Banished Souls MC (8 page)

"I currently have that job opening to just one applicant." They both laughed.

Suddenly, they were all over each other. This time with a greater intensity than before.

Then clothes were pulled off anxiously. Bodies intertwined to completeness. A sweaty passionate coupling. It was unlike anything Cherish had experienced before.

This is what it is like to make love. Real love, she allowed herself to think between gasps of ecstasy.

He was a skilled lover. Despite their eagerness to please one another, they took their time. Luxuriating with each other.

It was one of the most fulfilling encounters of her entire life.

After, as they lay in each other's sweaty embrace, Caine said, "I don't want you to be afraid any more."

Cherish blinked up at him. He was very serious. She knew he meant it. "I believe you," she said, and kissed him again.

His phone rang. Caine sighed, then reached over and answered it. She watched him as his entire body became ridged, serious. All business.

I guess I should get used to that, she found herself thinking.

He hung up, and sank back into the pillow. Cherish cuddled him.

"Business?" she asked.

"Business," he said. He got out of bed and quickly dressed.

Cherish admired his nakedness, and how his muscles moved as he put on different articles of clothing. My God, what a body, she thought.

Caine grinned at her as he pulled on his shirt and grabbed his jacket. He was sweating slightly, and this made Cherish feel good that she was the cause of all that sweat.

He leaned over the bed and kissed her again. Deeply, passionately. This wasn't just the kiss from a casual lover. But something more. She felt it. Was it real love? So soon?

He went to the door, then turned back. "I'm gonna be busy a while, so I'll see you at the auditions tomorrow, okay?"

Cherish sat up, pleasantly surprised. She had forgotten all about them. "Yeah, okay. But you realize you've seen everything already," she said with a grin and pulled back the sheet for him to see her entire nakedness.

He gave her a nice long appraisal, then he settled his gaze on her eyes. "I want to see more."

And he left, closing the door behind him.

Cherish hugged herself with satisfaction. Tomorrow was going to be a very special day.

Tomorrow she was going to dance for Caine.

Chapter 9

Cherish

When Cherish arrived at Booty Bumps the next day, she did not feel any of the apprehension she had encountered before. Her time with Caine had helped her with that.

Today is my day, she thought.

The place was not nearly as crowded as before, but there was a really good turn out of people even for the middle of the day. Already, the auditions were in full swing, with a stunning red head dancing on the stage.

There was a table near the door with a small sign that said 'Sign Up'. Cherish went over to it and a pretty woman there helped her sign in.

"You have a costume? Cause we have extras if you need one," the woman said.

"No thanks," Cherish said. "I brought mine." It was her naughty secretary outfit which was always a hit. Why mess with what worked?

After getting the song Cherish was going to use onto a laptop, the woman said, "Change rooms are straight through the back. Good luck!"

Cherish made her way to the change rooms, passing women wearing incredibly sexy outfits. Everywhere there were happy looking men sitting at tables, watching the parade of beautiful flesh.

She tried to find Caine, but he didn't seem to be there, yet.

Don't get all possessive now, she thought to herself.

Just then she noticed Basher walk past a door that lead into the kitchen. He was carrying a large tray of beer mugs. He looked miserable.

Big Club connections, huh? She thought as she kept walking and entered the change room.

More beautiful flesh was here, as girls worked feverishly to get ready. Cherish was aware that most of these women were there to also apply for waitress gigs, while others were there for the peeler audition. Didn't mean waitresses couldn't look super hot, too. Great for getting more tips.

She found a corner with enough room to move, and quickly changed. Knee high stockings, high heel shoes, short pleaded skirt, men's office shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows, and a tie, loosely fitted around the collar. The final touch were her dorky glasses, sans any glass in them.

She had no idea why, but men really went wild for this look. She was hoping it was the edge she needed over these gorgeous women to win the job.

As she was applying her makeup, Addie appeared in the mirror's reflexion behind her.

"Hey, girlfriend!" Addie declared with a huge grin.

Cherish was caught a little off guard. Did Addie know about her and Caine?

"Hey, yourself," Cherish said, forcing a smile.

"My God, you look hot in that. Geez, you're gonna kill it out there," Addie gushed. "They're not going to know what hit them."

Cherish laughed a little. "I hope it's enough to win." She could see Addie eyeing her up and down with what could only be described as a mix of awe and perhaps jealousy.

"Hey, I wanted to ask you something," Addie said as she sat on a stool beside her. "I hope you don't mind."

Uh oh, Cherish thought. Here it comes. How much was she going to reveal about last night? She knew Addie still had it bad for Caine. Who could blame her? But Cherish wanted to handle this delicately.

"Sure," Cherish said, finishing up some eyeliner. "Fire away."

Addie leaned closer and asked in an almost conspiratorial whisper, "So you're hooked up with Basher now, huh?"

This gave Cherish pause. Basher? She suppressed an urge to laugh out loud. Instead, she played coy. "Not really, no. Why do you ask?"

"Well, I know he's got it big for you. Even though you've just met he seems really into you. And you did make out with him in Lloyd's office."

Cherish crooked a brow. "I quick kissing session does not make us a couple," she said. "But, yeah, we had a little fun. But I don't think it would work out anyway." A flash of an image from the night before, Caine's muscular body, pressed up against her,  thrusting and moaning.

Not with Basher, anyway, she thought with a smile.

Addie now looked a little alarmed. "But, why? He's a good guy you know. You don't want to break his heart, do you?"

Cherish didn't know what to say about that. Sure Basher seemed okay. But he was no Caine. Not by a long shot.

