All That Glitters

Chapter 1

"Papa, no go wor'," Salem sadly pouts at me while we stare eye to eye with each other since I'm squatting down in front of him, so I'm at his level.

"I have too, baby, so I can buy you food, clothes, and new toys," I gently explain before kissing him on the forehead gently with a sad smile.

Salem widens his bright blue eyes which are slightly watery as he deepens his pout; "Otay papa. I get new 'Paw 'Trol?"

Nodding with a bright smile; "Yes, you can have something new from 'Paw Patrol', love."

"Yay!" he cheers with a bright smile, now no longer really upset about me going to work for the night - I work from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., Tuesday through Saturday with having Sunday and Monday off.

"Be good for aunt Bell, okay? I love you, my Salem," I murmur seriously as I hug him with another soft kiss to his forehead.

"I always goo' for aun'y Bell!" he seriously replies with a scowl causing me to lightly chuckle at his cute scowl, but perhaps I am biased at his cuteness. "I yove you."

"Go play, okay," I softly encourage as I stand upright as he goes to play a few feet away as I focus my attention on Annabell, who is smiling fondly over at us. "Thanks again for watching him. I love you."

"Stop thanking me for this since I love spending time with my nephew, and I love you, too," she replies hugging me tightly which I return. "Now, get going before Troyer gets grumpy with you for being late."

Giggling, I pull away to leave the shared apartment even though I know he wont be grumpy with me for being late. Yes, he might tease me about this, but never grumpy. Exiting the apartment, I rush down the stairs in the narrow hallway that connects to a foyer, to either head outside or into the club where I work.

Yes, the four of us live in an apartment above the club where Troyer and I work. Troyer had the floor of the apartment sound proofed, so Annabell and Salem are not bothered by the music from the club.

Okay, so some information about me - I'm Gabriel James Jackson, and I'm 22-years-old. I am gay, an exotic dancer, and I have been working for Troyer, who owns the club I work at, for the last three years. My son, Salem Lane Jackson is 3-years-old, and is my son from a client of the club, but I'm not sure who he is as I'm sure the father is between two men.

Yes, I was something of a whore when Troyer first hired me, but once I found out I was pregnant, that stopped. I still danced until I was eight months pregnant, and then I did paperwork and took inventory for the club until Salem was born, and until Salem was three months old.

Entering the club that will be closed for the next two hours, I make my way to the dressing area which is a large room with different outfits on racks, a row of makeup area, and several toilets with curtians for privacy if desired.

"Gabe, your first dance tonight is with Johnny," Troyer says coming over to me with a smile. "You're doing the 'cowboy dance', too."

Instantly grinning at him, I can't contain my excitment; "Awesome! Thanks, Troyer!"

"You're welcome, little brother," he chuckles as he pulls me into a tight hug for several seconds before heading over to speak with James and Michelle - two other dancers.

I have choreographed several dances, 'the cowboy' being one of them - 'the symphony', 'the hip-shaker', and 'the Irish'. I have also picked the outfits for these dances, too.

"Hey, baby boy, I hear we are dancing together for our first dances," Johnny silky voice says from behind me as he slides his hands up slowly up from my hips to my nipples which he lightly pinches as he nips my skin just below my right ear.

Shivering in delight at his actions, I turn in his hold to warp my slim arms around his neck to kiss him softly on the lips, where I say; "Mmh, yes we are, sexy."

Johnny is straight, but all of us here at 'All That Glitters' are extremly comfortable in our sexualities, so we flirt with each other. We're also one big, happy family - a family not by blood, but by choice.

"Black cowboy hats, black cowboy boots, and sparkling black g-strings?" he asks with a smirk and wink as he pecks my lips lightly.

"You know it, babe," I grin with a wink. "Time to get ready."

Getting ready is making sure you're shaved, oil is rubbed over the body, glitter on the body (color is the choice of the dancer), the outfit for the dance, and makeup so the lights on the stage don't wash you out.

"Move your sexy ass, baby," he chuckles, smacking my ass hard with a light chuckle.

Giggling at him, I wiggle my ass and hips with purpose as I walk toward the rack where the cowboy outfits are kept. After grabbing my outfit, I walk over to a toilet, and run through my pre-show routine as are the other dancers.

"Alright, listen up my children!" Troyer hollers from the middle of the dressing room, grabbing everyone's attention.

There are two bartenders - Holly a.k.a. 'Crystal' and Richie a.k.a. 'Egypt.' There are four servers - Andrew a.k.a. 'Apollo', April a.k.a. 'Athena', Bobbie a.k.a. 'Aphrodite', and Frankie a.k.a. 'Thor'. Then there are eight dancers including me - Johnny a.k.a. 'Rome', James a.k.a. 'Blaze,' Anthony a.k.a. 'Robin', Cole a.k.a. 'Paris', Madison a.k.a. 'Rose', Michelle a.k.a. 'Cherry', Hope a.k.a. 'Amber', and me and I go by 'Milan'.

Troyer insists that all of us regardless of our position in his club, we go by a stage name, and never under any circumstance give out our real names or any personal information. He and Annabell also consider us their children.

Troyer smiles brightly at us dancers; "Doors open in ten minutes. Have fun and be safe. If anyone gives you trouble, grab the attention of a co-worker, and it will be handled immeditly. Up first on stage is Johnny and Gabriel doing 'the cowboy'. Then Maddy and James, then Michelle and Anthony, and then Cole and Gabriel. Everyone will do their individual dances in between the duo dances, and we finish off the night with the group routine of 'the symphony'."

The eight of us surround Troyer for a tight group hug as Troyer softly says a Wiccan prayer of protection (Troyer is Wiccan); "O gracious Goddess of Love and Light, protect us now with all thy might. Watch over me and mine with care, so that we may avoid dangers snare. Hail fair Goddess, protector of the night. Banish evil from my sight, send it far and away from us. So it is, and so mote it be!" ('Magical Moonie - 2012')