The Things We Crave

Chapter Twenty

For the last two weeks, Vincent has been struggling to keep his cold demeanor and resist touching her. Her bubbly personality and the way she caries herself were contagious. He was good at figuring people out by watching them. He had watched her a lot as best her could without her noticing. Her body is restless, she is always fidgeting, bouncing her leg or clicking her pen. When she was concentrating on her work, she absentmindedly twirls a strand of hair or bites her lips, which turns him on. She also furrows her brows that creates two small line between them. When she is on the phone with a customer, she doodles on the scratch paper in front of her.

Vincent was starting to see what Brad was talking about when he had asked him how he knew Tammy was the one. Vincent was seeing the little things. He noticed she brought in a large Styrofoam cup from the fast food joint down the street from the office. It only has small pieces of ice; she chews on it throughout the day. He also noted that she brings in fresh fruit, cottage cheese, or salad as a snack. He had her pickup lunch for him a few times and told her to get something as well. It seemed she preferred Italian food over Chinese. She ate with him and they had intelligent conversations about a few observations she noticed about Denver and this company. He had to tell her about the mob’s involvement with his clubs and their role. She took the information well. After that she started to call him, ”Gabby”. He liked the way her crooked smile grew when she called him that. He could only guess why; he was on the outside of her inside joke.

He wasn’t expecting for Veronica to show up, but she opened the perfect opportunity to play his next card. Tonight, Catherine was going to work the floor at his club while he covered for a bouncer. The girls have been giving Catherine a hard time since she started as his assistant, and he was getting tired of it. He used to love the way these girls would trip over themselves when he entered a room. Now it was just annoying, he would stuff his hands deep into his pockets and sigh heavily. There were too many girls in this office, he hired them because he liked to surround himself with beautiful women, not for their ability for the job. He regrets it now.

Tonight, he plans to make it clear who he wants and staking a claim on Catherine. There will be no question where he stands, so they can shut up and get over it. He wanted to wait longer but he can’t take it anymore. His body is craving her touch, her affection, and her kiss. He is taking a risk putting her on the floor. He already knew she was going to look smoking hot after Veronica get through with her. Veronica may be a good lay, but she was even better at managing the girls at the club. They are who the clients pay to see, and they’ll see his kitten. Kevin will be there along with the rest of his dawgs. He’s black as the night and built like a brick shithouse. They are the mob in that area and run their territory with an iron fist. He liked Vincent from the start, after Kevin kicked the crap out him. He respected Vincent’s drive and his unwillingness to back down. Kevin didn’t want the club in his territory at first, Vincent had ways to changing difficult people’s mind. Now, Vincent is considered a close friend of Kevin’s. However, Vincent didn’t trust him with Catherine.

He pulls up to the side entrance where only employees can enter around 8pm. He had picked up Catherine so they could come here at the same time. She sat quietly in the passenger seat the whole way, not saying much. Her body language reflected her anxiety. They got out and went inside, Catherine followed Vincent. He led her to the door where the girls go in to get ready.

“This is where you go in, Veronica and the other girls are already here. She’ll help you get ready and tell you what you need to know. It will only be for a few hours; we can meet at the bar around 11. Don’t worry, you’ll do fine. Veronica is good at what she does and seems to like you. Later.” Vincent said pressing his lips into a thin smile. He turns and heads to the locker room to change his clothes and get his walkie talkie.

Catherine smiles back weakly as she turns the knob and opens the door. Closing the door behind her, the room was busy with half naked girls changing into their costumes, looking for lost high heel shoes, getting their hair and make up done. A blonde saw her first and made a bee line to her.

“Hello there! You must be Catherine. Veronica said we were getting a beautiful red head to play with. She was not lying, gurl you are hot!” She winks and hooks her arm with Catherine’s.

She leads Catherine deeper in the room of clucking hens as they check her out. They stop in front of the rack of costumes. “Tonight’s theme is cowboys and Indians. What do you want to dress as and what underwear size?”

“Umm, Vincent said the one with the most material…size 5, 36C.” Catherine says as she rubs her forearm.

