Emma presses her lips together and sets down her glass of wine, perusing several websites and scanning over profile pics of different male entertainers. She could easily pick a few who would do the job, but she has room in her budget to spend a little more on the right men for the job. Besides, she knows Belle won't be into cliché strippers. She'll be lucky if Belle agrees to strippers at all. The woman takes great pride in being the conservative, intelligent, book-loving person she is. Emma has known her best friend since kindergarten, and they've been practically inseparable since then. Belle French has been there for Emma more times than she can count on two hands, so the chance to do something special before one of the most important days of her best friend's life is not a chore, but a blessing. A blessing she takes very seriously.
Stumbling on a website called onceuponastripper, which specializes in fairytale themed entertainment, she clicks on the link to check it out. She needs a total of five male strippers, one for each of the bridesmaids and one for the bride of course. Emma doesn't care to have one herself, she doesn't like the idea of some strange guy shaking his ass in her face, but she would feel awkward if she were the only one without a dancer, just awkwardly watching as the male strippers are dry humping and grinding all of her friends.
Emma chooses three right off the bat. The first stripper has dark brown hair and his costume is Robin Hood. She immediately thinks of Regina who loves her men rugged and outdoorsy, and adds him to the cart. The next one is Prince Charming - a blonde with blue eyes and boyish good looks. His fairytale prince costume includes an open jacket, exposing his bare chest, and the boy next door vibe makes her think he definitely has the Charming looks going for him. Emma snickers and adds him for Mary Margaret because she's always saying one day she'll find her Prince Charming.
The third bridesmaid she needs an entertainer for is Jasmine, so it only seems perfect (and rather amusing) to pick the stripper who goes by Aladdin. He has chocolate brown, almond-shaped eyes, sleek dark hair and a nice smile, and his costume includes baggy pants and a tiny vest which covers nothing. She adds him to the cart and starts searching for a stripper for herself when the bold words towards the bottom of the screen spark her interest.
The Jones Brothers Special - Hire both at once, get ten percent off.
Emma sees the profile photos of the two men, and jeezus.
The older brother, Liam, has brown, curly hair and is very handsome, but his brother… well his brother is fucking gorgeous.
He's laying across the bed on his side, propping up his head with his fist, left knee raised towards the ceiling, and Emma's wondering what he's hiding underneath the winking emoji covering his manhood as he's otherwise entirely naked. While her eyes are curiously taking in the sight of him, a shiver and the sudden appearance of goosebumps crawling all over her body makes her realize how attracted she is to him, and it surprises even her of all people. She's never been one to easily impress, but good God is she impressed . It's rather jarring how impressed she is, her mouth opening slightly as her eyes roam over his form.
First of all, she'd never considered herself a lover of chest hair, nor does she think it's something a male stripper would have, but she's not complaining about the delicious sprinkle on his chest, along with the inky black, happy trail leading her eyes to his delectable hips. And of course, he has the body of a Greek God, because why wouldn't he be fucking perfect? He's lean with tone muscle and abs, but not overly bulky. A dusting of ginger scruff on his chin and cheeks has her musing how good the prickly edges would feel pressed against her fingertips, or better yet between her thighs, and the sinful smirk on his dangerously handsome face makes her heart skip. His dark, ruffled hair looks like a hand ran through it far too many times - either that or he's just been thoroughly fucked. But the most arresting features in the photo are those alluring blue eyes. She easily gets lost in them.
Blinking rapidly, she has to tow herself from her thoughts and return to her original task - finding the perfect male entertainer for the bride to be. Yes, Killian Jones is certainly a looker, but what's his personality like? She scans over his profile which includes a small blurb about himself.
My motivation is to become the best man I can be, presenting women with a man of honor and respect, showing them that gentlemen do still exist.
Emma has to chuckle at the irony. What kind of gentleman shakes his ass in a strange woman's face for money? Not any gentleman she knows of, not that she really knows any. Come to think of it, there's none she can think of at the moment. The younger Jones brother is twenty-eight years old, five foot eleven, and good lord, he's British too?! Emma doesn't swoon over accents, but a man with an elaborate brogue is certainly Belle's cup of tea.
The Jones brothers' costumes vary between different Fairytale characters, including a Beast costume, which would be perfect for Belle because Beauty and the Beast is her all-time favorite story, not to mention her mother named her after the Disney character when the original movie came out. Unfortunately, the website doesn't allow Emma to choose a specific costume. Doesn't matter though; the point is for them to strip to their underwear, so she guesses it won't really matter what costumes they arrive in.
Sucking in a breath, she adds both brothers to the cart, Liam for herself and Killian for Belle. Yes, it's better that way, she thinks and adds on the Happy Ending for an extra fifty bucks, where one of the strippers goes full monty and removes his underwear to strip tease entirely naked for the guest of honor, who then has to put the underwear back on him at the end.
Emma can just see the blush on Belle's face when she has to do this. She feels a bit evil, but this is a good way for her best friend to celebrate her last hurrah as a single woman. Belle is going to be stuck with one man - Robert Gold - for the rest of her life, so why not go all out before the wedding?