Finished with her makeup, Cherish gathered her things into bag. "Yeah, nice guy. But not the one for me." She stood and smiled down at Addie who looked increasingly annoyed. "Look, I gotta go dance my ass off. I'll talk to you later."

She left Addie sitting there, stewing in whatever hateful juices she was fermenting and left the change room.

Well, that was awkward, she thought as she made her way through the tables. Getting cornered like that was not cool.

Most of the dancers had gathered at some tables just off to the side of the stage. Cherish went over and sat at one. Several of the woman there gave her a snobby once over, then turned away. Only a couple actually returned her smile.

Cherish took it in stride. Competition was fierce between strippers since the beginning of time. She didn't let it bother her. Besides, it was the men she was here to impress.

She took a moment to look around the bar. She instantly found Caine sitting at a small table, near the back. He was sitting with a rather ugly looking guy she did not recognize. Unlike Caine, or the other Banished Souls members there, this man was wore a Biker vest. She could tell even from her vantage point that he was a member of the Dark Ones motorcycle club.

Hmm, she thought. Business as usual.

Caine looked over at her and Cherish's heart fluttered when he offered her a crooked smile. Then he became all serious again, listening to the ugly Biker talk.

Good, at least he is here. He gets to see me dance for him. She couldn't help but smile to herself.

Suddenly, Basher appeared beside her. "Hey, there, beautiful," he said.

Cherish tried not to act too surprised. "Hey," she said. "You're here for the auditions, too, huh?" The lame joke was a poor attempt to cover how uncomfortable she felt.

"Yes, but not to dance," he grinned. "I'm here to watch you win this thing." He sat down at the table beside her. Some of the other women at the table frowned at him.

Almost unconsciously Cherish found herself glancing over at Caine. Thankfully, he was busy talking with the ugly Dark One. Would Caine get jealous seeing Basher here? Why would he?

"I missed you last night," he said. "You took off before we could finish... our talk."

Oh, God, she thought. Not another awkward conversation. Was there any other kind to be found in this place?

She wasn't entirely sure how to handle this, so she tried to be as noncommittal as possible, without being rude. Besides, she was the one that had led him on.

"Yeah, I wasn't feeling great. Sorry about that," she said. Wow, that sounded incredibly lame. "I just had to go."

Basher leaned over to her a little, placed a hand on hers which was on the table. "It's okay. Really. I understand it. You're not that into me. It's cool."

Cherish was taken aback. Even amazed. He understood?

She glanced over at Caine, who was still talking with the other Biker, apparently oblivious.

Basher said, "I didn't come over here to put you on the spot, or make you feel uncomfortable. I just wanted to wish you luck."

Stunned by this gallant admission, Cherish could only nod.

Basher then stood, and smiled down at her. "Knock 'em dead, beautiful," he said, and turned and headed toward the kitchen.

Cherish was simply stunned. What an incredibly gentlemanly thing to say. Not what she would have expected from him after what she pulled last night.

"He's a complete loser," one woman at the table said to her.

"What?" Cherish asked, snapping out of her thoughts.

"A jerk. Talks big, acts big, but he's like an un-flushed turd in the toilet bowl."

"Yeah," said another woman. "Watch out for that guy. And you may want to wash that hand," she said, indicating the Cherish's hand that Basher had touched.

Anger flared inside her. Cherish said, "He seems like a really good guy." When both woman looked at her like she was insane, she continued. "I'd date him." After what Basher just said to her, she wanted to piss these women off.

Both women stared at her in amazement, looked toward each other and snorted. "Some girls just can't get enough of the rotten types," one said to the other. They both turned back to the stage, ignoring Cherish.

Bitches, she thought. Basher had been nothing but nice to her. Not one unkind word. Even after she strung him along, and used him. The fact that he had bothered to come over just then and wish her luck meant more to her than the snide comments from these two skanks.

Oddly, Cherish felt herself reaffirming mentally what she just said. She would date Basher. Big, muscular, handsome. Why not? But she wouldn't. She had Caine now.

She glanced in his direction again. This time Caine was facing in the direction of the stage, but his eyes moved to lock with hers.

They both shared a meaningful look. Caine winked at her. She found herself giggling at this like a school girl.

Just then, the stripper on stage finished her set to a polite smattering of applause.

"Give her a big round of applause, everyone," said the off stage announcer over the speakers. "Next up, is Cherish!"

Her heart fluttered. She tore her gaze away from Caine, put her stuff down at the table and walked over to the stage side entrance.

A tall, gawking looking man was there wearing a headset microphone. Beside him was a laptop which was used to queue up the music.

"Cherish?" he asked.

She nodded, gathering herself. This was it.

"Whenever you're ready," he said.

She was ready alright. Ready to dance for Caine.

After taking a deep breath, she nodded once to the announcer, who tapped a key.

The music started and Cherish strutted onto the stage. The lights were bright, and the crowd was noisy. This was old hat for her. She had done this a thousand times and had her dance routine down to an art.

For several minutes she danced around the stage, removing bits of her secretary costume to the cheers of the crowd. She swung around the centre pole with just her legs, her muscular thighs tensing with the movement.

All to soon she was at the end of her routine. She felt elated as she always did when she danced. But this one was just for Caine. No one else existed beyond the lights for her.

She stopped just as the music did, fully naked, hands on her sides, on hip sticking out for emphasis. Her head was angled and her expression was one of someone caught being naughty. She crooked up one eyebrow behind her geeky glasses.

The crowd went wild. Cheering and applauding. Their reaction was even better than she had expected.

I nailed it, she thought, panting heavily from all the exertion.

She looked around, trying to find Caine. His expression would be worth it. But the lights were too bright and the bar a little too dark beyond the stage.

So many people. Then she noticed someone moving toward the stage down an aisle.