All That Jazz

The hot lights lit up her every movement. As she danced, as the words curled throatily from her lips, her voluptuous body was liquid. Powerful; muscled; but smoother than water. The shimmering ruby tassels of her skirt provided little cover over her long legs. Her full breasts tugged against the fabric of her low-cut bodice, making the crowd go crazy. She could see it in their eyes-- every single person out there, man or woman, wanted her. Envied her. Lusted over her. Men and women alike devoured her with their eyes, ogling her scantily-clad lower half. The snuck-in flasks of alcohol only made the guests even more covetous.

A crimson smile spread across her full lips. God, did she love this. This power she had over them. As her body shimmied and shook, and her perfect voice encircled the whole room, mixing together with the music of the band, she had them under her spell. She could crook her little finger at any one of them and be plenty busy for the rest of the night. Hell, she could probably get a lifetime's worth of free booze on the way (prohibition was hell).

She danced at the very edge of the stage, meeting each and every one of their gazes, pulling at the men's ties and tickling the women under their chins with the feather from her headband. When she finally pulled away, they were all practically drooling; everyone begging for a piece of her.

She hit the final note of the song, the word reverberating throughout the entire building as she let her voice crescendo, growing louder and louder until bang! The pianist attacked the final chord and every light, every sound cut off. This was the beauty of jazz-- though it ended abruptly, it stayed in your head and your heart until you got down onto your knees and begged for more.

The audience went wild, screaming her name. With a huge grin, she bowed so low her nose touched the fishnet material of her tights. When she straightened up, they were only cheering louder.

"Maxine, Maxine, Maxine!" They cried. With one final twirl, she called back,

"You've all been a wonderful audience! Thank you!" Then she left the stage, swinging her hips from side to side as she went.

---

The hallway was just as packed. As she walked through, a smile plastered on her perfect red lips, they all clambered to talk to her, their voices overlapping. Occasionally, though, voices would make it close enough to her ear for her to hear.

"I'm at the Jambe Hotel, room 347."

"Come on, honey, let's get away for a while."

"Didn't wear yourself out singin', did ya?"

She smiled and winked at every one of them, telling them with her eyes, "sure, just lead the way, sugar". Maybe a year ago she would've kept true on that. She'd warmed plenty beds in her day, jumping from fan to fan almost every night. She never did repeats, though. She would do her thing and then carry on as always.

But everything had changed. The urge to do that just wasn't there anymore-- for good reason. The same reason that made her move swiftly through the crowd towards the door and her shiny black car waiting just beyond it. She had much more important things to do.

---

A cigarette dangled from those long, skinny fingers. The scarlet nails glittered in the dim light. Smoke curled around the pristine brown waves of hair.

Maxine walked in, her long, black, mink coat pulled tightly around her against the cold. Her dark hair, barely reaching past her chin, had a light dusting of snow in it.

The woman holding the cigarette stood up, dousing it out in the ashtray.

"How did the show go?" She asked, her voice more melodious than any song. A crimson grin spread across the jazz star's full, sensuous lips.

"It was perfect, Charlotte. Flawless," she replied, her voice just as throaty and full as it was when she sang. Charlotte crept over to her, her arms draping around her neck. Maxine's arms went around the brunette's waist, pulling her close against her. Scarlet lips met scarlet lips in a kiss.

Charlotte was the first to pull away, a sly grin tugging at her mouth.

"Well, I should think such a sensational show," at the word 'sensational', her fingers trailed down her lover's graceful neck, "would be worth celebrating. Do you agree?"

An equally deviant grin graced the other woman's features.

"I agree completely."

She shrugged her mink coat onto the floor to reveal her ruby dress. With a flick of one long leg, she kicked the furs away. Charlotte's jaw dropped to the floor at the sight of the scandalous dress, but once she regained herself she loosed a low whistle. Maxine laughed prettily in reply, sashaying to the phonograph and setting the needle down.

"Dance with me, Char," she purred, swaying her hips as she made her way back across the room towards the woman in question.

"Yes ma'am," answered the brunette eagerly. Her arms wrapped tightly around Maxine's curvy waist, and Maxine's went around hers. Then they began to move in time to the lively music, dipping and swaying and twirling. At some point, Maxine kicked off her shoes in the direction of the forgotten mink coat.

The jazz singer twirled her lover, fully enjoying the giggles it elicited. Pulling Charlotte back to her, their lips collided once more, this time with more force. Charlotte's tongue found Maxine's, and her hands slid just beneath the tassels of that skirt, tracing the outline of the fabric beneath.

With a wicked grin, Maxine pulled away, her voice raising to join the music as her own hands played with the collar of Charlotte's robe. Tugging at it.

"What are you planning to do once that robe is gone?" Charlotte asked teasingly, knowing the answer full well. Once more, Maxine pulled the other woman closely against her, her breath a growl in her chest and her lips smiling mischievously.

"Oh, you know the answer to this one...I plan to dance, and to have a little fun..." she whispers, "all that jazz."

Charlotte presses her lips against the other woman's neck.

"Then dance away."