The candle-lit room is decorated with red rose petals, classical music is playing softly in the background and the bridal party is chatting excitedly and drinking wine around a well-stocked bar when there's a knock on the door.
"Okay, either I've had way too many drinks and I'm just imagining things or there was a knock on the door," Belle points out, her words slurred together.
There's another knock that follows, this time a bit louder.
"You're not imagining things," Emma confirms with a laugh, "There's definitely someone at the door."
Everyone who's supposed to be there is in attendance, so of course, there's a flurry of confusion, even from Emma who's feigning innocence. All of the ladies whine that they're too drunk to get up, except for Emma, who has signed up to be the designated driver for the evening. Besides, with five strange, hot men about to interrupt their party and strip down to naught but their underwear, someone has to be of sound mind and sober enough to make sure the party doesn't spiral out of control, even though the website where she'd ordered the strippers advertised, get as wild as you wish.
"I wonder who it could be," Emma says with a raised brow, acting clueless as she gets up to answer the door.
"Wait," Belle calls out after her. "You didn't hire a stripper, did you?"
Emma turns her head and pretends to be offended by the accusation. "Who me? I would never..." she starts to say, but the smirk threatening her lips exposes the truth.
"You did!" Belle shrieks in horror, but judging by the curiosity in her eyes, Belle is not completely opposed. "I said no funny business!"
"Oh come on, you'll like him, trust me," Emma assures with confidence, now jealous of her because of the stripper she had chosen for her friend. Belle is still not entirely convinced this is the best idea, but the rest of the ladies are leaping from their chairs and grinning from ear to ear as Mary Margaret rubs her hands together in anticipation. So much for being too drunk to get up.
"If you don't want the stripper, I'll gladly take him off your hands," Mary Margaret chants enthusiastically.
Emma laughs and looks through the peephole to make sure it's the strippers, and sure enough, she sees Prince Charming waiting patiently on the other side. Unlocking the door and hauling it open, she steps aside to let him in.
"Relax ladies, I'm here to save the day," he says with a charming grin that matches his costume, which is complete with a cape that flows behind him when he walks in, his eyes searching around the room. "I heard there was a princess under a sleeping curse and I've come to wake her."
Mary Margaret scoffs and smirks as she places a hand on her hip. "Who are you supposed to be, Prince Charming?"
The man grins as his eyes scan her up and down. "That depends. If you're Cinderella you can call me midnight 'cause when I come around I'll make your dress disappear, if you're Snow White you can call me sexy, the eighth dwarf."
Mary Margaret giggles. "Well, you can invade my castle anytime."
He moves towards her, and three other men, Robin Hood, Aladdin and the older Jones brother file into the room. Liam is carrying a stereo and a duffle bag, and donning a Beast costume, without all the fur, that consists of a long, blue detailed jacket, matching pants and a white ruffled scarf over his bare chest.
"Emma! I love the fairytale theme, but how many strippers did you get?" Belle screeches, her eyes widening at the men as Liam looks for an outlet.
"Only five," Emma answers, pointing Liam to the nearest one. "One for you and one for Mary Margaret, Regina, Jasmine and me."
"Where's the fifth one?" Belle asks, her brows wrinkling in confusion.
On cue, a pair of black, laced-up boots step into the room and everyone's eyes gravitate to the tight leather pants and the long jacket that sways when he appears in the threshold, one hand resting on the doorframe and the other grabbing on to his belt buckle. Jesus, she can see the sizeable bulge below the belt and swears her pulse stops, mouth salivating as her jaw drops to the floor.
"Did someone call on the Captain of this ship?"
Holy fuck.
He looks even better than his profile picture. He's wearing a red vest that's probably the same color of her burning cheeks, and the chest hair poking out the top looks so soft, her fingers itch to run through the light patch of fur. And don't get her started on his face - more specifically the scruff framing a perfect pair of lips and those dimples dotting each cheek and those eyes… those eyes are so much bluer and more vivid in person.
She is so entranced, she can't keep her gaze off him long enough to actually close the door, the freezing air of the night causing her to shiver, because yeah, the chill from outside is the reason why she's shivering…
She has to force her jaw to move back into place as she tears her feet from her spot to close the door.
"Which one of you lovelies is the bride to be?" he asks, his head turning towards Emma, eyes sweeping over her form as she shuts the door with a soft click. She's wearing a short red dress, her skin flushing with a similar color as his gaze moves up her body.
"Killian?"
Emma's eyebrows furrow as she peels her gaze away from the dangerously attractive stripper in her living room. She'd been too busy checking him out, to notice the recognition in Belle's eyes as she stares at him in disbelief.
"Belle," he utters with an awkward grin as he scratches behind his ear, his cheeks turning crimson.
"Wait, you two know each other?" Regina questions, her eyes glancing between them.
"Yeah, well kind of," Belle replies. "He works for Robbie at the Car Dealership."
"Oh," Emma utters softly, regret flaring inside her gut. "Sorry, I didn't know. I hired him and the others through a website."
Shit.
"It's okay." Belle and Killian share a laugh at the coincidence. "It's a small world, huh?"
"Aye," he agrees, his cheeks growing redder with every passing second.
"I'm really sorry," Emma apologizes again. "I guess this was a bad idea."
