The Secrets of Sin Book 2

Mari

It’s the day of the grand reopening of The Bunny, and Brittany and I have decided to get ready here, just me and her.

The new house still feels new to us, even though we’ve had it for a while.

I’m always finding things to change around and update... like right now the backyard is being redone. Although, Benny is in charge of that. That’s his space.

In the house, we’ve fallen in love with the master suite. I have had a vanity built into the walk-in closet.

I have all my stage makeup stored in small compartments and a ring light on my desk for the best possible light.

Brittany is helping me blend out my makeup to perfection. It feels just like old times.

This time is just for us.

The feeling of faux hair swishing around my waist sends a shiver of excitement down my spine.

This is the longest I’ve been away from the stage. Tonight’s opening night, and that means we are back. Finally!

I may have fallen over a couple of times practicing yesterday, but tonight, I feel like I’m ready for anything with Brittany by my side.

She’s filled so many roles for me: sister, mentor, friend, backbone, and my biggest supporter since the moment we first met. I feel kind of emotional just thinking about everything she’s done for me.

“You know I couldn’t have done any of this without you,” I say. “You’re my best friend.”

Brittany flushes with emotion. Her hand falls onto my shoulder, and she smiles at me in the reflection of the mirror.

“I love you, Mari.” Her voice cracks a little at the end, and she tries to hide it. “Look at you, getting all sentimental over a strip club.”

Brittany is one of the strongest people in my life. I can count on two fingers how many times I’ve seen her cry.

Her skin is thick, even though her heart, for those of us lucky enough to know her best, runs deep.

“If only your younger self could see you now,” she says.

This time we both laugh, thinking about how I was so afraid to start dancing. How long it took for me to try on stage clothes. All the blisters from training that I thought would kill me.

If that fresh-faced girl could see everything we’ve accomplished, I don’t think she would have cried herself to sleep so many nights.

“You know you’re technically my boss now. It’s not like you’ve done nothing for me,” she says.

“Glad I could repay you in some way, even if it meant becoming your boss,” I tease. She smiles and attacks my face with eyeliner.

Her eyes are already made up like emeralds. Her signature green that really makes them pop against her red hair.

“Foxxy and Sin, on stage again,” I say with a happy sigh as she paints my face.

Our outfits for the night are hanging on the back of the bathroom door, ready for us to put on when we’re done with our makeup.

Mine is a silky white slip with crimson lace and my favorite platform pumps to match. I had my whole wardrobe customized just for me; each piece of fabric altered to hug every one of my curves.

Just as I’m applying the finishing touch of my red lips, I hear the sound of a rock rattle my bedroom window.

Brittany is already on her guard. If there are kids out there throwing things, she’ll make sure they never do it again.

I push back the net curtain and look down at the street outside.

Brittany’s eyes widen, and mine do, too.

There’s a huge fudging red limousine outside and Erik, Ben, Ross, and Stevie are waiting there, wearing their best clothes and smiles as wide as I’ve ever seen.

Our boys are dressed to the nines in tailored suits. Aside from my wedding, this is the fanciest they’ve ever looked.

“Oh my gosh!” I fawn.

“A limo?” Brittany says in shock.

We quickly pull on our clothes and step into our heels. Then we run downstairs and burst out the front door in pure joy.

“Boys! I can’t believe you did this!” I gush. They stand in a row with these grins, so proud of themselves and pulling this off.

Ben scoops me into his arms and kisses me.

“A little surprise. Only the best for his little sister on opening night,” Ben says, peeking over at Erik.

I smile at Erik as I walk over to hug him.

“Bubba, you did this for me?”

“Well yeah, of course. This was all my idea.” Brittany pops him in the back of the head with her open hand. The rest of the guys chuckle.

Erik’s face tenses and he makes a larger than needed step away from his girlfriend. He raises his hands in surrender.

“Okay. Okay. Okay.” He clears his throat and looks down at me. I see the sincerity behind his eyes.

“I haven’t always been supportive when I should have been. I’ve never been on board with what you do, baby sister.

“But I wanted to make sure you started your first night as a business owner without a shred of doubt on where I stand now.”

He closes the space between us and pulls me into a deep hug. “I promise, I’ve always got your back. Opinions locked up. Just support from now on,” he whispers in my ear.

I can’t even express how happy his words make me. We’ve all come so far.

Before we pull away, I tell him how much I love him, too. Then I let him go so he can make his way back to Brittany.

