Beautiful Liar (The Masquerade Series)

by Maynard, Glenna

  “Well baby I would pay extra to watch your fine ass up on that stage. It would be like poetry in motion.”

  “Um, thank you. I think. Enjoy your evening.” I let out a nervous giggle, he isn’t the first to ask, but the way he is checking me out is just the confidence boost I needed after the funk I have been in lately. I seat a few more people and Krista comes up to me with a sneaky grin spreading over her face.

  “The gentleman at table four just offered a thousand dollars to see you up on the stage!”

  “No way!” I look over at the table to see the guy from earlier staring at me.

  “You have to do it! That’s a grand Darby! I just asked Trina and she gave the approval.” Trina is the stage manager who is over the spotlight dancer’s. She also happens to be the grabby handed booby lady!

  “I can’t get up there by myself!” I have only performed a few times with a few other girls as a stand in during rehearsals. Krista thinks that Turner keeps me off stage, because he is jealous and doesn’t want other men watching me.

  “You are! I am going to cover your post, now get your ass backstage!” She smacks me on the ass and I let out a giggle. I see Turner watching with curiosity as I head backstage. Trina gives me a pep talk and a shot of something brown that stings my throat. I give her a confused look.

  “Honey I won’t tell if you don’t. I can see that you are nervous, but just have fun with it. Cut loose for once. You ass is wound so tight, just go with it!”

  For once in my life I am going to do just that.

  I try to shake my jitters away as I watch the girls finish up their routine to ‘Erotica’ by ‘Madonna.’

  The DJ cuts in over the speaker’s as the girls exit the stage. “Tonight we have a special treat. We have a virgin to the stage.”

  The song ‘Representin’ by ‘Ludacris’ begins to play. I make my way out onto the stage. I have danced before on a pole in the strip tease class at the gym, so that’s what I decide to do, make use of what I know. I hope I don’t make a fool of myself. I get a good grip and wrap my legs around the pole. Twirling my way to the bottom, I land in the splits. I lean my head back to see Turner standing close to the stage watching me. The way he is watching me gives me the courage to continue. This performance is for him and only him, even though the room is full of other men. He is the only one I see. I am blind to anything or anyone else in this moment.

  I slink my way across the floor back to the pole. I get a grasp again, but this time I flip upside down and gracefully slide, pausing halfway down. I pause and scissors kick my legs again before making my way to the floor. My eye’s break from Turner’s hold briefly, as I turn right side up and spin around the pole a few more times. I grab a cane from the side of the stage and start stalking my way towards the end where Turner is standing, watching me, watching him. The way he is raking his eye’s all over my body feels like he is fucking me right here, right now on this stage in front of everyone. And I love every second of it. Being on this stage is a rush I never imagined feeling. I take the cane and poke him in the chest with it and give him a naughty grin.

  The song cuts and I make my exit. I go into the dancer’s lounge to come down from the high I am feeling from my performance. I take a drink from my bottled water. As some of the girls are telling me what a great job I done, Turner burst through the doors and orders everyone out. I start to follow the girls out the door. I am the last one to reach the exit and Turner.

  He looks like a hungry animal. Looking like he is a lion ready to devour his prime meat. He jerks me back into the room. “Not you.” He uses a chair and pushes it under the door handle to jam the door. He jerks my body into his, letting me feel how hard his cock is for me. I should walk away but the adrenaline from being on stage is still coursing through my veins.

  He fists his hands in my hair and pulls my mouth to his. His tongue darts through the part of my lips. I feel like he is sucking the very breath from my lungs and I want to give every last puff of air in me to him. He licks his way down my throat, tasting my sweat.

  “Mmm, you even taste like an early morning rain.”

  I start unbuttoning his shirt and slide it down his arms. I run my tongue over the smoothness of his chest and slowly trail my way down his perfect v. I peek up at him through my mask. He has his hands crossed behind his head rocking on his heels. Unzipping his slacks, I shove his boxers down to his ankles. This is only about pleasing him. Wrapping my red nails around the base of his shaft, I gradually rake my teeth up his length. He shudders and a deep hiss escapes his mouth. He rocks himself into my mouth. His hands latch into my hair and he steadies my head, guiding me to the pace he enjoys.

