For Steve

[takecourage]

It's been a good night. She's on her third solo set of the night, leaning into the goth dominatrix vibe with her hair in a sleek sheath over one shoulder, black velvet and black lace underneath. She stands with her back to the pole, stripped down to a barely there G-string and gyrates, grinning when it brings another flurry of notes onto the stage.

The song ends and she grins, bending to pick up a handful of bills, giving the front view a bonus glimpse.

It's about ten minutes until she's back on the floor, lipstick freshly applied and back in her dress, ready to go again. Steve had texted earlier to tell him that he's planning on swinging by.

She's promised him a fun night.

Comments

[takecourage]

"I told you," she says, shimmying a little as the track ends. "I'm totally turning this cash back into drinks for you in a while, so...don't sweat it." She gives him a bright, sharp smile. "I need to go and change, but I'll see you later?"

[haplesshairpile]

Steve lifts his head to look at her curiously, because he hadn't really expected they were going out for drinks. He nods and sits up a little straighter, shifting his hips a little.

"I'll stick around then," he assures her, huffing out a laugh as he shrugs of the slight twinge of awkwardness. "Thanks for the dance."

[takecourage]

A little while later, Alex is weaving through the club again, but this time she's in street clothes with her hair pulled up onto the back of her head and her tips folded into her back pocket.

"Hey," she says. "Ready to go?"

[haplesshairpile]

The next time Alex approaches him she looks more like Alex his friend than Alex the stripper, and it makes it a little easier for Steve to flip some sort of switch in his mind and the tension he feels eases.

"Yeah, totally," he says with a smile, jerking his head toward the door. "Lead the way."

[takecourage]

Alex walks ahead of him through the club and out into the night air. She waits for him to fall into step with her. "There's a place I like not far from here," she says. "Have you managed to get yourself under control?"

[haplesshairpile]

"Yeah, I was able to talk myself down," he says with a laugh, striding ahead of her so that he can open the door for her. "Or at least delay myself for a little while."

It's cool out on the street and Steve appreciates the slight chill as he takes a deep breath. "Those guys in there are probably so jealous of me right now.

[takecourage]

"Gross, dude," says Alex, but she's grinning when she says it. She snorts. "Those guys in there didn't even register that you were walking out with the talent. The minute I put a hoodie on, it's like I'm invisible."