Page 19 of Sprite Wedding
When my former boss, Frank, came backstage, he asked, “Lucas, what are you doing here?”
“I’m here to dance.”
“Oh, really?” His expression turned amused. “Be my guest.”
Nice. It was all coming together. I pulled out my phone and texted Zoe.
Come on down to Ripped. I have a surprise for you tonight.
Then I put my phone away and searched for props to see what I could come up with in a short time. I wanted to make a splash when I returned to the stage tonight. I’d let them all know what they were missing while I was gone. The crowds would cheer my name.
Lucas was back.
CHAPTER5
ZOE
What the sweet and sour potions was going on?
I stared at my phone. Lucas asked me to meet him at his former club where he had worked as an exotic dancer. Yikes. The hair on the back of my neck rose. Something funky was up. First, the cruise, and now this.
I arrived and entered the club where we’d first met. Not exactly a romantic setting, but we weren’t a typical couple. How strange it was to return months later to this dark room with half-naked men dancing on stage or entertaining the crowd as they navigated around tables. The scent of alcohol, perfume, and hair and body products surrounded me. I found a seat at the back of the room, close to where I’d sat the first time I’d come here. Once seated, the familiar scene sparked a rush of memories.
I’d come with Nova after we’d had a tip that a demon had been spotted entering the club. We’d been undercover and had pretended it was a girls’ night out. Only when Lucas had come over to try to show off his dance moves, he sensed I was his mate. It knocked him off guard and off balance. I’d barely avoided being flattened by a muscular, shirtless dragon shifter.
I was alone here tonight, consumed by speculation about why Lucas had called me down. While I sat through some initial amateur acts, I sipped a Mai Tai and tried not to worry—much.
The announcer then introduced a “special guest” and a “blast from the past,” and I knew who was up next. “It’s Raining Men” played. When Lucas strutted onto the stage wearing suspenders over a white shirt and black pants, the crowd cheered. My heart plummeted. Wasthisthe surprise he had in store for me?
He twirled a closed umbrella, using it as a prop as he spun around. Then he held it in front of his crotch before he popped it open. Raucous applause and hoots followed. He lapped it up with a mega grin, encouraging more with his hands. Up there on the stage, it was clear he loved the adulation of an audience, something he no longer had since he’d quit.
Did he have regrets? As he sauntered around on stage, removing the suspenders, I feared he must. Why else would he be back here cavorting about like this?
And if that was the case, why couldn’t he tell me? Was I so unapproachable in our relationship that he couldn’t talk to me but instead had to show things with dramatic flair for me to get the point?
He removed his shirt and then pulled the suspenders back up over his otherwise bare chest. I took two big gulps and then downed my drink. Lucas claimed to be happy with me, but with what I was seeing, something had to be missing for him.
By the time the song ended, he was down to a black G-string that didn’t cover much. It was clear to see that he was endowed with quite the package—one that I thought I’d be the only one seeing. I stood to approach Lucas backstage, if they’d even let me back there with all the men in various stages of undress.
Lucas didn’t leave the stage.
“Do you want more?” he asked the crowd.
They hollered yes and cheered.
Lucas cupped his ear. “I can’t hear you.”
He encouraged them to get louder, and they did.
“Okay, okay,” he agreed with a broad grin. “You convinced me to stay for one more dance.”
Nine Inch Nails’ “Closer” played, and red silks draped down from rafters. Oh my, I’d seen him perform with these before, and it was quite impressive. Lucas took hold of the silk and climbed up the rope with movements that were both acrobatic and sensual, showing off the contours in his muscles. He’d roll down them in dramatic fashion as if he was about to fall but would catch himself before reaching the floor.
The audience loved it tonight as they had the last time. In fact, I think they were even louder this time, especially when he arched his hips up with suggestive thrusts. Many of them shouted his name. “Lucas, I missed you!”
When he finished, he stood and bowed. Most of the women were on their feet chanting his name. He soaked it up with a mega grin.
“Ladies, thanks for having me back tonight. I wanted to come back here one more time to the place where I’ve received so much love and warmth.”
