Hey-o. It's a stripping chapter. Enjoy!
Bella's PoV
This was it. It's the beginning of the end. I was in Washington, D.C. with answers and the strongest desire to kill someone I'd ever felt. I might not succeed, but that's okay.
I had a suitcase full of nothing but a wad of cash, Edward's cell phone, and my black stilettos. My final act was going to be done in stripper's attire. Not exactly what I want to die in, but it's the only ticket there.
James always went to a strip club called The Lair. He owned it, of course. It was what he did every Saturday night. He went out with old FBI friends and always picked one so-called lucky girl to go back to his large apartment.
Hopefully I was the lucky girl tonight. I wanted to do this once, and only once.
The odds were in my favour. James was freakishly attracted to short girls with brown eyes and pale skin. I'd be wearing an auburn wig to make sure he was thrown off if he happened to recognize me.
It was already five-thirty and the show started at eight. There was a cab waiting for me. He went straight to The Lair without making any small talk.
I stood in front of the club. Wow. This was really it. I took a deep breath and walked in. I was wearing a pair of my mom's heels, a jean mini skirt, and a white t-shirt with my auburn wig. Hopefully I looked skanky enough for the manager.
I leaned against the bar with my suitcase in tow.
"You must be Raina," a Native man in a white suit with a black dress shirt said. "I'm Embry Call, the coordinator of the shows. You look perfect for our little club. Follow me."
I followed Embry to the back of the building, into the dressing area. There were a few girls back here already.
"Girls, this is Raina Williams, our guest dancer for the night. She works at the most famous club in New York, Moulin Rouge," Embry introduced.
"Hey, Raina," the girls greeted in unison.
"Hi," I replied, waving nonchalantly.
"Come this way," Embry murmured, leading me into an independent dressing room with my name on it.
He shut the door behind us and immediately went to the closet. There were three outfits, each getting more and more revealing.
Embry handed me my first outfit, a short, purple corset that landed just above my belly button, a black thong, and a pair of thigh-high fishnets.
I started changing and Embry began debriefing me.
"Tonight's theme is Dark Horse, in honour of Nickelback's new CD. Chad Kroeger is coming and Mr. McCarthy is recognizing that," Embry explained. "Your first song is Shakin' Hands. You'll be on the middle stage and there will be two other girls on the stages on either side of you. Your second song is Burn it to the Ground, and this will include everyone on the main stage. Your finale is also the finale for the night. You will have the main stage and the audience's attention to yourself, and then song is Something in Your Mouth."
"Okay, sounds good," I murmured, fixing my corset. "Can you do me up, please?"
I turned around and Embry laced my corset up tightly, making my cleavage very noticeable.
"I have to talk to Mr. McCarthy quickly," Embry announced, heading out the door. "I'll come to get you when it's time."
I nodded and began pulling up my fishnets. The door closed and I sat down in my chair to do up my six-inch heels.
This was all sort of surreal, even though I planned this night five years ago. I couldn't believe it was actually happening. I was really going to face James.
I sat in my chair and thought about everything. My past, my parents, my half-brother, Jacob, Project R, training, James, killing people, Carlisle, emotions, fears, adrenaline, and, of course, Edward.
"We're ready for you," Embry announced, poking his head in my room.
I nodded with grim determination, leaving all those thoughts behind me to seduce my killer.
Edward's PoV
"Come on, Edward," Emmett begged me. "It's my bachelor party! You have to come!"
"Fine," I answered, letting him drag me into The Lair. "But I'm not staying out all night."
"I'll be damned if you're not!" Emmett yelled as we entered the main show room.
We sat down at a large table with all of Emmett's groomsmen and friends from work. They were already rip-roarin' drunk.
A pretty girl in nothing but a bra, thong, and heels handed us two trays of whiskey shots and then took our drink orders. I decided to stick with whiskey.
"Gentlemen, have your wallets ready, because we're about to start our show!" the announcer boomed. The lights dimmed. "Our first dance of our Dark Horse night is called Shakin' Hands, starring our guest dancer, Raina Williams!"
I choked on the shot I had just thrown back. It couldn't be a coincidence. It just couldn't be.
