Page 58 of Numbers Boy
“These bad boys are what had me limping the other day,” he jokes as he pops the lid off.
Inside are the sexiest heels I’ve ever laid eyes on. The color surprises me since I thought they’d be white to match the dress. But the thick soles are black at the toe, which is open, then fade slowly to a bright red at the heel. The upper piece stays black and goes up into an ankle boot. But the back is what catches my eye the most. It’s a lace-up pattern, showing a glimpse of the same bright red through the laces, and makes me want to see them being worn. To see Steve’s pedicure peek out the front and be the only person to know why it’s smudged. To peel him out of anything else he might be wearing and drop to my knees while he towers over me in the heels. To take him apart bit by bit until his legs give out from the pleasure.
“What are you thinking there, Noe?” Steve asks, sly glint in his eye telling me he has a pretty good idea already.
“How about I show you?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Steve
THE FINAL WEEKSbefore the show fly by in a flurry of work, dog walks, practice, and as many dates as Noah and I can feasibly squeeze in. And even when there’s no time for dates, we always end the day wrapped in each other’s arms. Something shifted that night on Noah’s couch, and we haven’t spent a night apart since. We’ve been mostly staying at my place, but on the few nights we’ve crashed at his and Blake’s, Stu has been eager to spend the night with Stacy. I’m going to give him another week before I bring up the fact that he hasn’t had an overnight with a date of his own in months.
Stu and I are currently sitting in the back room he reserved for us at Full Fitness, stretching before our respective workouts. He blocked it off all day, knowing I’d want a longer rehearsal session before the performance this weekend. My head is off in space, thinking dreamily through the way Noah woke me this morning, when a wolf whistle splits the air.
“Hot damn, boo, that is one loved-up face if I’ve ever seen one,” comes Henry’s perky voice from the entryway to the space.
I don’t try to deny it. Even if I wanted to, which I don’t because Noah is amazing, there’s no way I could control whatever my face is doing right now. He literally blew my mind earlier with his wicked tongue. And a few well-placed fingers. It’sgoing to be at least another few hours before I have any chance of wiping whatever look I’m wearing off my face.
“Right?” Stu agrees, reaching his hands out for mine so we can do a partner stretch. I fold forward and link my fingers through his before leaning back and pulling Stu gently toward me. He sends me a wink. “It’s disgusting.”
“Liar,” I call him out. “I know for a fact you told Noah what my favorite flowers are. You wouldn’t have done that if you really thought we were gross.”
Henry laughs brightly as he comes to join us on the floor while Stu sputters indignantly. “Who snitched?”
I grin, letting myself be bent forward again. “Blake. He was giving Noah grief about how sappy he is.”
“Methinks the best friends doth protest too much,” Henry chimes in, body twisted up in some sort of pretzel-y stretch that hurts my brain. “Maybe you should get together with Blake, Stu.”
Stu and I both stop what we’re doing and turn to our shorter friend. “Uhh…” we both say, not quite sure where Henry is going with this.
Henry rolls his eyes and huffs. “Not likethat. Obviously, Stu is straight. I just meant to talk about how gross and sappy you two are. If anyone would understand, it would be both the besties. Duh.”
“Ohh,” we respond, nodding.
“Come on, Stu,” Henry says, effortlessly moving on. “Let’s watch Steve rock this routine.”
He moves to the mirrored wall of the room and drops back down, legs crossed in front of him. He pats the space next to him, and Stu takes the invitation. I pull up my drag playlist and toss my phone to Stu, who waits until I get set in my starting position, then presses Play. As the opening of the song pipes through the Bluetooth speaker in the corner behind me, I take a deep breathand let my mind focus on the feeling of power flowing through me. I do a full run-through, making mental notes of spots I want to work on today. When I’m done, Henry and Stu cheer, and I give an exaggerated bow.
“Perfect!” Henry says, grinning widely. He’s standing now, bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet, making his workout skirt flounce around his thighs. “You look fabulous.”
Stu nods, resetting the song before I can ask him to. “Noah’s not gonna know what hit him when he sees you on Saturday.”
Henry’s eyes go wide, and he swings his head between me and Stu. “You finally invited him?”
“Yep,” I say, trying to act more nonchalant about it than I feel while I take a drink of water. But inside, my stomach is bubbling as I remember how happy Noah was when I asked him. I decide to fan the flames of Henry’s excitement. “He even helped me with my dress prep.”
Henry lets out a squeal, rushing over and wrapping his arms tightly around me. “I’m so happy for you. What did he think of the dress?”
“Well,” I start, going to get my shoes from my duffle bag so I can practice in them this time. “He was very curious about the black underlay, but I wanted to keep that a surprise.”
Henry nods his approval. “Good. Keep that boy in suspense.”
Sitting down to make it easier, I start pulling on and lacing up the stilettos, my face hot as I do. And it’s not just because I was dancing my ass off a few minutes ago. No, this flush is definitely from the residual heat of Noah fucking me in these heels. Henry’s keen gaze clocks my reddened cheeks, and he narrows his eyes at the shoes.
“Why do I get the feeling you’re thinking about sex? Also, what’s up with the pedicure?”
“Because you’re not dumb,” Stu answers, not looking up from his own phone, just as I grin cheekily up at Henry andsay, “Because you’re smart like that. And do you really want to know?”
