by K. K. Allen
An arm shot out from the dark, and my breath caught in my throat before I could scream. I felt myself yanked off balance until I was falling into a man whose scent had become my home. I giggled and buried my face in his chest. “What are you doing?”
I felt him lean down, his lips just a breath from mine as he slid a hand over my ass and gripped it. Chills burst from my skin, and heat pooled between my legs. “I can’t stop thinking about your hot mouth on my cock.”
“Shh,” I whispered and narrowed my eyes. Even in dim light, he could see me as well as I could see him. He smiled. “Anyone could see us right now,” I reminded him.
He wrinkled his nose and looked around. “Not a fucking person here, babe.” He pulled me closer and leaned in again. “I couldn’t wait until after dinner. I just wanted one of these.” He pressed his lips to mine. The kiss was soft and slow as his mouth parted mine, and my head swirled at the feel of his warm tongue darting between my teeth. I curled into him, melting with each second. His palms moved from my ass to my back, and his thumbs made circle patterns against me. It was the perfect kiss.
He pulled away but didn’t let me go. Thank God. I might not have been able to support my own weight. Not with my head spinning and my heart pounding like crazy. “You were a fucking rock star today, you know that?”
I bit my lip, feeling the giant smile that was about to blossom on my face. “It felt … incredible, Theo. If it felt that good today, I can’t even imagine a live show.”
“It’ll be a thousand times what you felt today. With the crowd feeding you their energy with their excitement and screams. When I’m up on that stage, dancing is the closest thing I’ve ever felt to flying.”
“I can’t wait.” I beamed and leaned in for another kiss. Then I pulled back, remembering something. “What was that about between you and Reggie today?”
Theo’s eyes flitted away, as if he wanted to roll them but didn’t. “He was just being Reggie. Nothing to worry about.”
I wasn’t sure I believed him. Their exchange looked heated, but I wasn’t able to make out anything. “Okay,” I finally said, letting the subject go. “But now we really need to get out of here.”
He nodded and kept his eyes on me as I backed away. “You’re coming to our room tonight?”
I bit my lip as I considered my plans. “Yeah, I’ll figure something out. Maybe I’ll finally have that talk with Amie.”
CHAPTER 55
Lex
I didn’t talk to Amie. Not that night, not the next, and the secrecy continued well into the next week. I was starting to get nauseated every time I made an excuse to step away from our room. There were only so many trips to the gym I could make while praying she didn’t follow me. My best excuse was the one that tore me up the most.
“I’m going to step out to call Shane,” I told her that night as she was getting ready to shower.
The disappointment on her face crushed me. “But your calls with him are, like, five hours long. We’re going to Tao tonight. Remember? Reggie got us bottle service, and the whole crew is supposed to be there.” She wasn’t about to let up. “Can you just tell him you’ll talk tomorrow?”
The acid in my gut was about to eat its way through my body. Shit. I’d totally forgotten about our crew club night. We’d wanted to make it a monthly thing where we’d pitch in and grab bottle service at one of the fancier clubs on the strip. Tonight we were supposed to head to Tao at the Venetian.
I let the door handle slip out of my hands and walked over to the closet. “I can’t believe I forgot.” I tried to hide my burning face. I could sense that Amie wasn’t buying it. She crossed her arms in the doorway of the bathroom and narrowed her eyes at me.
“Lex, be straight with me. Were you really going to call Shane and talk for hours? I mean, I have a friend on tour with him right now, and that crew works almost every night.”
My entire body felt as if it were going up in flames. Why had I put off telling Amie? I could trust her. The time had just never seemed right. I faced her, my shoulder sagging, and I could feel the air deflate from my chest. “I wasn’t going to call Shane.” I bit my lip, trying desperately to form the right words in my head.
“Where were you going? Is it a guy?”
I nodded, relief slipping through my veins. Maybe if she guessed, it would be easier.
She narrowed her eyes. “Is it someone I know?”
