Private Dancer (9 page)

        
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Back in the dressing room at The Lounge, Cori was changing for her next set, when Faith came in for her break.

        
"C'mere, Blondie." She patted the overstuffed chair, "Sorry I didn't get to check up on you...how'd it go?"

        
"That's okay. It went great, smooth. I got it covered. How'd you do?"

        
"Oh, not so good, I got $93 and a food stamp. Assholes."

        
Faith's eyes bugged out. "That's not good? $93? Shit, girl, that's a weeks worth of tips at my old job, and you still got another set!"

        
"What...you want to dance now, too?"

        
"I couldn't, but the money...nah, I can't." She was fidgeting just thinking about it.

        
"Okay, chica, but if you change your mind, just tell me. I'll show you how it's done." With that, she bumped and ground her way around the chair, making them both giggle. "Hey, you want to get some coffee? I could use a cup."

        
"Yeah, but I don't want Reece to get mad if I leave."

        
"Are you kidding? She won't be back tonight. She went out..." The dancer narrowed her eyes and looked evil, "...on a mission. She took one look at you and needed to get laid."

        
"Oh, come on. You don't expect me to believe that." She got a serious look in response. "Yeah?" she smirked. "Wow, I guess it's working then, huh?"

        
"Uh huh. But I don't want you getting in too deep with her just yet. Yeah, she wants you, but let's get her to want to know you first. I have another plan that just might work." She dangled the keys.

        
"What's that?"

        
"Boss' keys, now you get to see how the other half lives."

        
"Oh, I know how they live. I was the other half remember?"

        
"Oh yeah, sorry. Hey, speaking of living, why don't you come stay with me? I'm not going to be able to foot the rent myself and you want to move so bad, you can taste it."

        
"You mean that? I'd love it! How much do I need to give you for security? I need to know how much I have to save."

        
"Nah, no bother, just move in now, and you'll pay me half the rent next month. Get yourself settled in, you know?"

        
The bartender was trying not to cry. She wrapped her arms around the dancer and hugged her. "You are a godsend do you know that? I'm so lucky to have met you. Thank you."

        
"No, Blondie, thank you. I'm the lucky one. Hey, let's go get that java, I want to tell you what I have in mind for tonight."

        
"If it involves a certain tall boss, do tell." They started to walk.

        
"You're too much. Yes it does. We'll go over there...after she's gotten her fix, if you know what I mean. She's easier to talk to that way, and all I can get her to talk about is sex really. So we have a plus, we talk about sex, she joins in, and we can play a sort of twisted version of truth or dare. I don't know if she'll go that far, but it's worth a try. Did I tell you we're spending the night there?"

        
The bartender ordered her coffee and thought about the implications of sleeping at the boss'.

        
"She has the most awesome bath tub...in the bathroom...with a shower...."

        
"Okay, okay. I just don't know if I'm ready for this. What if she gets the wrong idea and thinks I'm like the rest of her conquests?"

        
"I took care of that already. I hope." They entered The Lounge and Faith settled back behind the bar. "Good luck on the next set, Cor."

        
"Thanks, roomie."

        
*  

        
It was getting windier and colder every day. Reece finally admitted to herself that it was time to put the motorcycle away for the winter. Never really being without the bike for more than a few days, she felt like she was saying goodbye to a part of herself.
I suppose I have to buy a warmer coat too,
she thought with a frown. It had been so long since she spent a winter up north, she forgot how cold it could get. Shopping was not her favorite pastime, and was usually avoided. A fifteen minute trip to The Levi's Store was considered a spree. Tying the last of the heavy tarp over the machine, she sighed loudly, catching Pepe's attention.

        
"Don't worry, I'll keep it safe," he said reassuringly.

        
"No doubts, amigo." She shivered a little.
Well, lets go get that coat.

        
She wandered towards the closest area to shop, Times Square. It was a tourists' haven, and she deliberately avoided any slow moving groups of people with cameras. Anything you can possibly purchase can be found on 42nd street. The tall woman was amazed how people could be fascinated by neon and some billboards.

        
After a long while, many elbows and a few growls later, the scowling woman settled on a jacket, hailed a cab, and plopped her aggravated self in the back seat. The vat of vile car freshener and near deafening foreign music added to her mood. Closing her eyes and laying her head back, she tried to relax and think calming thoughts before she had an aneurysm. Deep breaths would only kill her at this point. In moments, an image of the gorgeous blonde named Faith, lounging in a bubble filled tub danced across her eyelids. While not exactly calming, it was a welcome thought, and she smiled despite the blaring horns and lurching cab ride.

