SUGAR - Chapter 1: Chapter 1

"Sapphire, I need you on the floor ASAP."
"I'm almost done, damn. My lash corner lifted."
Working the floor never fails to trigger my anxiety. I know Houston is big but I work at a one of the most known clubs in the city and always fear someone from school might recognize me. Yeah its mostly ballers and niggas with hella bread but you just never know. How do you explain to your academic advisor that you're paying for school by stripping? I'm damn sure not tryna fuck around and find out.
"Sapphire, on the floor or out the door!"
I huffed and looked over everything one last time before heading out of the dressing room. The floor was kinda jumping for a Thursday night and I could smell money and heavy cologne in the air. I went to the bar to order my first lemon drop to loosen up as I scanned the area for my first sucker. I met the gaze of one of my regulars and his face lit up as he waved me over. He was a middle aged white man who's wife had passed recently and he loved to come and stuff my thong with her insurance payout. I placed my empty glass down on the bar and quickly walked over to him, sitting right on his lap.
"Baby girl, is tonight the night you leave this all behind and let me take care of you?"
"Howard, you ask me the same thing twice a week and I always give you the same answer," I laughed, trying not to roll my eyes.
"I know, I know, ask you next time," he laughed, mocking me. "I just wanna make you happy, Sapphire."
"I'm sure you know at least one way to make me happy," I winked at him and he placed 5 crisp hundreds in my thong. Now you speaking my language. I sat and listened to him vent about work, his kids, and how lonely he is for what seemed like an eternity until a sudden energy shifted the entire atmosphere. I was mesmerized. He was tall, brown skinned, dreads, fine as hell, and I wanted him. I watched as he walked to the edge of the stage and sat down, greeting his homeboys that were waiting for him. I knew I had to get to him before Pearl put her fake titties and ass all in his face. If I could just get Howard to shut the fuck up so I could get away.
Finally, the club owner Paul came to tell me it was almost time for me to get on stage. This was my chance. I had been watching and noticed he never looked up at the stage, just sat and talked. I was about to change that. I walked over to the DJ booth and slid him a 20.
"Play something slow. I don't care what it is."
He nodded and I headed backstage to change before I went on, watching my man the entire time.
"Diamonds may be a girl's best friend but men like a different type of gem. Coming to the stage, the beautiful SAPPHIRE."
I took a deep breath wondering what song the DJ decided to pick. Body by Summer Walker. I can fuck with that. I walked through the curtain and looked straight at him. Nothing. Fuck. I grabbed the pole and did a few tricks hoping at some point he would look up at me. I spun upside down stretching my legs as far into a split as they would go and clapped my heels together twice loud enough to hear them in El Paso. I dropped down into a split and turned around to see one of his homeboys nudging him to look at the stage. Got em. Once we locked eyes I knew I couldn't look away. He adjusted himself in his seat and started rubbing his beard so I knew it was time to start taking something off.
I started undoing my top as I walked towards him, never breaking eye contact. I threw the top behind me and got down on my hands and knees, crawling towards him slowly and arching my back as deep as I could. No one else mattered, this show was for him. As I got closer and closer, he licked his sexy ass lips watching me rub all over my body. He stood up and started placing money on the stage, not on me. I wanted him to touch me so bad. I laid on my back and spread my legs in front of him and I could tell by the look in his eyes he liked what he was seeing. A small smirk came across his face and I swear my leg was shaking on its own. Just when I thought I could get closer, the song was over.
I hurried backstage so I could change back into another floor outfit. This one had to be better than the first. I put on my sapphire blue outfit with sparkles everywhere that would reflect off the stage lights so he could easily find me. I already had his attention so he was mine the rest of tonight. All I needed to do was get close enough to him to offer him a private dance to get him alone so I could make my move. I looked in the mirror to make sure my lashes were still good, reapplied some lip gloss and went to get my man. Imagine my surprise when I walk back onto the floor and him and his entire group were gone. What the fuck?