The club was as dark and sordid as advertised. We arrived at ten o’clock because according to Monte only ‘losers showed up early’. I hoped to slip away after the others were distracted by drinks and the entertainment.
It didn’t appear I would be so fortunate. When we arrived, the hostess greeted Monte by name. She seated us at a large booth placed prominently at center stage. In fact, the stage edge served as the table for our drinks. During their routines, the girls would make a circuit by us. I will admit the guys were generous. For all his chauvinism, Monte was a good tipper.
My first drink down, margarita, I think, and things were progressing okay. The place wasn’t as repellant as I expected. The night had a thrilling sort of anxiety. There was a sense of universal anticipation. It was primal, raw and uncomplicated. The energy tingled within the male patrons, but the lady entertainers were not immune. Anything was possible in the dark early hours, far away from the judgment of dawn.
The servers were free with the drinks and the music was pleasantly conversation-inhibiting. At the end of each routine, the ladies collected their due from the crowd. Most of the dancers wore themed costumes. There was a sassy librarian, a hottie nurse and classic school girl. The woman, the school girl, on platform exited stage left and climbed onto my lap. ‘Climb’ wasn’t a sensual enough word, but my vocabulary failed to provide an appropriate synonym. She hadn’t bothered with putting her costume back on.
“Hi,” she tried for smooth nonchalance. She came across satirical. “I’m Candy. I heard it was your birthday.”
“Candy? Really?” I couldn’t help it. Her name was something out of a poorly scripted porno.
“Candy is sweet.” She pouted. “What’s your name, Baby?”
“Jon.”
“Hey!” She dropped her seductress persona. Candor suited her. “That’s not any better!”
“I didn’t suggest it was, Ma’am.” I conceded.
“Ma’am!” She giggled. “You’re too cute!”
That was completely emasculating, but I didn’t have time to think about that. She was pulling me to my feet. “You get to come with me to the Champagne Room.” I followed like so many weak-minded men before me.
“Champagne Room?” I was nervous and chatty. “Isn’t that a little cliché?”
“No more than ‘Candy’.” She giggled self-effacing. Still leading me, she added. “Men are simple. Men like to know what to expect. And men really like it when reality meets their expectations. They think strip clubs are all champagne rooms filled with girls named Candy, so...ta-da! Here I am!”
“And women are more complicated?”
“Of course, we are! Women want danger and excitement. We want a tall, dark stranger, like you, Jon.” She was purring again.
“Dark and dangerous, huh?” I never thought about myself in those terms. Odd. Different. Quiet. Outcast. That was me.
“Definitely.” She manhandled me onto the couch. “And sexy as sin.”
I changed the subject. “Did Monte set this up?” I wondered how far her act would go.
She gave me a little private smile. “No,” she whispered. “Monte just wanted me to tease you a little, maybe shake my ass at you. Give you a thrill.” She was on my lap again. She brought her mouth to my ear. “But...”
Candy surprised me with a hard kiss. She tasted faintly of cigarettes covered up by strong mint. The little bits of sequin on her obscene costume dug into my chest. I didn’t pull her closer, but I didn’t push her away either.
“We have to hurry. The manager doesn’t like us mixing business with pleasure.” She gave me that personal mischievous grin again. It was so different from the emotionless mask she wore on stage. Quickly my jeans were unbuttoned and pushed down. My shirt was pushed up around my neck. My brain shut off while my body got up to speed. My fingers found her delicate flesh beneath the thin strip of fabric. She arched and moaned exponentially to my minor ministrations. Flushed, she tore away the remains of her clothing. As I took a breath to steady myself, she was on me. Her body engulfed mine with blinding heat. Any protest I had at losing my virginity in a strip club was silenced by the act itself. I was immobilized by sensation. There was only pressure and heat. I felt her everywhere, wet and tight. She was seeping into my very pores. I wanted to consume her. I felt crazed with power. She was beautiful, pliant and mine to command. She took the pleasure I gave her and I wanted to devour her. I felt strong, stronger than I ever had in my life. Everything was murky, fuzzy, yet in my mind, I was invincible.
Her pace so frantic in the beginning, turned lethargic. She continued through her first climax almost more needy and demanding than before. “More, baby. More.” She begged. I pushed upward to add to her efforts. “AH!” She half-cried, half-screamed.
Right as she reached the brink of her final orgasm, the door flung open. “CANDY!” A middle aged man barged in. I rolled to my side and let Candy fall softly on the couch. I started to simultaneously apologize and pull my pants up. My inexplicable sense of invincibility abandoned me, leaving me feeling shaky and weak.
I repeated my apology over and over. The manager just shoved passed to berate Candy directly. “What are you doing, stupid bitch?” He grabbed her chin roughly and turned her to face him. Her expression was completely blissed out. She smiled dreamily passed the looming manager to me. He yelled again, but she only kept smiling. She caressed her breasts and then lower down her stomach still looking at me.
The manager turned on me. “What did you give her?” He demanded. “I swear to God if she OD’s I will have your balls!”
“Nothing. Nothing, Sir. I don’t do drugs.” I tried to convince him.
“Baby, baby come back.” Candy was reaching toward me. She looked exhausted but divinely sated too. She was still reaching as her eyes closed. The manager’s focus was immediately on her again. “Get out of here!” He yelled at me. “Don’t ever come back here and if I found out you did something to her, you are dead!”
I didn’t wait to be told again. I took the first door I saw. Then the next and the next, until I found myself in the poorly lit alley behind the club. Confused and scared, I ran. Forgetting I rode with Monte, I could only think about getting back to base. Base was where everything made sense and I was safe.