  I lick his perfect cock from base to tip. Slow then fast. I repeat the motion. I can feel him getting close to his orgasm. I suck down harder until the head of his cock reaches the back of my throat. He gently pulls from my mouth. He brings me up from my knees and bends me frontward over the back of the sofa. Pulling my boy shorts down, he kicks my feet apart. Turner rips my fishnets straight down the seam that runs over my bare ass. He runs his fingers over my hard nub and smacks my clit. Always ready, he whispers in my ear, dipping his finger inside my wet pussy. He brings his finger up to my mouth and I lick my juice from it. He repeats the motion but this time he licks it. He pulls my head backwards with force and bites my ear.

  “Please, Turner! Fuck my pussy!”

  He smacks me on my ass, giving a slight sting to my cheeks. Pulling my hair harder he growls, “Please fuck who’s pussy?”

  “Please, Turner fuck your pussy,” I pant. I can’t believe the words that are coming out of my mouth, and I never say the p word, ever.

  He thrust into me. “Fuck you’re so tight.” I roll my hips with each thrust taking him deeper inside. His balls smack against my ass. The club is packed and the music is playing, but all I can hear is the slick of our skin pounding against each other. He jerks his dick out of me, spilling the ink of his passion across my back.

  He takes a towel and wipes himself from my back. I am still trying to catch my breath. The force of what we just did claws its way to the surface of my conscious.

  “Turner did we really just fuck at work?”

  “Whatever the consequences, it was worth it pumpkin.”

  “Look at me! I can’t go back out there like this! And now everyone knows what we were in here doing.”

  “No they don’t. Here,” he opens up a cabinet I have never noticed before. It is full of club clothes.

  “Have you done this, before?”

  “Well you know that I have, with you a few weeks back. I know I didn’t imagine that night. I still have the picture to prove it.”

  “No, I mean here, have you fucked someone else here before, in this room?”

  “What gave you that idea?”

  “Never mind.”

  Luckily I find a bustier similar to the one that I was wearing. My hose on the other hand are a complete loss though. I glance at myself in the mirror.

  “Hell I look rode hard and put out to dry.” I try to wipe the smeared lipstick from the edge of my mouth.

  Chapter Seven

  “You slut, where in the hell have you been? You smell like sex! You bitch, you’re not walking away from this conversation, this time.”

  “Yes,” I hiss at her now hush before someone hears you!”

  “Girl, everyone and I mean everyone here knows that you two have it bad for each other. In fact some of the dancers were betting how long it would take.”

  “Shut up! Nooo they weren’t. You lie!” I look at her horrified.

  “Gotcha,” she winks walking back to her tables.

  The rest of the night I feel paranoid like everyone is staring at me. I just know that I am going to be fired. It really sucks, because the money I can make here is great. I don’t know what I am doing with Turner. I like him a lot, but I can’t give him all of me. Not to mention he doesn’t know the situation with Brody. Hell Brody doesn’t even know. For now I am ju
st going with it.

  Thankfully our indiscretion at work isn’t spoken of. Either no one knows or they don’t care. Well other than Krista. I just want to get out of theses clothes and take a long steaming bubble bath. Making it home I walk in to find Aiden and Marla asleep together in the recliner. There is a note from Caroline that she fed Aiden dinner and bathed him. She is so great to me. I pick Aiden up, careful not to wake him and get him tucked into his bed. I try gently to wake Marla and she doesn’t respond. A hard lump forms in my throat. I shake with a little more force.

  “What, what is it she mumbles.”

  Letting out a sigh of relief, “just thought you might want to go get in your bed is all.”

  “No now I am awake, how was work?”

  “Good,” I blush thinking back to Turner and all the ways he touched me.

  “What’s that grin about?”

  “Nothing, it was a really great night.”

  “Your father called me earlier.”

  “You talked to Jim?”

