Kat leaned over her drink and stared incredulously at her friend sitting across the heavy wooden table in the noisy Mexican restaurant, “What in the ever-loving fuck are you talking about?”

“It’s for a good cause! Kids that lost all their toys in a fire or something like that. The city fire departments pool all their money and make a huge donation every year. This event helps encourage generous giving from the firefighters. Gives them bragging rights for the year over all of the other cities’ fire departments too when it is revealed how much they donated.”

“Aubrey. Come on. Snagging a Lego set or a stuffed animal at Target and throwing it in the Christmas toy collection is a real charity. An actual good cause. What you just described to me is stripping for a bunch of horny firefighters. Not to mention, if that’s all they’re after, why don’t they just hire some real strippers? Why are you trying to drag me into this?”

Aubrey sighed, “Ugh, I’m not explaining this very well.”

“Then try again, from the beginning. Because right now all I can think is that you’re getting punked by your boyfriend.”

Aubrey described the event to her friend for a second time. At its core, the concept was fairly simple. Wives, girlfriends, or other friends of the firefighters would provide a private strip show for the men (and women) that worked for the city’s fire department. The attendees had to donate at least $100 to the ‘donation/prize pool’ and bring a ‘stripper’ participant as their plus one. If they were unable to supply a participant they had to donate a minimum of $1000. ‘Strippers’ had to be amateurs. Absolutely no industry professionals.

To help encourage participation, based on scores submitted by the firefighters, the ‘strippers’ would receive a portion of money set aside from the total amount collected as ‘prize money.’.

Kat interrupted, “Wait, I feel like that would actually discourage participation. I know I wouldn’t want to be naked up there with no chance to win, embarrassing myself compared to some dude’s 10/10 girlfriend that just got a boob job and has no shame.”

Aubrey responded, “No, you’d be surprised. The scores favor enthusiasm, not raw sex appeal. I’ve seen hotties tip toe nervously around the stage and end up finishing way down the list. Or at least you assume they didn’t get much. Three firefighters are drawn out of a hat to calculate the votes and they are always tight-lipped about the results, except for the overall winner, they do announce that one. The money is put in sealed envelopes and handed to the girls on the way out. But you can guess by some of the expressions in the parking lot how well they did. And how the crowd reacted during their dance. Oh, and if the crowd is seeing extra effort and really enjoying the show then they’ll throw more money into the donation pot. It encourages everyone to give 100%, the performers and the audience.”

“You’ve seen? Aub, you’ve been to this before?”

Aubrey averted her eyes, looking down at the bowl of cheese dip sitting in front of her and nodded, “Um, and maybe participated…”

Kat ripped her lips from the straw in her drink and struggled to stop blue colored margarita from shooting out of her nose, “What the fuck!? What the fuck!? What the fuck!?”

“Kat! Settle down! People are starting to stare at us!”

“Sorry!! Sorry. I’m just… I don’t know what to say. You really danced around naked in front of a bunch of strangers?”

“Well, not complete strangers. At least not all of them, I do know a fair number of Frankie’s coworkers. That’s not the vibe. I don’t want to say it is like a family environment because that just sounds all sorts of weird, but it isn’t like a random strip club either. Although you do get to wear a mask on stage, like one of those Mardi Gras masks that covers the eyes, so your identity is still technically a secret.”

“Aubrey, come on, everyone would still know it’s you with a little Eyes Wide Shut mask like that on.”

“I know, but something interesting happens when you put it on. It’s like feeling that covering part of your face makes you a little anonymous. It’s kind of freeing actually. I’ve been looking forward to doing it again since last time.”

Kat gaped open mouthed, “Aubrey!”

“I know it sounds crazy, but when I saw all of the other girls participating, every color and body shape you can imagine, putting themselves out there and hearing the cheers from the crowd, it felt electric to me. Kind of taboo too, like skinny dipping with a bunch of friends, but that just made it more exciting.”

Kat’s lips pursed around the straw in her fishbowl margarita, thoughts and images of what the event could possibly look like swirling through her mind. To Aubrey’s credit, it sounded much less outrageous than it did 20 minutes ago, but still.

“Why me?” asked Kat.

“Hmmmm?”

