Page 14 of Resist
He looked out at the others then back toward me.
I kept smiling.
He stopped still and threw his hands up in the air.
“NO! I can’t do it.” Brad waved at Dex. “Turn it off. I can’t fucking do it.”
Resting his arms on top of his head, he paced to the side of the stage then turned back to face me. “Fire me, I don’t care. I can’t fucking seduce my boss.”
I laughed. “Why not?”
“Because you’re MY BOSS! It’s like dancing for my mother or sister.”
“But you dance for mothers and sisters all the time, Brad. I’m no different.”
I was different, and I knew it. This impromptu performance was my way of not only attempting to improve his onstage performance but to also bring him down a peg or two. Yes, Iwashis boss, and his actions at breakfast did not reflect that.
“Youaredifferent, Helena. I can’t do it.”
“Oh, Bradley…” I sighed and noticed Noah’s mouth quirk into a smile at my condescending use of his brother’s full name. “When on stage you are acting, are you not?”
He gripped his hair. “Yes.”
“Then why can’t you act now?”
“Because I can’t.”
“Huh. Interesting.” I picked up my iPad, which I’d placed under the chair, and tapped the screen as if I were making a note about him.
I wasn’t.
“Josh. Your turn,” I said, dismissing Brad.
Josh didn’t bother with the stairs onto the stage, instead hoisting himself up like a pole-vaulter without the pole. “Your wish is my command.”
I brushed my lap with my hands. “Mycommand is my command, Joshua. I don’t wish for anything.”
He quirked an eyebrow and nodded toward Dex, then he dipped his head and spread his legs to a shoulder-width apart. The electric guitar riff of “Bad to the Bone” by George Thorogood burst through the speakers, nearly knocking me off my seat. I cringed and indicated with my hand that Dex turn it down a notch or two, which he did after a show of apology.
Before I could gather my bearings and focus on Josh’s performance, my chair was spun to my left — again, nearly knocking me off my seat — and my body now faced Josh who was roughly an arm’s length away. His expression spoke dirty and cocky as hell, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me nervous. Having Josh perform for me in front of everyone was a risk. He was a loose cannon at the best of times, and I had no idea if he’d take my request seriously or not. But I had a few points to make, and I sure as hell was going to make them, regardless of what happened next.
Gripping the sides of my chair, I held still while admiring his confidence as he flicked the lapels of his hoodie and seductively slid down the zipper, his left leg stomping with perfect timing to the beat. Josh tore the jacket from his shoulder and swung it around his head before launching it toward Corinne. It fell short of where she was sitting, but she wolf-whistled his effort, which drew a smile from his hard-set face.
For the first time since I’d arrived on tour, I noticed Josh’s dark brown eyes twinkle, and it was obvious to me in that moment that they only did so for Corinne. She drew a lightness out of him, which, funnily enough, complemented his dark side. It was sweet to see, and I caught myself swooning at their connection.
Snapping my attention back to his performance, I focussed on the roll of his hips to the rhythm of the music and how he teased his fingers along the seam of his t-shirt, climbing it up and over his abs.
I bit my lip; his abs more than deserved the praise.
Josh trailed his hand along my jaw, and my natural instinct was to pull away. I didn’t like to be touched without giving permission, but I couldn’t let him see the trepidation I battled within. Not here and not now. I’d instigated this.I’drequested he do what he was doing.
Suddenly, his fingertips bit into the sides of my jaw, and the twinkle that had been in Josh’s eyes moments ago vanished, a cold, almost scary iniquity replacing it. I sat straighter in my seat as he let go and stepped behind me, uncertainty creeping my spine like a spider when his large hands settled on my shoulders.
I told myself to breathe, remain calm, and most importantly, stay in control of the situation. Regardless of him holding the reins of his act every time he performed it, I couldn’t allow him that luxury right now. I couldn’t allow myself to be coerced into submission in front of anyone.
The point I had to prove was important, I just had to endure his actions long enough to prove it.
My skin prickled when Josh’s fingers danced up my neck in slow, soothing circles, but I soon relaxed as they worked their magic into the depths of my skin while he ground his body into the back of my chair. The move was clever; I’d give him that. Distract with harmless indecency while simultaneously conducting a relaxing massage.
