An hour later, Crystal sang along with the radio as she drove into San Antonio. She’d obediently set her cruise control five miles below the speed limit, and had almost forgotten about the coolers hidden in her trunk.
God, I love being with a woman, she thought excitedly. A little extra money, a dominant lesbian lover, and a gorgeous biker who gives me drugs for free. Fucking life is good!
She wasn’t stupid. She knew the coolers contained something illegal. But who really cared? She was getting paid good money for each delivery, and she already drove into San Antonio every day, so it was like getting paid to drive to work.
She was thrilled that Shane had given her the bag of Meth for free; the high it produced was amazing, and she was already looking forward to using it again. And the possibility of getting caught didn’t bother her; she simply wouldn’t let it happen. She rarely saw the police, and since her little car struggled to reach seventy, she didn’t speed. So what could possibly go wrong?
She wouldn’t tell Tim, she decided. He wouldn’t understand. And the extra money could be mixed in with her normal earnings, or she could leave it with her mom. It would be her private little fund.
On the off-chance anything does happen, the club will protect me. I’ll buy something nice for Tim with the money. And I’ll just do it for a little while, and make a little extra money. Then I’ll stop.
Her heart started racing as she remembered having sex with Raven. Her domination made it so exciting!
It’s just like Fifty Shades of Grey. I’m Raven’s sub.
Then she thought about Tim, and her smile faded. He was doing great at his job, and his new promotion and bonus were making them financially stable. He’d started talking about buying a home and having children. That scared her. She was having fun stripping and being with Raven, and now making deliveries for Shane. She wasn’t ready to settle down.
I finally have some excitement in my life, and Tim wants me to trade that for dirty diapers? I don’t think so!
The prospect of being pregnant, and having a huge belly and stretch marks, disgusted and nauseated her. A three-bedroom-two-bath mortgage, complete with kids and a husband who worked all day, scared and intimidated her. Fortunately he was still hitting the books really hard…but once he finished college, she knew he’d insist on those changes.
I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. In the meantime, I’m going to party it up, she decided. Tim’s focused on his stuff…I’m going to focus on my stuff.
Her GPS directed her right to the first delivery address. He’d bought the unit when she’d started dancing, and its irritating little bells and whistles had driven her half-crazy until she’d learned how to work it. Now she was delighted with it, because it even gave her an estimated time of arrival, so she could plan ahead and know when she had to leave.
Fucking little thing is great!
She glanced in the rearview mirror, and saw Raven’s car about a mile behind her. Another reminiscent smile curved her lips. Raven had seen her nervousness, and offered to follow her on this first round of deliveries to make sure everything went smoothly. She’d jumped at the offer, because she’d wanted so much to please Shane.
Half an hour later—right on time, per the GPS unit—she pulled into a little convenience store parking lot. It looked rundown, and had bars outside each window. Every surface was covered with posters or graffiti, plus various advertisements for malt liquor, lottery games, and low-income food items.
It was busy despite its appearance; a steady stream of customers were coming and going, and some were loitering out front. She took a deep breath, retrieved the first cooler, and headed for the front door.
Stare straight ahead. Don’t look at anyone, don’t talk to anyone. It’s cool. Shane will protect you.
Some of the men made vulgar offers as she approached. She ignored them, and slid into line. What else could she do when there didn’t seem to be any other employees? But the line was moving very slowly, and the cooler was getting heavy. The woman at the counter was arguing with the cashier about a lottery ticket. Her heart began to pound with rising tension. She just wanted to leave!
“Excuse me.”
The deep voice at her elbow startled her. Crystal jumped and hastily stepped backwards, then saw a young black man smiling at her. Then she realized that he was older than her, but his boyish smile made him look younger. Nothing about him fit the seamy convenience store; he was well-dressed in expensive fashions, and he didn’t talk like someone who shopped here. Her tensed nerves screamed into overdrive.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you,” he said quickly, and his smile widened. “I noticed that cooler looked heavy, and thought perhaps I could carry it for you.”
She narrowed her eyes, and shook her head. “No, thank you. I’ve got it.”
Instead of leaving, he stepped even closer. “Are you dropping that off for someone? It’s not often we see someone come in with a cooler.”
She bit back her impulsive nasty reply, and took a deep breath as she studied him. Shane had told her to say it was for Jingles, and to leave it at the counter. He hadn’t said anything about giving it to a polite stranger.
Deliberately she turned away, and said, “Yes,” over her shoulder. She hoped her cold manner would chase him away.