“Why try to pull me into this? From what you’ve described it involves the firefighters and their significant others. I’m not part of that scene.”

“Not all of them have a partner. Some have brought friends in the past that were willing to go along with it.”

“Aub, that still doesn’t describe me. I like your boyfriend well enough, but it isn’t like he and I are friends without you. Plus, he has you and you just said you’re going to do it again. What’s the angle?”

“Kat, I didn’t want to have to say this, but you need to get laid. You’re getting into this pattern of going to work, going from work to home, and very occasionally hanging out with me. Then, on those rare occasions I manage to drag you out, you’re honestly a bit cranky and negative about everything. Way crankier than you were when Jared was blowing your back out on the regular. You need to put yourself out there and find someone, even if it’s just for some fun. There’s plenty of eligible dudes that will be there and this could be a jump start for you.”

Kat frowned, “If I’m such a cunt to be around I can free you of that obligation. And you’re the one that gave me the support I needed to dump Jared when I caught him messaging sluts on Instagram.” Tears built along the corners of her eyes.

Aubrey reached across the table and wrapped her hands around Kat’s, squeezing them as she spoke. “Kat, you are my best friend in the world and I love you deeply. That’s why I encouraged you to drop Jared. He was just bringing pain into your life and disrespecting you. It’s also why I’m here trying to talk you into this. I haven’t seen true joy and happiness in your eyes in a while. I want that for you. And maybe this doesn’t fix everything, but it’s crazy and fun and erotic and adventurous. It’s one night, let’s get a little weird!”

Kat sniffled, “Well, I definitely don’t want to be thought of as a stick in the mud. I appreciate where your heart is at. I’ve been so focused on being strong that maybe I missed being happy somewhere in there. Fuck, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but what kind of outfit do you wear?”

Aubrey beamed, “Girl, if you don’t know what strippers wear then you may be further gone than I realized. Don’t overthink it, just make sure it is easy to take off. I do recommend heels though. Something about a completely naked woman strutting around in high heels does something for those guys. This is going to be so freaking fun!” Aubrey let go of Kat’s hands and performed a little happy dance shimmy in the booth.

Kat smiled back, “This is insane. You’re insane for doing it before and for asking me to join in. I don’t know what that says about me by agreeing to it, but ok, I’m in!”

*****

Kat stood stark naked in front of her chest of drawers, the warmth of the tequila still coursing through her veins. She had already scoured through her closet and failed to find anything that felt appropriate, as she had expected. Slutty outfits had never been her style. A few times Jared had managed to talk her into wearing something tighter or more revealing than she normally would have selected for herself. She recalled the initial feeling of self-consciousness walking into a restaurant or bar and couldn’t imagine how much more intense it would be once she was on stage wearing even less.

Reflecting further on those evenings she realized that her uneasiness had faded as the night went on, replaced by the realization that many of the men, and some women, had watched her with awe, with lust, perhaps even with jealousy. Guys with their girlfriends or wives had been willing to risk the potential fallout in order to get a better view of the tight dress hugging her breasts, nipples prominent thanks to the lack of a bra. She remembered that the bottoms of the dresses Jared suggested had barely covered her ass cheeks. If she had to bend over and any of them had been in position to sneak a peek, they would have discovered that she wore nothing underneath there as well.

She wondered how many of the men had looked at her and experienced a feeling of lust. Their cocks growing stiff, barely constrained by the jeans or dress pants they wore. How many had shifted things around in order to avoid putting on a show of their arousal for others to see? How many had gone home that night and stroked themselves, imagining her mouth, her ass, her pussy engulfing them until they exploded, cum jetting onto their stomachs, streaking their hands and twitching shafts? How many had gone home with their wives and girlfriends, picturing Kat as the eager recipient of their insatiable cocks slamming into her from behind, pounding harder and faster until they released rope after rope of warmth against the inner walls of their partners’ pussies?

Standing there lost in thought and memories, Kat’s pussy lips and clit throbbed in time with her heartbeat. The middle finger of her right hand slid between those lips, not quite entering, circling around the entrance. The tip of her finger became slick with the evidence of her excitement. She allowed her finger to drift northward, coating the circumference of her clit with her wetness. Her left hand palmed a breast, two fingers sandwiched the nipple and pinched, jolts of pleasure flowing from it, through her core, to her pussy and back.

