Having lost her cushy office job at an oil company due to the constant stalking and harassment perpetrated by the exhusband, Phaedra decided to become an exotic dancer to keep her bills paid until she found another office job. After all, she loved music and she loved to dance, and men had always found her attractive, so why not give it a try. Having a bouncer on call to prevent any further annoyance from the ex was an added bonus.
Within a week or so, Phaedra was having the time of her life -- drinking all day and well into the evening, wearing beautiful, seductive costumes, expressing her sensuality and sexuality without repercussions from a jealous husband, socializing with her choice of men -- most of them treating her as though she were a goddess walking among them, and making an unbelievable amount of cash in the process. She often mused to herself that she had found the perfect way to make up for all the years of happiness, experimentation, and good times she had given away and missed by getting married at 18 to the guy she started dating when she was 15. It felt amazing to finally be free to be herself, and she swore she was not going to get involved seriously with anyone again any time soon.
About a month into the adventure, Phaedra took a break from the table she was working to go freshen up, and since her customers were only offering liquor, stopped by the bar for some much needed water on her way back. She was joking with the bartender about the difficulty of dancing for one of the more portly men in the group, when a darkly handsome guy she had noticed standing at the bar a couple of times in the previous weeks spoke up and asked her what was the difference between dancing for the man she was joking about, and say, a guy like him -- referring to himself. Without missing a beat, she flashed him a very lustful grin and said, "When I'm finished over there, why don't I show you?" and returned to her waiting table before he could respond.
Phaedra had surprised herself with the quick retort and wondered where it would lead, if anywhere. The other dancers said this guy -- we'll call him Jim -- was a regular customer who spent a lot of time at the bar, buying drinks for everybody and talking, but rarely, if ever, went to a table or bought dances. The first time she saw him, she knew immediately he was her "type" - tall, tanned, well-built, with long, dark curly hair he kept slicked back into a ponytail, full lips, and beautiful green eyes, framed by thick black lashes. She didn't really care if he bought dances or not. She had already made more than enough money to call it a day. Anything more would just be icing on the cake.
About half an hour later, Happy Hour was ending and her customers were ready to leave, so Phaedra returned to the bar to amuse herself until the next turn on stage. Jim was still there and wanted the demonstration she had suggested. So they found a table in a secluded spot and after a couple of drinks each, Phaedra showed Jim how much easier it is, physically, to dance for a man who actually has a lap than one who does not -- twice, just for good measure.
The music changed and was not as inspirational as before, so it was decided they would order more drinks, and while they waited for the waitress to return, they began swapping life stories. As they talked more and more, they realized their philosophies on life, marriage, romance, their tastes in music and movies, and even their current living situations were strangely similar. Jim was also going thru divorce after a long, mostly miserable marriage where he was constantly and wrongly accused of infidelity until finally, like Phaedra, he had engaged in the behavior he was being punished for. The two grew totally fascinated with each other and, combined with empathy, superficial lust became a hunger much more intense.
After awhile, Phaedra was called to do a turn on stage, and Jim paid another dancer to take her place so she could stay with him. Then, he raised the stakes -- he suggested they move to the upstairs VIP Room, where there was more privacy. Once there, he asked Phaedra to dance for him again, and when she did, it was unlike any dance she had ever done, or any he had ever experienced. It continued through several songs until dancing and touching each other within publicly permitted areas was no longer bearable, and they reluctantly separated themselves to make arrangements to meet elsewhere. Phaedra excused herself and went to the dressing room to change and gather her purse and keys while Jim closed his tab.
Outside in the parking lot, they finally kissed for the first time and drew away from it, both pulsing with anticipation and uncertainty. Did they really want to go through with what they had started? Neither was interested in becoming entangled again any time soon after such prolonged and unhappy romantic confinement.
Could they spend just this night with each other and then move on when just a kiss was having this effect?
Well, to answer frankly...no. Sex drive won out over better judgement that night, and it was a very slippery slope.
Through good times and bad, some worse than others, some better than others, a few heartbreaks, a lot of fun and laughter, a few moments of pure ecstasy, and some situations so peculiar, complicated, and unconventional that others don't even bother to try understanding anymore...
As of Friday, September 26, "Jim" and "Phaedra" are still together (and happy about it most of the time), TWELVE YEARS LATER.
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