Page 23 of Beast

I heard the emcee giving us an enthusiastic introduction and then we were on.

The curtains swished open, the drummer counted us in, and the band started the intro music.Soon I was too busy singing to worry about stage fright.

The energy of the audience was contagious.They jumped up from their seats, singing along and swaying in time to the music.Servers had to duck and carefully work their way around the dancers as they brought food and drink to the people still seated at the tables around the perimeter of the room.

I began to relax.I could do this.The people in the crowd were enjoying the show, they loved us!

I plucked the microphone off the stand so I could move around the stage as I sang.This was what I’d always dreamed of doing.The connection with the audience was exhilarating.

I focused on one teenager in the audience as I sang about first love, and she blushed a deep red.Out of the corner of my eye I could see Beast keeping a watchful eye on the crowd.Every so often his gaze would drift back to me, and I’d feel his quiet strength bolster my confidence.

Time flew by in a mixture of songs, banter, and an occasional drum or guitar solo that let me catch my breath.

Before I knew it, the emcee came back on stage and announced the intermission.As soon as the curtains closed, I ran to Beast, throwing myself in his arms.“They loved me!”

He caught me against him and laughed.“Of course they did.You’re amazing, and you connect with them.You make them feel like they’re part of the show.”

“They are!Did you see that kid blush?And that one couple dance a solo to that jazz number?”

“Yeah.Just don’t expect me to ever try that.”He handed me a bottle of water.“Here.You need to hydrate.You probably should have a bottle on stage with you.”

I twisted the lid off and downed half the contents in one big, long drink.He wasn’t wrong.I felt parched.

The guys in the band watched in amusement.They were all old hands at this, and I felt like a kid at her first rodeo, but I couldn’t help it.

The drummer set his sticks down and sauntered over.“Congrats, Piper.I told you it was just stage fright.Everyone gets it at some point.I know performers who have been on the stage for decades and they still tense up when it’s a new gig or a new venue.”

“Thanks, Jose.”I gave him a grateful smile.“You guys were amazing.You made me sound great.”

Jose wandered back to the band area.The stage manager hurried on, checking wires and plugs to make sure everything was still secure.Glancing up at me, he nodded.“Good first set.You’ve got twenty minutes if you need to go do anything.”

“Thanks.”Beast grabbed my hand and led me off the stage area.

“Where are we going?”I frowned.“We only have twenty minutes.”

“Then we’d better make this fast.”His eyes danced with mischief and something else that sent a sizzling heat dancing through my veins.He led me down the back corridor and into a room marked SUPPLIES.Flipping the light on, he locked the door and turned to drag me up against him.His mouth closed over mine as I let out a squeak of alarm.“Watching you out there, singing your heart out to that crowd gave me a monster hard-on.”He took my hand and guided it down to the huge bulge at his crotch.

I should have said no.I should have pushed him away.I should have been outraged.

Did he really think he could just drag me offstage for a quickie in between sets?

Yes, apparently, he did.

And my traitorous body seemed to be onboard with it.My thong was already damp as he pushed up the skirt of my outfit to my waist.

“We don’t have time for this!Twenty minutes, remember?”I hissed.

“Down to fifteen, so quit talking and help me out here.I’m not stopping, and the show isn’t going on without you.”

The thought of all those people out in the audience, cheerfully unaware of what we were doing, turned me on.Who knew I’d get a kick out of making out in a supply closet halfway through my debut musical show?

I reached down and undid Beast’s pants.

“That’s my girl.”He took his cock in his hand and gave it a couple of quick strokes.

My eyes fixated on a single drop of moisture glistening on the tip.I flicked my tongue out to wet my lips.“I want to taste that.”

He shook his head.“Later.Right now, I need to be inside you.”He produced a condom from his back pocket and quickly sheathed himself.Grasping me by the hips, he pushed my thong aside and positioned himself at my entrance.

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