“Well, I’m the manager of this store,” he said in a softer voice, “and I’d like to help if I can. Is that lunch for Jingles?”
Relief instantly coursed through her, and she turned back with a quick nod. “Yes. How did you know?”
He laughed loudly, and motioned with his head. “Jingles is in the back…the lazy bastard,” he exclaimed a bit louder than necessary. She sensed it was for the other customers’ benefits rather than hers. “Please follow me.”
Without a backward glance he headed for the back of the store. She hesitated for a second, then followed him. He waited by the storeroom door, and held the door open for her. No one was in the back room, or the adjacent office, and fear jolted through her. Carefully she stepped out of arm’s reach, and eyed him with barely-veiled suspicion.
Smiling, he spread his hands. “Relax. You can give me the cooler. I work for Jingles.”
She gratefully handed it to him, and watched while he placed it in the office, then locked the door securely behind him. “I’m impressed,” he complimented her when he returned. “I expected you to bolt any second, but you stood your ground.”
She managed a fairly convincing smile. “Yeah, well…I’m tougher than I look.”
“Good to know. Can you find your own way out?”
“Yes, thanks,” she replied, and headed for the door.
His voice stopped her just before she reached it. “Listen, in the future, just come directly back to this door and knock on it. You don’t have to wait in line. It’ll be easier for you. And if you ever have any problems, just mention Jingles’ name, or come see me.”
She nodded her understanding. “I will, but I didn’t catch your name.”
“My name is Sherrod,” he said politely. “I manage several of his businesses, so we’ll probably see each other a lot.”
She walked back to shake his hand. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Crystal.”
“Nice to meet you, too! I’m already looking forward to seeing you again.”
Electric lust jolted through her, and she smiled seductively up at him. “I’m looking forward to it, too, Sherrod,” she murmured, saying his name slowly. Then she turned and hurried back outside. The hot Texas sun made her squint. She slid into her car, and felt her cheeks flush as she considered his sexy smile.
Whew. He was hot. I get paid for deliveries, I get free drugs, and I get to flirt with cute guys. I’m liking this more and more. Okay, maybe it won’t be a short-term thing!
Excitement and arousal replaced her earlier fear. She’d always loved breaking the rules, skipping class, and doing drugs. Those things had made her feel alive. Now that she was breaking the law, those familiar, exciting feelings were even stronger. She’d missed them, she realized.
Suddenly it felt like she’d been sleepwalking through life with Tim, playing house, and planning for the future. Shane had change all of that for her. And now that she had Raven in her life, she felt like she was actually living again.
Shane’s not exactly in my life anymore, but she is, and she’s fucking awesome. Besides, with cute guys like Sherrod around, I’m not sure I’ll miss him much. God, what is it about black guys?
Then guilt washed through her. Married! You’re married! Remember your husband, Crystal!
But did they want the same things now? He didn’t like pushing the boundaries or taking chances; he wanted a much more normal, mundane life. White picket fence, two-and-a-half kids, and PTA meetings. Was there any room in that life for a stripper?
Knock it off. Tim’s your future. You’re just having some fun right now. Don’t forget, he saved you that night, and he’s the only man who’s ever stuck with you. Think of your mom, damn it! She partied until all the guys in her life left her, and now she’s alone! That’s your future if you don’t stick with him.
Thoughtfully she programmed the next address into her GPS, and left the parking lot. Then she shuddered with dread. The liquor store was in an even worse part of town. Her fear returned even stronger than before.
The convenience store had been grim enough, with bars in the windows and a security gate across the front door. This place looked like it was ready to repel an invasion. Two armed security guards were standing outside, and they were so muscular that she thought their shirts would burst at any second. Their dark skin gleamed in the sunlight, and their sunglasses made them look even more forbidding.
The windows and doors here had bars, too, and big cement planters stood in front of the door. They were huge and looked extremely heavy, though there were no plants in either of them. No one was going to crash into this place and steal any liquor.
She parked near the entrance, took a deep breath, and slid out of her car. With the cooler in hand, she nervously approached the security guards.
One of them stepped back and held the door open for her. “Go right on in, ma’am,” he said. He didn’t smile, but his voice rumbled out gentle and deep. Crystal managed a shaky smile, and hurried toward the checkout counter.
Ugh! Dirty! Don’t touch anything! I need to get some hand sanitizer!
