Page 77 of In Control

The bastard is going to regret the day he ever sent our girl a letter.

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Gabe insistson taking Sophia on a backstage tour of the opera house before dinner on Saturday night. There’s no ballet performance tonight, it’s a production ofCarmenand the dressing rooms are full of the cast tugging on elaborate costumes and having their faces painted in vivid colours.

Sophia holds Gabe’s hand and lets him pull her through the chaos, Liam and I tagging along behind. It’s been a while since I came backstage and I’d forgotten how awe-inspiring it is, the whole place buzzing with energy. I understand why Gabe gets such a kick out of this place.

He takes us down into the vaults first, pulling out some of the costumes from past productions and letting Sophia fawn over the intricate lace and tulle encrusted with jewels and sequins of every colour under the rainbow.

“Want to try one on?” Gabe asks as she runs her hand over a dress with a strapless bodice and flared skirt.

“It’s tiny! I’d never fit in it.”

Gabe rests his hands on her waist. “You would.”

She hesitates and it’s clear she’s tempted. “I used to dance,” she whispers, “when I was younger, but I didn’t really have any talent.”

“I find that hard to believe,” Gabe says.

She whacks him playfully on the pec. “You’re such a damn flatterer. Show me some of your costumes.”

“Show her the one you wore for theRomeo and Julietperformance,” I tell Gabe. I turn to Sophia as my omega starts searching through the wardrobes. “He looked his most handsome in that one.”

“Now who’s being a flatterer,” Gabe says, although I can feel through the bond how much he likes the compliment.

He holds up the costume comprising a red velvet jacket and breeches with gold trimming. Sophia practically swoons.

“You must look like a Prince in this costume.”

“I do. