here. He'd definitely kick me out of Waterfall College immediately. A mixture of anxiety and intense curiosity hit me.

Gathering myself, I finished my dance, my earlier sexy swagger turning more tight and less graceful. Luckily, I only had to fake it for another minute.

My song ended, and I raced down the stairs to the back room. Once I was off the stage, all I could think about was getting back to school. Anything to make sure he didn't catch me working here.

I grabbed my clothes from my vanity, panting like I'd just run a marathon. My fingernails clicked against the metal of my jeans' button as I shakily fastened them. Quickly, I threw on my sweatshirt I'd come there with, my palms sweating, feeling like a cornered animal.

Once I was fully dressed, I left, covering the side of my face. Swiftly, I exited the back area and began walking toward the front door. Just as I was about to leave, Mr. Lee caught my arm.

My heart skipped as I glanced up at him.

"Justice, you can't leave yet. The guests in the VIP room requested that you perform for them personally."

My heart sank as my stomach knotted in anxiety. What if Justin was there? Mr. Lee's serious stare was insistent, perhaps bordering on nervous, as he pinched his eyebrows.

Reluctantly, I went to the back room, tossed off my regular clothes, strapped on the bra and pulled on a new see-through red mesh coat with berry red feathers on the edge. Fixing my hair, I glanced at the mask in front of me.

I wiped my chest of the sweat that was now pouring down into my bra. My nervousness was overwhelming me, but if I wanted some real money and didn't want to piss Mr. Lee off, I had to do what they'd asked. If only I'd not been up there when they came in.

Slipping on my fox mask once more, I strolled into the VIP room. The space was dimly lit, by design, and two men were sitting on the plush couch with enough distance apart that I could sit between them if I wanted to. They were chatting like they were old friends, laughing deeply as they joked.

When I fully entered the room, they both looked at me with intensity. Once the door closed, I told myself that I was Justice in disguise, not Katerina. I could get through this, even though I was terrified.

The room was quiet as the muffled bass beats reverberated through the walls. I couldn't tell what song was playing, but all I needed was the rhythm. I began to writhe slowly, running my fingertips from over my cleavage, down my ribs one by one. I twisted the straps of my panties in my index fingers, flattening the Lycra between my legs.

Slowly, I dropped the red mesh coat down off my shoulders and set it on the side of the couch. Then I whirled around, my hair flowing behind me, then pulling it around my neck. Raising my arms up, I then slowly dropped them down to the floor, my hips bending like a hinge, spreading my legs wide. Running my hands up and down my legs, I patted my butt gently, then spun around.

Grabbing my tits, I squished them together, tilted my head and continued dancing, inching closer. Normally, I'd be sitting with them by now, but I hoped to prolong that part as long as possible. I didn't want to let Mr. Lee down, but I hoped maybe they'd be bored and send me away.

Anything to avoid Justin recognizing me.

Both men stared at me as I teased them, crouching down now and crawling on my knees over to the boss. My heart was racing and sweat was crawling all over my body. I prayed he wouldn't be disgusted if I soaked his fine suit.

I ran my fingers up his thighs and he stared down at me with an amused look in his eyes. Was he being condescending in that hint of a smile? Surely, he didn't give that out too often to people, especially someone so new as me.

Terrified as he penetrated my irises, I spun around, down on my knees then straightened my back, pointing to the bra. He chuckled deeply, his thick warm fingers, unfastening it. It naturally dropped down to my lap, and then I slowly turned around, holding my breasts in both hands.

Parting my index and middle fingers, I pinched my nipples in a scissor movement, then pulled them out, until they were hard. My goal was to make him feel focused wholly. Surely someone like that would want it all, right?

"Don't just pay attention to me," the boss said, his voice deep and husky. "My friend here needs some attention too."

My heart raced as I gulped, trying to remain steady on my heels. I felt my knees becoming weak with every step closer to Justin. My breathing was shallow and I was uncontrollably shaking. As I became woozy, I had no choice but to straddle him to keep from falling.

As I came inches from his face, I rotated upward, hoping he'd be mesmerized by my breasts instead of my identity. He watched me rhythmically move and reached up to steady my hips. Thank God for the mask.

His touch wasn't like anything I'd felt before. Every time we had been around each other when I was growing up, he avoided any sort of intimacy, even though he was my guardian. Now his fingers felt eager, but not in a passionate way. In a controlled, empty manner.

