Chapter 1
I sighed softly, turning to the next page of my technical writing book. There was so much left to read for my lecture, so it was completely swamping me.
Maybe I shouldn’t have spent all night watching scary movies since I probably missed a good few hours of sleep. And it really was a “probably” situation because my annoying roommate won’t let me sleep sometimes with his incessant jacking off, so that often made me exhausted as well.
“Ooh, I bet he’s the Rose!” whisper-yelled a woman from behind me.
I turned to look and our eyes met. She flushed and hurried away. I hummed when I looked into my reflection on the fountain’s surface. My appearance was what many deemed “pretty” or “girly” for a guy. I’m in agreement. I’m definitely not handsome, but I can certainly pull off a sexy, androgynous look whenever I want.
The warm breeze made me smile as I watched the sun slowly lower beyond the horizon. It was almost time to go to work. When my alarm went off, I stopped it and packed up my things. I hurried back to the dorm to drop off my books, but my roommate was there tugging his wiener again. He panted, biting his lip when he noticed me. I wanted to ignore him, but I just couldn’t convince myself to do it.
“Stop jacking off at night, Taylor! I can’t sleep when I get back from work.”
“Fuck, Rosen! Just help me out!” he whined, so I bit my tongue and dropped my backpack.
“You owe me.” I grunted, then moved over to his bed.
His brown eyes were eager, his fist pausing on his cock. “Yes, definitely!” he encouraged with an eager expression. “Anything!”
I chuckled and moved between his thighs. “You look ridiculous, Taylor. Were you thinking that much about me?”
He nodded, swallowing his saliva and swiftly releasing his shaft upon my request. I smirked and placed my hand on his cock, which made him jolt and moan again. I wrapped my fingers around his cock and firmly grabbed his balls with my left hand. Taylor clutched his shirt and spread his legs wider while I teased his cock.
“P-please let me—eek!" he squeaked, just as I slid my fingers farther down.
I probed his tight but slick hole and sank my finger in as far as it could go. Taylor choked on a high-pitched moan, his body tensing and twitching while he tried to hold back. I curled my finger to find his prostate and he nearly howled as he came with my right fist massaging his tip. Taylor panted breathlessly, looking so blissed out when I released him.
My chuckle wasn’t heard when I moved off the bed and cleaned my hands with a wet wipe. After collecting the things I needed, I left the room. I did hear murmurings in the hallway about what most likely happened in my shared room, but I merely snickered to myself.
A hand caught my wrist. “Rosen, when will you dance for me again?” asked Ferry.
I smirked as I turned. “When you come to the club and pay the price.”
Ferry pouted but accepted a hair ruffle from me. I waved at him before I hurried down the steps, practically bouncing out of the dorm. I jogged off the campus grounds and into the depths of the downtown area, then slowly entered the alley that had the employee entrance. But I tensed when a hand caught my shoulder.
“Golden Rose?”
I looked up with a smile. “Yes?”
The drunk man stumbled against the wall. “I was waitin’, ya know?” he slurred, pouting at me.
“Go inside and have some water. I will be dancing soon enough.” I said with a gentle smile, then slid my fingers along his jaw. “Okay?”
He shivered and nodded. “O-okay.”
I made sure he left before entering the club. Tanya sashayed over to me with a worried expression.
“What kept you, Rose?”
A smirk curled my lips. “Some boys needed comfort. What’s the outfit this time?”
Tanya chuckled. “Come with me.”
The slim, dark-skinned woman taking me to the dressing room was the stylist, makeup artist, and even a co-owner of the club. She was once the number one dancer, but one of her fans became violent and slashed her ankles and wrists when she refused to do as he’d demanded. Tanya Campton decided to retire from the stage, but she originally stayed on to teach the newcomers before taking on more aspects of the work and then later purchasing the club with her husband about eight years ago.
As for me, I have been working here for three (almost four) years now and it’s been a really enjoyable experience thus far.
“Here, Rose! Put these on!” she exclaimed with a grin, thrusting a ball of fabric and metal at me and dainty bracelets with metal discs that rattled together nicely.
I pulled off my shirt, not bothered by her watching me undress since Tanya was also the main costume designer as well. I slid the dark gold thong into place, tucking away my bits. I settled the revealing, maxi-length skirt with a high slit that was almost completely transparent, save for the portion that covered my pelvis. The top was a crisscrossing band of fabric that really drew one’s eyes to explore the details. It bared my midsection and arms while it covered my chest, but I’m not bothered by any of this because I’m comfortable with my body as it is now. That wasn’t always the case.
Tanya was fanning her face when I started to put on the gold-colored choker and other accessories. She spoke up, “Yeah, you definitely look the part for today’s concept. You’re a golden rose in an oasis surrounded by sand. You will be seducing the eyes of many with the idea of relief only to be disappointed by a mirage.”
I chuckled. “Nice idea. Any others on stage?”
“Nope, it’s just you this time. Be sure to put on a good show as always, Rose.”
I hummed and nodded. “Sure thing, Boss.” I responded with a teasing tone.
