Read Positive for Free Online Page B

cola in front of
him and he slid the money toward her.
    "Hey," Mercedes whispered in his ear. He turned
and smiled. She wore only a thong and smelled like honey. His eyes
settled on her breasts, her skin shiny with baby oil.
    "Can I buy you a drink?" he asked, still
staring at her chest. His jeans felt tight.
    She shook her head. "I don't drink on the job."
The bartender slid her a glass of soda and she sipped from the
straw, leaving a dark red kiss on the tip. "I can think of other
things you can buy, though," Mercedes said.
    Victor followed her to the Champagne Room. He
sat down in the dark. A moment later, lights low like candlelight
during a blackout came on. She stood in front of him, her long hair
covering her breasts. "What would you like tonight?"
    He sighed and put his drink down on the end
table. "I just wanna talk," he said, adjusting his
jeans.
    "Talk?" she repeated, glancing down at his fly.
"That's it?"
    "For now." He straightened in his chair and
laced his hands behind his head. "But you can dance, if you'd
like." She stepped closer to him and began to sway her hips. "And
maybe move your hair," he added.
    She smiled. "That's more like the Vic I know."
She brushed her hair over her shoulders and swayed a little faster,
like a hula girl. "So what do you want to talk about?"
    "My girlfriend," he said without blinking, his
eyes locked on her body. "It's like we're strangers at
home."
    "I ain't no therapist," she said, lowering the
straps of her thong.
    He held up a hand. "Just dance." She shrugged
and placed each of her hands on his knees, her breasts hanging
inches from his face. "We've lived together for two years. I wanna
ask her to marry me."
    "Then what the hell are you doing here?"
Mercedes laughed. Her lips brushed against the stubble on his
cheek, and a hot chill ran down his spine.
    He swallowed hard and stared into her eyes. "I
think you know why." He tightened his intertwined fingers behind
his head until his knuckles ached. "She won't talk to me," he
continued. "She lost her job."
    "Maybe she's depressed," Mercedes said, and sat
down on his lap. She ground her body against his and he inhaled
sharply.
    "We need to slow down," he said. She laughed.
His locked fingers tightened behind his head until his fingertips
began to numb. "I can't do this while I talk about her."
    She sighed and caressed his cheek. "Then why
are you here?" She touched the zipper of his fly.
    "I just want to talk," he said, his voice
getting louder. "I love her."
    Mercedes laughed, then stopped at the sound of
small knuckles rapping on the wooden door. She stood and flitted to
it, opening it a crack. "Yeah?"
    * * * * *
    Ingrid rolled her
eyes. She would be back
here , she thought. "I need the room.
Time's up."
    Mercedes smirked.
"I have a client. A regular ."
    Ingrid took a
deep breath. "Most of my regulars are sitting around Stage Two, waiting for me to
come back." She pushed against the door, but Mercedes held
it.
    "I was here first," Mercedes said, and slammed
the door.
    Ingrid stood in the hall, her blood pounding in
her ears. She bit down on her lip and turned to her own
client.
    * * * * *
    David's key turned in the lock, and Josalee sat
up straighter on the couch. He led Wes into the living room. "Jo,"
he said, forcing a smile. "You're home." He took Wes's hand and
started toward the stairs.
    "David," she said, and stood. She pressed her
lips together and wrapped her arms around herself, her eyes
wide.
    He stopped, one hand frozen on the banister,
the other still loosely holding Wes's hand. "Yeah?"
    She glanced from David to Wes, then locked eyes
with David. "I have to talk to you," she said. She felt like her
voice came from a blown out speaker.
    "Okay," he said. "I'll be down in a while." He
grinned at Wes.
    "I need to talk
to you now ." She
felt the tears surge down her cheeks, and she wiped them
away.
    David stared at her, and the color drained from
his face. He turned to Wes and opened his mouth, but nothing came
out.
    Wes