Stripped(24)

“How many do you have?”

“A lot. I try to do a new one every month. Let’s see…Fiona Apple? Aerosmith? Smashing Pumpkins?”

“Smashing Pumpkins? I used to listen to them. What song is it?”

“Ava Adore.”

“Nice,” he said, smiling. “Just surprise me.”

Abby advanced the digital music player to the Smashing Pumpkins song.

As the music started, she swung her hips, too nervous to meet Chris’ eyes. She moved slowly, rhythmically, hooking her legs around the top of the pole and letting her body slide slowly down to the floor before she reached up to grab the pole and parted her legs into the splits in the air.

She was halfway through the song before she could bring herself to look at Chris, who sat staring at her with his legs open, resting his elbows on his knees as he leaned forward eagerly. The baseball cap he wore made him look young, the ends of his hair flipping up beneath it.

Abby smiled at him as she swayed her back against the pole, bucking her hips as she slowly made her way to the floor. She quickly grabbed the pole again, swinging herself around it until she wrapped her legs around it once more.

Usually Abby was engrossed in the dance, focusing on every touch of her body and flip of her hair she had choreographed along with the steps. But she couldn’t stop thinking of Chris’ eyes on her and wondering what he was thinking. As she moved down the pole, she felt a tingle of arousal at the feel of it between her legs.

As the song ended, she approached Chris, smiling seductively. He opened his mouth to speak and she pressed a fingertip to his lips as the Fiona Apple song started.

She started the lap dance slowly, running her fingertips down his shoulders and arms. His eyes never left hers, and her arousal flared at the heat she felt from him. This was her chance to touch him however she wanted, in the name of the lap dance. She flipped his hat off and ran a hand through his dark blond hair, down his neck and back to his cheek. The day-old stubble gave her an unexpected thrill.

As she straddled his lap, keeping her feet on the floor, Chris’ eyes closed and he inhaled sharply. Abby felt his hardness beneath her and knew he was as turned on as she was. She stroked her fingertips down his cheeks, neck and chest and he threw his head back. As she leaned forward, she grabbed his biceps for support and whispered against his ear.

“Touch me,” she said. His hands moved quickly from his sides up her thighs, to her back, and down to cup her bottom, pulling her tight against him.

Abby’s murmur was unintelligible. It had been a long time since any man had put his hands on her like this and not been shut down within seconds. Her body responded to his immediately, and she was embarrassed by the intensity of her arousal.

He ran one of his large hands up her back and into her hair, pulling her toward him and kissing her, lightly at first. She knew this was a bad idea, but she was swept up in a wave of desire she hadn’t even realized she felt. Abby knew she was attracted to Chris, but the longing she felt as their bodies pressed together surprised her. He kissed her more deeply, becoming very unlike the aloof, easygoing Chris she was used to.

As he continued pressing her hips into him with his hand on her bottom, Abby squirmed, self-conscious about her building desire.

“Chris,” she said, her voice a whimper. “Oh, God, you have to stop.”

She wanted to stop moving her hips against him, but Abby had lost control, and she knew she was heading for a point of no return. Chris held her head firmly and pressed his mouth against hers, harder, and she moaned helplessly.

“Chris, no. I’m about to…”

He pulled her hair back, releasing his lips from hers, and when Abby felt his warm mouth moving toward her neck, she knew she was about to be pushed over the edge.

“No, not like this,” she said, breathless. “Let’s go in one of the bed rooms.”

“Right here, Abby. Just let go and come for me,” he said in a low voice, kissing his way down to her chest.

“No. This should be for both of us. Come on.” She pushed back against his shoulders, her body still pulsing with desire.

Chris stayed in the chair when she got up, looking at her with longing. She walked a few steps, waiting for him to follow, but he didn’t.

“What’s the matter?” she asked. He sighed, raking a hand through his hair.

“Abby, I’m unbelievably turned on right now, but I don’t think we should.”

The desire she had felt seemed to melt into a puddle, replaced by shock.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“It’s just not a good idea.”

“Why, because I’m a stripper? Are you afraid you’re going to catch something from me?”