"Yeah stripping," Emma replied.
"There has got to be a million different ways to exercise that don't involve taking off your clothes." Tyler protested. "Besides your body is already perfect. I don't understand why you are so concerned about exercise."
"It's about maintaining what I've got. I really am happy with my body, but it never hurts to tone up a little. And yes there are other ways to work out, but there are also lots of benefits to stripping." Emma continued "it requires a lot of stamina and core strength. It works almost every muscle in the body, especially stabilizing muscles that help maintain balance. Plus it's fun and improves self esteem."
Emma and Tyler had been dating for two years now. They met after returning to their hometown after college. Tyler was a year older than Emma and they never really crossed paths growing up. Their chance encounter happened at a popular local bar. Their respective groups of friends combined through a mutual friend that floated around in both circles. After hitting it off Tyler asked Emma out on a date and the rest is history.
Tyler had almost gotten used to Emma's spur of the moment wild ideas, but this was one that even he was not prepared to deal with.
"Ok I guess that makes sense, but I have to be honest with you. I'm really not comfortable with you working at a strip club."
"Oh I wouldn't be going to a strip club! That gets too sketchy and the guys at those places don't exactly have a lot of respect for women."
Tyler felt a sense of relief. "Ok sorry I didn't get it. I didn't realize you meant you were going to be alone when you did it."
"Well not alone, that would be weird and not very fun. Besides I think playing off the spectator is critical to the dynamic of dancing and stripping."
"So you are saying you want me to watch you strip?" Tyler was starting to like the idea.
"No I can't with you. The dynamic isn't there if it's in front of a significant other. I can't really explain it and a group makes for a better audience anyway."
"Then for who?"
"My friends who else?" Emma chuckled as if it were an obvious conclusion.
Tyler had long been frustrated and jealous that Emma hung around mostly guys. Throughout their relationship the two of them had never fully integrated with each other's circle of friends. Emma happened to be the lone girl in her group of friends.
Tyler had no worries about Emma cheating, but he did not trust the guys. There were four of them Austin, Zach, Matt and Cody. She said she was "one of the guys," but their actions suggested to Tyler they wanted more.
"I'm sure they'd all love to see my hot girlfriend naked and what if they try something!"
"Tyler relax, I'm not getting naked for them. And all of the flirting and sex jokes between us is just that, jokes. This is really just more of the same really because it doesn't mean anything. It's like acting! When you are acting you might kiss or have a love scene, but it's not cheating because it's not real. Yes stripping and exotic dancing are sexual, but it's not sexual in the context of it being done in front of them. And these guys I trust, it's not like with strangers where my safety might be at risk."
Tyler resigned himself to the fact that Emma wasn't changing her mind and he really did trust her. "Ok Emma, but can you just do a favor for me?"
"Sure hunny. What did you have in mind?"
"Just to help me feel better that the guys are behaving themselves can you send me the occasional text when you do this so I know what's going on? And maybe a selfie too."
Emma cutely rolled her eyes and laughed, "geez such a worrier! But if it makes you feel better then sure I'll do that tonight."
"Tonight? It's a Friday I was hoping you and I could hang out tonight."
"Sorry hun, Austin is having a bonfire and I already told him I'd be there. But we'll hang out tomorrow I promise!"
Chapter 1: The Bonfire
Emma -
Emma as usual was the last to arrive. The guys expected it and of course relentlessly teased her about it.
"Look who finally showed up!"
"Typical woman taking forever to get ready!"
Emma laughed "oh hush! You know I'm worth waiting for."
Zach chimes in "yeah come on guys you know Emma needs an extra hour to do makeup to cover her hideous goblin face."
Emma started playfully slapping his head, "oh shut up you little bitch!"
"Stop stop! I was only kidding, you know you're hot!" As Zach tried covering his head.
"That's better!" Emma sassily stuck out her tongue. "Actually I had to stop at home to change into my workout outfit."
Emma was wearing an outfit more fitting for the club than a gym. Low rise denim shorts, heels, a tight t-shirt exposing her mid drift, and a small open vest over the top.
"What kind of workout are you planning on doing in that?" Matt asked.
"Well interesting you should ask. Remember when we were drinking last weekend and Cody mentioned seeing something on Facebook about pole dancers being really athletic and burning a lot of calories? Well I did my own research and it's true. Not just with pole dancing, but strippers too. In fact exotic dancing can be even better. I wanted to try and need an audience so I thought of you guys!"
The guys looked at each other in disbelief. "Woah.." one of them uttered.
Emma quickly followed up with, "I don't mean I'm getting naked in front of you guys. Just getting down to the bare minimum to stay covered and practicing my moves. Like I said the goal is to work out so the point of dancing and lap dancing isn't a sexual thing. Besides since I won't be naked and we are all friends there will not be anything sexual about it."
The guys all responded almost simultaneously in support of Emma's idea.
"Absolutely there isn't anything sexual about that."
"Happy to help in any way I can."
"Agree Emma sounds like a great way to workout."
Emma was delighted at the outpouring of support from her friends.
"Awesome! You guys rock and are such amazing friends. Let me start playing some music." Emma paused, "oh wait just have to do something first real quick first."
Emma remembered her promise to Tyler. She quickly rattled off some texts and held her phone out in front of her to take a selfie.
"Ok ready to start!"
Tyler -
Tyler wasn't happy his girlfriend was dancing around in front of her male friends. He didn't even feel like going out. He just sat at home streaming some old shows and waiting by his phone to hear from Emma.
His phone chimed signaling he had gotten a text. It was Emma.