She laughed, leading me to the chair to work on the makeup portion of the look. She never put much on, but sometimes chose to do extra color and fancy eyeliner around my eyes to make everything pop under the bright stage lighting.
Tanya used safe glue to place rose-colored rhinestones under my eyes, then sprayed my face to keep everything in place. She stepped back and helped me up, then wrapped a nearly see-through shawl in a dark gold color around my shoulders.
“Good luck, Rose.”
“Thanks, Tanya.” I replied with a smile, then relaxed my face and straightened my posture as I stepped out of the dressing room.
The people I knew greeted me with smiles while the newcomers blushed and hid their faces. The lights dimmed and the clamor inside the club quieted.
I could hear Ruby introduce me as I stepped up onto the stage in darkness. I found the center pole and pressed my back against it, placing my left hand behind me and my right hand above my head. I turned my face away and let out a breath, readying myself for the music to start.
The music was slow, sensual, and seductive. The lights began to brighten, making the metal pieces shine in the light as I started to move my hips. As I dropped one hip on the beat, the pieces clanged together to make a beautiful sound. I dropped my other hip, then stepped out from the pole to watch the crowd. I drew their gazes with a sultry expression, watching them silently beg for me to come closer.
I slowly walked around the pole, almost hearing their disappointment. On the beat, I lifted myself onto the pole and hooked my legs around it, slowly sliding down and leaning back. I reached for one patron, his eyes darting from my face to any of my bare skin that he could see in this position, which was already slightly damp with sweat from the heat of the lights.
As he stretched out his hand, I swung up and around, landing lightly on my feet. As I danced, I felt a peculiar gaze on me. I followed the line and noticed a figure in the back that seemed to demand my attention. Somehow, I could sense the power in the gaze, but I kept dancing as though it wasn’t bothering me.
It wasn’t bothersome, I swear. It was just intense.
As the song ended, I placed a hand over my heart and bowed deeply. The applause was deafened only by the hoots, hollers, and wolf-whistles for more. The lights dimmed, so I quietly exited once it was dark. Tanya came over and hugged me.
“You were so sexy! I couldn’t take my eyes off you!” she exclaimed, then my laughter made her smile. “Come on, let’s get you changed. You can work the floor for the next hour until I have to get you ready for your next dance.”
Thankfully, my change of clothes had more coverage than on stage. Tight black pants and a gold shirt with strategic cutouts. I left the choker and other accessories on, then stepped out onto the floor with a pair of black leather shoes to make myself look tidy. I prefer going barefoot like when I dance onstage, but Tanya has scolded me because I could hurt myself. That was one thing Tanya never allowed me to get away with in the workplace.
I also never wear heels. I have some traumatizing memories with heels, so I vowed to never wear any unless there was some random emergency. I can’t imagine what that would be, though.
Frequent patrons greeted me as I went by, but newcomers tried cop a feel or offer me money in exchange for sex. Garnet quickly approached and slapped their grabby hands down, which made me chuckle.
“Already stealing hearts with just a single dance tonight, huh?” he asked with a smirk, so I elbowed him.
“Oh, shush. You know I’ve stolen more than just their hearts.”
Garnet laughed. “Yes, their minds. They’ll be dreaming of your body for the next week and driving them mad with lust.”
I smirked. “Indeed. How’s Em doing with her new job?”
Garnet blushed a bit. “She’s happy, but we both are. Our little one is beautiful, so come over soon to say hello, all right?”
I agreed, then excused myself to get to the next customer. Garnet was one of ten guards at this pole-dancing club/restaurant, and his wife, Emerald, had just birthed her first baby. She was a dancer who’d worked with me, but she resigned when she got pregnant and went on to marry Garnet. They’re so cute together, honestly. I wanted someone to love me enough to marry my strange self.
“What will you have, sir?” I asked without even looking, but when no answer came, I looked up to see the man with the intense gaze.
My heart rate soared for a second and my mouth dried instantly. His pale green eyes held my odd-colored ones, seeming to bore into my soul. I felt embarrassed for some reason and ashamed to have even said anything to him.
The man pushed his golden-blond hair off his shoulder and leaned forward. His short beard and mustache combo made wonder what that felt like on my skin. He had thin but pretty lips for a manly man such as himself. He also had a straight nose and his neatly arching eyebrows gave him a look of sophistication. The man clearly had broad shoulders, a narrower waist, and tree trunk thighs. He was built strong and clearly worked out. As for his age, he was probably in his early to mid-thirties.
“Beautiful,” rumbled his deep, baritone voice.
It was the kind of voice that made me feel good and wanted; one that would comfort me and tell me that I’m a good boy—the same kind of voice that would tease me in bed.
I blushed a bright red as my heart pounded. His lips quirked up and I found myself wanting to curl up in a ball while hugging my old zebra plushy.
That made me realize something. For the first time in many, many years, this man’s voice had managed to give strength to my little side and it was starting to crack the barrier between it and myself.
I took a few deep breaths and calmed myself down. “What would you like to order?” I asked again, and his smile fell ever so slightly.
