Rapid Pulse: A Limited Edition Spicy Romance Collection

by Gina Kincade

  Practice was uneventful. Maggie had to move into place, turn a few times and smile, easy. Being a bookend was tedious in many ways. In others, she knew she really didn’t want more, so she just kept smiling. The new show would start Friday so she had a few more to do without the bright pink pillow stuffing’s. She gladly put the boa away and got into her other outfit several hours later.

  She was almost sad by Thursday night when it was time for the second show. She had one more show in gold before she’d trade for pink for an unknown future number of weeks until Cynder was tired of this routine and switched again. Making it one for the road, Maggie smiled her best smile and took the stage with the girls. It was over too soon. They all lined up for photos and autographs in gold one last time. Somehow even knowing she’d be back on Tuesday it felt like the end.

  She signed and smiled for a long line. Toward the end her smile faltered. Standing amid a small group of suits was one Bartholomew Drega. His smile was for show. Obviously with clients, he played the part, but took the opportunity to whisper when they posed for their photo.

  “Just how many layers are there to your puzzle Ms. Enigma?”

  Maggie whispered back, remembering the steel spine she needed for men like Bart. “More than you’ll ever know. Now say cheese.”

  His turn was done but not before getting her autograph. Thankfully she had dropped her last name for the stage to keep any would be sleuths from tracking her down. She signed quickly. He read the card and looked up.

  “Margaret Joy, nice name.”

  Without missing a beat she replied, “My father seemed to think so. Next.”

  She didn’t stay to work the floor, opting for escape. After she changed, she cashed out from the back and headed for home. With nearly four hundred in cash, it was easily her best night so far. She had entertained the idea of getting a room and driving home in the morning, but Bart on the property made her change her mind.

  She was home, changed, and back out again quickly. She walked into The Brickhouse, grabbed her now usual but still barely passable soda with lime and disappeared behind a drape. She was not studying throws so much this time as reactions. She watched the faces where she could see them, the pucker and pull of the flesh as it reacted to whatever the stimulus was. It was not going to be enough to know how to throw, she wanted to read the body language and respond.

  Bart’s sub from last week was back on the cross. The woman who threw was not as proficient as Bart, but she didn’t bait him verbally either. In fact, the sub wore a ball gag. The only sound was the whine and crack of the leather. In many ways it was better, almost organic without words to muddy the experience.

  Making the rounds but again skipping the part Maggie had come to refer as the pit of sin, she called it a night at long last. Walking back out the doorman stopped her.

  “That was a pretty short visit.”

  Maggie smiled. “Don’t sweat it Brad. I got what I came for. I’ll be back.”

  He perked up when she called him by name. Maggie noticed that too. He was chipper to say ‘good night’ after being acknowledged.

  “Have a good night. We’ll be waiting for your next visit Miss...”

  “Maggie. Call me Maggie.”

  ‘Give us dirty laundry...’

  Maggie slept late. When she’d fallen into bed just before sun up she’d turned off the alarm knowing she wanted to sleep. It had been a long, busy week. Not glancing to check the time, she guessed it was mid-afternoon by the way the sun sneaked between the blind and the window frame. She debated another hour but nature had a different idea.

  Mid-afternoon or not she started the coffee and hit the flashing button on the machine. It was Ava. Her suit was ready for the final seams if she could stop in before six. Maggie raced the clock through the shower and was out the door by four.

  Her hair was still damp in the knot on her head and she felt like she could towel off again as she walked briskly through the doors and made a beeline for Ava’s office. Ava’s smile was radiant as she nodded to the Wonder Woman red leather hanging in plastic on the rack against the far wall. Maggie let out a loud squeal.

  “Is it real?”

  “It’s absolutely real. Let’s go.”

  They moved to the dressing room where the measurements had been taken. Ava helped her into the garment, being careful to hold the yet unreinforced seams. Maggie dressed away from the mirror in anticipation of the big reveal.