"No, it's not," Belle assures her. "But I think I'd be more comfortable if one of the other men danced for me. No offense, Killian," she adds quickly. "I just don't think Robbie would be too happy if he found out one of his mechanics stripped for me."
"None taken," he chuckles, "I think that's the best idea." He looks at Liam. "What do you think, brother, would you like to take the guest of honor and I'll take the maid of honor?"
Liam nods and gives his attention to Belle, moving in front of her. "You're the bride?"
"Yeah, I will be in a week." She smiles kindly, lifting her hand to show her engagement ring.
"Well, congratulations!" Liam claps his hands and smirks mischievously at the other men who are clapping along, the women squealing in excitement. "I guess that means I'm your beast, because you're definitely a beauty." He pulls a red rose from behind his back and takes the stem between his teeth as he moves in on her. Belle's cheeks are completely scarlet - redder than the rose petals - but Emma's relieved to see her friend smiling and giggling after the awkwardness of the situation.
"And which one of you lovely lasses is the maid of honor?" Killian asks, his eyes roaming over the other women, except for Mary Margaret who is clearly taken by Prince Charming.
Emma doesn't say anything, too stunned to actually speak.
"Emma's your girl!" Mary Margaret responds for her.
Killian's grin seems to widen and Emma's cheeks feel like they're on fire as he stalks over to her like a hunter stalking its prey.
"I'm guessing Aladdin is my entertainer for the evening?" Jasmine laughs lazily in her intoxicated state.
Aladdin's brow quirks up. "Princess Jasmine?"
"My name actually is Jasmine, but I'll be your princess anytime," she coos, waving him over.
Aladdin grins broadly and moves in, grinding against her. "Well princess, you're in for a treat 'cause I'm about to take you on a magic carpet ride."
Robin looks at Regina, who is the last bachelorette left to be partnered with a stripper. "That must make you mine because my arrow is pointing directly at you," he winks at her, and she grins uncontrollably. He takes her hand and places a kiss to the back of it. "Robin Hood at your service, milady."
"Robin Hood, huh?" she asks with a raised brow. He nods, and she licks her lips, eyes roaming over his body. "Mmmm, an outlaw. Please feel free to ransack my village," she flirts shamelessly.
His eyes light up as he closes the distance between them, moving his body against hers. "Don't mind if I do."
Emma turns her head to catch Killian looking at her, although she's pretty sure his eyes never left her if the heat of his gaze she feels on her skin is any indication.
"Captain Hook, the best pirate booty in all the realms at your service," he introduces himself with a bow. "And you must be Emma?"
She nods and prays she won't noticeably enjoy this as much as her body is already enjoying the mere sight of him fully clothed and standing still. She won't be able to handle him practically naked and moving suggestively.
She's going to blame the wine she's only had one glass of.
As he closes in on her personal space, the temperature in the room instantly rises and all of the air escapes her lungs. He lifts her hand and brushes his soft lips over her skin, his eyes never leaving hers as he drops a warm kiss. Emma manages to find a sharp breath, her skin set ablaze and her brain already conjuring up other areas of her body she wouldn't mind having those lips.
"I was hoping it'd be you."
She rolls her eyes, a smirk playing the corner of her lips, every inch of her skin tingling from the kiss that's still lingering on the spot his lips had touched. "Just dance."
"As you wish," he chuckles, his hand slipping from hers as he turns his head to look at his brother. "Liam, the music, please."
Liam passes off the rose to Belle with only his teeth, and she takes it between her own. "You got it, brother." He presses play on the stereo, and a pulsating beat fills up the room. He blows out the candles and soon the room is bathed in different colors from the strobe light Emma had set up for the party. "We hope you're ready for an enchanting evening, lasses, because your wish is our command, so don't be shy."
The ladies are screaming in excitement, the tension in the room evaporating, and they appear to be happy with their strippers. Emma is laughing in delight as she watches them, but boy she is more than happy with hers.
Killian is grinning wickedly as he moves to the beat, removing his jacket and closing the gap between them. "Prepare to be boarded 'cause I come bearing the finest jewels you've ever laid eyes on. But don't worry, I'll show you my weapon before I climb aboard," he adds with a sultry wink. He urges her to sit on the sofa, and damn she'd be lying if she said she doesn't enjoy how he pushes into her personal space and runs his fingers up her neck, sending sparks all over her body. He's practically straddling her lap now, dragging his groin along her hip and forcing her dress to ride up her thighs. "I'm about to rock your boat good and hard, so don't be surprised when you get soaking wet. If you can't tell, I'll be happy to inspect."
His words and deep, silky accent makes her shiver. His body feels so amazing she can't help but let him gently sink into her lap as he grinds into her center, moving in time with the music. She's breathing heavily and her heart's racing, her mind is foggy with lust and she can't seem to peel her eyes away from his hypnotizing blue ones. It's rather astounding how much this stranger affects her; she's never even been this worked up during sex before, and it hasn't been ten minutes since he'd arrived at her doorstep.
Holy Fuck.
When Emma had hired these strippers through a website, she hadn't known exactly what to expect, but she's definitely getting her money's worth.