“Nothing,” he responded, then moved off his seat with a strange sense of eloquence. “Thank you for the dance.”
I watched him leave after that with a shocked expression. What the hell happened?
I continued mulling over it for the rest of my shift, even while I was walking back to the dorm because I think he wanted something from me. But was he too shy to say it? Other men were bold when they were drunk, and that man did not even have a trace of liquor on his breath.
But I was startled out of my thoughts by a gunshot. I ducked down and heard another one echo, then a loud clatter and a thud near me in the alley a few steps back. In a moment of insane curiosity and stupidity, I shuffled towards it in my crouched position. Awaiting more gunshots, I cautiously peered around the corner. A man’s body was slumped against the wall. It was completely silent, so I assumed it was safe enough to go check on him.
In this city, police never came around much and no one wanted them to anyway, so there was a bit of crime. Most of the citizens took care of themselves and others without the police’s “help,” so there wasn’t a lot happening. It was more petty thieves and the occasional gang shootout. The rivaling gangs often kept the crime under control in their districts, so that was handy for me who worked the fine line of said districts.
Approaching the slumped figure, I slowed down to get a good look at him. I quirked my lips up. Two men in one night that had bodies to die for. He was all muscle like that man with the pale green eyes, but unlike him this man had carob-colored skin, a shaved head and face, and tattoos creeping up to his jaw. His full lips were red...with blood.
I hurried over and dropped my backpack next to me, unzipping it to grab one of my undershirts. I turned back to him and cut his shirt with the pocketknife I carry around for protection. It wasn’t one of those piddly all-purpose pocketknives, though. It was a knife with a sharp, three-inch blade.
I found the wound on his chest and breathed a sigh of relief. I guess whoever shot him actually thought the heart was near his left shoulder, but why was he unconscious? Maybe he had other serious injuries?
While pressing on his bullet wound with my undershirt, I fumbled around trying to find a phone he may have to call one of his contacts.
A deep, pained groan echoed. I shivered from the sound. A heavy hand grasped my shaking wrist as it reached for his back pocket.
“Wh-what are you doing? Who are you?”
His eyes weren’t open enough to see me yet, but I answered him anyway. “My name is Rosen. I heard the gunshots and came to see if anyone needed help. I’m currently holding a shirt to the wound in your left shoulder.”
“Then why is your other hand copping a feel of my ass?”
I blushed at his teasing tone but didn’t move my hands. “If you have your phone on you, I need it to contact someone you know. I’m betting you don’t want a hospital visit.”
He released my wrist. “Yeah, thanks.”
“Is your phone here or have I been copping a feel of your ass for no reason?”
A soft snicker escaped him, although it was quickly followed by a grunt. “It’s in my back left pocket.”
“Ooh, a lefty.” I remarked with a grin, then I caught a flash of cinnamon-brown eyes. My face flushed again when they studied me, but I did reach around and grab his phone.
“Here, give it to me.” he said, so I handed it over without a word.
While keeping consistent pressure on the wound, I listened to him call and talk to someone. His voice would have been smooth had it not been so pained. I could imagine him being playful with me and picking me up... I need to stop thinking about this with random strangers. Maybe I’m really tired today, but this man is really attractive to me. More so than the stranger at the club, which I didn’t think was possible.
“Great, they’re on their way.” stated the man, so I nodded shyly.
Nothing was said for a minute, but he kept staring at me for some reason. I nibbled on my bottom lip and I felt him shift on the ground.
“You said your name was Rosen?”
I smiled. “Yeah, what’s yours?”
“Tigre.”
My smile widened. “I like tigers.”
Internally, I was slapping myself until both cheeks were stinging. My stupid little side burst out for that comment. I threw him back inside his barrier and patched it up, then remerged as my old self.
When I refocused, Tigre’s eyes were wide. But before I could say anything, he had started laughing. He said “ouch” more times than I could count, so I tried to get him to stop laughing.
“Tigre, stop.” I said, and he muffled his laughter with his right hand. “Tigre, please, you’re hurting yourself.”
He cracked an eye open and grinned widely with slightly off-white teeth. “You’re adorable.”
Again, my skin flushed and I ducked my head. At least he’d stopped laughing.
“What are you doing out so late at night?”
My head popped up and I met his curious gaze. “Oh, I finished my shift at work a little while ago.”
He hummed. “Where do you work?”
I stared at him until he raised an eyebrow. I sighed softly. “Jeweled Desires.”
“The pole-dancing club and restaurant that has all of its employees use jewel-type names for privacy purposes?”
I nodded. “The one and only as far as I know.”
Tigre frowned. “What do you do? Buss tables, maybe pour drinks? No, you look too young to be a bartender.”
“I dance and serve tables.”
His cinnamon-brown eyes widened and his lips parted ever so slightly. “Really?”
My smile remained. “Come visit sometime, Tigre. I don’t dance privately, but I’m sure you’ll have a good time.”
His smile and voice made my heart pound as he replied, “Sure, Rosen, I’ll do that.”
