The bartender rubbed down the bar, wiping away the runoff from another tankard of alcohol. The tavern was only about half full tonight, too many men getting called up for the war. Business would go down the sewer at this rate.
Over in a corner the troubadour played, idly strumming his instrument, though few cared to listen. Most were here only to drink and forget about their troubles.
Shaking his head, the bartender stuck his head through the door beside the bar and yelled for his best dancing girl. This was about as large a crowd as he could hope for tonight. Might as well get what he could now, before they started leaving.
A sharp whistle perked up the troubadour, and he began a sultry tune, his hungry eyes staring at the doorway. More than one drunk turned his head to stare. They knew what was coming, and none wanted to miss it.
She strode through the doorway, clad only in silks and chains. Her lips were full and colored a lush inviting red. It was her eyes though that captured the men in the tavern. They held a challenge for every man there.
Many wanted to answer her challenge, but few thought themselves up to taming her. As the tune began to pick up, she lifted her hands over her head, clapping softly. The tavern stilled to a dead silence as every man there held his breath. Then she began her dance.
Her hips swayed and rocked as her eyes closed, and her hands slid down to caress those luscious curves that every man wanted to feel. The silks swayed and small bells tinkled at her waist at every twitch of her hips.
Slowly she curled a finger around a piece of silk, drawing it away from her costume, showing off her tight belly. With a negligent flick of the wrist she sent it through the air to land against one man's cheek.
She was already moving away as he grabbed it and felt the warmth of her body, took in the spicy scent of her. A few eyed him enviously, it wouldn't be the first time men had fought for a piece of her costume.
As the music swelled and built through the room, she began stripping away more pieces of silk, exposing more of her tanned flesh. A few men were rubbing themselves now, stiffening at the thought of this girl in their beds.
As she danced, Samara eyed the men, a smirk on her lips. She knew they wanted her, needed her body. She leaned towards one with a throaty purr, and slowly slid the silk covering her breasts away, exposing her erect nipples to his hungry stare.
Then she was away, spinning and twirling, her hands going up to caress her heated flesh. A low gasp came from her lips as she pulled on her nipples, arching her back as if in ecstasy. Slowly her tongue slid out to lick across her lips, and then she was dancing again, the only silk left covering her around her waist now.
She was nearly back to the bar now, when her eyes fell across him. A dark-eyed stranger sitting near the corner. His eyes were on her like everyone else, but they held a hint of amusement, and a challenge of their own.
Samara nearly stumbled and caught herself. Nobody had noticed, too eagerly were they staring at her swaying breasts. Her hand snaked out and she caught a chilled bottle from the counter.