  “Yeah Darby, just because we got divorced don’t mean we don’t talk. We were talking about my final arrangements. Now I know you don’t like to talk about it, but is important, so your dad is helping me get some things in order for when the time comes.”

  And with that I am brought back down to earth.

  “Your dad also mentioned Brody coming by his house when he was last in town. You need to just tell him the truth Darby. If he finds out from anyone other than you it is going to be that much worse.” She slowly rises from her chair and gives me a knowing hug.

  I let the flood of tears break through the cracked walls that have been holding my emotions in. I cry for Brody, the time I stole from him and Aiden. More tears fall for Turner. I am scared to feel too much for someone who I can’t have. I cry the hardest for my mom as she stands in her fragile state holing me up. The thought that I may not have much time left in this life with her scares the shit out of me. She begins talking a lot about death and the all wrongs she has made in her life and how she needs to right them.

  I can’t handle this conversation right now. Making the excuse of being hungry, I avoid the rest of the discussion. Truth is I couldn’t eat now if I wanted to. I busy myself in the kitchen until I am sure she has turned in for the night. Finally I am able to sink down into a warm bath and escape my troubles for a while.

  Aiden wakes me in the middle of the night; he had an accident in his bed. Shit! I forgot to put his pull up on him. I throw his bedding in the wash and put him in my bed after getting him cleaned up. He does really well with using the potty, but while he is sleeping is a whole other ordeal. Turner sends me a good morning pumpkin tits texts and ask if Aiden and I would like to meet him for breakfast.

  Seeing my sons name in the same line with pumpkin tits is so wrong, I laugh to myself. I get Aiden up and ready and throw his bedding in the dryer. We meet up with Turner at a diner near Aiden’s daycare, so I can drop him off on my way to work. Aiden lights up when he sees Turner waiting for us in a booth and takes off running for him.

  “Hey little man. Give me five.” He holds his hand out for Aiden to smack. Aiden gives him all he’s got; Turner draws his hand back shaking it like it hurt.

  “Ouch, that stung a bit Aiden. You are so strong.”

  Aiden looks at Turner, giving that familiar lopsided grin, making my heart skip a beat. Will he have this connection with Brody when they meet? Turner gives me a wink, and Aiden insist on sitting beside of him.

  “Sure you don’t mind?”

  “Why wouldn’t I want to sit beside my favorite ball star? This kid is going to be one hell of a ball player. Does he get that from you?”

  “Definitely not! He is a lot like his D-A—D.”

  The waitress brings us our menus. Aiden decides to be a stinker and start climbing down and going underneath the table.

  “Aiden,” I say with I clipped tone, “get your rear in a seat and park it.” He’s not having it, and starts laughing. Giving me a ha-ha, I don’t think so smirk.

  “Hey Aiden, if you be good and listen to your mom, I will take you back to the park sometime. If that’s alright with her.” Aiden instantly gets up out of the floor and sits like he is the best behaved two years old.

  We place our orders and talk a little about Marla and what the doctors say about her. I skillfully nibble my strawberries, drawing Turners attention to my berry stained pout.

  He leans across the table, “I’ve got something that would taste better between your lips.” I give him a flirty grin and continue to seduce his senses with my berries. I give Aiden my phone to play with, he loves listening to music on it.

  “So where is his D-A-D?” Turner whispers across the table to me. I take a deep breath. His question catches me off guard. No one knows that Brody is Aiden’s dad other than my parents and Caroline. I usually avoid the topic when people ask. But I really like Turner, and I can’t bring myself to lie to him too.

  “He and I were high school sweethearts. I have known him since grade school. Things were great between us. I hope this conversation isn’t awkward. I like you a lot, but I don’t know if what we’re doing is more than just S-E-X.”

  “For now, just be honest. I don’t know where this is headed. You know I wasn’t looking to get involved, but I can’t shake these feelings for you.”

  “Well, Brody Case is his name. You may have actually heard of him if you are into sports.”

  “As in the baseball player? So why isn’t he in the picture? Did he walkout on you?