  She caught her silhouette in her peripheral vision as she turned. Not bad Maggie, not bad at all. Her jaw dropped when she came face to face with herself in the glass. She fought to keep it together. Several tears snuck out anyway as she turned this way and that inspecting herself. She could hardly believe she was seeing herself like this. Her parents would likely roll in their graves at the suit that left next to nothing to be imagined. She was elated.

  “Pinch me Ava, pinch me.”

  Ava giggled. “Maggie, I seriously doubt I could get a wayward inch to pinch you in that suit. You look amazing.”

  Maggie beamed, turning quickly to face Ava instead of talking to her reflection.

  “How soon will it be done?”

  Ava’s smile made her eyes twinkle. “How does tomorrow afternoon sound?”

  Maggie practically purred. “It sounds perfect Ava, just perfect.”

  The suit was removed with the same care it was put on with and hung to be finished at the front of the rack.

  As she pulled up at home a familiar dodge was in the guest row. Climbing out, she noticed Jade sitting on her stoop.

  “Whatcha doing here?”

  Jade waved off the question holding out a bag.

  “What’s this?” Maggie looked at the gift bag before taking it. She traded astonished looks between the contents and her friend after pulling the tissue paper off the top.

  “Jade!”

  Inside was a small bear dressed as a showgirl with, of all things, a locked laundry bag hanging from its wrist.

  “Where in the world...”

  Jade was grinning. “Say you like it first.”

  Where are my manners?

  “Like it? I don’t like it Jade, I love it!”

  They walked up to the apartment chattering after Jade explained that her mom had helped her make the outfit. She had thought they’d have tomorrow but then had found out Phil had given her the day off as his gift, so she came to deliver it.

  Maggie’s thoughts had been miles away from Wenstry’s all week. Jade’s visit and gift was a reminder, one she needed. Something from an old movie her mother loved about the wealth of a man who had friends. Though her financial situation was stable and would be more so after Monday, the piece she had let slip was friends, the old ones anyway. Her new world was in flux and would be for a while. Somewhere she had to have stability and she was wasting it. Somehow she would have it all. The life she wanted in front of and beneath the mask. Balance was the ultimate goal.

  Jade had been talking about dry cleaning and life as Maggie had had her personal epiphany. Jade was the closest family Maggie had that wasn’t blood, and was closer than any that were left who were. It was time to walk the walk.

  “Have you eaten?”

  Jade glanced at her watch. “Maggie it’s barely six. Who eats so early on Saturday?”

  “I’ll take that as a no.”

  “It’s a no.” Jade looked like she’d missed something, which she had.

  “Got plans?”

  “No, why?”

  Maggie clapped her hands together. “Great!”

  Jade got a suspicious look on her face to match the tone in her voice when she spoke. “What are you planning?”

  Maggie grinned and waggled her brows. “Girls night. Can you stay?”

  Jade did a quick inventory of what she had on, cut-off jeans and a t-shirt.

  “Are you serious?”

  Maggie noticed her outfit then thinking of work in the morning.

  “Yep, completely serious. I’m sure I can loan
you work clothes for the morning. We can get delivery from Altamoras, do the movie thing, and catch up. Not make up or hair or anything weird, just a girls night in. You game?”

  Jade held up a finger and grabbed the phone. A few minutes later she clicked it off and announced, “In. Wait, tell me you have Roadhouse.”

  Maggie was slow to catch on. “What?”

  “Hello? Roadhouse...butt shot? Yes or no?”

  Maggie had seen so many other bare asses lately she hadn’t made the connection.

  “Ohhhh. Yeah, I have that.”

  “Okay, in that case I’m in.”

  Maggie rolled her eyes. “I’m so glad to know you’re staying for me. Sheesh.”

  Jade was laughing. “Love you and all Mags but we’re talking about Patrick’s ass here. I have priorities.”

  They ordered strip steaks and pasta with salads and bread. It would be a good forty minutes so they put the movie on. Maggie’s sides hurt from laughter by the fourth time they had to back up the movie for ‘the shot.’

  The buzzer rang finally. Jade paused the movie, Maggie got the door. It wasn’t dinner, it was Thorne. He registered but didn’t for a moment.

  “Put it right...oh hi.”

