The Dare

Chapter three: Sunday

CeCe

I climbed up the fire escape with ease, considering I've done it a million times before. When I was facing Rocky's living-room window, I knocked.

I'd texted her before I came over, so I knew she was alone. She appeared about five seconds later and let me in. "Hey," I greeted her breathlessly. Climbing up a fire-escape is way more exercise than I'm used to. "Why didn't you just use the front door?" She asked, looking at me quizzically. "Well, sure, if you wanna take all the fun out of it," I muttered. She rolled her eyes at me. "Okay. So what's the 'big problem'?" She asked, quoting the words I'd sent her in my text.

I stared at her, exasperated. "Isn't this dare killing you?" She nodded. "Yes!" She nearly screamed. I sighed at the fact that it wasn't only me and Gunther this thing was affecting. "I mean, I don't mean to sound sex-crazed or anything but..."

"You're not used to not having sex when you want?" She finished for me. I sighed. "You know me so well." I said, wiping away an imaginary tear. She giggled. "And now they're putting money into it," I scoffed. She sighed. "I know. It's so frustrating. Yesterday night, I practically begged Deuce. But nothing. He just gave me these puppy-dog eyes until I backed off." I laughed. "Pretty much the same thing happened with me and Gunther. "They're gonna pay for this though, right?" She asked. I nodded. "Yeah, I... Kind of need your help on that part." Her eyebrows scrunched together, and then she understood. "Let's go," She said, grabbing my hand and walking me back up to my apartment.

We both walked into my bedroom in silence, and Rocky's face was all business-like. I started to laugh when she gave me a look that said she was taking this seriously. I sat down on my unmade bed, and she stood in front of me, her arms crossed, waiting.

"What exactly did you do to Gunther last night?" I gulped. This was gonna be kind of embarrassing "Well... I kind of... ground myself into him and..." She was grinning this huge shit-eating grin. "...And?" She prompted. "I told him I was gonna make him suffer.

"But he didn't give in?"

"No," I told her. If he had, would I be here now?

"Christ, what a mess! Boy, when you let go, you really let go, don't you?" I groaned in humiliation. "Okay, I get it. So, what's next, hypnotism? What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to make me seductive," I whispered into my lap.

"Well, damn, if you can't even say it, how do you expect me to do it?" she questioned me intently. I sighed. I was usually the out-going one in this duo, but when it came to actually having to persuade someone to have sex, that was Rocky's department.

I looked full in her face and clenched my jaw. "I want you to teach me how to seduce Gunther," I snarled at her through my gritted teeth.

"Now, that's better. Hmm, make you seductive," she stared at me speculatively. "Well, what are we talking here, going to a bar in something other than those horrible Converse things? Or a one hundred percent, head to foot, no questions asked, no bitching and complaining makeover?"

"The whole nine yards, Rocky," I sighed heavily. "I'll do anything. I swear, no griping, no questioning. I don't want it just to be on the surface. I want to change down to the core. I want him so crazy in love and in lust with me, he'll forget about this motherfucking dare"

"Well believe me, he's already there, but I'll take any opportunity to get you out of those jeans you normally walk around in and into some decent clothes for once," she sniped, but her eyes gleamed with excitement. I sighed. Rocky'd always hated my jeans. She wanted me to try wearing the flouncy skirts and dresses that she liked. But I didn't complain. I was always trying to transform Rocky, one way or another. Now it was time for her turn.

Rocky had wanted to shape up my act for years and she started in with gusto. "Hmmm, well, the first thing you need to do is to get any idea of romance out of your head. This is a seduction, not some nambly-assed falling in love shit. Guys hate that crap. They may do it, but they really get tired of us whining about it all the time.

"You worry about fucking his brain out and you won't have a problem with the love part. Besides, the boy's totally in love with you anyway." I smiled at that part, and noticed and winked.

"But you're right," she continued. "You have absolutely no time to waste. If you're gonna seduce him before the week is up, we've gotta take immediate action."

"Rule number one - be confident. A bashful, inexperienced pansy is NOT seductive," she asserted.

That was a first in the list of thousands of Rocky's Rules for Seduction. She had so many of them, they started going around and around in my head. Confidence, eye contact, body contact, the list went on and on and ranged from the simplest look to the most graphic description of intimate acts and how best to perform them.

During some of the more explicit sessions, in which Rocky incorporated visual aids and props, it felt like my red-hot skin might actually singe my hair off. But I didn't know this stuff and somebody needed to tell me so I didn't look like a total doofus when I tried it out.

