He told me to feel it. The beat in my head, the sway of the rhythm that would carry my body as I writhed and twisted. I was sure he had no idea that was how I danced up on the podium, that I barely even heard the terrible dance music they played any more. But I knew the beat, knew how to move to keep time with it – every track was pretty much identical to the one that preceded it anyway. Though I had no pole in the plush, but simply furnished, room, and I couldn't help but feel that my baby pink choice of outfit didn't quite go with the décor.

There I was, worrying about the aesthetics of the scene in front of me when I knew, deep down, that I was still going to dance for the man. The avaricious wanted the extra money that this night could earn me, so why was I stalling? I took a deep breathe and smiled my assent.

Leon, however, didn't seem to have been concerned that I might turn him down at this last moment. Once he caught my curving of lips he strolled across the deep, wine coloured carpet and sank into the very centre of the love-seat, arms stretched out either side across its back; the absolute picture of inviting relaxation. Awaiting and expectant he watched me...

I closed my eyes for a moment while I imagined the beat, felt it thrum through my body making my nerves tingle and my blood sing. A held breath ghosted out in a delicate sigh as I felt myself be swept off on the music that didn't really play. My body took over control once more and I could see myself, as if from outside of my body. Saw my hips start to sway, undulating to some invisible rhythm to which the rest of me soon followed. Moving in serpentine undulations, I danced in, what I hoped was, a provocative manner. Eyes hooded and lips, still bright with the lip-stain I'd applied earlier, pouting and parted in a sultry expression. I danced as if I were a predator trying to lure my prey closer with an enticing display, eyes fixed firmly with Leon's intent grey gaze. Dancing to entice him, to please him.

All feeling of nerves and self-consciousness seemed to have been washed away, or at least lay dormant for the time being. The way he looked at me was purely animalistic, and yet it didn't frighten me. On the contrary it made me feel powerful; awakening something primal inside me I'd not felt in a long time, and it was hungry.

I could make him want me, and I would with my dance, but I had the control. He'd do what I said he could and only that or he wouldn't be welcome back again, and at the end of it all I'd have the money too; nothing to be concerned about right? It was a nice little illusion.

Trouble was Leon intrigued me a little more than he should have. I loved the way he watched me as I moved. The look he wore painted on anyone else's face would have made me blush and run for cover, but from this handsome man I'd only just met it was thrilling; and I'd dance all the harder just to see it for a little longer.

I felt rather honoured that he had picked me above the other girls. I was sure to be the object of jealousy, a pompous little voice inside my head whispered; to have such a gorgeous and appealing client seek you out, particularly when you considered the brand of clientèle that usually graced the grimy walls of the club.

I grew braver in my motions, spurred on by this voice and the hunger that burned inside me. I danced across the floor towards him; never thought I'd ever have the bottle to give a lap dance when the pole had been challenge enough, but my brain was not doing any of the thinking at that moment.

He beckoned me to him and I went with an eagerness that I knew was foolish, but I didn't care. Even my walk was all sashays and swinging hips to where I stopped with one stocking clad leg either side of his thighs, looking down into grey eyes. I didn't move and in watching the anticipation grow in his gaze I felt the power rush again. He raised his hands and traced them up above my thighs to my hips, close enough to my flesh that I could feel the heat from his palms without ever actually touching. My breath caught in my chest. It was incredible how exhilarating the warmth of his body felt when it hadn't even been a real caresses, heightened by the knowledge that he wanted to touch but he would behave. He knew the rules.

"May I?" He asked, in a low, growling tone that made me shiver.

He needed no more explanation, I knew exactly what it was he was asking and I nodded in reply; lips parted in anticipation of his touch. We both seemed to move in unison. I felt him dance fingers, in feather light touches, over the bare skin of my thighs just as I lifted myself onto the loveseat so that I was almost sitting in his lap; touching only where our legs met.

"We have managed to lose our nerves then I see." He breathed to me, fingers still dancing softly along my skin raising goosebumps in their wake.

"For now, though to stop and talk too long may encourage them to return."

"Well now that we can't have." Leon replied, the delicate dance of fingers becoming the smooth glide of palms. "You danced beautifully for me, just how I wished it."

"And what do you wish from me now?" I asked him, not at all sure of what he might ask, or whether, in the mindset I was in at that moment, I would refuse him anything.

"I think, perhaps, nothing more for tonight; you showed me exactly what I wished for. I do however have one request I would make of you, for another time."

"And what is that?" I knew my tone sounded suspicious, but I really was more curious than anything else and enamoured even more so that he had not asked anything more of me on my first foray into this part of my job. I could even go so far as to say I believed him to be a gentleman.

"That you join me for dinner tomorrow night." Was his simple reply.

I have to admit, his words surprised me, he wanted a date? It was unexpected to say the very least. Then, of course, I also had to wonder whether he made a habit of going around and picking up strippers to take out for meals, or was it just me? No probably not just me.

However, I had to admit that I liked him. He was pleasing on the eye and not overly bad company judging from that one meeting. Plus, he'd just paid me a large chunk of money for this reasonably innocent little show of exotic dancing and a touch of light caressing; could I really refuse him an offer to buy me dinner? Well yes, I supposed I could, but I'd probably feel mean about it.

"Um, okay. I suppose so."

"You could sound a little more enthusiastic Sarah." He said with a warm smile that lit up all of his soft features.

"Sorry, it just was not what I was expecting I suppose. Yes I would gladly join you for dinner Leon. Where will you be taking me?"

"Call it a surprise." He said.

"But how will I know what to wear?"

"As long as it is not one of your 'costumes' for work I'm sure anything you pick out will be fine." He replied suddenly picking me up out of his lap and setting me down onto floor with ease.

I nodded, "I take it that means you'll be picking me up then?"

"Of course, if you will let me have your address, I shall pick you up tomorrow night at seven."

And so I did. I'll admit to being a little embarrassed by the idea of this handsome, young and obviously wealthy man seeing my dingy little apartment, but I couldn't very well change where I was living and after all it was just for the time I spent at University; necessity more than anything he was sure to understand, gentleman that he was.

Yeah, even I was left wondering how long it would take for him to prove me, and all my trusting gestures, wrong.