The beat of Adina Howards Freak jolted through the speakers that came through the walls surrounding the customers in various stages of relaxing on plush blue lounging chairs surrounding the center stage or up close, sitting on one of the velvet stools.  The room was eerily quiet as they stared at the naked young woman dancing, save for the rhinestone-studdedG-string, before them on the mirrored stage.

 

 Carmen with her devious smile, wrapped a bronzed manicured hand around the pole and slithered from top to bottom to the delight of a couple of college boys who broke their silence, whooping and hollering with their wallets wide open. Her dark hair curled loosely around the sides of her rounded face, a strand straying near the rose red lips that were curved seductively as she leaned down in front of a customer, the dark nipples mesmerizing the young man. Carmen crawled over with a corrupted smile to one of the tongue-wagging, glassy eyed boys and planted a kiss on his head as his friends high-five him all around. He nearly fell over jamming a 20 in her garter, that goofy smile remaining on his face. Queen of the Runway! the corny DJ boomed as Carmen wiggled her hips at another customer, splaying out her bottom for another man to gleefully spank as she slithered further out of the scanty costume. She blew kisses to the men as she strutted in to the wings leaving them clapping and grinning as the DJ reminded the crowd of the VIP booths on the second floor, hopefully egging them on and out of their credit cards. The college boys nearly bolted for those velvet doors sending a couple of old-timers laughing.

 

Backstage, Carmen took a pink towel and wiped the sweat from her forehead and plopped down into one of  the more comfortable chairs, smiling at the other girls in different stages of undress or taking a break.

 

Well Ms. C, another astounding performance! One brunette shook out her tresses as she bent over stretching her muscular thighs.

 You always stir up the crowd, darlin.

 Carmen laughed. Please, we just have a lot of desperate men with bulging wallets and bulging libidos out there! Oh hey, theres a group of college foo..I mean some nice new customers that made a beeline for upstairs. I say we up the prices tonight! The rest of the girls fell out into peals of laughter.

 

Diana grinned as she paused at the mirror, on her way out. Yall are just wicked, as she fastened on a silver chained collar, winking a green eye at the rest of her friends. Carmen raised an eyebrow at the new jewelry. New gimmick for your dance? but Diana was already out the door.

 

One of the other dancers breezed in with a smile as she threw down her  gym bag, hustling to get ready. Finally! Girls this is going to be an easy night. We got women out in the crowd! There were a couple of murmurs of approval, but Carmen just sniffed and rolled her eyes. Oh please. Yeah they give us a

little more money and their nice to talk to but so are my aunts! Laughter trickled through the group. I dont like them, I get more comments of sympathy and shit.

 

The dancer, still rummaging through her bag and tossing back her blond hair as she hastily brushed it flicked her eyes around the room and then lowered her tone a bit. You guys be nice tonight, its kind of special for Diana from what I hear.

 

Carmen dismissed her hand to the girl. Yeah, why? She trying out for the Dallas Cowboys or something?

 

No, Dianas owner is out there.

 

Owner?? What the hell are you talking about? She got a pimp? Other dancers stopped in their ministrations as they listened. The blond dancer walked over and stood by Carmen.

 

No, duh, Carmen. Dianas a slave. Havent you heard of D/s? Bondage and all that?

 

Yeah, Ive read Anne Rices stories. That shit aint true.

 

Humph. Please, Ms. C, I know because Ive been to a couple of parties downtown.

 

Carmen again, with a queenly air, dismissed her comments. So what? Whats Dianas angle? I never knew her to be a hustler. And what can a woman give me anyway? Carmen laughed. I am not into dykes! I like men, darlin. I got me a dick fetish, Carmen waved a dildo in the dancers direction.

 

Listen Carmen, just watch Dianas routine tonight, and trust me, her owner is no beer guzzling, penis packing dyke.

 

Carmen sniffed and walked out of the dressing room emerging through the side door, watching the crowd. She smiled as she looked over the men present, business men with Rolexs and enjoying cigars, a group of construction workers who usually came in regularly on Saturday nights and surprisingly, a small group of women, perfectly coifed and chatting as one of the waitresses came round with their drinks. Carmen inconspicuously moved from her seat closer to the bar so that she could get a closer look at the women. She was still looking around for the dykes, but curiously, didnt see any. 

 

And now welcome to the stage, our resident goddess..Diana! The group of women turned their eyes

to the stage as Diana emerged, the music of Floetry ebbing quietly behind her from a speaker. Carmen never had watched any of the dancers moves or routines to her it was bad business and a dancer could mess up her own performance, especially when there was a full house like tonight. Diana slowly turned, her steps graceful and methodical, playing up to the crowd but her eyes focused on the woman in front of her. Carmen had moved yet again just to see who this woman was.

 

Diana, draped in a leather black bodice, turned and twisted to the beat of the sensual movement trying to ward off the butterflies that were nestled in her stomach. The silver collar shone underneath the strobe lights, clinking almost noiselessly as she stretched out onto the floor reaching those hands out to Her.

She closed her eyes as she moved with each thumping drum tempo, her long beige legs turning, as the frills on her costume softly played over her thighs. Reaching to the ceiling her arms fell, caressing the pole behind her as she leaned back, taking an imaginary drag on a cigarette, tossing it and lazily slithered around, slipping her small hands over the swell in her breasts, pinching a nipple. Catching her lips in her teeth, she dipped her head down, and up again as she gyrated her hips, gripping at her legs and then slowly

winding herself down, down as graceful as a belly dancer. She teased the crowd slipping her hand in between her legs, her mouth falling slowly into a O. She slipped from the stage in one fluid motion to Her feet, whispering Mistress, rising softly with a twirl and moving back and forth. The woman only smiled and reached with one fluid motion, slipping a hand through the back of her costume and loosening it as Diana blushed and returned to the stage.