  “Yes, I am getting to that and no.” He gives me a confused look. “Brody was getting ready to leave for college. It had always been his dream to play for Louisville. And his dream was coming true. I didn’t want a family to stand in his way.”

  “So you just didn’t tell him.” He gives me a very mixed expression.

  “No, I didn’t but I am going to tell him soon. He used to like to drink a lot and he could have a bit of a temper.”

  “Did he hurt you? I swear if he has ever hurt you!”

  “No, he hurt himself more than he ever hurt me. He never put his hands on me.”

  “That’s really fucked up,” he mouths at me.

  “I’m a horrible person, say it. I know you are thinking it.”

  “To be honest yea. I kind of am. I mean, Darby that is a big thing not to tell someone. But I want to try to understand it without judging you too harshly. I mean I can understand not wanting a kid around someone who drinks a lot. But when you love someone you try to help them, you don’t turn your back on them.”

  Looking at the clock I am going to be late if I don’t leave right now. “Can we finish this later? I am going to be late if I don’t get Aiden to daycare.”

  “Yea, no problem.” I take a few tens from my purse and try to hand them to Turner for mine and Aiden’s food, but he refuses.

  He stands to let Aiden out of the booth and gives me a stiff kiss on the cheek. He thinks I am a horrible bitch. But I can’t really blame him. This is why you don’t date Darby! God I could kick my own ass. After buckling Aiden into his seat, I take few deep breathes. It really hurts for Turner to think so poorly of me. A tear slides from my face. I turn to get in my car when Turner suddenly twists me around facing him.

  “Don’t do that!”

  “Do what?” I wipe the teardrop that is trickling down my face.

  “Don’t beat yourself up over the past.” He runs his finger down my face, traveling the path of my tear. “You’re an amazing person. I am sure whatever the reasons are behind your choices, you made them with good intentions.” I look into the cloudy grey of his eyes. I lick my lips, begging him to take the invitation to kiss me. God I just want him to kiss me right now! To feel his warm full lips taking me hostage and never letting me go. That’s what I want right now, standing in this busy parking lot. I want to forget all my wrong doings and just be his. I want him to be mine. The thought of it terrifies me because I should want to be Brody’s.

/>   My thoughts should be about giving Aiden the family he deserves with his dad. But instead, my heart is opening to someone else. Someone who holds the power to crush my heart and consume every part of me. The idea of being with Turner, really being with him, not just his occasional fuck, makes butterflies take full flight in my stomach. I part my lips as he bends his face slowly to mine. His tongue begins tracing the outline of my pout. His warm tongue begins massaging mine. First the kiss is tender and sweet, but then it turns into something else completely. It turns into a fever pitch of want and desire. He could take me right here in this parking lot against my car, if Aiden weren’t with me.

  Oh my word, Aiden is sitting in the car witnessing his mommy make out. I snap out of the hold Turner has on me.

  “I really have to go.”

  “Until later, pumpkin tits.” He pinches my nipple, hard.

  Chapter Eight

  After a long day at the gym and picking Aiden up, I run by the house and get Marla. Tomorrow is her birthday, but I have to work at The Masquerade Club, so I am taking her out for her birthday this evening. After a quick change of mine and Aiden’s clothes we are ready to go. It is a scorcher, I feel like I a just may turn into a puddle. Maybe I should reschedule the birthday dinner. Marla looks miserable.

  “Sure you are up to this, I mean we can stay in and I can cook or order takeout.”

  “Darby, I only get out of the house for doctors appointments. I am ready to get out even if I don’t feel much like celebrating my final birthday.”

  “Why do you say things like that? You don’t know that. You have no way of knowing that. Unless there is something you’re not telling me.”

  I wasn’t able to go to her last appointment with her. Next time, I intend to go with her. I get the feeling she purposely scheduling them for when I am at work. Caroline has been going with her. I bet she knows what she is hiding. And she has probably made her promise to keep it to herself too. A bottle of good wine may get her to spill. One can hope anyways. I’d like to think Marla wouldn’t keep anything from me, not now after we have grown so close these past few years.