Page 14 of Valley
“The new guy, Valley. He’s so fucking hot, and I’m going for it,” she said, fanning herself with exaggerated enthusiasm.
A surge of possessiveness tightened my chest, but I bit my tongue. “Yeah, he’s cute,” I murmured, pretending not to care as I started undressing. The air felt charged with tension as she left, and I couldn’t shake the awful worry that he might fall for her. Val had no boundaries on stage, and her services extended beyond mere dancing.
“Mandy?” Margie’s voice sliced through my thoughts.
I looked up at her concerned face, realizing she must have called my name multiple times. “Sorry, just getting my head straight for tonight,” I said, forcing a smile.
Margie’s eyes reflected doubt, but she didn’t press further. “You go on at seven, nine, and eleven,” she informed me.
“Do you need me to waitress in between?”
“Yep, section five. You and Carlie will switch off,” she said before moving on to inform the other girls of their schedules.
I pulled on my robe and sat down at the vanity, staring at my reflection. The woman in the mirror looked uncertain, her eyes shadowed with worry. My feelings for Jarrod were already a tangled mess. What if he couldn’t see past Mandy, the dancer, to the real woman—Madeline? What if he turned out to be like Asher? The pain Ellie’s sperm donor had caused still lingered, and I couldn’t bear to go through that again. I sighed, gripping the makeup brush tightly. But Jarrod was different. He meant more to me than Asher ever had. How could I fight this overwhelming desire to be with him?
I began applying my makeup, each stroke of the brush a moment to gather my thoughts. The makeup was a mask, a shield to hide behind. As I worked, memories of Jarrod’s smile, his scent, and the way his eyes bore into mine flooded back. My pulse quickened, and I had to force myself to focus.
“Hey, you okay?” Carlie asked, slipping into the chair next to me.
“Yeah, just... thinking,” I replied, giving her a small smile. Carlie was one of the few dancers here that was genuinely nice. She gave me a sympathetic nod, but still looked concerned.
“You sure? You seem really out of it.”
I hesitated, then nodded. “I’m fine, really... I just get so tired sometimes.”
Carlie gave me a knowing look. “Life isn’t always fair, but don’t let it throw you off. You’re strong, Mandy. We have to be.”
Her words were comforting, but the knot in my stomach didn’t loosen. As Carlie moved on to her own preparations, I finished my makeup and slipped into my first costume, the sequins catching the light as I moved. I glanced at the clock. Thirty minutes until my first dance.
As I made my way backstage, the atmosphere buzzed with the same anticipation as every night. The club was filling up, and the energy was high. I spotted Jarrod across the room, talking to a group of guys. His presence was magnetic, drawing eyes and attention effortlessly just like in my memories. He looked up, his gaze locking onto mine, and for a moment I forgot to breathe.
My breath hitched, and I quickly looked away, focusing on the task at hand. I couldn’t afford to be distracted. Not now. I poured myself a glass of water, trying to steady my nerves. But the thought of him watching, his eyes following my every move, was a heady mix of anxiety and thrill.
The DJ’s voice boomed over the speakers, announcing the start of the show. My heart pounded as I made my way to the curtained stage, the familiar sights and sounds doing little to calm me. The other dancers were chatting like normal, but I felt like I was walking a tightrope.
As I waited for my cue, I took a deep breath, reminding myself why I was here. For Ellie, for the future I was tryingto build for us. I couldn’t let my feelings for Jarrod derail everything. But when the music started, and I stepped onto the stage, the spotlight blinding me momentarily, all those thoughts melted away. It was just me and the dance; the rhythm taking over as always.
The first beat hit, and I moved instinctively, letting the music guide me. I could feel his eyes on me, a burning intensity that made my skin prickle. I danced for him, every movement a silent communication. The crowd cheered and whistled, but all I could focus on was Jarrod, his expression unreadable but his eyes never leaving me from where he leaned on the wall.
The song ended, and I struck the final pose, the usual hoots, whistles, and men yelling things at me as money landing at my feet. I took a deep breath, letting the adrenaline wash over me as the curtain lowered. I had made it through the first dance, but the night was far from over.
With one last look at the audience through the slit in the curtain, I turned and walked off the stage, my heart still racing.
CHAPTER TEN
Chapter Nine
VAL COOED, “HERE’Syour beer, hottie,” her handsliding down my chest. “Thinking about my offer?”
“Nah,” I grumbled in response, snatching the beer and sauntering off to the back of the room. My eyes scanned the crowd for any signs of trouble as I waited for Madeline’s final dance of the night. So far, she’d been a baton twirler and a naughty secretary. Fuck, I didn’t know if my heart or my cock could handle whatever she had in store next. The way she moved had me practically drooling, and those eyes on me? I was thisclose to dragging her off that stage and keeping her all to myself, killing any other man who dared look her way.
The music started up a lively, unfamiliar tune, and Madeline was announced. The curtain rose, revealing her in a cheerleader outfit that instantly transported me back to high school. My cock twitched as I watched her dance, and I couldn’t help but groan out loud. Madeline caught my eye and smirked, knowing exactly what she was doing to me. She danced closer to the edge of the stage, her fingers tracing the hem of her short skirt. I gripped my beer tighter, my knuckles turning white as she teased me with a glimpse of white panties.
I growled in response, my self-control hanging by a thread. Madeline laughed and spun away, the skirt seeming to get shorter as she moved back to the center of the stage. I knew I had to have her, and tonight, I was going to make a move and ask her out. As the music came to an end, I waited impatiently for her to finish her routine. The second she stepped off that stage, I was on my feet, stalking backstage with a determined look in my eyes.
Behind the curtain, Madeline was panting from her performance, a sheen of sweat glittering on her skin in the light. She sensed my presence before she saw me, her eyes widening slightly when they met mine. I was like a predator approaching its prey. “Enjoy the show?” she asked, her voice playful, but there was a tremor in it that told me she understood my intentions as clear as daylight. I could only chuckle lowly in response. Her teasing had left me tongue-tied.
My eyes scanned the length of her body, taking in every detail, every curve that left me breathless. “Best yet,” I grunted out, closing the gap between us and trapping her against the wall. My hands slammed down on the side of her hips, my pulse thundering in my ears. I watched as her chest heaved with each breath she took, her legs trembling slightly under my gaze. I wasabout to make my move, when suddenly the door swung open and Val came sauntering in with a sly grin plastered on her face.