A short red head with pale skin came out in a purple corset, black thong, fishnets, and heels. She gave a tantalizing smirk, and I knew it was her.
She danced to the Nickelback song and I was transfixed. It felt like two years rather than two weeks since I last saw her. She was definitely a sight for sore eyes.
Her movements reeked of sexiness and wads of cash were being thrown at her. She smiled as she bent down, exposing her perfect ass to everyone. Emmett whistled and I glared at him.
"What?" he asked, confused. "She's fucking hot."
I covered it up quickly by saying, "You're engaged, Em."
He shrugged and kept cheering for my Bella.
I needed to stop that. I was getting too protective of something I didn't own.
The song ended and Bella left the stage, swaying her hips and looking over her shoulder at the crowd. She blew us all a kiss before disappearing.
I started drinking more and more, getting fairly drunk, waiting for Bella to come out again.
Somewhere between my sixth and seventh drink, James showed up at the table next to us. He nodded at Emmett and I with a smile, and Emmett and I waved back.
"Do ya think I could go to the dressing room of the red head?" I asked Emmett, motioning for another rye and coke.
Emmett burst out laughing. "My Edward wants to get laid by a stripper? Really?"
I nodded with a grin. I hadn't been this happy in, well, two weeks.
"You'd have to pay big money for it," Emmett warned me. "James likes his girls to be taken care of, and he thinks they deserve only the best."
"But that red head isn't his," I reminded him. "She's a guest dancer."
Emmett snorted. "Don't bother then. James usually takes those girls home for himself."
Then it dawned on me. Bella wasn't here for me, she was here for him. She wanted him to take her home. She was going to kill him tonight.
I slumped in my chair, the reality of it all crashing on me. She could die tonight. I couldn't have her, but at least she would have still been alive. This was like suicide. James could break her in a second. He knows so much about her.
"Alright, gentlemen! Prepare yourselves, because all of The Lair's dancers and Raina Williams are coming out to 'burn it to the ground' tonight!" the announcer called.
The music started and Bella led the rest of the dancer's out onto the stage in a blue button-up men's dress shirt. She took the front, closest to the men with money.
She fell to her knees and threw her head around, making the hair on her head fly around. She was right in front of James, and I could see him staring at her.
She stood up and walked away, winking at him. She jumped up on the pole in the middle of the stage and swung around, showing off her long, beautiful legs.
Her ass was to the crowd and you could see practically everything. She was wearing a tiny yellow thong. Men started cheering and throwing money on the stage for her. She let the other stripper's take it while she continued to perform on the pole.
She stood up and urged the girl's to come back to her. They all came, hiding her. They pulled away and Bella was in nothing but the yellow thong. There were flames painted all over her torso, hiding her body from us, but it was still hard for me to control myself. I got hard as soon as she walked on the stage, for God's sake.
I was sure Bella would make a killing tonight just from this dance. Men were throwing cheques at her, not wanting the other girls to get the money. She could seduce anyone that she wanted to.
She moved to my table and started dancing. Her eyes locked with mine for a second and then she looked away.
I felt like I was going to burst soon. Not just in a sexual way, though. My heart was literally aching. I couldn't stand it. I had to talk to her, touch her, convince her to never leave me again.
I had to try.
Bella's PoV
Oh, God, he was here. How in the world did he get here? Why the fuck was he here?
I was hurting over him two hours before, but now I was mad. I could have been done this a lot sooner if it hadn't been for him. That bastard walked all over my heart and then he thinks he can just stare at me while I strip? Well, fuck him. I was going to get him back.
I had four people washing my body and reapplying make-up and fixing my hair. The adrenaline high was coursing through my body now. It felt good to be back.
James didn't recognize me. I knew it because of the way he looked at me. He wanted Raina, not Bella, and that was my ticket.
I stepped out of the little yellow thong and into another small black thong. They sprayed me with silver sparkles and then I pulled on a navy blue bra that clasped in the front so I could take it off easily.
"We're going to pierce your belly button for this number," Embry informed me, breezing into the room with a girl hold a bag of needles, probably. "Mr. McCarthy requested it."