She made me write all of her rules down and drilled me on an hourly basis. We hit a few bumps in the road along the way and a huge blockade when she came over to evaluate my closet.

"Holy crap, CeCe, this is a complete disaster!" was her unvarnished assessment. Rocky did not believe in pulling any punches.

"What's the matter?" I was perplexed. I had some very nice clothes I'd compiled over the years.

"Well, you've got a few good things, I guess," she started.

I snorted my disagreement.

"I've got beautiful clothes," I pointed out, defensively.

"Yeah, as I said, you've got a few acceptable things here," she pulled out a gorgeous black jacket and matching pencil slim skirt. "Who gave you this? " She peered at the label.

"You," I mumbled, knowing full well that she remembered giving it to me for Christmas. She gave me a cheeky grin. So what if most of my good things were jeans and button down shirts? They worked perfectly fine and looked great on me.

"Well, first off, you can only do so much casual clothes. A.K.A., denims. And shirts. And ballet flats."

"What's the matter with my ballet slippers? They're cute and they feel great."

"They are not cute unless you are four fucking years old or maybe, I don't know, say, an actual ballet dancer. They, along with those horrible high-topped tennis shoes of yours, are going in the dumpster or in the incinerator. I wouldn't put it past you to wear those damned things with a short cocktail dress or something else totally inappropriate." She ignored my shrieks of horror, envisioning my beloved Chucks' demise.

"I would not, Rocky!" I protested. "You know I have some fashion sense. Nobody would be that stupid!"

"I'm telling you, CeCe, the sexiest thing in the world you can do for yourself is to put on a pair of four inch fuck-me heels and continue wearing them while you strip off your clothes, whether you're dressed for a funeral or the sleaziest bar in town." Picturing it, I couldn't help the blood that flooded to my cheeks. And then even more as I pictured Gunther watching me do that.

When did I turn into such a pansy when it came to sex?

"How many times do I have to tell you, girlfriend? Blushing is not sexy. Men want a woman with some experience, not a blushing virgin." My color increased by geometrical proportions at this statement.

"Christ," she shook her gorgeous head as if she couldn't believe the Herculean task she'd undertaken and stared with disdain at my closet floor.

"You walk around naked with only a pair of stilettos on and, believe me, Gunther will melt into the floor. But you'll look like a total dweeb if you continue wearing these fucking Wal-Mart cashier shoes. Nothing worse than ruining a fuck-me outfit with sensible shoes." She glared at the entire collection of practical, flat shoes lining the floor of my closet with fire in her eyes. "Jesus, CeCe, your shoes have all the sex appeal of Mother Theresa's orthopedic lace-ups."

I sighed and got off my bed, pushing the clothes hanging on the rack in my closet to one side and showing her my dressy-clothes that I, admittedly, hardly ever wore. There were about five, and I pulled them off of the rack. I held them up, defending myself. "And look at this!" I shoved my beautiful red dress under her nose. "I wore it on our one-month anniversary date."

She cocked an eyebrow. "Nice. Who gave you this?" I rolled my eyes. "I got it for myself," She nodded in approval. It wasn't that I had no fashion sense, it was just that since there was such contrast between me and Rocky's clothing contrast, we were always shocked at what the other wore. Criticizing the other's closet was something we did on a regular basis.

"Well, he's already seen that. You can't wear it again for ages." I groaned. "But it's our nine month anniversary in a week! It's been ages since I-" She cut me off."Face it, CeCe, we've got to do a total overhaul here from the foundation up. And all of these sweats and this baggy shit are going right out with the Chuck high tops." She callously ignored my pitiful cries.

"Thank Christ you learned how to walk in heels when we snuck out to Gary's party or you'd really be screwed. Now you have to learn how to dance in them. We'll practice, don't worry. That should help you with your balance when you learn to dance, without the Chucks." She shoved all of my sputtering and gasping aside with a single eye roll and pursed lips. "Rocky! I always dance in flats." She shook her head.

"You asked me, sweet pea," she snapped. "You want to learn to seduce Gunther, take my advice. Wanna live without without sex with him for the week, keep your fucking high tops." That effectively shut me up as she led me to another round of torture.

Rocky decided my case was too desperate to stay at home. She packed us up and off we took the train to the town for the day.

She had me in high heels the entire trip. Even I had to admit, not only was I getting better at staying upright, but soon it was possible for me to walk with confidence and even a little flair. If only I'd known what that evil vixen had planned for me next.

