Chapter 9

Evelyn held the dressing room door open for Fiona and Laura, a wave of warm light and laughter washing over them as they stepped inside. Lila was perched on a vanity stool, surrounded by the three dancers from the night’s performances. They looked different now, smaller than they appeared on stage, and having changed back into their street clothes.

“Here are our special guests,” said Evelyn, ushering them forward, “Fiona and Laura.” Indicating the three dancers in turn, she introduced them as Alyssa, Nicole, and Ruby. Fiona recognized Alyssa as the emerald dancer, Nicole as the sapphire dancer, and Ruby as the ruby dancer. She smiled to herself, thinking that Ruby had a very fitting name.

“They’re known collectively as The Shimmy Sisters,” Evelyn continued, looking at Fiona and Laura and gesturing towards a couple of chairs. “Although they aren’t sisters in real life.” Turning to the dancers, she said, “Was that okay? I hope I haven’t given a big secret away.”

The Shimmy Sisters exchanged amused glances. “It’s perfectly okay,” said Nicole, smiling. Turning to Fiona and Laura, she said, “I do recognize you two. I remember seeing you in the audience. I hope you liked our performances tonight. You seemed to be enjoying them.”

“I didn’t like your performances,” Fiona replied, “I loved them.” The Shimmy Sisters laughed, the ice well and truly broken. “If I’d seen your first show on TV,” Fiona added, “I’d have suspected a camera trick, the costume changes were so fast. But it happened right there in front of me.”

Alyssa leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees, the fabric of her blouse straining slightly. “What about the second show?” she murmured. “What did you love about that one?”

Laura decided to join the conversation. “The way you moved together. It felt like you were reading each other’s minds. The way you kept us guessing what was under the robes. And the way you controlled the room. Everyone was holding their breath every time a sash slipped.”

“Well, I did tell you there’d be a different kind of show this week,” said Lila, with a smirk. “A special event, not to be missed. You can see now that I wasn’t exaggerating.”

“So that’s what brought you to the club tonight,” said Ruby. “Lila giving us a big build-up.”

“Well, having seen you dance before,” said Lila, “It was easy to give you a big build-up. I knew it would be a shame for them to miss out.”

“But they have never seen us dance,” said Evelyn, turning to Fiona and Laura. “We’ve seen them dance before. Twice actually. Or three times including tonight. But they have never seen us dance. That’s why we offered to give them a private show.”

“And we’re looking forward to it,” said Alyssa. “You’re both renowned burlesque dancers, so we’re keen to see your moves.”

Evelyn exchanged a glance with Lila, silent but charged, a promise flickering between them. “We’d better not keep you waiting then,” Evelyn said. She pointed to a slightly raised platform in a corner of the room, used for costume fittings. “We’ll use that as a stage,” she said. “It’s small, but we can manage okay. Take your chairs over there, and we’ll get our music ready.”

Fiona’s pulse stuttered as Evelyn and Lila moved to the platform, their hips already swaying to a rhythm only they could hear. The Shimmy Sisters leaned in, their earlier professionalism giving way to eager anticipation. Laura’s hand slid onto Fiona’s thigh, fingers pressing just enough to remind her who held control - even here, even now.

The music crackled to life, a slow, sultry jazz number that must have chosen for its teasing potential. Evelyn and Lila mildly surprised the five women watching by not jumping into motion immediately. Instead, they stood on the small platform, waiting, letting the rhythm settle.

Lila was the first into action, moving toward the front of the platform with a burlesque strut, crossing one leg over the other to exaggerate the sway of her hips. As she reached the edge, she pivoted sharply, her long blonde hair flying out, and her dress flaring just enough to tease the hint of thigh, before she retreated, back toward the center of the makeshift stage.

As Lila retreated, Evelyn moved to meet her in the center, her own motion more calculated and serpentine, with a slower, more deliberate but more twisting sway, her actions smooth, and her shoulder length red hair undisturbed. Fiona’s gaze locked onto her hands as they trailed down her own body, and back up again, unhurriedly and suggestively tracing her curves.

As the music dipped into a low, growling bass line, the two dancers came together, turning around to stand back-to-back. Because they appeared to be exactly the same height, they created a seamless silhouette, the crowns of their heads brushing as they arched their necks in unison. They were a mirrored image of poise, two sides of the same coin.

Then, the symmetry broke. Lila turned within the circle of Evelyn’s space, her hands sliding up Evelyn’s silk-clad arms with a slow, deliberate friction. Evelyn tilted her head back, resting it against Lila’s shoulder, her eyes turning to their audience, scanning all five of them, before coming to rest on Fiona. Laura’s grip on Fiona’s thigh tightened possessively.

Evelyn held Fiona’s gaze as Lila’s fingers traced the delicate line of her collarbone, her touch light but deliberate, each movement a silent dare. The Shimmy Sisters let out a collective exhale, their amusement fading into rapt attention. Fiona’s breath hitched as Evelyn’s lips curved into a smirk, her head still tilted back against Lila, her body pliant under Lila’s exploring hands.

Lila’s fingers drifted lower, skimming the dip between Evelyn’s collarbones before sliding beneath the neckline of her dress. The fabric gave just enough to reveal the swell of Evelyn’s breast - a glimpse, nothing more - before Lila pulled her hand away with a teasing flick of her wrist. Evelyn exhaled sharply, her smirk deepening as she straightened, breaking contact to stride toward the edge of the platform. She paused there, one foot poised on the edge, her hips swaying in time with the music’s languid pulse.