Her mouth dropped at the half smile I gave her. The words were not coming off my tongue.
“Oh my God. It’s Reggie. You’re sleeping with Reggie?” Her voice practically squealed with shock at a volume that had me muffling my ears.
“Be quiet,” I hissed. When I finally felt safe enough to release my ears, I tried again. “You think I’m sleeping around with Reggie?”
Amie threw her hands up, a befuddled look on her face. “Who else could it be? He’s the only straight male on the crew. Except for Theo, but—” Her eyes locked on mine at the mention of Theo’s name. I felt my blush deep in my bones. Her jaw fell open. “Lex. Please tell me you are not sleeping with Theo fucking Noska.” When I cringed and didn’t respond, she threw her hand over her mouth before hissing, “Our choreographer?”
Maybe it was an awful idea to confide in Amie. She might have been my best friend on this crew, but I hadn’t known her very long. And I was breaking a rule. I wasn’t above the rules, and maybe she’d feel that the rest of the crew should know too. Suddenly I felt sick.
“I should have known.” Her gaze wandering around the room, she was probably thinking about all the instances that should have tipped her off. “All the extra sessions together. You were helping him. He wanted to hand you that solo. Oh my God, Theo has been … nicer than ever before.” Her eyes shot to mine. “You’re fucking Theo?”
I cringed again and took a deep breath. “We’re in love, Amie.”
She barked out a laugh, as though she thought I was kidding until she saw my face. “You’re serious.”
I nodded. “We spent a lot of time together back in LA. We got close without meaning to. I was honestly just helping him, but—I don’t know—it just happened.”
Her expression was still amazed. “Holy shit. You could get fired.”
I stepped forward and took her hands. I would have sunk to my knees and prayed too if I thought it would help. “You have to promise not to say anything. Theo and I were going to end it once we got to Vegas, but we couldn’t. It hurt too much to stay apart, so we’re still together, but no one can know. Especially not Reggie. I don’t really understand the beef he has with Theo, and I don’t want to give him any more ammo.”
Amie groaned and pulled her hands from mine. “Lex. Reggie is my friend. And he likes you. Do you realize how upset he’ll be if he finds out?”
“He won’t.” I stressed my words. “No one knows. No one but you and me and Theo.” I purposely omitted the fact that Winter knew too. “Please don’t breathe a word of this. When the concert is over in six months, we won’t care who knows.”
“This is insane. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to look at him the same again. Or both of you when you’re in the same room.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, are we talking about the same Theo? I thought you hated him.”
“I don’t.”
“Are you sure?”
How could I convince her without dragging her to Theo’s room and performing a makeout session in front of her? That wasn’t happening.
“I’m positive. Amie, you need to promise me you won’t breathe a word of this to anyone.”
She sighed. “Fine. I promise. Does this mean you’ll stop lying to me about where you’re sneaking off to? And will you spend tonight dancing with me instead of eye fucking your new boyfriend from across the room?”
I laughed and reached around her neck for a hug. “I promise. All of the above. I’m yours tonight.”
She groaned out a laugh. “All right, you dirty little whore. Let me shower. You find something to wear. One of th
ose fancy dresses you bought with your winnings would be perfect.”
Amie shut the bathroom door behind her, and I grabbed my phone. As soon as the shower started, I called Theo. He answered on the second ring.
“On your way? I’m in bed. And I already did the hard part and took my clothes off. All you have to do is sit on me.”
I laughed. Despite my talk with Amie and the harsh reminder that what Theo and I were doing was wrong, his cocky comment reminded me why it was all worth it. “You’re not going to like me very much right now.”
“No,” he warned. “Don’t you dare bail on me.”
“I’m sorry, but I forgot that I’d already promised the crew I’d go to Tao tonight.”
“Fuck, Lex. I really didn’t want to do the whole social thing tonight. I just wanted you.”
My chest grew warm at his words. “I didn’t say you had to go. Maybe I can sneak into our room after Tao.”