 

From the looks of the crowd most were confused or amused as Carmen sat wide-mouthed watching the performance. Patrons could never, ever touch a dancer like that.

 

Close your mouth, hun. The blond slipped in the seat beside Carmen, grinning and continued her whisper. Thats Dianas owner. I told you.

 

Damn! I wonder how much her owner had to pay management for her to do that? Carmen added sarcastically, hissing back. That aint fair, hell do you know how many offers Ive had for..

 

Shhh. The bartender, obviously enjoying Dianas dance was miffed at the two talking. The two dancers turned back around and watched the end of her routine, which was greeted by applause. Diana smiled and then bent down as the woman stood up and kissed her almost motherly on her forehead. As the DJ continued with droll announcements, Carmen made a beeline for the dancers dressing rooms.

 

Holy shit, girl! You tore it up but who in the hell was that! Carmen put her hands on her hips, pointing to the direction of the door and eyed Diana who was laughing with one other dancer. Diana sheepishly grinned at her.

 

Ms. C you wouldnt understand.

 

Hold up, we were told you were some slave or something? Diana stopped smiling and looked at Carmen for a moment and then held her head proudly.

 

I am Carmen. The woman outside is my owner, Ms. Foley.

 

Holyyou really are in all that shit I read in those books?

 

Its not like the books, Carmen.

 

A woman? Hell what can a woman give you?

 

Diana shook her head. Its not that simple and its not all about sex.

 

Then what? Gifts? You parade around in some maids outfit and get fondled?

 

Diana walked over and paused at Carmens hair. Its something that even I cant explain, because slavery is different for each person.  To me it means a different freedom, a different way of life itself. The ultimate expression of love, thats what it means to me.

 

Carmen huffed at the word. Love aint nothing nowadays and besides I enjoy my freedom. I know who I am!

 

Diana furrowed her eyebrows and looked at her. Oh really? Do you have the freedom to express yourself fully, to be who you truly are instead of what those men are paying you to me? Carmen scowled nervously as her stomach turned. What was this chick talking about, she wondered as those words drifted around her head refusing to dissipate. 

 

 Listen, come out to the floor and meet Her. Perhaps she can explain more. Diana strode out of the room leaving Carmen confused as ever. What did she mean about freedom? Those men dont rule me, theyre falling at my feet constantly wanting a bit of the Queen Bee, Carmen mused as she strolled back to the main floor of the club. Her seductive smile greeted patrons as she switched past, one taking the opportunity to give her a good smack on the rear. She turned, with a pouty smile slipping a hand on her hip. Ouch, she purred and winked to the guy, as his friends chuckled.

 

Hey Ms. C, you going to be upstairs right, babe?

 

Oh of course for you and your wallet, anything!

 

Hey sweetness, you aint going to turn into one of those carpet munching twats are you? One guy menacingly leered at her as he grabbed her arm.

 

Man, all they need is some dick, another chortled and sent the group into primal howls of laughter. Carmen simply laughed it off and patted the side of his face as she continued on, but something gnawed at her insides. What did these idiots in here care about what we did or whom we did it with on our own time? The questions floated around her head, as they did every time she was faced with these ugly situations.  More importantly, these dancers were also her friends, close friends even at that. They danced because they enjoyed it, needed college money or simply for the job. Carmen always thought of herself as free, but every night on that stage she put up a disguise and hated herself for it.

 

Her face was clouded by the time she reached Diana and her guests.  In the chair that had been facing the stage was the woman Carmen had seen kiss Diana after her performance, and she was holding court. Several tribal bracelets ensnared her arm as she held a glass of sparkling water. The dark wavy hair fell down across her shoulders caressing the tips of the black camisole that seemed to meld with her body, even with those beautiful cinnamon skin tones. Diana sat, snuggled at her feet and simply smiled as she

approached, with the whole group now taking notice. The woman turned and laid her pale blues on her, which threw Carmen off and made her jump inwardly. There was a curve in the other womans smile as she half regarded her.

 

diana, one of your friends?

 

Yes Maam, her name is Carmen. Carmen, this is my owner. The woman stood and extended her hand, shaking it solidly. Carmen winced, but put on one of her showstopper smiles.

 

Ms. Iman Foley, a pleasure to meet you, dear. Imans voice poured out in deep tones and caught Carmen off guard. She was nearly speechless, and Iman could sense a bit of discomfort and laughed.

 

You were expecting some blue jean wearing dyke, darling? Iman raised an eyebrow as she motioned to a chair for her to sit. Carmen turned into a babbling idiot as she stared at Iman. No, wow youre beautiful, she blurted out. The rest of the women in the group chuckled softly as they sipped their drinks

and made comments about the next performer on stage. These women were all crisply dressed, in cool summer black and sharp high-heeled sandals covering their feet. There was an air about them of intensity and haughtiness, not even the crude laborers could even touch. A few of the other male customers passed by their table, admiring and eyeing them with much approval, tossing out Well good evening and Hello there as they passed. Carmen was shocked. There was no difference between her and these women were there? These men seemed alien as they for a brief moment became gentlemen around the women. Even Lily, withdrew from her normal playful self as she approached, a strange blush on her cheeks, causing quite a stir in Carmen. Lily shyly smiled and kissed Iman on the side of her face, saying Yes Maam and No Maam to her questions as she headed to her duties upstairs. It seemed like forever, but Carmen said her farewells and continued upstairs, plastering on a fake smile as the college boys stood waiting anxiously, their bulges straining in their jeans ,eyes wide, panting.