Evelyn’s fingers curled around the hem of her dress, lifting it just enough to expose the delicate lace trim of her stockings. She held Fiona’s gaze as she dragged the fabric higher, revealing the taut line of her thigh before letting it drop with a slow, deliberate rustle. The Shimmy Sisters murmured approval - Ruby’s lips parted, Nicole’s fingers twitching against her knee - but Fiona barely registered them. Her world had narrowed to Evelyn’s smirk and the pulse thundering in her ears.

Laura’s fingernails dug into Fiona’s thigh, just shy of painful, as Evelyn pivoted away, letting the dress’s silk whisper against her skin. Lila caught Evelyn’s wrist, spinning her back into the center with a fluid twist that sent Evelyn’s hem flaring higher, flashing a sliver of black lace beneath. The Shimmy Sisters leaned forward in unison, their earlier amusement replaced by something sharper, hungrier.

Lila’s hands slid down Evelyn’s sides, fingers hooking into the delicate straps of her dress, pausing just long enough to make the intention clear, then peeling them down with agonizing slowness. The silk pooled at Evelyn’s elbows, baring her shoulders and the curve of her spine, the fabric catching precariously at her hips. Fiona’s throat went dry. She could see the faint tremor in Evelyn’s fingers, the way her breath shallowed - controlled, but unmistakably affected.

Evelyn’s dress slipped lower, a slow, deliberate descent, until the fabric clung only by the barest friction at her hips. Lila circled her, fingertips trailing across Evelyn’s exposed back, pausing to trace the dimples just above the lace of her panties. Fiona’s breath caught when Evelyn arched into the touch, her body taut as a bowstring, every muscle defined under the dressing room’s warm light.

The dress slipped past Evelyn’s hips, pooling at her feet with a whisper of silk. She stepped out of it with deliberate grace, briefly facing their audience, then turning to face Lila with a smirk that was all challenge. Without breaking eye contact, Evelyn reached for the straps of Lila’s dress, her fingers gripping the fabric firmly, with a possessiveness that mirrored Laura’s grip on Fiona’s thigh.

Evelyn’s smirk sharpened as she tugged just enough to make the straps fall away from Lila’s shoulders. Lila arched an eyebrow, her lips parting in a silent dare, but Evelyn took her time, dragging the straps downward inch by inch, the dress slowly slipping away to reveal the black bra beneath. The Shimmy Sisters watched intently. Fiona felt Laura’s grip tighten further, her nails pressing crescents into Fiona’s skin. A silent reminder of ownership amid the unfolding spectacle.

Lila’s dress fell to her hips. Evelyn let it hang there for a moment, savoring the way Lila’s breath hitched, then hooked her thumbs under the fabric and dragged it down completely. The silk pooled at Lila’s feet, leaving her in nothing but black lace lingerie and stockings, her skin flushed under the dressing room lights. Fiona’s pulse thundered in her ears. Laura’s fingers flexed against her thigh, possessive and punishing all at once.

The two dancers came together again, turning around to stand back-to-back, a seamless silhouette once more. Then they broke away from each other, but turned and came together again, this time chest to chest, their heads flung back. Then Lila broke away on her own, spinning around her side of the stage, and coming back to Evelyn, this time with her back to Evelyn’s front.

Evelyn reached out, her hands skimming Lila’s shoulders, then moving lower, finding the scalloped edge of Lila’s bra, her smirk widening as she paused just beneath the center clasp, letting the anticipation build. Fiona certainly felt that anticipation, her entire body thrumming with suspense as she followed every movement on stage with rapt attention.

Evelyn’s fingers lingered at the clasp of Lila’s bra, her gaze flickering to Fiona - a deliberate provocation - before she finally unhooked it with a practiced twist. The straps slid free, the lace slackening against Lila’s skin for a breathless second before Evelyn tugged it away entirely. Lila initially covered her breasts, teasing their audience for a moment, then took her hands away and arched her back, pushing her bare breasts forward, the Shimmy Sisters letting out a collective murmur of approval.

Fiona’s mouth went slack. The sight of Lila’s bare breasts, full and pert, sent a jolt of heat straight to her core. This felt very different from seeing Lila on the club stage. Even though the performance was still taking place on a stage of sorts, it just didn’t have the feel of a theatrical performance. It was much more intimate. It was much more sensual. It was much more charged. It was much more thrilling.

Lila straightened and moved toward the front of the platform. She paused there, one foot poised on the edge, her breasts swaying slightly, as she made eye contact in turn with each of the five women watching. Her hands then cupped her breasts with a soft squeeze, making Fiona’s skin prickle. Seeing her reaction, Laura tightened her grip on her thigh - equal parts warning and claim.

Lila moved away, back toward the center of the stage, prompting Evelyn to make a move of her own. When their movements were complete, they were together once more, this time with Evelyn’s back to Lila’s front. After they settled into position, Lila reached out, her hands skimming Evelyn’s shoulders, then moving lower. Fiona’s breath hitched as she saw Lila’s fingers find Evelyn’s bra clasp. This was happening again, but in reverse.

Evelyn smirked, turning her head sideways to catch Fiona’s gaze, her expression dripping with challenge. Lila’s fingers lingered at Evelyn’s bra clasp, her nails scraping lightly against the lace, just enough to draw Fiona’s gaze downward, to where Evelyn’s ribs expanded with each slow breath. Then, with a twist, the clasp gave way. The bra sagged forward, Evelyn’s breasts still hidden beneath the loosened fabric, until Lila peeled it away entirely, letting it drop to the floor with a whisper of lace.

Evelyn’s hands went straight to her breasts to cover them, a ploy to toy with the audience a little. Then she took her hands away and positively arched into the exposure, her shoulders rolling back as if inviting the weight of their attention. Lila’s hands slid around Evelyn’s waist from behind, fingers splaying possessively over her stomach while Evelyn tilted her head back against Lila’s shoulder, her lips parting in a silent exhale.