  His eyes were wide as he returned the greeting, “Hi yourself, I...” catching Jade out of the corner of his eye he changed conversation course.

  “You have company.”

  “I do.”

  He nodded mutely, “I should have called.”

  Before the door was closed the Altamora driver came up behind him.

  “Delivery for Donald?”

  Thorne stepped aside as Maggie indicated the counter island. “That’s me, put it here.”

  The driver and Thorne traded places as Thorne backed out the door mouthing, “I’ll catch up to you later this weekend.”

  Maggie mouthed back with a quick finger wave after handing cash to the driver, “Okay.”

  The food was on the counter, her change after tip was in hand and the driver had left. Maggie closed and locked the door. When she turned, Jade was behind her wide-eyed.

  “WHO was that?!”

  Maggie had no doubt which ‘who’ Jade meant.

  “That’s Thorne.”

  Jade’s face was still wide-eyed shock.

  “You could have, you know, introduced me.”

  Maggie laughed, “Maybe another time.”

  “Gah! Now I know why the ass shot doesn’t ‘Swayze’ you. Holy hell Mags, he’s...he’s...he’s...like WOAH!”

  Maggie laughed out loud as she got plates and utensils.

  “Yes Jade, he’s very woah. Trust me. He knows it too.”

  “OHMAGAWD tell me everything.”

  All Maggie could think was, what timing. How was she going to come clean now?

  “That’s a very long story. Let’s eat first. I don’t want you choking on steak and have to take you to Cook County on a Friday night. You’d asphyxiate before they could get you in.”

  Jade mashed her face in a scowl but nodded.

  “That’s probably a good thought. The ER would be packed and I’d die not knowing. Food first then Mr. Yummy.”

  Maggie choked instantly flashing back to just how Thorne tasted. “Oh god Jade don’t say that. Call him Thorne.”

  “Fine. Thorne after food. Ooooh, Thorne for dessert.”

  So not helping. Comment by comment Maggie’s walking the walk was getting harder.

  ‘Ring around the roses...’

  They finished watching the movie over dinner. Jade checked Maggie’s progress on her meal repeatedly, obviously champing the bit for details. Maggie hit pause just at the jump for the other not so naked shot at the end of the movie. Jade was halfway into her outburst before she caught why Maggie had hit pause. “Heyy.....lo there.”

  They had a good laugh through the credits at the badly broken mispronunciation. Plates were in the dishwasher, the rest in the fridge or trash. Maggie went to change the movie. Jade cut her off in front of the entertainment center mid-reach for Dirty Dancing.

  “Oh no you don’t. Deal’s a deal girlfriend. We ate. I didn’t choke. Spill it.”

  Maggie sighed, grabbed the remote and clicked off the television flopping on the sectional.

  “You don’t know how bad I wish I had something stronger than a coke for this.”

  Jade flopped across the other arm of the unit onto her belly, chin on her hands. “That bad?”

  Maggie snorted. “No, not bad. It’s a lot.”

  Jade shrugged it off. “Guess you better get started then huh?”

  Taking a deep breath Maggie started from the beginning. She told Jade everything, well almost everything. She told her about the shop, though not by name, dinner at Acadia with Thorne and the rough gist of what he wanted from her. Jade had let out more than one low whistle. Her eyes had grown wide at the rough details. They became big as swimming pools and just as blue as Maggie told her about the suit, the lifestyle she was pursuing and the quick and dirty on sex with Thorne. Jade had wet her lips several times after that but they weren’t wet enough to whistle again.

  Lastly, Maggie told her about the lawsuit. Short of the settlement figure, she explained she was going to court Monday to close the case. She didn’t know all the whens but she explained too that the casino was not long term now and after that, she just didn’t know.

  Being unable to whistle, Jade’s face hit the ‘O’ at some point and stayed that way. As her jaw dropped bit by bit the ‘O’ got bigger until it could go no farther. Then, it just stuck there, her lower jaw hanging wide open. When Maggie finally finished it took a good several minutes before Jade reacted. Her shock rang in every word.