He snorted through the phone. “If you’re going to Tao, so am I. Winter invited me earlier, but I didn’t know it was a crew thing. Now I feel like a jackass.”
“Well, don’t. But I should also let you know that Amie started asking questions, and she kinda-sorta guessed that we’ve been hanging out.”
“Hanging out?” Theo challenged. “I think we’ve been doing more than that, don’t you?”
I rolled my eyes and walked to the closet to start scanning my limited selection. “You know what I mean.”
“Did she say what tipped her off?”
I explained her questioning my calls to Shane and how she’d had a feeling something was off. I also assured him Amie promised to keep our secret. Theo didn’t seem worried about it.
We got off the phone just as I found the perfect outfit, a strapless red tube dress, fitted at the waist and chest but loose in the skirt. It had the perfect amount of excess material to twirl in without showing all my ass. I hoped.
I took a quick shower after Amie then put it on. “I won’t be bending over in this dress.”
She looked at me in the mirror where she was applying her makeup. She nodded. “It’s as perfect as the day I made you buy it. But yeah, definitely no twerking tonight.” She turned her eyes back to the highlighter she was applying. “Now finish getting ready. I told Reg we’d meet him at the bar downstairs for a drink first.” She quirked an eye. “That’s cool, right? You hanging out with Reggie? Theo and Reg don’t seem to get along very well.”
I shrugged and reached for my concealer. “I have no idea what the deal is between those two. I don’t know if I want to.”
Amie reached for her mascara and let it hover above her eyes while she looked at me. “Why do I get the feeling that by the end of this concert series, some major shit is going to go down?”
I let out an awkward laugh. “Let’s just take it one day at a time, shall we?”
CHAPTER 56
Theo
It was past eleven o’clock when Winter and her entourage finally came by my room to grab me. I didn’t want to deal with the hassle of getting into a club, so I called Winter to let her know I’d changed my mind. She was already drunk by the time she showed up at my door.
“Glad you decided to join us.” She beamed, her eyes glossed over, as we were escorted from the SUV and through a private entrance at the Venetian.
“Figured it was time to let loose a little.” That was a lie. I was only going because Lex would be there, and I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to see my girl all dressed up.
“Good.” Winter wrapped an arm around mine, tripping a little on her heels. “It’ll be like old times. Maybe I’ll even give you a lap dance later.” She winked and giggled, and my stomach recoiled at the thought of Winter rubbing her ass on me, the show visible to all around us, including Lex.
I let out a good-natured laugh to hide my discomfort. She wasn’t serious. I could feel it. Whatever had once connected Winter and me in a less than platonic way had faded completely over recent weeks. Still, I never knew what Winter would pull when she had some alcohol in her. Suddenly, I was craving my night in with Lex all over again.
Alison shot me a look, and I knew what she was trying to tell me with her eyes. With six various bottles of liquor sitting in front of Winter, it was bound to be “one of those nights.” I sighed, because I agreed with Alison’s warning. This was about to become a shit show.
Winter gestured for me to sit beside her, and I knew I couldn’t say no. I came with her, after all, and someone would need to alert her guards as soon as she needed to be dragged out of there. Shots were already being passed around our table and over to the Ravens’ table beside us. I sucked in a breath when I saw Lex among the crew. She was wearing a sleeveless short red dress with her hair down and flowing freely over her shoulders. Reggie stood beside her with his palm splayed on her back. I tensed.
“Theo, wake up.” Winter was yelling at me and nudging me with her shoulder, knocking the liquid in my glass over the edge and onto my pants. “Oops.” She giggled then turned back to the group. “To the best crew a girl could ask for.”
The table cheered, but my attention was focused on Lex, even when I tipped the glass back and the liquid lit a fire down my throat. Reggie glanced over at me, his eyes narrowing slightly, and something about his look unsettled my insides. His gaze darted between Winter and me, and I could almost catch the confusion in his eyes. Why the fuck did he care?
“Shit,” Winter said before turning to me and leaning in. “I need to tell you something.”
