Luci

I applied my last layer of blush before hearing the manager call over the dressing room speaker, “Luci on in five.” I smiled, excited for my last performance of the night. I turned off the lights surrounding the mirrors while scanning for any touch ups I might need; Afterwards, I walked out of the dressing room, down the hall, and headed out behind the curtain for my queue.

I entered the stage while rainbow lights were illuminating my body and reflecting off the gems off my outfit. With every movement I saw more and more cash fly; my song was becoming almost incoherent, and soon after my dance ended; I quickly gathered the money and left for the next person to enter. 

I made my way back to the dressing room to pack up the money that I had earned from that dance. In there stood Henry and Nathan who’s stage names were Blaze and Ryder. They were only other male dancers. “How did you do, Luci?” Henry asked. 

“Oh, you know, perfect as always.” I laughed it off. They laughed in response as well. All of the dancers here like to joke about having way too much confidence because it’s part of the job, but almost all of us are pretty humble about our skills. “How about you guys?” I asked, returning the attentiveness. 

“Eh, I call it a win as long as I don’t fall off the pole.” Nathan said pretty nonchalantly. 

“Yeah, for sure.” Henry agreed. 

“I’m sure you all did amazing tonight.” I blew a kiss and left them in the dressing room.

I was on my way to the bar because I was finished for the night and wanted a drink, even if I wasn’t allowed to get drunk. 

“Hey Cutie, you with anyone tonight?” I asked teasingly while taking a seat in the only empty chair. I sat facing the man and rested my cheek on the back of my hand. The man I saw was incredibly hot. I don’t know how the seat next to him was empty. I don’t know why I’m thinking this way, I’m taken… and a dumbass.

“Not yet, but I could be.” He responded, winking at me. I blushed a little from such a bold response. He didn’t seem like the type to flirt back, I expected a fun night teasing a shy man, but I suppose this isn’t disappointing. 

“You’re not very shy, huh?” I said. “That’s okay, I can change that.” He looked away towards the bar and smiled in response to this. I needed to bring him back to me. He’s much more fun than the other people I flirt with. “What’s your name, Cutie?”

He hesitated for a moment before responding, “I don’t know… Do you think you’ve earned my name yet?” I pouted a little bit and gave a puppy dog face, “Awe, I don’t know, is there anything I can do to earn it?” I grinned, and rested my hand on top of his which was laying next to the drink he ordered. I stopped flirting for a moment, allowing his mind to go wild with fantasies of us. He smiled, but before he could say anything else the DJ’s microphone went off, “Closing in 10. Please close tabs and find your way out.” 

“Awe boo. I have to go, Luci, but I’ll see you soon.” He handed me a folded twenty dollar bill, closed his tab, and walked out. I watched him leave, he looks so confident and hot. I could drool over that face. I looked down at the money he handed me and noticed a piece of paper sticking out of it, I took it and unfolded it; There in red ink was his name and phone number, “Paris.” Cute. I thought. I shoved the note somewhere in my lingerie, but before I could do the same with the cash I heard a voice behind me.

“Luci.” I recognized that voice, it was sharp and loud and familiar. “Was I interrupting something?” 

“Antonio? How long were you standing there?” I asked as my voice shook a little. 

“Long enough to know you were flirting with another man. As my boyfriend you have no right doing that shit.” 

“You’re right. I’m sorry. I was just trying to make a little extra cash for us.”

“I don’t wanna hear shit. Go get changed while I close up here.” He said angrily, “And give me that cash.” He snatched it out of my hands before I could protest, not that I would even be able to.

The car ride home was awfully silent. I turned my head away from him and tried to focus on the buildings we passed, so I wouldn’t think about what would happen when we got home. I couldn’t help but glance over at Antonio though. His face was bright red, his jaw was clenched extremely tight, I thought his teeth would snap from his gums, and his knuckles were turning white, because he was gripping the steering wheel so hard. “I’m sorry, Antonio.” I whispered. No response. I wasn’t expecting him to forgive me, but I wanted him to talk to me more than anything.

The car pulled into the driveway, I heard the car door slam making my heart race even more. We made our way inside. I was dragged in by Antonio pulling me by my hair. I yelled in pain which as a result, made him grip  my hair harder. We made our way into the dining room and that’s when Antonio lost it. 

“Who the fuck gave you the right to flirt with other men, Lucian?” I don’t think I’ve ever heard him yell so loud.

“It’s part of my job.” I responded harshly, trying to hold my confidence, even though I knew it was the worst idea I could ever come up with. I knew better than to yell back, I just couldn’t control myself tonight.

He was absolutely pissed by this response. I felt his grip on my shoulders as he shoved me into the dining room table. I felt a sharp pain on my upper back and then slid in between the chairs on to the ground. My shoulder blade where the edge of the table hit started throbbing. He squatted down and pulled me up, an inch away from his face by my hair. “I know your job.” He stated angrily between his teeth. “I own that place. I own your job. I built you.” He spat those last words at me. “You would be nowhere without me. You’d still be working at that stupid diner, barely paying your rent.” He laughed between his words, saying this as if he thought it was funny, but he was right, I would probably be struggling, living paycheck to paycheck, alone without him. “You’re just a dumb slut, and dumb sluts need me. Remember, I gave you this job, I made you our number one dancer. I gave you everything you have. I can ruin you and your life just as easily.” 

“I know, Antonio.” I hardly responded with how much pain I was in.

He let go of my hair, I fell back on my forearms,  he stood up, and then kicked my chest down so I was flat on my back which didn’t help with the reminisce of pain on my shoulder.  “You seem too weak to give me your earnings today, so I’ll just grab your bag and retrieve them myself. Now, Go get showered and get to bed. Clean yourself up in there too. I might have some fun with you tonight.” After that, he left me limp and walked off to our bedroom. 

After a few minutes I stood up after coping with the pain on my chest and back. I made my way towards the bathroom. I grabbed a fresh towel, turned the shower on, and stepped in once it warmed to my liking. 

I really wasn’t horny tonight but disagreeing with him anymore would just make things worse for me, so I’ll just have to tough this one out until he’s satisfied. 

I stepped out of the shower letting the clouds of steam sprawl. I threw on pajamas and remembered the note I transferred into my second bag at the club. I grabbed it quickly and hid it in my phone case. Luckily it was in the bag that Antonio didn’t take from me or I’m sure I would be dead by now. 

I walked into the bedroom that Antonio and I share. Once I was there, Antonio was waiting for me on the bed. “Hey Love, come here.” He said in a calming voice. I obliged and laid next to him on the bed. “Yes Antonio?” I asked. He gazed into my eyes for a while before saying, “I’m really sorry about tonight, Honey. I feel terrible for hurting you. I understand that it’s your job to flirt with other men. I just personally don’t like it when you do that. I don’t try to hurt you ever. I just get a little mad sometimes and lose control, but I’m working on managing it, okay? I just love you so much. I don’t want to lose you to someone else. You understand right?”

“I do, Antonio.” I responded in the perfect way to please him. “I love you too.” 

He grinned and responded, “I’m so happy to hear that, my love… Now let’s put my good little slut to use.”

I do love him. My heart races whenever he’s near. That must mean I love him.

I love him more than anything.