The old man behind the counter unnerved her; his beard and hair were almost white, and they contrasted starkly against his dark skin. His once-white tank top was stained and faded to a dismal grayish-brown. It hung limply from his thin shoulders, but stretched tightly over his bulging stomach. His face was pockmarked and lined with deep creases, and his eyes held an ugly, hungry expression.
God, he’s sooooo creepy!
He ogled her lush body as she stepped closer, and the look in his eyes made her skin crawl. His lustful smile broadened when she laid the cooler on the counter. “I’m dropping this off for Jingles,” she informed him, and turned to leave.
Before she’d taken a single step, his hand clamped over her arm, and he spun her back toward the counter. “Where you goin’, girl?” he demanded. His voice emerged rough and gravelly from smoking not just cigarettes, but a variety of illegal substances. The roadmap of scars and deep wrinkles in his leathery skin repulsed her, and her heart began pounding when his eyes turned mean and desperate.
Furiously she yanked away, and jabbed a finger in his face. “Don’t you ever touch me again!” she snarled. He only smirked at her. “I was told to leave this for Jingles; that’s it. Now I’m leaving, and you can go fuck yourself!” she added for good measure.
He rested both elbows on the counter and leaned closer. “No need to be rude, baby-girl,” he said slyly. “You never know when you’ll make a new friend.”
The look she shot him was ripe with disgust. “I’ve got enough friends.”
“For now, baby-girl, for now,” he conceded, holding her angry gaze. “But you may need new friends in the future. It’s always best to be polite.”
“Tyrone!” The hulking security guard stepped inside, and aimed a threatening glare at the old man. “Leave her alone. You know damn well Jingles don’t tolerate the shit you just pulled.”
“Fuck you!” Tyrone snapped. He wobbled in place, and she realized he’d been drinking. “And fuck Jingles, too.”
The guard ignored him, and smiled at Crystal. “Thank you for dropping off the cooler, ma’am,” he rumbled in that curiously gentle voice. “This will never happen again. Have a nice day.”
She quickly nodded. “Goodbye,” she murmured.
She couldn’t get back into her car quickly enough, and her tires screeched as she pulled out of the parking lot. She didn’t bother looking back. All the excitement she’d felt earlier had died; Tyrone had scared her, and she knew she wouldn’t forget that hateful, brutally ugly look in his eyes.
It hadn’t been just lust; she was used to that, and wasn’t bothered by it. Tyrone had wanted to hurt her, and see the pain and terror on her face. She’d seen it before when that high school football player had tried to rape her, and it chilled her to the bone.
Tim had saved her that night…but he wouldn’t be able to save her if Tyrone attacked her.
Shane will stop him, she thought fervently. Shane will take care of me.
When she finally calmed down a little, she stopped to enter in the address of her last delivery. She felt more in control now that she was safely away. The neighborhood was much better, too, and her tensed nerves relaxed. By the time she reached the upscale nightclub, she was singing along with the radio again, and feeling almost normal.
Now this is more like it, she thought, studying the newly-renovated building.
She parked close to the double doors, and carried her cooler inside. Music was playing, but it was low, not loud and pounding. The lights were up, so the club was well-lit, and several employees were moving around, preparing to open for the evening.
The man behind the bar smiled and waved her over. Damn, he’s handsome, and ooohhh, so yummy! she thought when she got close enough to see his features. He had a well-trimmed goatee, beautiful light brown eyes, and a gorgeous smile. She guessed he might be in his early thirties. Okay, he’s a real hottie, she thought excitedly, then wondered, Damn, what’s gotten into me?
Lots of the girls she’d grown up with had either been afraid of black men, or not attracted to them at all. She’d always really liked them, and their carefree attitude toward life had appealed to her.
Smiling, she placed the cooler on the bar. “Hi. This is for Jingles.”
“Hi back,” he smiled, and held out his hand. “I’m Jingles, and it’s nice to meet you.”
She hadn’t expected that, and her thoughts scattered. Instinctively she laid her hand in his, and watched as it disappeared in his warm, dark, gentle grip. When he gestured toward the nearest barstool, she climbed up, then blushed when he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it.
“Thank you for delivering this to me,” he said gently, never taking his eyes off her face.
She had to swallow twice before she managed to respond, “You’re welcome?”
“What’s your name?”
She giggled nervously, and pressed her free hand against her face. “I’m Crystal. Sorry, I’m not usually this scatterbrained.”
“No need to be sorry. Crystal…that’s a beautiful name.” His eyes probed hers for another moment; then he finally released her hand. “I can see why Shane is so protective of you,” he commented, and motioned for the bartender.