From her tone, I knew whatever she was about to say had sobered her some. “What’s up?” I shouted.
“I wanted to warn you before tonight, but I didn’t think you were coming. Reggie is pretty pissed off. You might want to stay away from him.”
My brows turned in, and I wanted to tell her that I didn’t give a fuck what Reggie was angry about. I wouldn’t be tiptoeing around him. But I knew better than to say it. “Why? What happened?”
She cringed and leaned in again. “The label wants to cut the bonus track from the show.”
My heart dropped into my stomach. Fuck. She didn’t wait for me to chime in before continuing. “They think it’s good enough to be a starter single, so they want to save it for my next album. I called Reggie after rehearsal to tell him, but he wasn’t having it. He even called the label and started yelling at the first person who picked up the phone, the poor receptionist.” She shook her head as if recalling the conversation. “It was awful. I’ve never seen him so enraged.”
A rage-filled Reggie didn’t surprise me, and I wasn’t concerned in the least over his feelings. It was good choreography, but his attitude after the performance had me instantly regretting my compliments. “So, Lex lost her feature?”
Winter narrowed her eyes. “Seriously? Are we back to her? This isn’t about Lex.”
I pressed my lids together, knowing I had to keep myself in check. “I know. Sorry. But Winter, that’s the breaks of the business. You keep trying to protect Reggie’s feelings, but that’s not the way this works. He’ll get his opportunity. That doesn’t mean you have to be the one who gives it to him.”
Winter reached for her glass and sipped from it, as though she couldn’t deal with her own thoughts. I could already see what would come of tonight if I didn’t take her drink from her, but I couldn’t do it. It wasn’t my place, and I was more upset over Lex losing a part I knew she would have killed onstage.
There were many reasons I shouldn’t have hooked up with one of my backup dancers, and this was one of them. Witnessing the rapid changes that happened in the industry, often to career-altering levels, was something I could handle. But watching these changes happen to the woman I loved made me want to step in and fix things for her, and I couldn’t. Not if Lex were truly going to make it in this industry. She had to grow her own wings and experience the rise and fall on her own to truly succeed.
Reggie’s jaw tensed when he saw me talking to Winter. I watched as he tugged Lex closer, jerking
her body toward him. She looked up in obvious surprise as he stared down at her with a playful smile. Before I could stand and get her the hell out of his grip, Amie was pulling her away from the table and toward the dance floor. Maybe she’d witnessed what I had. Whatever the reason she was helping Lex escape, I was grateful.
Something crawled under my skin and festered as I watched Reggie pour drink after drink down his throat. All the while, his eyes never left Lex. Lex, Amie, and the other female Ravens were tearing up the dance floor, attracting eyes from all over the room. As much as I wanted to enjoy the show, I couldn’t look away from Reggie. There was something about the way he’d grabbed Lex and the careless way he was tossing liquor back, as if he were trying to drown himself. I didn’t trust him. Not for a second.
I tracked his movements as he stood and cracked his neck before making his way to the dance floor. Amie tried to dance with him, but he moved her to the side to get to Lex. What the fuck? I stood, inching my way to the side of the dance floor. If he tried anything, I’d get to him and break his neck faster than he could try to stop me.
“Theo, what the hell are you doing?” Alison gritted out as I started to take off. She must have been watching me watch Reggie. But she was steaming.
I could feel the heat of her words and the warning that came with them. In that moment, I didn’t give a fuck. “Just going to talk to my friend here.”
“You’re acting like a jealous boyfriend,” she hissed from behind me. “You think no one will pick up on it? Sit back down. Now.”
Reggie didn’t touch Lex when he started to dance. It actually looked pretty innocent to begin with, but I noticed what she didn’t. That when Lex turned to dance with the girls, he moved up behind her and pressed his body into hers. I could see the shock that registered on her face and the way she immediately tried to fight it, but his grip was strong. Her eyes found me, and that was when I snapped.