"Of course," I replied with a smile. "Anything for Mr. McCarthy."
Embry chuckled as the girl set up. "He's a lucky man."
"That he is," I murmured, lying down.
The girl pierced my naval with a dark blue ring. It looked pretty decent actually.
I slipped on my heels again and waited for my last number. I smiled when I thought about what was going to happen after this. I was ready.
"Sir, you aren't allowed back here," the security guard warned in his deep voice. "Miss Williams specifically said no visitors."
"I'm not a God damn fan!" an all too familiar voice roared. "I know her personally. Raina! Get out here!"
I rolled my eyes and opened the door.
"He can come in, Jackson," I grumbled. "Get in here, you asshole."
Edward grinned stupidly and stumbled towards me. I moved out of the way and let him into my temporary dressing room.
"You only have ten minutes, Miss Williams," Jackson reminded me.
"This won't take long," I assured him with a smirk and a wink.
He chuckled as I closed the door. I turned around and Edward was right there.
"Don't do it, Bella," he begged, his hot, whiskey-laced breath hitting me hard. "He'll kill you."
"I know." I pushed him out of the way and moved towards my suitcase. I pulled out his cell phone and threw it to him. "Here's a present. Have a good life, Edward. Now get out."
"Bella, I love you," he blurted.
I smirked at him. "Too bad you didn't mention that two weeks ago, huh?" I stalked towards him. He sat down. I straddled him, feeling his erection press up against me. I laced my fingers through his hair. "You could have had all this."
I leaned in and he shut his eyes. His large, warm hands roamed onto my bare ass.
"I love you too, Edward," I whispered, almost touching his lips with my own. "And I always will. But I had to get over you."
"Bella," he moaned quietly. He pulled me tighter to his body. "Don't do this to me. Please."
I stood up abruptly. It hurt to leave him, but it was pain I could deal with.
"I'm sorry, Edward," I apologized genuinely. "I really am. I wish we could be together, but we can't."
"We can be together, though!" Edward assured me, standing u and lacing his fingers with mine. "Go home with me instead of him, Bella. Be with me."
I ripped my hands away. "Don't you dare talk to me like that, Edward Cullen. Get out. Now."
He grabbed me by the waist and crushed his lips to mine. For a second, I savoured this. The last kiss I'd ever want. But, I couldn't lead myself or him on anymore. I pushed him away.
"Don't," I growled. "You're done. Get out. Now." I pushed him towards the door. He looked pained. "Jackson! Take him back to his seat!"
The security guard barged into my room and took Edward out.
"I love you," he uttered fiercely as he got dragged away.
I slammed the door and sat down. I was breathing heavily. God damn Edward Cullen.
"Miss Williams?" Embry called from outside my dressing room. "Your finale starts soon."
I stood up and straightened myself out quickly before going out to put on a show one last time.
I sort of felt like a prisoner being lead to get hanged or put in the electric chair as Embry led me to the stage.
"Our night had come to an end!" Embry announced on the mike. "But, we have one special act left. Please welcome Miss Raina Williams one last time. Do you think she'd look cuter with something in her mouth?"
The crowd roared for me as I took the stage one last time. And I fully intended to make myself memorable.
I walked to the front of the stage with my hands on my hips, swaying my hips. I bent over and rolled my hips, and stood back up.
I jumped on the pole and spun around before getting a twenty dollar bill shoved down my g-string. I let the good looking business man feel my ass before I moved back to the middle of the stage.
I hopped on the pole again and hung upside down, holding myself up with my legs and my left arm. I waved at the crowd and fluttered my eyelashes.
I flipped over backwards, landing on my feet. I dropped to my knees and moved towards a burly guy with dark, curly hair and a pair of the cutest dimples I'd ever seen. I kissed him softly on the lips and pulled back with a smile as he put a hundred dollars down my cleavage.
I moved backwards slowly, shaking my ass and smirking at the boys around the stage.
I stood up slowly and snapped my g-string. Then I turned around and then did a belly dancing ass shake before turning back to the audience and rubbing my fingers together as I walked to the front again.
