same song and dance.

needy.

"i don't know whatcha heard about me.."

the soft clicking of my high heels against the nearly transparent platform was barely audible over the crass voice of fifty cent, which reverberated against the walls of the "gentleman's club" and seemed to cloud the atmosphere almost as much as the blunt smoke.

"..but if ya can't get a dollar outta me.."

i gently gripped the pole and expertly moved my body along with the flow of the beat.

"..no cadillac, no perm, ya can't see.."

i would've become completely lost in my own head, were it not for one of my coworkers nodding in my direction. once she knew she had caught my attention, she slowed her own dance a bit in order to gesture toward someone sitting in a chair nearby. her blonde locks swayed and her vividly green eyes lit up with excitement.

smoothly, she mouthed, "he's loaded."

my gaze flickered down to the crisp lining of fifty dollar bills in her waistband, and then over to the man in question.

not too hard on the eyes, either.

with a small, sly smile, i gave her a warm look of gratitude for the heads up and went in for the kill.

"hi there," i cooed, sliding onto his lap and running my hands along his broad chest, "i'm ruby."

i could feel his gaze burning into me. maybe even through me.

"em."

something about how cold his tone was sent a chill down my spine.

i hummed contently, rhythmically rolling my hips against his growing erection. perhaps it was wishful thinking, but i thought he let out a low groan. he reached out and established a firm grip on my waist, reinforcing my actions and pressing me closer. i snaked my arms around his neck, but not before i felt one of his large hands stuff a wad of bills inside my bra. out of the corner of my eye, i could tell with a tinge of bubbling satisfaction that they were hundreds.

he likes me better.

what i decided to do next was something i'd always refrained from when dealing with customers. i suppose it was the heat of the moment. besides, if i appealed to him that much, i was doing him a favor.

i leaned forward and softly pressed my lips to his.

instantaneously, he deepened the kiss. i tasted bacardi when his hot breath enveloped me and he moaned into my mouth.

you've got your cash. you've had some fun. time to move on.

as quickly as i came, i slipped out of his arms and began to prance away. that is, until the same hand he had used to pay me moments before was wrapped around my wrist, tugging me back.

"you ain't leavin' me hangin', slut."