Kat laid back on the bed and spread her legs wide. Her mind pulled up one of her favorite fantasies. Three, four, maybe five, she couldn’t be sure, men and women surrounded her on a bed. This time her imagination decided to put firefighter jackets on one or two of them, another jacket or two tossed casually on the bed. Hands groped and stroked her legs, her pussy, her breasts, and anywhere else unoccupied flesh could be found. Mouths and lips explored the same areas, leaving no erogenous zone neglected. She saw one of the fit firefighters standing at the edge of the bed, stroking himself as he slid the tip of his cock up and down between her outer labia. In the real world her ring and middle fingers together plunged into her depths. In the fantasy world, the young man shifted his hips forward, filling her with his impressive girth.

The remainder of the scene in her mind’s eye jumped from image to image, sensation to sensation. One of her hands reached over and stroked a cock. Her mouth wrapped around another, the faint taste of pre-cum on her tongue. A set of feminine lips kissed and sucked on her breasts, a tongue flicking across whichever nipple was in focus at that moment. Her other hand found the warm, slick pussy that belonged to those lips, fingers pistoning in and out. The firefighter at the end of the bed rhythmically pounded into her. The whole of the experience was overwhelming. All Kat could manage was to lose herself in the feelings of ecstasy swirling around and through her, hoping that her hands and mouth could figure out what to do on autopilot for her lovers.

The first to go past the point of no return was the cock in her right hand. She imagined the familiar tightening of the skin, the pulsing along the entire shaft, cum landing on her right breast. Kat’s mind saw the other girl that had been focused on her breasts raise her head up and slide the spasming cock into her mouth. Kat continued stroking, squeezing the remnants of the orgasm into the girl’s mouth. She felt the girl’s orgasm hit, the tight pussy squeezing her fingers, quivering as the girl moaned on the dick filling her mouth.

This sight had a clear effect on the firefighter stretching her pussy in ways that few could. He spoke for the first time since her fever dream began.

“That’s it baby, use your sexy body to make us all come! I want to feel your pussy gripping my cock when I’m pumping you full! I want to see his cock throbbing with each spurt, filling your mouth with your reward for being such a good fuck toy!”

His fingers tightened around her hips, pulling himself roughly into her, over and over. Through the shocks of pleasure being delivered deep inside of her with each powerful thrust, Kat did her best to obey, picturing her tongue flicking along the underside of the unseen third man, silently willing him to use her mouth for his pleasure. She could hear grunts from both ends of her body, one filling her pussy with his seed, the other sliding down the back of her throat as she swallowed eagerly.

Everything went slightly grey for a few moments. Kat soon found herself laying in her own bed, lungs and muscles shuddering together from the aftershocks of her orgasm, fingers still buried deep inside of her. She slid them out slowly, the intensity of the sensation causing additional tremors through her body. She crawled up and under the covers, neglecting to put on any pajamas. In the last moments before falling asleep she had a moment of clarity, smiled to herself, and knew exactly what she would be wearing for the event.

*****

Aubrey pulled up outside of Kat’s apartment and texted her to let her know she was there to take them to the charity event. Kat re-checked her bag one last time to make sure she had packed everything she thought she might need.

Thankfully, Aubrey had called Kat the previous night to give her some additional details that would make the night go smoother. The first important detail was the fact that nobody showed up to the party already dressed to strip. The first couple of hours would consist of everyone milling about, enjoying drinks, snacks, and the sexually charged conversations that led up to the main event. Every minute Kat could avoid wearing high heels was a bonus in her book. She was dressed cute, but comfortable.

The second most important detail was the fact that any of the ‘strippers’ could request a firefighter join them on the stage to act as a prop. The firefighter couldn’t lead the action, but could participate in the dance or act as directed by the ‘stripper.’ Typically this involved their partner taking on the role of live prop, which had proved over time to help calm some nerves.

“I’d be happy to let you borrow Frankie to use on stage,” Aubrey had informed Kat, “but I can’t get him to go up there. I’m ok being up there alone, but I thought it would be fun to involve him. He didn’t agree.”

“So, it’s just your partner that you can bring up there?” Kat asked.

