Read Online Brought the Stars to You by J. E. Keep, M. Keep - Free Book Online
Authors: J. E. Keep, M. Keep
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tense.
Rarely did he visit the dancers directly, and when he did it was
never for any good reason as far as they were concerned. He examined
the women, a bulbous headed guard at his side as the manager,
Kro'gier, searched for someone--or something-- in particular.
Ardanna kept her head down and her face straight ahead into her
locker, flicking through her selection of outfits with a frown. He'd
seen all of these. She turned as if to ask another dancer a question
before her lips slapped shut at the sight of the manager, her body
visibly shrinking into itself as she spun back to her locker.
She wasn't dressed yet. She should be ready by now, she told
herself, hoping not to get scolded. Kieren was spending good cash
here. She shouldn't keep him waiting. She shut her eyes, selecting
the navy blue and gold outfit in a hurry.
Arms clasped behind his back, Kro'gier nodded towards Ardanna.
Unfurling his hands to point at her specifically for the body guard's
attention. Tromping over to her, the big headed guard brushed one of
his three-fingered hands against her arm and then gestured towards
the manager, who was already leaving the room. Her eyes widened,
looking up at him with confusion. "Wh--" she was cut off by
an odd grunting noise that indicated his impatience.
No dancer met her eyes as she was guided out, outfit still in
hand, her body sheathed only in a slim fitting, pale yellow nightgown
that ended just below her ample bottom. Her feet were still bare.
The guard led her back through the maze of service hallways, where
dancers and other staff traversed the club out of view of the
clientele. Finally he brought her to a room she had never been
before, opened it up and gestured her inside.
It was large and only lightly decorated, though it had an air of
high quality, with a lavish blue sickle sofa sat in one corner, a
mini dance floor with pole in the opposing one, and a private bar
along a wall. The manager stood at one end of the bar, tall and stiff
as usual, watching and waiting for her.
She offered him a dainty curtsey, speaking to the floor, "Sir?"
Her voice was light and airy, but tinged with worry that perhaps she
had done something wrong, or that something bad was destined to
happen. Besides, Kieren was supposed to meet her soon; she didn't
want to keep him waiting.
The manager stalked forward a few steps, eying her up with a
scrutinizing gaze, head tilting as he started to encircle her. He
didn't say anything for a long time before finally he cut in with his
droning, formal voice, "You've become quite the little earner.
Top grossing dancer for us in the whole club now."
Her face was relaxed into the look of practiced calm, "There
is a particular gentleman that enjoys my company, Sir. He's expected
again tonight. Is that why I'm here?"
"I see," he intoned, as if he was somehow disappointed
in her explanation. Reaching out he carefully lifted her gown off her
shoulder an inch or so before letting it go, "You're intact
still, I trust. Our records show that you should be. And don't bother
lying, it would be found out quite quickly."
"Of course, Sir," and her voice was low, even though she
spoke truthfully. Her mind went back to the time with Kieren, to how
much she'd desired him. How close she had been to losing everything
she had for him and her face heated.
"Good," he said, the droning voice of his making even
his pleased tone sound somehow disappointed.
"Your usual client will have to wait. Tonight the club is
getting a very," he stressed that word, giving her a dark gaze,
"important client. An Admiral with the Union fleet, in fact. And
much more than that, a big connection for the Undermarket here on
this world. Pleasing him will be good for not only the club, but our
owner's operations throughout not just the planet, but the whole of
this sector of Union space." He stared at her a while, as if he
had just wasted his time explaining something complicated to a
dullard who didn't grasp it. "Do you understand
Rarely did he visit the dancers directly, and when he did it was
never for any good reason as far as they were concerned. He examined
the women, a bulbous headed guard at his side as the manager,
Kro'gier, searched for someone--or something-- in particular.
Ardanna kept her head down and her face straight ahead into her
locker, flicking through her selection of outfits with a frown. He'd
seen all of these. She turned as if to ask another dancer a question
before her lips slapped shut at the sight of the manager, her body
visibly shrinking into itself as she spun back to her locker.
She wasn't dressed yet. She should be ready by now, she told
herself, hoping not to get scolded. Kieren was spending good cash
here. She shouldn't keep him waiting. She shut her eyes, selecting
the navy blue and gold outfit in a hurry.
Arms clasped behind his back, Kro'gier nodded towards Ardanna.
Unfurling his hands to point at her specifically for the body guard's
attention. Tromping over to her, the big headed guard brushed one of
his three-fingered hands against her arm and then gestured towards
the manager, who was already leaving the room. Her eyes widened,
looking up at him with confusion. "Wh--" she was cut off by
an odd grunting noise that indicated his impatience.
No dancer met her eyes as she was guided out, outfit still in
hand, her body sheathed only in a slim fitting, pale yellow nightgown
that ended just below her ample bottom. Her feet were still bare.
The guard led her back through the maze of service hallways, where
dancers and other staff traversed the club out of view of the
clientele. Finally he brought her to a room she had never been
before, opened it up and gestured her inside.
It was large and only lightly decorated, though it had an air of
high quality, with a lavish blue sickle sofa sat in one corner, a
mini dance floor with pole in the opposing one, and a private bar
along a wall. The manager stood at one end of the bar, tall and stiff
as usual, watching and waiting for her.
She offered him a dainty curtsey, speaking to the floor, "Sir?"
Her voice was light and airy, but tinged with worry that perhaps she
had done something wrong, or that something bad was destined to
happen. Besides, Kieren was supposed to meet her soon; she didn't
want to keep him waiting.
The manager stalked forward a few steps, eying her up with a
scrutinizing gaze, head tilting as he started to encircle her. He
didn't say anything for a long time before finally he cut in with his
droning, formal voice, "You've become quite the little earner.
Top grossing dancer for us in the whole club now."
Her face was relaxed into the look of practiced calm, "There
is a particular gentleman that enjoys my company, Sir. He's expected
again tonight. Is that why I'm here?"
"I see," he intoned, as if he was somehow disappointed
in her explanation. Reaching out he carefully lifted her gown off her
shoulder an inch or so before letting it go, "You're intact
still, I trust. Our records show that you should be. And don't bother
lying, it would be found out quite quickly."
"Of course, Sir," and her voice was low, even though she
spoke truthfully. Her mind went back to the time with Kieren, to how
much she'd desired him. How close she had been to losing everything
she had for him and her face heated.
"Good," he said, the droning voice of his making even
his pleased tone sound somehow disappointed.
"Your usual client will have to wait. Tonight the club is
getting a very," he stressed that word, giving her a dark gaze,
"important client. An Admiral with the Union fleet, in fact. And
much more than that, a big connection for the Undermarket here on
this world. Pleasing him will be good for not only the club, but our
owner's operations throughout not just the planet, but the whole of
this sector of Union space." He stared at her a while, as if he
had just wasted his time explaining something complicated to a
dullard who didn't grasp it. "Do you understand
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