The day had certainly begun with a bang. We had gone to countless shops while endless guys checked out my ass. My phone rang once, and I looked at the screen. I was glad when I saw it was Gunther, but Rocky wouldn't let me answer it. She told me I had to play 'hard to get', at least for the afternoon. I sighed, but agreed.

Rocky was absolutely relentless. She had me totally embarrassed me at Le Bourget hosiery, making me get stockings I was positive I'd never have the nerve to wear, and outraged me at Lise Charmel, having been bullied into spending $130.00 for a pair of panties.

"I don't care if they make my behind smell like roses, Rocky, no pair of panties is worth a hundred and thirty freaking dollars!" I railed at her.

"These are, believe me." She smiled. "Just don't let Gunther tear them off of you."

I tried not to let my imagination run in that direction as Gunther seemed to be more determined to stuff me into clothes rather than rip them off of me. "Regardless, I can't afford them," I groused.

"That's total bullshit! We both make excellent money at Shake It Up Chicago, and you know it," Rocky snapped. "Quit being a cheapskate and live a little, CeCe. That's your whole problem anyway. You can afford a pair of extravagant fucking panties once in a while, for Christ's sake" My bottom lip wobbled. She sighed, and took my hands in hers. We were nearly face-to-face, since I was in my heels. "Oh, God, CeCe, please don't cry." I sniffled. "I'm not crying," She smiled a little. "I didn't mean to be such a bitch. If you don't wanna buy the panties, we'll leave without them." I shook my head and wiped my eyes. "No. I do." She analyzed my face, trying to tell if I was lying. "You sure?" I rolled my eyes. "Let's just buy the damn panties."

We left the mall after that, and Rocky had been guiding me along, listening to my chatter and finally opened the door to a small brick building and herded me inside. She ignored my questions as she led me upstairs and opened an unmarked door.

I stumbled in behind and looked around curiously. As my eyes darted about, it began to dawn on me exactly where we were and what actually took place in this plain room. I gasped in horror as a sickening feeling formed in my stomach.

Oh. My. Holy. God. Rocky had brought me to a freaking pole dancing class!

Slim poles, running from the ceiling to the floor and anchored securely in place, filled the room. At each pole stood a woman of a varying age, dressed in tight-fitting leotards and high-heeled shoes. I felt my eyes bugging out of my sockets. My voice no longer worked and the only sounds I was able to emit were horrible choking croaks. I stared at Rocky in sheer terror.

"You must be CeCe!" a warmly attractive thirty-something woman came up and took my arm. "Rocky said you'd be joining us but that you might want to only observe at first." She dragged me over to a couple of waiting chairs as I stared at her in stunned silence.

Rocky walked behind me, prodding me into one of the seats as she crowded her chair next to mine, trapping me in the corner so I couldn't escape.

"I've arranged for a private lesson for you right after this class, CeCe, but you need to watch and absorb," Rocky whispered intently into my ear. Well, I didn't know if she'd given me a reprieve or led me straight to the guillotine. Jesus, Lord, please help me, I prayed frantically. For the next hour, I watched in fascinated horror (or maybe it was just plain horror) as the eight women in class gyrated about their poles in various states of sexual frenzy.

"Rocky, you don't honestly expect I would ever attempt something remotely like this in front of witnesses, much less Gunther, do you? He would laugh himself into convulsions if he ever saw me try anything resembling this! I can't think of anything worth this total humiliation!" I hissed at her furiously.

"CeCe, you are an amazing dancer. Pole-dancing is just another medium of what you do best. Okay?"

I told myself I'd do anything for Gunther. I'd subject myself to any humiliation and I was going to prove it this very hour. I was right; the entire episode was a nightmare of unparalleled proportions. At least I was able to suffer through with few witnesses.

Erin, my instructor, and Rocky hovered over me like I was an infant taking her first steps. Many times, I knew an infant would be infinitely more coordinated than I as I flapped and flailed about. Erin taught me some basic moves around the hated pole that I mentally cursed as I fell and tripped and fell again, constantly foiled by the diabolical high-heeled shoes. How seductive was that?

Erin made it look so simple as she slithered about in smooth, fluid movements, but it was impossible for me and I felt myself becoming more and more frustrated at my body's total lack of coordination. With the double whammy of dancing and wearing heels, the task of trying to release my inner sex goddess was hopeless especially since I suspected she'd pulled a groin muscle.