“Well, no, technically I guess there isn’t any rule against asking someone else. I think I’ve seen that once or twice. But, they do have the option to decline. Anybody can bow out whenever they want, they don’t want anyone feeling forced to do anything.”

“What exactly do they do with their partner on stage? Just dance around them or…”

“Are you asking if they fuck on stage, like a live sex show?”

“Well…”

“It can get a bit raunchy. I have seen girls stroking their guy through their pants or shorts on stage. And I’ve seen one or two climb nude onto their guy’s face. You know, a little face sitting action. One couple ended up in a 69 position and she was definitely sucking his dick for real. I don’t know of a rule against going further, but I haven’t seen it.”

Kat filed that piece of information away as potentially useful, although she couldn’t fathom asking someone she didn’t know to get up on stage with her. And other than Frankie, she wouldn’t know any of the firefighters there.

Kat checked a surprise she had planned for the evening one last time, grabbed her bag, and headed down to join Aubrey.

“Hey Kat! Looking sexy already! I can’t wait to see you up on stage.” Aubrey whistled at her friend. “Let’s go get naked and freaky!”

Kat laughed and tossed her bag into the back seat. She slid smoothly into the passenger seat of the car. “I’m not feeling sexy just yet, mainly nauseous. Excited too though, I have to admit. Let’s go before I change my mind!”

Aubrey put the car into drive and sped off to the firehouse.

*****

The girls arrived, met Frankie in the parking lot, and dropped off their bags in a back room set aside as the ‘dressing room’ for the evening. Frankie received kudos from several other firefighters for bringing two participants to the event. Aubrey made sure to let him know who truly deserved the credit. Frankie and Aubrey mingled throughout the group, introducing Kat to various friends and coworkers. Mixed drinks were available, BYOB style, the alcohol having been provided by many of the firefighters.

Aubrey explained the setup to Kat. “Usually each couple brings a bottle of their favorite booze to share with the entire group. There’s always plenty to go around. Normally most people behave themselves with only one or two getting really sloppy drunk. For me a drink or two helps take a little of the edge off and puts me in the right frame of mind to really let go out there.”

Kat agreed with that game plan and slowly sipped on a couple of cocktails while being introduced around. As the time for the main event crept closer she was feeling comfortable. Slightly buzzed, perhaps, but not anything close to drunk. The conversation was light and easy, lubricated by the alcohol. Enjoyable, but superficial. As she wandered throughout the group, a faint feeling of being an outsider quietly nagged at her.

Until Derrick.

Aubrey bounced up to Kat pulling the hand of one of the most impressive men Kat had ever laid eyes on. It was clear he was voluntarily allowing the diminutive woman drag him across the room. Standing well north of 6 feet and somewhere just over 200 pounds, nobody moved Derrick unless Derrick wanted to be moved. Wearing her heels, he would still likely best Kat by nearly half a foot. Even though the finer details were hidden by clothes, Kat estimated his body fat percentage had to be in the single digits based on how tight the t-shirt he wore clung to him.

Derrick held out a massive hand, “Good evening, Kat, I believe it is?”

The bass of his voice rumbled through Kat’s insides, vibrating her every being, including, seemingly, all of the nerve endings between her legs. She focused on responding without her voice cracking, tentatively holding out a hand convinced it was about to be crushed.

“That’s right, and you are?”

His hand nearly wrapped around hers, firm, but not overbearing, cognizant of the force he could impart. “I’m Derrick. I’ve only gotten to know Frankie and Aubrey closely over the last couple of months, but they’ve been very welcoming and kind to me. Plus, they’ve been telling me all along that I need to meet you.”

Kat shot a look at Aubrey. Aubrey punched Derrick lightly on the arm. Realistically, she could have used her full force and he still would have barely felt it. “Derrick! You weren’t supposed to let her know that! Ugh, Kat, this is Derrick, honest to a fault.”

Derrick smiled, “I only think it’s fair that if you’re going to try to play matchmaker, the matches should be on a level playing field. What do you think, Kat?”

“I already like the way you think, Derrick! I’m not shocked though. Aubrey can try to push things with me a little far sometimes…” Aubrey rolled her eyes at her friend.

Derrick interjected, “Like convincing you to strip for charity in front of a packed firehouse?”