I had to press my hands behind him to hold the couch back for fear of fainting. So many worlds were colliding, contradicting me and every idea I'd had about Justin for the past six years was dissolving one by one. He stared at me, removing his hands from my body, and allowed me to make the decisions.

Making sure to never sit on him, I continued to weave and twist, biting my tongue, hoping it would somehow be over soon. I had to pretend I was into them, but there was no way I was going to speak.

"That's enough, sweetheart," the boss said, "Come back." Relief washed over me, and my body relaxed enough so I could stand once more. My sweat covered legs helped me easily and quickly slip away from Justin. "Turn around."

I pivoted as the boss held my hips and pulled me down onto his lap. Rotating on him, he reached his hands around and grasped my sweating breasts. I leaned into him, resting my neck on his shoulder hoping to keep his attention. If I got him really worked up, he wouldn't let me leave, and I wouldn’t have to go back to Justin.

"You are something else," he growled, bringing his sweat covered fingers to his lips. "I bet you taste good all over."

Giggling nervously, I inched away a little. They could touch me here, I could even do lap dances to completion if they kept their pants on, but with this guy being who he was, I was terrified he'd want more. And that I wasn't willing to do.

He pulled me back firmly onto his lap. I could feel his body reacting to my writhing movements. As he pressed against my ass, I dared to stare out of my peripheral vision at Justin. He was watching with interest, a side smile on his face. I suppressed a shudder.

"Relax, honey," the boss said, "Suddenly you're not so at ease like you were a few seconds ago."

Inhaling deeply, I did my best act. Blocking out the fact that Justin was beside him, I let the boss's hands rove over every inch that he wanted to, then he patted me on the back knowing the time was up.

I rose and began to gather my clothes.

"Come to me again,” the boss said, “On your knees.”

I turned and meekly did as he asked, staring up at him innocently. My heart threatened to bust out of my chest as his dark, heavy gaze bore through me, as though he were trying to memorize every inch of me.

He reached toward my face, my heart jumping in my throat. Trembling, I prayed he wouldn't take the mask and reveal who I was. Instead of lifting it, he pinched my cheek just behind the fox face and asked, "Just who are you? Why haven't I ever seen you here before?"

I was at a loss for words as my throat felt tight. The entire situation was nerve-wracking. Sweat was pouring off my body and my throat was dry. This person was scary just on his own, but to have Justin sitting beside him only made matters worse. If I didn’t speak, this guy might decide to kill me.

"I–" I tried to say, but it only came out as a whisper. Then I heard the door fling open. It was my boss, Mr. Lee. He must have been watching or something.

"She's new here,” he interjected, his voice apologetic. “Never worked at any other club. I hope she didn’t upset you."

"Oh, yeah? How new is she?" the boss asked, leaning his arm back on the couch, raising his ankle to his knee. He appeared intrigued, perhaps enjoying my inexperience as a chance to corrupt me. Mold me somehow.

"Two months," Mr. Lee answered, "She's a freshman at Waterfall College, in fact. Doing this to pay her way. If she did anything to offend you, please forgive her. She's still in training."

What was he doing, spilling all of this information about me out?!

Watching the boss, he chuckled deeply and began to speak, but I couldn't hear the words. His voice was drowned out as my ears rang with a piercing high pitch. Surely Justin was putting two and two together. I held my breath as I slowly glanced his way. Licking my lips, I trembled, noting that he was staring at me.

Any second now I was going to see a flash of recognition, maybe a spark of anger, disappointment. Would he grab my wrist and force me out of here immediately? A million thoughts raced through my head.

Goodbye, Waterfall College.

I'll have to start over elsewhere but how? I'd just finally landed this job to get enough money for tuition. I didn't want to leave. I'd only just begun.

Even with his mean, cruel and tricky ways as my professor, I'd take that over him forcing me from my dream. He could lob question after question and I could fail time and again. At least that way, I'd still have a chance to become a lawyer.

Not only was I feeling exposed physically, but mentally as well. He'd have so many ways to judge and control me now. He'd mock and hurt me, make me feel dirty, and I'd forever want to scrub his memory of me sweating and naked inches from his face, far, far away.

When our eyes locked, I saw his expression. A feeling of confusion flooded my chest. It wasn't a look of recognition in Justin’s eyes. It was more like I was a new, pretty toy that he couldn't take his eyes off of.