MISTRESS OF EVEREST KINCAID

Chapter 3

My stomach hollowed out and for a moment, I wanted to go back. But Talia handed me a black mask that stopped at the bridge of my nose. It matched my dress. Then she wore hers, sealing the deal.

I was really doing this.

“Ready b***h?” She grinned, wildness in her eyes like always. And fire caught in my chest, burning away my reluctance like poison. I took a deep breath and nodded.

We stepped out and made our way to the entrance. Temptation was one of the popular clubs in the city. Though, they became exclusive five years ago, it became one of the richest clubs in the city. A place for debauchery, wildness and utmost privacy for the wealthy, famous and socialites of the city. To enter, an exclusive membership card was required at the entrance and usually, each member was allowed to bring in a plus per club night. As Talia’s plus one, we were allowed into the club and almost immediately, I was sent back to five years ago.

The music, the scent, the noise, the light.

All at once, I was back to when I was eighteen, when dancing was my everything and my everything was dancing. Like back then, my heart raged like a drumbeat in my ears, and flames ignited in my heart. Music bounced off the wall and bundles of cash flew into the sky. Almost immediately, the tightness in my body came loose and a smile spread across my lips. We made our way to a reserved spot at the front right in front of the stage and we settled down.

On the stage, there was a striper was performing while people either watched, danced or threw money at her. Or do all three. Talia ordered some drinks and immediately started vibing while I looked around, taking note of the changes that had taken place since the last time I was there. We weren’t the only ones with mask on. Everyone present to those performing all had mask on their face.

Another dancer came on stage just as our drinks finally came. I gulped down two shots first, then took a deep breath.

The second performance ended and some guys came on stage, dressed in nothing but black socks and tight plain black briefs. My heart caught in my throat as heat rushed through my body almost immediately. This had to be new. Talia screamed and immediately dashed closer to the stage, joining the other men and women going crazy like this was normal. Seeing beautiful men adorned like they ate bones and proteins supplements for breakfast, lunch and dinner in nothing but briefs roll their waists to the enjoyment of s*x starved women like myself.

I swallowed, unsure what to look at or if I should even look. The sizes of their d***s seemed to be a little too impressive. I didn’t even know d***s could be that big. And worse still, they were definitely hard on stage.

My core clenched at the thought of being pressed down the bed by anyone of them. Their lips on my neck, my breast, my stomach, my c**t.

“Slut.”

I snapped out of my thoughts, suddenly feeling very hot. Disgust burned the back of my throat. I gulped down another shot, even when I knew that I should be taking things easy. I haven’t drank in a long time and doing too much would get me in trouble more than anything.

The drink helped me forget for a moment, but it did nothing to the heat spreading violently between my legs.

Even when the guys left, unfortunately with their very large, very hard d***s.

I swallowed and took another shot.

Talia returned to her seat, smiling and very drunk.

“We’ve got a special edition tonight.” The host of the night came on stage, stopping the momentum of the madness for a while and everyone ‘booed.’

“As you all know, we’ve been unable to find a fitting red girl for the past five years after our darling quit.”

I froze. And Talia immediately turned to me.

“b***h, that’s you.”

“Shut up.” I snapped and looked around to make sure no one heard.

“And our last one just quit, unfortunately.”

Another boo went through the crowd.

“So tonight, we are going to open the stage for anyone willing to be the darling of the night.”

My heart skipped and loud cheering passed through the crowd. Talia gripped my hand, eyes turning to me, shining too brightly, I knew what she wanted without needing her to speak.

“No.” I shook my head, more for myself than her.

“You’ve done this a hundred times.” She implored, gripping tighter.

“That was five years ago.” I snapped and pulled my hand away from her grip.

“You were the red darling b***h. Dancing is in your veins.”

“That was five years ago.”

“I heard you the first time.”

“I haven’t danced in five years.”

“But you kept fit, hmm?” Of course, she knew the answer to that. That was the only thing Julian permitted me to do. We had a home gym, so I didn’t have to go out for any of that.

“Then get on the goddamn stage.” She spat between clenched teeth.

“The stage is set.” The host continued and the stage plunged into darkness.

“Let’s welcome our darling of the night.” Red light flickered on, turning the stage red so dark, the edges were almost black.

My heart stopped, my mind plunged back to five years ago and my heart picked up.

“Get going.” Talia suddenly pushed me forward, almost tripping me as I hit the side of the stage rather roughly.

A loud cheer rose around the crowd. And a familiar rush ran down my spine.

“You go girl.” She screamed and I glared at her.

I could walk away and not do this.

There was no one stopping me, except Talia. She was impossible to stop, but I could say no if I wanted to. However, as the cheering rose, my body buzzed with a need so raw, I couldn’t stop myself. I found my legs moving. Not towards my seat, not towards the entrance. But towards the stage, like it was pulling me to it, calling me from a place that I had thought was dead.

I stopped at the center of the stage, and everything faded away. The noise, the people, my life. I touched the pole and my heart slowed down.

Silence.

A buzz ran down the nape of my neck, to the sole of my feet like a welcome jolt. An old friend embracing me.

It was welcome home.

In that moment, I never left it. Never got married, never walked away, never hid, never became me. I wasn’t Anaya Grant but the red darling.

In that moment, I never left dancing.

The music came on, the crowd grew silent.

And the red darling returned.

My hand slide through my hair while the other dragged the pole lightly, soaking in silence, soaking in the moment, letting the music move through me.

Slowly, I circle the pole once, my hips moving on their own, following the beat and soul of the song. The dress turned beautifully with me in soft, alluring flares that shot my confidence through the roof. None of the motions felt controlled or knowing. It’s been five years since I let a sound move through me. As I moved, the slit on the dress exposed my thighs, my fingers trailed the inches of my flesh, when I slowly got down to my knees and leaned backward, relaxing against the pole, while my hand trailed the open deep of my chest.

The beat increased its pace, and I pulled myself back up with the help of the pole, the dress falling down with a flair. I wrapped a knee around the pole, spinning once, my waist moving with it, then I spin away from the pole. The dress opens dramatically, spinning with me before falling back in place, covering the silhouette of my flesh while I danced across the stage. My body, my waist, my hands, my mind all centered on a performance I never prepared for.

The room held its breath, eyes remained fixed on me. Following my every movement, every drop, every twist, every turn. A smile broke out of my lips. And something came loose from inside me. The music’s tempo following my emotions like it could feel what I felt.

In this moment, I was not Anaya Grant.

I was free. I was the red darling. And the red darling was me.

The music changed quickly to something more sensual. And the red light from the stage stretched towards the audience. The crowd screamed, the sound like a torch under my heart. Everyone who knew the club knew what it meant. It was a simple command. Take the dance to the audience.

I spun, searching for the lucky partner.

Definitely not Talia who was screaming at the top of her lungs.

I moved around the stage, dancing, watching, searching, while their screams grew louder, more encouraging.

Then I caught his eyes.

My heart stopped.

Seated in front of the stage, elbows leaning on his legs and hands intertwined with each other was a man.

With the deep blue.

Sharp. Commanding. And intense. It glinted against the darkness.

A man with eyes that look more beastly than man.

A predator watching his prey.