She blinked at him in confused surprise. “You know Shane?”
He laughed, and she decided she liked the sound of it…his voice was smooth and pleasant. “Yes, I know Shane,” he agreed. “We go way back.”
The bartender set Jingles’ diet soda on the long counter, then waited while he turned to Crystal. “What can we get you?” Sharing a drink with her, he thought, would keep her from leaving quickly. She was amazingly beautiful, and he definitely wanted to learn more about her.
“Uhh…diet coke is fine,” she managed, then blurted, “I can’t stay long.”
“I won’t keep you,” he smiled as her drink materialized. “But I do like to get to know the people I do business with. I hope that’s okay.”
She nodded, and sipped her drink.
“What do you do, besides work for Shane?”
“I dance at The Harem,” she said quickly. “Do you know it?”
She was so young and naïve that a genuine smile curved his lips. He liked both those qualities because it was almost too easy to manipulate girls like her. It just took a little time, patience, and encouragement. Often that meant alcohol and parties, but sometimes it meant chemical inducements.
“I do,” he grinned. “They’re my competition.”
“Really?” She glanced around in surprise. “I thought this was a nightclub, not a strip club.”
“It was,” he agreed, “but I’m changing it up. I’m covering the dance floor with carpet to make more room for tables and chairs, and adding stages. The VIP area will be over there, separated by a wall, with its own entrance.” He pointed out the different features as he talked. “There will be another VIP area upstairs, and that’s going to be extremely exclusive. I’m hoping to have some professional athletes sign up as members. If I’m successful, the second VIP area will be almost like a separate club.”
Crystal nodded. She enjoyed listening to his confident voice…and he was definitely easy on the eyes. Then she realized that he’d asked her a question, and she’d been so busy staring at him that she hadn’t even heard it. “I’m sorry,” she exclaimed, blushing. “I missed your question.”
“I just asked what you thought about my changes.”
“They’re great,” she smiled, looking around. “I think it’ll be really nice when you’re done, and you’ll probably have tons of girls wanting to dance here.”
“I hope so. The girls usually determine whether the club is successful or not,” he said earnestly, “so I’m really hoping to attract some beautiful women to dance here.”
Raven and Joe had told her the same thing: customers simply spent more money around beautiful women, so they were in hot demand.
“Would you consider dancing here?” he suddenly asked. “You’re absolutely stunning, and I know you’d be successful here.”
His impulsive offer startled her. “Thanks, but I’m really happy at The Harem.”
“What if I guaranteed that you’d make more here?”
She cocked her head. “How can you guarantee that? You don’t know how much I make now.”
So she was smart as well as lovely! He laughed in delight. A few of his employees glanced over and smiled, but he gave them a sweeping glance that clearly said, ‘Get back to work.’
“You’re the most beautiful dancer I’ve ever seen, and my customers love blonde women,” he told her. “All black men want a ‘snow-bunny,’ and it wouldn’t surprise me if you doubled your income in your first week here.”
His flattery made her smile, and she couldn’t help considering his offer. She was making good money now, and her income was still growing. She couldn’t imagine doubling it that quickly. His offer was very, very tempting, but…
“I’m sorry,” she finally decided, and gently shook her head. “I’m happy where I am. But thank you for the compliment.”
He’d actually hoped for that response, because he enjoyed the challenge of seducing her. Dancing at his club was only the first step. He wanted her to do more than dance, but that was down the road; getting her here was the first order of business. The fact that she worked for Shane wasn’t an issue; Shane would negotiate with him.
“I understand, and respect your decision,” he smiled.
She managed a confident smile in return, but it was entirely faked, because her emotions were jumbled. She really liked the idea of dancing in a brand-new club…and the chance to double her current income? That was a powerful incentive. She’d also like to see Jingles on a regular basis.
“Tell you what,” he suddenly exclaimed. “Why don’t you try just one night a week? And I’ll even sweeten the deal more. You don’t have to pay a house fee…and if you don’t make two grand the first night, I’ll make up the difference personally.”
“I don’t know…” The prospect of a guaranteed $2,000 was hard to resist. Normally she made between $700 and $800 now, so one night at Jingles’ club would be like working two or three nights at The Harem.
He watched her think it through, and hid a triumphant smile. The money was fantastic, and she’d have a hard time refusing it. He had a good idea how much the Harem dancers made, and he’d deliberately tripled it. She might very well make that much on her own…but if she didn’t, he considered it a good investment.