They share a moment. She gives him a grateful hug while I’m about to smudge my makeup with the tears welling up in my eyes.

I love that he wants to be supportive of me now, even though it hasn’t always been that way.

Ross opens the door to the limo and we all step in.

The smell of the leather interior hits me as Stevie pours us champagne.

I feel like a million dollars. I won’t drink now, but I am in love with this moment.

I want to keep it. Lock it up and honeymoon here.

My whole family is right here and everyone is happier than ever before.

There’s nothing else to bother with. No secrets or hidden agendas.

We’re all living for this moment together. I don’t ever wanna forget it.

Taking my phone from my clutch, I ask everyone to squeeze in and smile. Not a single person complains, and I manage to snap a good picture right as we pull up to the club.

My stomach is in knots.

Guests are waiting to get in, looking lively and ready to see what’s on for the night.

The limo parks and our little gang gets out. We are greeted by flashing cameras and reporters asking questions.

Ben gallantly holds his hand out for me to step onto the scene as the last to exit. I feel like Marilyn Monroe in all her sinful glamour.

With everyone looking at us, I feel I have made the right choice finally.

I’ve second-guessed myself a hundred and a half times over. But now, I can feel the pressure loosen from around my neck and drop off my shoulders.

From here on out, Sin knows just what to do. I take Ben’s arm and Brittany takes Erik’s with Ross and Stevie at each side. We claim our moment in the sun.

As we walk up to the club, the whole line starts to clap like we are more than hometown celebrities.

Sin shines under the lights.

I cling to Ben’s arm and we exchange a smile, the smile of two people who love one another.

We follow the gold carpet inside.

Lady Wynter is already there. She insisted on no ribbon cutting.

The Silky Bunny is still her baby. She is still my partner and a mentor to me, so I agreed.

We all stroll into the club and up to the bar. This is where I will leave the boys for most of the night, while Brittany and I go backstage. I’m sure they will enjoy their night.

Lady Wynter is over the moon with everything. She is orchestrating the last details, stopping every so often to explain how much she loves all of us.

The girls are all running around backstage. The air is electric with excitement as we all prepare for our stage time.

Brittany, Star, Raven, and I fall back into what comes naturally. We talk and sing, just enjoying each other’s company again.

And then the show begins.

***

I take a minute to peek out from behind the curtain.

Brittany is on stage now. I’m up next and I’ve got butterflies as I watch her. She’s still so amazing in everything she does.

Money is raining down around her as she spins. It’s like something out of a movie, the bills almost flashing in the bright stage lights.

Brittany’s song comes to an end, and I hear the roar of fans cheering. The green rain continues pouring down, flurry after flurry.

I want to pat myself on the back for thinking of hiring baggers. Sometimes, we make so much that we can’t grab it all up and keep the show going.

A lot of nights, we chat with the guys at the stage and flirt while picking up the cash. But tonight, we need the extra hands.

The baggers snap into action and start the cleanup.

Brittany slips off stage, her face lit up with a huge smile.

“They are loving it out there,” she says, beaming.

I adjust my dress and take a deep breath. Just like every time before.

Now, it’s my turn.

Sin’s turn.

The DJ calls out for the crowd to pull themselves together for the deadliest sinner on this side of heaven’s gates. The walls buzz and rumble from the audience.

Everyone is being slammed from all angles as the stage is swarmed. I’m reminded of how grateful I am for the guards.

The music starts and I pull back the curtain. I can’t let them wait any longer.

I feel my power over the crowd as I strut onto the stage. The lights center on me.

I love seeing the red, white, and gold strobe. It makes me feel like I’m truly casting a spell.

I timed everything just right.

At the snap of my fingers, I move like the stage is an extension of my body.

My hips tease the slip of the fabric that rolls from my body in a rush before I hit the brakes and roll the last few yards of fabric the rest of the way down to my ankles.

I twirl when I’m done, throwing my dress to a man in the front row before I bend over with my butt to the face of the crowd, looking over my shoulder as I twerk it at them.

My red satin lingerie is perfect and gives them the view they’ve all been waiting for. My hands touch my ankles.

The man just off to my right meets my eyes, and I send him a wink and blow a kiss.

I’m back in my element.

The crowd is yelling and clapping. They’d started throwing money before I even come out, but now it’s a crazy green wave.

People are standing up, cheering me on, and chanting my name.

“Sin!”

The house is exploding in pandemonium. I give the front row a purr as I flip from the pole in a strut. Waiting until I have them begging for me.

I flash a devilish look as I drop into a split.

I eat up everyone’s cheers, all their love, wishes, and praises.

I’ve missed this.

Ben

Goddamn, I’m a lucky man.

I watch my wife perform as the whole crowd goes insane for her. The place is packed to the walls.

I look around, trying to keep the scowl off my face as they yell and throw cash.

That’s my wife, assholes.

But also, I’m so fucking proud of my girl. I support her. And I also can’t help but scowl.

It’s all I can do to control myself, seeing all these men watching my perfect ass and juicy thighs, ~my~ tits bouncing in the red satin underwear I helped pick out.

Goddamn it, those are for me!

They’re still watching, and she’s still shaking her ass and looking out over the crowd seductively like she wants to fuck everyone in sight. My girl’s got talent.

I know that she’s acting, but she’s so good at this shit, I almost believe it, too.

I need to calm down.

I take a sip of the bottle in my hand. I can’t nurse my ego too much; can’t numb the senses. I don’t want to, really.

I’m just conflicted as all hell. On one hand, I want to pummel every fuck-face loser in here for even breathing in the same room as my girl.

And on the other hand, I’m so proud of her for the control she has over them. My kitten is the best in the business.

I try my hardest to look elsewhere. If I watch her for too long, I know what will happen. I’ll go full caveman and claim what’s mine.

There are lots of faces here. I know a wide chunk of them from around town. But there are also a lot of strangers.

There’s one guy on the other side of the stage whose facial expression is making me want to—

No. I can’t beat the shit out of him.

I don’t know if it’s just that I’m wound up watching this or if he really is looking at her way too intensely.

I can’t go caveman. I can’t let Beast out. I am not a Neanderthal. Not tonight.

I watch his eyes scan her body, and there’s a smirk on his face I don’t like at all.

I’ll smash every single goddamn tooth out of his fucking mouth.

I can’t place him. I know the type all too well, though. The hair. The face tattoos. The grimy fucking look on his face.

You know what? He looks like a methed-out Jesse Pinkman. I’d say Jesse mixed with some Skinny Pete.

It’s all too clear to me that he’s seen the wrong end of a few fists and smoked a little too much battery acid. The Dude’s friend. There’s a scar through his left eyebrow that digs into his ear.

A scar like that is made by getting your shit split open. A few times. And not seeing anyone who knows anything about stitching it up.

He’d better be careful, or I’ll be the next one to give him a scar. One right over his fucking tombstone.

Too bad Mari hired all these professional bouncers.

I don’t mean them any disrespect; they’re all good dudes. Mari made sure to take my opinion on all of them before she and Lady Wynter made their final picks. I even recommended a few.

I would love a chance to beat the brakes off this clown, though.

But I know she’d hit the roof if I started anything in her club on opening night. I can’t upstage my girl. Especially when she looks like that.

Jesus fucking Christ, she’s giving me a boner.

Yep. There it is. More than a semi.

I shouldn’t have worn these slacks. I’m about to rip a seam. I need some air. I can’t force him down if I keep looking at my girl’s ass like that.

Oh, she’s getting it tonight.

Am I happy that she’s showing everything to everyone? Well, no, of course, I’m not.

Do I wish she would give this up so I could keep her home and safe, and sooner rather than later put my baby in her? Of course, I fucking do.

I can’t lie and say a part of me thought that now we’d found each other she wouldn’t want this life anymore.

I know she loves it and I love this side of her. It’s just hard to not claim what’s mine.

And believe me. Sin is all damn mine.

But this isn’t about me. I’m here to support her, and I will be until she’s ready.

My fists and my jaw are clenching involuntarily. My face is probably red from holding it together.

I need to get outside. Mr. Face Tattoos is still staring at Mari. It’s got my blood boiling. I can’t take it anymore.

I make my way through the crowd and out of the door to the parking lot.

The cool air hits me and instantly makes me relax a little. My cock finally lets out a sigh and starts to deflate.

Thank you, God.

I was losing circulation between my cock and the seam of my slacks were starting to rip.

It’s best I don’t watch my wife dancing too often. I’ll have a stroke or explode from blue balls. And not in a good way.

“Hey, ass-face, what are you doing out here?”

It’s Erik

“Probably the same as you. It’s, uh, hard watching my wife dance.”

Pun intended.

“It hasn’t gotten old yet?” Erik sneers, showing disgust.

“What? Fucking your sister? Nope.” The hardy-har-har that rings from his frowning lips is all too sweet.

“The worst part of you two being together is I gotta hear your fat mouth.”

We both take the piss out of one another.

“You know who loves my fat mouth?” I say.

He starts shaking his head. “Don’t you do it. Don’t you fucking say it. I swear to god, Ben. Don’t you fucking say it.”

I take all the pleasure in the world as I say, “Your sister!”

I can’t even tell you how long I’ve been waiting for this. I’ve wanted Mari since we were kids. I never thought I’d actually be enough for the woman of my dreams.

Now I’ve got her locked in. It’s a cherry on top for me that I get to pick on Erik about it.

We’re just shooting the shit and letting off some steam.

“It’s bad, sure, seeing your girl up there. But what’s worse than seeing your sister on stage?” he jokes back.

He’s right. And I thought I was having it rough. I laugh out loud at his misery. “Okay, you win this time.”

We cool down, and my eyes drift around the parking lot.

I see a couple in the middle of a fight. The sorry son of a bitch gets slapped across his face.

“Dude’s girlfriend must not be a fan of Sin,” Erik says.

But when the guy recoils from the slap, his jacket hits the wind and I spy a holster on his belt.

Shit.

No weapons are ever allowed in the club. Ever.

This strikes a nerve. Erik must have seen it too. I hear the sigh.

“I just… I want to support them,” he says, talking about Brittany and Mari. “But it doesn’t seem safe, a whole club full of men looking at them…”

“Assholes like that,” I say. We nod in agreement.

We’re trying. We’re really trying.

“No shit. I hate to see them here. I can’t control who sees them and if they’re safe,” Erik says.

“We’re all on the same side,” I say, repeating what we’ve talked about a thousand times before.

This isn’t about us. It’s about her.

For once.

As Brittany keeps reminding us, “she wouldn’t have bought half the club if she didn’t want this.”

Erik nods in agreement. “She’s too good for this world. I want to make her see that she’s too good but how do I do that without looking like a dick?”

You can’t. You tried. Remember?

Mari

I finish on the floor, breathing hard from dancing and from the adrenaline of performing.

The crowd bursts into applause as the song ends and I walk around doing short bursts of meet and greets.

The show is put on pause for the baggers to collect the stacks of money I’ve raked in tonight.

Brittany comes out to the floor to meet me and flashes me a triumphant smile when she sees how much money there is still. All of us girls are out on the floor.

Lady Wynter is also here, chatting everyone up. The drinks are pouring all around us.

I declined to have any tonight. I need to be at my best. My books are filling up fast, prepaid with tips already added.

I’m on cloud nine, so psyched that the opening is going well. I honestly can’t complain. Everything’s running so smoothly.

I want to just slip away for a few minutes so I can get something to drink and eat, and take a second to check in with Ben.

He must be around somewhere. Strange, where is he?

I thought he’d be waiting closer to me. Pushing his way through to me, even.

Star grabs my attention, hooking her arm with mine and Brittany’s. “I am starving!” she exclaims.

We seize our moment and sneak off backstage to munch down on anything we can get our hands on.

We load our plates full of finger foods and devour every last bite. We gulp down water as if we’re camels in the desert.

When I’m done, I change my outfit, trading my platform pumps for chunky wedges, my satin lingerie for a corset, and a pair of cheeky shorts.

My makeup is still sitting right.

I tuck my hair behind my ears and even swap out my baby pink pearl studs for a pair of red dangly ones.

I sneak a peek from behind the curtain, still anxiously looking for Ben. I would hate to bother any of the guards for help. They have more important things to do besides helping me find my husband.

He is here. I can find him on my own.

I slip outside through the back door, and suddenly, I feel a chilly hand gripping above my elbow, pulling me back.

I know from the very first second that the person touching me is not Ben.

My stomach flips. I don’t mean to but I gasp in shock.

When I snap my neck to see who has grabbed me, I’m all stunned to realize this stranger has backed me into a corner.

He moves so fast, I don’t notice he’s doing.

With my eyes on him, I freeze. My Mari side is paralyzed.

But Sin knows how to handle this.

This isn’t the first time someone has broken the rules and touched me without my consent.

I know what to do. I am not a little girl anymore.