Lady (Rated M)

What you have to do

   The singles slid through her hand as she recounted, a cigarette hanging from her lips as she leaned against the brick wall in the back parking lot,  the cold LA air nipping at her cheeks as she wrapped her fur jacket tightly around her robbed-clad body. She let out a frustrated sigh, cramming the money back in her pocket as she let her head fall back against the wall, taking another long drag. She'd have to pick up more shifts again.

    She held back her emotions, burying them under a deep breath as she listened to the faint bass coming from the club inside. The door opened and she barely moved to acknowledge the club manager stepping out. "Someone's asking for you."

        "I'm off clock." She took another drag, turning away.

           The manager shrugged. "Big tipper."

       "Have Mary do it."

         "The man specifically asked for you."

      Stevie sighed, tossing her butt on the ground as she twisted the ash out with her boot. She gripped the lapel of her jacket, making her way back inside into the dressing rooms. "After this I'm done Mark. No more of this stay until close bull shit again, if you want me here later start putting it on the schedule." She delicately slid the jacket off of her, hanging it over the chair in front of one of the vanity's.

      She untied her robe, letting it fall open as she checked her appearance in the mirror, almost wishing she hadn't as her eyes darted away quickly. She felt a hand grab her backside as she went to leave, glaring over her shoulder.

      "Good luck." Mark leered down at her, Stevie ignoring his advances as she scurried out of the room. She moved away from his prying eyes and into a room filled with a hundred more.  She felt every stare she got, shutting off her thought process as she navigated herself through the crowd. Unknown hands occasionally grazing against her skin, intentional or not she shied away, keeping her head high as she focused on keeping up her facade.

        "Hey!" She felt a hand enclose around her wrist, gently pulling her towards a more secluded area. She finally got a good look at the man, recognizing him from earlier.

        "Come back for more?" She whispered seductively in his ear, gripping on to his sides. Exhaustion began to ebb in on her, and it took everything she had not to up and leave right there. She pushed herself mentally to continue, as well as physically against his body.

     She was surprised when he lightly pushed her away from him, his blue eyes starring down at her inquisitively. "What's your name?"

     "I told you this already. But maybe you were too focused on something else." She drawled out, hooking her leg around his, her other sliding in between his thighs.

      "You're real name."

       She held back a sigh, wanting this to be over with as she turned around, pressing her back side against his front, bending over. She came back up, her hair surrounding his face as he braced himself against the wall, her movements becoming more aggressive.

       "Let me buy you a drink."

        "Why don't you go buy your soon to be wife a drink Mr. Buckingham." She dipped her head back, bringing up slowly as he starred down at her fixated, yet a again a loss for words. "I'm sure she'd appreciate it." Stevie winked at him. Her smile fell away, her face falling blank as she once again disappeared from him. He stood, breathing heavily against the wall, letting his head fall back in deep thought.

    
........

      The front door opened at three am and Stevie trudged in, setting her purse down on the coffee table, her eyes fell half shut as she made her way across the tiny apartment and into the bedroom. Her boots clunked against the wooden floor, pulling her clothing off before falling into bed. She got under the covers, finally taking a sigh of relief.

     She felt an arm snake around her middle, looking over to meet his blue eyes, his blonde hair sprawled messily around him. She caressed his hand, shutting her eyes.

      "How was work?"

      Stevie shrugged, her lower lip trembling. Joe scooted closer as he embraced her, burying his head against her shoulder. She opened her eyes, tears filling her eyes. "We're going to have to get another extension on rent."

      Joe nodded sadly, kissing her bare skin. "I'll talk to the landlord tomorrow." She nodded, silence falling between them. "I start my job on Monday. It's just washing dishes but it's better than nothing."
She still only nodded, tears slipping down her face.

      "Stephanie you will not be doing this for much longer ok?" He hovered above her, taking her face in his hands. " As soon as my pay check starts kicking in you can quit. Go back to the diner, now that I'm working I'm sure we'll be able to afford it."

      "We can barely afford to keep our selves alive right now." She squeaked out. His heart broke seeing the tears run down her face and onto the pillow sheets.

     "I promise you baby, it won't be forever." He starred into her eyes, receiving nothing back. "Talk to me Steph."

     "You you have to do what you have to do, right?" She gave him a sad smile, him returning it with his own.

     "Right." He kissed her softly, laying back down as he snuggled up besides her, keeping her tight in his embrace. "I love you."

    "I love you too."

     She cried herself to sleep, Joe waiting until she was out to let his tears falls. He cried for her, drifting off into a restless sleep just like the woman besides him.