“Shane wouldn’t approve,” she said quickly, seizing on the last excuse she could think of to politely refuse his offer.
It’s almost too easy!
“Just think about it,” he urged, keeping his expression serious, “and let me know. I’ll talk to Shane for you. We know each other very well, and he’ll understand if you want to try my club. You’d just be dancing here, nothing else, and our business wouldn’t be affected.”
Jingles was a master at mixing lies with truth, and this situation was no different. Shane would probably be pissed, he thought…but he’d negotiate. She was just a mule, after all, so her value was limited. But she would just be dancing for him…at first. There were lots of other ways she could earn money for him, too.
He studied her covertly, and experience told him she’d be a huge moneymaker. Smiling, he reached into his jacket pocket and took out a card. After writing his personal cell number and e-mail address on the back, he handed it to her. “This is my card. Please keep it, and call or e-mail me directly if you change your mind. You’re also welcome to stop by anytime. If you do, just mention my name, and my boys will take care of you.” Then he leaned forward and whispered, “I’ll take care of you, Crystal. I promise.”
Goosebumps shivered up and down her skin as she breathed deeply, enjoying his light but nicely masculine cologne. His voice was soft and sensual, and she had a sudden wild yearning to hear it again, but with both of them naked, and him on top of her. She resisted the urge to slant her mouth across his in a hungry kiss, and eased back with a wobbly smile.
God, what the hell is wrong with me?
“Thank you for the soda, for the offer, and for being such a gentleman,” she said, and pushed her glass away. “I wish all the guys I’d met today were as nice as you.”
She started to slide off the barstool, but hesitated when he suddenly gripped her arm. “What do you mean?” he snapped.
Fear rocketed through her when she saw the deadly chill in his eyes. This was a new, terrifying side of him! “Uh…it’s nothing,” she stammered, backing away. “Honestly.”
Just as quickly he released her arm, and waved a dismissive hand. “Sorry,” he apologized with another charming smile. “I just don’t want you to have any problems, that’s all. It’s bad for business. So tell me…did someone bother you today?”
She must have imagined that dangerous look in his eyes, she decided when he relaxed and absently swirled the liquid in his glass. “Well, there was this guy at the liquor store who came onto me,” she admitted. “He worked behind the counter. He grabbed my arm, and said he wanted to be my friend, and that I’d need a friend in the future. It scared me a little…but it was nothing.” She shook her head as much to reassure him as herself.
“Older guy? Gray hair and beard?”
“Yes. I think his name was Tyrone.”
Calmly he nodded, then slid off his own barstool and held his arms out wide. “It’s been really nice meeting you, Crystal, and I can’t wait to see you again soon.”
She surprised herself by hugging him, and was even more surprised by his lean whipcord muscles. He was so long and lean that she’d expected him to be bony. He felt more like a runner or basketball player, she decided. And she felt amazingly safe…and aroused…when his arms folded gently around her.
Neither of them had meant to prolong the embrace, and eventually he cleared his throat and moved back. Crystal took a bit longer to respond, but finally she stepped back, too. “Um, it was nice to meet you, too,” she said a little breathlessly, and quickly headed back out to her car. The color that warmed her cheeks wasn’t due to the hot afternoon sun, and she fanned her face as she slid back into her driver’s seat and started the engine.
Wow, I met two really sexy black guys today, she thought with a wicked little chuckle. I wonder if it’s true what they say about black men!
Since she’d never been on this side of town before, and didn’t want to get lost, she plugged The Harem’s address into her GPS. She’d get there early, she realized, which would please Joe. And maybe she’d get lucky and catch a wealthy businessman during happy hour. She liked to dance for older guys because they were less grabby, and they spent money a lot more freely.
Overall it had been a fun afternoon, she thought to herself, and smiled as she cranked up the radio. She’d made a tidy sum from Shane, and gotten a sweet offer from Jingles. Her smile widened as she began singing along with the radio.
Life is good! No…life is fucking awesome! I’d move over to his club in a heartbeat if it weren’t for Raven and Shane!
She didn’t notice Raven’s car following her at a discreet distance. In fact, she hadn’t seen her since she’d left Fredericksburg, and she certainly hadn’t noticed the two bikers who’d shadowed her, too.
Raven checked in with Shane, and gave him the all-clear. A moment later, the two bikers did the same with Rowdy. Crystal’s first delivery had gone fairly smoothly, although Raven decided she’d speak to Shane about the liquor store issue.
The club’s first official, and completely expendable, mule had performed perfectly.
It was a great start for everyone.