“Don’t barf.” Jade hurriedly grabbed my hand. “We’ve all done it, and it’s not so bad when you get up there,” she reassured me as I fought to keep my breakfast down.
“Yeah, the only intimidating part is that Jason will be watching,” Sarah added, which earned a glare from Kitty and Jade. “But no one ever really sees him.”
Jason would be there? A pit formed in my stomach as I remembered him on the stage weeks ago. He seemed… different. And while I wanted to protest his attendance, another part of me wished for it, just to see him again.
SEVEN
I cringedwith no intention of hiding it; I hoped they would take pity and let me off the hook. Instead, they declared ‘showtime’ and ushered me to the backroom.
A few other Cherries pitched in with the extensive prep-work. Everyone seemed excited to witness my transformation from grimy trainee to pristine Cherry. They dried the wet mop of hair on my head and curled every unruly strand while repainting my chipped nails which I had been biting since middle school, an unfortunate habit.
They applied makeup I’d never even heard of and insisted on lipstick, something I rarely dared to pull off. But after all the fuss, I felt forced to admit that the Cherries were entirely too skilled with eyeliner. No one should bethatgood at making a cat eye look. If the wings were any sharper, I could cut someone. But I didn’t complain; I admired it until Jade led me to the dressing rooms.
She handed me the black lace set she prepared especially for me and a pair of golden stilettos. I stared at the stilts she expected me to wear, sweat already beading on my neck.Does no one around here wear flats?
“Relax, you’re only going to be in them for ten minutes.” She said it like that could make me feel better. Likeanythingcould make me feel better at this point.
“The rest of the time, you’re going to be naked.” Kitty joined us and decided to make my nerves skyrocket to new heights.
I shut the curtain on them but groaned so they could hear my discomfort with their ritual. I took my time putting on the simple panties and bralette Jade gave me; the longer I stalled, the more time I had to form an escape plan.
My nipples were visible through the fabric, a deliberate design flaw by Jade, as I opened the curtain to show the girls.
Sarah, who joined the other two after getting out of the shower, whistled.
Kitty applauded, “You did it again, Jade.”
“It’s a gift.” Jade bowed before checking her watch. “It’s time.”It’s time to throw up.
Entering the main room sent a panic attack through every part of my body; over thirty Cherries started congregating in front of the stage. Kitty walked beside me while Jade and Sarah looked for space to stand, after making several ill-formed ‘wet zone’ jokes.
A wide selection of toys was laid out on a table next to a mattress.
“Do I have to use all of them?” I asked, swallowing hard. I’d be up here for ages.
“No,” Kitty responded, “but you get to keep the ones you do, so usually we have a long show.”
I nodded despite my instinct to create a distraction and disappear into the chaos. At my old job, I could sneak in and out of the office without attracting attention to myself. But that wasn’t possible at Pink Cherrie. I had, on some lonely nights, fantasied about having an audience, but not like this. It was so real, all at once.
Kitty caught on, “Just close your eyes and pretend you’re at home.”
Easier said than done.When she left, I stood alone on the stage in ridiculously high heels. I couldn’t swallow the panic forming in my throat. I remembered every nightmare about school reports I ever had, and thiswas so much worse. Eventually, the lights dimmed, and I found little relief from that.
I felt the Cherries staring at every inch of my exposed body. From the front of the crowd, I could barely make out Sarah’s blue eyes and her nod.
She gave me the cue,I just needed to move.
I forced a deep breath and unhooked the bralette. As I let it slide off my shoulders and onto the floor, a series of whistles echoed through the crowd. I wouldn’t let myself listen to their whispers while I peeled my feet from the stage floor and laid on the mattress.
Fantasies were one thing, but the reality was startling—and intoxicating. My heart thrummed in my chest, warning me of the panic tightening every muscle in my body. I hadn’t thought it was possible, any of it, but there I was, in front of my coworkers, naked.
My legs were open, and I commended myself for not having a stroke yet. But now the panic had morphed into something different. A familiar heat grew in between my legs, and I forced myself to focus on the sensation of being watched.
No use in pretending they’re not there.I just hoped Jade had forgotten her camera.
I dragged a nail over my thigh with the intent of teasing the crowd. If I had to suffer, so did they. Instead of pulling the panties off in one movement, I moved them an inch at a time. When I was finished, they were still on one ankle. The Cherries and special guest had an unobstructed view of my body glistening underneath the warm stage lights.
Breathe.I stroked myself in tantalizing circles with the goal of creating more pleasure than panic. The feeling of being on display, combined with the unexpected excitement, convinced me to push a finger inside of me and drag it out, over and over.