I threw my hair back and did a body roll. Then I bent my knees wide open, throwing my hair back again. I fell to my knees and shimmied. I hopped off the stage and grabbed the nearest guy, grinding myself up against him before shoving him back down. I hopped back on the stage and put my left forefinger in my mouth. I crossed my right leg over my left and gave them an innocent look. I smirked with my finger still in my mouth and kicked a guy's hand away from my thigh.
Then I stood up and walked back towards the main pole. I grabbed onto it with both hands and spun around so I was facing my audience. I slid down into another open crouch and slid my finger across my smiling lips and then as I stood up, I popped my left hip. I turned around and bent to touch the floor. I rolled back up and slid down the pole.
I stood up again and hooked my thumbs around the straps of my bra once I had turned around. I pulled my hands from my thighs, up over my abdomen, onto my breasts, and finally pulled my fingers into my hair. Then I threw my arm up, gesturing to the crowd to "Come on!" I walked back to my pole and spun around, exposing as much of my body as I could.
While I was still wrapped around the pole, I slapped my bare ass and then flipped upside down, putting my hands on the floor so I could do a back walk-over into a standing position. I turned to my audience and undid my bra, letting my breasts pop out of their restraint, and threw it out into the crowd.
I kept walking down the stage until I was teetering on the edge. You could barely hear the music over the crowd cheering.
I fell to my knees, arching my back and lacing my fingers through my hair. Then I danced on my knees, throwing my head around and feeling many different hands grabbing at me.
I had my right thumb between my teeth and my left hand still in my hair when I met James's eyes. I smirked at him and he motioned for me to come to him with his finger.
I did one last body roll with my finger in my mouth before hopping off the stage and stomping towards my predator.
I did a twirl and grabbed a shot from one of the waitresses, slapping her barely covered ass in thanks. I threw the shot back and then slammed t down on the nearest table. I pushed guys out of the way, my eyes and body only for him now. The spotlight fell on my almost naked body as I stalked towards James.
I kissed a random guy on the lips and nipped at another's guy's throat, still staring at him. I put my right thumb in my mouth again and my left hand on my hip as I climbed the stairs to where James was sitting.
I fell onto his lap and arched my back so I was closer to him, throwing my head back. He grabbed my hips and I started moving against him. He started biting my neck and collarbone while I gripped his hair and pulled him closer. I ripped his face away from my body and looked him in the eyes before putting my mouth on his. The song ended, the crowd gave me what I assumed to be a standing ovation, and James and I continued to make out. His tongue plunged deep into my mouth and his hands roamed all over my body, claiming his new territory.
"That concluded our show for the night, gentlemen!" Embry announced. "The bar will remain open for another hour, so stay and have a stiff one for your stiff one. Once again, thank you to Raina Williams for a new picture to jack off to! Goodnight, Washington!"
James pulled away. "Go get your stuff. I think it's time we leave for my apartment."
I smirked at him. "Oh, you think so, huh? You're lucky I'm horny, Mr. McCarthy."
He smiled back at me. He loved a girl that could tease him. "You're lucky I'm desperate, Ms. Williams."
I leaned into him, my mouth pressed against his ear. "You're lucky I'm flexible, Mr. McCarthy." Then I stood up and walked back to my dressing room to get ready to fight for my life.
I wasn't even scared to face death anymore. I wanted it.
So, I was sort of glad that Bella got mad at Edward, but it was so at the wrong time!
The next chapter is my favourite chapter. Well, not in a wow-it's-so-wonderful way, but just in the way I actually got a decent chapter out what I had to write. It's already written, and I think I'll be posting it on Wednesday-ish.
Three more chapters and an epilogue, and then buh-bye Seducing Revenge. :'( Anyone else sad it's almost over?
Y'know what'd be cool? 300 reviews. That'd make my day. 'Cause, yeah, I'm a new author, and I'd love to set a personal best for myself with this story. Just sayin'....
Songs:
I'm Ready – Jack's Mannequin
Rescued – Jack's Mannequin
Here Comes Goodbye – Rascal Flatts
Something in Your Mouth – Nickelback
Burn it to the Ground – Nickelback
Shakin' Hands - Nickelback
Don't forget to review!
