Craved (Book 2)

-12-

Update: 04/25/20

Chapter Twelve

Zamaria

Frozen.

Zamaria couldn't move a muscle as he watched her with a sinister smile on his face. She was finally caught, and there was no way out of here.

Zamaria climbed onto the stage with shaky legs dropping the bag down in the far corner before taking a position on the pole. This was her last station before she could hit the floors again. Once this was over, she'd make a beeline for the back room and never come out until all the customers were gone.

First Reaper just leaves without saying anything and now she was standing face to face with the man that has haunted many of her dreams at night. It's been a good eight months since she's escaped his clutches. Yet here he was front and center ready to drag her back down to hell.

She watched as he stood from his seat and walked to the edge of the stage tossing a few bills in the air. Zamaria never looked him in the eyes she just watched the money fall down around her. She could faintly make out the singles, and a few twenties. He was here to taunt her, show her just what she was missing out on being with him.

Zamaria couldn't let herself get dragged back into that, not now, not ever again. She's worked so hard pulling herself back up from the hell she lived in with him. Granted nothing she did after made her situation any better but it made her feel better. She finally had control over what she did and didn't do, control over who she slept with and where. Control over her life. The one thing she would ever be grateful for was him re-introducing her to dance.

Growing up she would frown upon the woman that gained pleasure in showing off the most intimate parts of themselves to strangers, but once she got into—more like forced—she found just what every other woman did. Power.

She should have known it wouldn't be long until he had found her again, after all, she didn't move very far. Only a few hours away, but she never left a paper trail.

More money flew in the air landing everywhere around her. Climbing off the pole, she made her way to the edge of the stage, furthest away from her nightmare. Bending down she shook her bare ass for a few of the men that sat there. One slid a few bills in her garter belt as another gave a firm slap on her right ass cheek. She wanted to avoid the left side of the stage for as long as possible but she couldn't disappoint her customers.

Zamaria slowly crawled her way to the other side of the stage not meeting his eyes. She watched as he took a few steps back and allowed the other men to get closer throwing more money her way. Her stomach felt queasy. She wanted to throw up.

What she found pleasure in was now ruined with his presence. Her body was shaking on the inside, but she had to keep on a brave face. She moved around the stage collecting more money before she moved back to the pole. It created a temporary barrier between them. She was safe as long as she was on the pole.

Then her safe place was gone when the song changed, indicating her time on that stage was over. She quickly collected the rest of the fallen bills stuffing them in her semi-full bag.

She rushed off the stage needing to get away from that corner of the room.

"You can't hide forever." He whispered as she sped past him. Her chest felt tight. She couldn't breathe as she rushed to the dressing room. Her legs felt like jelly as she stumbled to the back. A few girls giving her concerned looks, while others shot her dirty looks.