The girl looks at her for a few seconds then smiles. “Oh, that’s right, Veronica said you are Vincent’s assistant. How lucky are you? You get to look at that gorgeous hunk of meat all day. How can you stand it?”

Catherine holds up her hands, “It’s not like that, he’s a close family friend. I’m Tammy’s sister, Vincent is doing a favor for Brad. I recently moved here after my other died to be closer to her. I needed a job, I’m sure he doesn’t see me anymore then a sister.”

She laughs with a snort, “Brad’s Tammy? I didn’t know she had a sister. Okay, sure I understand.”

That statement was a common one and it was starting to get on her nerves. Did she not talk to anyone about me?! What the hell?! Catherine thought.

She looks through the rack and pulls out a two-piece Indian chief costume and hands it to her. “You can change behind that blind. If you need any help let me know. I’m Kim, by the way.”

Catherine smiles and goes behind the blind. She removes her pants and shirt, so she is left with her bra and panties. She pulls up the skirt, the bottom stops mid-thigh. The top was a halter top with a v-shaped bottom with a built-in pushup bra. She removed her bra and put on the top. After adjusting her breast, she steps out from the blind and looks at herself in the full-size mirror. The tip of the top stops just above her bellybutton, her crystal bellybutton ring easily seen. She turns to see that her back was completely open except for a few x’s of material. Her tramp stamp “Wildcat” tattoo, written in a fancy French script font with paw prints around it, was visible along with the tattoo on her shoulder blade of a motorcycle with a mid-night beach landscape.

“Damn! Sexy.” Veronica exclaims as she comes up behind Catherine. “I see you are going to make this too easy for me. Have a seat and I’ll do your hair and makeup. Do you want the full head dress or just a few feathers?”

“The head dress will be fine.” Catherine replies.

Veronica brushed and smooths Catherine’s hair, as pulls the top half of it back, she coos and says, “I love your hair, so soft and long. And the color, is this your natural color?”

Catherine just nods.

Veronica starts to braid the hair she gathered from the top, leaving the bottom half down and loose. This covers her naked back. Veronica turns Catherine so they are face to face. She takes a curling iron to the short hairs around Catherine’s face, while covering Catherine’s eyes, she sprays some hair spray.

“Okay, your skin color is natural tan, living on California’s beaches no doubt, so you don’t need concealer. I think eyeliner, maybe these extra long fake eyelashes with the white jewels on them to match the stones on your belly ring, and a smokey style eyeshadow will do the trick.”

Once that was done, Veronica brough her over to a large jewelry chest. She grabs two bicep bands decorated with feathers and beads, a pair of dreamcatcher earrings, two leather bracelets with a design made out of tiny white and teal beads with a matching anklet.

“OK, sweetie. Put theses on while I get you head dress to pin on your head. You can find some moccasins over there. Try them on until you find a pair.” Veronica says as she walks away.

Catherine puts on the jewelry and finds a pair of shoes. Then she meets Veronica back at the chair where her hair and face were done. She puts the chief head dress on Catherine’s head and gently pins it into her hair.

Looking over Catherine’s shoulder she whispers, “Damn, I’m good. Okay, you’re ready. You’ll need an apron, that’s where the gentlemen put your tips. You’ll have to find Vincent to get you one, I’m out. Then go to the bar tender to get you a pad of papers to write the customer’s order on. What you’re doing is waitressing and catering to the customer. Don’t be nervous, they are not allowed to touch you without your permission. If a customer is making you uncomfortable, raise an open hand in the air. Another girl, or bouncer will come to assist you. Vincent wants to make sure we feel safe here.” Veronica turns to the group of girls. “Okay! Let’s do this ladies! Papa bear is in the house tonight, let’s make him proud. This is Catherine, this will be her first time on the floor. We were all there at one time, so I expect support and you all make her feel welcomed. You know what to do.”

With a little whistle, everyone filed out the door, down the hall, and out to the main part of the building. Catherine’s heart was pounding, soon she was feeling the familiar rush. She couldn’t wait to see Vincent. Wait until he gets a look at her.