        
Reece melted willingly into the green eyes in her mind; she was horny in an instant, only to be jolted into reality by a recording of Jackie Mason reminding her to take her belongings.
How does he listen to that crap all day?
she wondered and shoved the money into the little drawer in the partition. Taking the steps two at a time, she headed straight for the Jacuzzi, leaving a trail of clothing in her wake. There was some unfinished business to tend to with a certain green-eyed lady, and she was eager to get to it.

        
*  

        
Cori managed to fall back to sleep after the boss had left. It wasn't long before the phone rang and she answered it with a growl. It was a very perky Faith asking her to come shopping with her. "Oh hey! Sorry, sure," the sleepy dancer agreed. "If I may, why the hell are you so damned cheerful?"

        
"Oh, no biggie."
My fantasy Reece had me screaming like a banshee....

        
"Anything to do with our talk last night?" Cori was crossing her fingers.

        
Yup, thanks to your details.
"You can say that." The grin was almost audible. "C'mon, you said something about dressing me up?"

        
"You bet!" She remembered Faith's monetary situation and though of the best place to barter. "Hey, let's go to 14th street, they have tons of street vendors and it's a bargain hunter's dream."

        
"Cor, I heard everything there fell off the back of a truck. I'm not so sure I want "hot" stuff on my body." Too late. It was out of her mouth before she could stop it.

        
"I beg to differ. And I'm sure Reece has been called worse."

        
"CORI!"

        
"Stop blushing like that, my phone is melting." She heard a groan.

        
They met at the coffee shop from last night. Faith got there first, grabbed a window booth, and ordered a giant coffee for her friend. Her thoughts drifted immediately to Reece. Walking up the stairs from the subway, Cori saw her friend's dream like stare and the coffee waiting for her and smiled.

        
"Large, black, three sugars." The blonde pushed the cup towards the dancer.

        
"Oh, bless you, child." She took a large swallow of the brew. The blissful expression on her face was like looking at dope addict getting a fix. Her friend matched her expression. "What's up, Mary Sunshine?"

        
"Nothing, can't I enjoy the day?" Her friend gave the eyebrow. "I'm excited about getting a new job and shopping okay?"

        
"Uh huh. That's the ‘I can't wait to go shopping' glow if I ever saw it. Oh wait, maybe it's the ‘new job' blush."

        
"All right already! I did some thinking about what you said last night." She didn't know where to start.

        
"And...."

        
"Um, well, I guess I admit to being attracted to Reece. " She blushed again. "While that's all well and good, I don't think I know how to do anything about it, I mean, um, what do I do now?"

        
Cori was very amused at her friend's admission. "So in other words, you want to know how get Reece into your bed. Right?"

        
"Uhm...well, no. Before that...I want more than sex," she struggled to explain herself.

        
"Oh, I see. You want to be her friend. Reece doesn't have friends."

        
"You're her friend, aren't you?"

        
Cori frowned. "I like to consider myself her friend, but I don't think you'll get that much out of her."

        
"I'm not going to be one of her whores. I want her to know me. After all you told me about her, I feel like I know her already. It would be different if I didn't. I'm not a toy."

        
"You're serious? I'm sorry, honey, but Reece doesn't have relationships; she fucks and moves on."

        
"I think I could be different." Faith looked confident

        
"Listen, please don't romanticize about her. She'll break your heart. While I know for a fact she wants you, and you might actually have a chance at getting closer than many, Aphrodite isn't about to descend on her. And if she saw it coming, she'd be sure to push it away. My advice is to get what you can."

        
"I intend to get what I want, not what I can." Faith stood up and put on her coat. "C'mon, I have some convincing clothing to buy, and you have to help me."

        
"Faith, you don't want to start this. Not with her, please, none of us can take the backlash," Cori pleaded

        
"Don't worry, trust me, everything will be fine. Now, no more talk about it. Let's shop!"

        
The dancer frowned. As much as she wanted to see these two together, she couldn't help feeling like someone was going to get hurt big time. She'd have to have a talk with Reece, and she wasn't sure this was a good thing.

        
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