Page 39 of Chains of Obsession

Reaching the pole, I glue my gaze to his. You Put A Spell On Me plays through the speakers, just like the first night he watched me.

I lower myself to the floor and get on all fours, whipping my head around once. I sit back on my ankles and let my hands run up my thighs and torso. When they reach my head, I grab the pole from behind and use all my ab strength to pull myself up flush with it, commanding it to spin.

I slow to a steady pace and stop right in line with Xander’s vision. I split my legs apart and lower myself back down to the stage in a split. I swing my leg around and arch back into a bridge, then whip my legs forward so I’m standing again.

And he watches it all with rapt attention. Like he sees beneath the mask I’m putting on.

I grab onto the pole and back hook spin. Dropping onto my knees, I crawl towards him—right to the edge of the stage, getting as close to him as possible. I make sure to swing my hips out and give him a perfect view of my ass, bared by my G-string. His hands visibly clench, causing veins to pop out on his arms, and he adjusts himself in the seat. And it almost looks like he’s trying to keep himself glued to it.

This time, I do hear the low hum of cheering.

Xander scans every man watching my performance, looking like he might just kill anyone in this club.

A subtle grin forms on my face. The act alone shouldn’t cause heat to rush between my legs, but it does. I should be inwardly cursing myself right now for allowing my stupid brain to be fooled by this magnetic pull.

He’s no different from anyone else. He’s probably looking for a quick fuck and nothing else.

And I can't figure out why the thought of that stings more than anything.

I become too aware of Xander watching me. Too aware of what I’m doing in front of everyone.

Dirty. Used. Inappropriate.

Threats from Luke over the last week all come flooding back in, making me almost lose grip on the pole.

The song ends, making me breathe out a sigh of relief. Money flies onto the stage, and I do everything to avert my eyes from Xander.

I plaster on a fake, flirty grin and do my best sexy bow for the audience. All the while aware of Xander still sitting there, not moving a muscle. The outline of a gun in his pocket grinning at me.

That’s not happening again. I need to keep my distance from him.

I don’t know whose bright idea it was to indulge him, but it definitely wasn’t mine. And it was definitely not the guarded Camila.

Can you blame me for wanting a reprieve from my old life? For wanting to break away and fantasise about what it would be like to have that all-consuming love with someone who only has eyes on you and would never dream of hurting you?

“Fucking shit,” I choke out when I reach the dressing room.

I thank the high heavens that it’s empty at this time of night because I don’t think I can hold a single tear in any longer.