  “So wait...you’re telling me you and Mr. Yu...” Maggie glared. “Thorne?”

  “Yes.”

  “OHMYGOD MAGGIE! Woah.” Jade paused a minute taking that morsel in. “Holy fuck Maggie. When were you planning to say anything? Oh my god you’ve got a whole 'nother person’s life going on between sundown and sun up. You’re like a vampire or something, like a...like a...ohmygod!”

  Maggie winced.

  “I told you it was a lot. Back at the old place...when we talked about getting out of here? I wasn’t just talking. I wasn’t planning the casino part. I certainly wasn’t planning on Mama dyin, but I was planning my way out. The way just changed.”

  “And the leather and whip part? I seen the way you looked at that bag on Saturdays. When did that part start?”

  “Jade I don’t remember. It seems like forever ago. It was long before Mama died. I can tell you that, and that’s the truth. I swear.”

  Jade wasn’t angry, just stunned. Angry she would have stormed out to cool off.

  “So you’re telling me you were going to sex shops while your mama was alive? That’s a tough sell Maggie.”

  “Jeez Jade, I wasn’t hanging around 'em like a soda stand. I went a couple times when she worked late. Went in, went out, no biggie.”

  Jade stared for a long time without speaking. She glanced up to the shelf with the cane and the Cat, looking back at Maggie still quiet. Maggie wanted to speak but clicked her jaw shut and waited. This was a 'speak first and lose' thing. Finally Jade broke.

  “So run with the big dogs or stay at the pound huh?” her face hung low.

  Maggie read between the lines. Her friend thought she’d been left behind. In truth she had, but no longer. Damage control was needed STAT and a Nerf brick was not going to work.

  “No. To me it’s more like learn the game from those who successfully play it, or who play to win and don’t get eaten alive or killed.”

  “This is really what you want?” she didn’t look so kicked after the different viewpoint was given.

  “I think so Jade. Maybe one day I’ll wake up and it will have been a phase. Right now, I want to be the 'it' person on the scene. I want to be the one they wait for, the one they want. I want to be the one at the top. Will that be here? Somehow I don’t think so. For now though, it’s
where I am. Can you be best friends with a soon to be ex-showgirl Dominatrix who wears Wonder Woman red leather and throws a mean whip?”

  Jade burst into laughter. “Oh, I don’t know. This I need to see first. Where is it? Put it on.”

  “Ha ha. You’ll have to wait. It’s a custom suit. I was coming from the final fitting when I got home tonight.”

  “Jury’s out then until I see it.” Jade winked.

  “Seriously?”

  “Lighten up Mags. Of course I can be your friend with all that. You’re still you. Speaking of juries, do you need someone to go with on Monday?”

  Maggie had been actively not thinking about Monday all week.

  “No. It’s a formality in front of the judge. Everything was done a couple weeks ago. This is just to make it official. I appreciate the thought though. It’s crazy sweet of you.”

  “Oh, okay.”

  Jade switched gears quickly. “If you’re not going to show me your fancy suit, then let’s get back to Mr. Swayze and his moves. At least he’ll show them to me.” she mocked.

  Just like that it was over. Maggie had mostly come clean and Jade had mostly been okay with it. Somewhere in the back of her mind Maggie knew she’d be called out to model the suit somewhere down the road and hopefully by then the mostly okay would be all okay. Jade hadn’t asked to tag along, go to the shop, for more details on anything with Thorne, or the specifics on what exactly happened behind the drapes at the club. All in all, it had gone pretty well.

  Too full for popcorn, they kicked back on the sectional and watched Baby begin her transformation from awkward ugly duckling to beautiful swan. Maggie saw a completely different show than Jade did. Somewhere before the final reprise of ‘I’ve had the time of my life...’ Maggie’s resolve fell in line for good and her future became one last leap away. Now, to make it happen.

  ‘This woman’s work...’

  Jade was up and out early in borrowed yoga pants and a t-shirt. Dry cleaning was such a glamorous business. Maggie putzed around the loft; cleaning and doing laundry, biding time until she could go see Ava. She practiced some with the Cat but was itchy to try the long tail.