After forty minutes of complete humiliation, Erin stopped her instructions and sat next to me on my mat. As uncomfortable as this was, I felt an instant connection with Erin. She had heard it all before and I had no trouble telling her about Gunther. I didn't tell her about the dare, I made up some bullshit about how I just wanted to seduce him, but everything else I told her about him was the truth. I knew I needed all the expert advice I could get to help me overcome the awkwardness I had with my own body.

"CeCe, did you ever see True Lies with Jamie Lee Curtis and Arnold Schwarzenegger?" she asked.

"Uh, maybe," I was too shaken to remember something as trivial as a movie at this lowly moment.

"Well, if you'll remember, she was a stogy housewife that got mixed up in international spying and she had to do a pole dance for a master spy."

I laughed and relaxed a little. "Yeah, I do remember that. Right in the middle of her dance, she took a header right off the bedpost and fell flat on her face. Remind you of anybody?" I had to smile.

"Actually, what I remember is that a woman who was not in touch with her sexuality learned to reach within herself, to feel herself and to realize she was a powerful, sensual being. It's what we all have within us, CeCe. We just need to be willing to reach inward and grab it. Now, do you remember how she did it?" I shook my head. Erin reached over and switched on some slow, throbbing, sensual music.

"Well, she closed her eyes and relaxed and then she started feeling the skin of her body. She let the beat of the music flow over her and she let it take over her body's movement. Why don't you try it?" she asked quietly.

"Don't think about the dance moves. Just think about your body and think about Gunther." She went over and dimmed the lights. She and Rocky gave me some space as they stood by the mirror and closed their eyes, shifting to the intoxicating music.

Closing my eyes, too, I let the powerful music thrum inside of me. They had dressed me in some clingy gym shorts and a sports bra so I let my hands travel over my exposed body. My skin did feel smooth and nice.

The image of Gunther's beautiful skin filled my mind and I imagined moving my fingers all over it, smelling and licking the warm silk. The scenes of the last times we'd had sex trailed through my mind, I remembered how erotic his hands had looked sliding over my body and how desperately I'd wanted them to cup my aching breasts and rub my nipples. It felt so good when he'd stroked his fingers down my stomach and traced the skin of my legs. I cracked open my heavy eyes and looked at myself in the mirror.

I could see the lust flowing from my eyes as I imagined Gunther seeing me like this, running my hands all over my body. I leaned into the pole and arched my back, rubbing my backside against the rod, replaying the feel of Gunther's huge erection nestled behind me... A scene set in my mind that got me going.

We we were in the shower. The water was cascading over both out bodies...

Thinking of him, I closed my eyes, straightened my legs hip width apart and leaned forward, imagining bucking into him, exposing my behind, knowing he would grab my hips and grind me to his heat. My hair fell to the floor and I dragged my hands up one leg, feeling my silky bronze hair sweep my skin as I stood back up, touching my body, thinking of those hot fingers feeling every inch of me.

He'd stared at my breasts like he'd wanted to eat them, I remembered. I touched them myself, wishing he were suckling them and I had his silky head clasped to my chest, running my fingers through his hair. I slipped around the pole, pretending he was in front of me. I slid my hands up its length and wrapped myself around it, slowly sliding my leg down, like I was sliding down his naked body.

I was vaguely aware that Erin and Rocky had been watching me for some time, but my Gunther fantasy had me too caught up to care. As the music wound down, I lifted my eyes fully and stared into their shocked faces.

"What?" I asked apprehensively.

"What the hell brought that on?" Rocky asked, stunned.

"I was just thinking of Gunther, Rocky. What, did I look like a spastic again?" I asked worriedly.

"No, honey, you looked fantastic!" Erin breathed. "Everything you did was totally sensual. If this were a club, every man in the audience would have – God - jizzed in his pants and slipped a Franklin in your g-string or something when they saw that performance. You do that for your Gunther and you'll have him eating out of the palm of your hand." I turned to Rocky for her reaction.

"Holy fuck, CeCe, you turned me on and girls do not do it for me. Gunther will blow sky high if you ever pull that off. You have to put that in your arsenal, CeCe, I'm not kidding. Girl, that made my temperature rise. Whew!" she fanned herself furiously.

I stared at myself in the mirror. Note to self, I thought determinedly. If I want to seduce Gunther, all I have to do is close my eyes and think of Gunther. Well, that should be easy enough. It's all I ever do anyway.

So I didn't get many reviews last time. Should I continue this story? Next is more GeCe. Gunther get's to see CeCe's new skills.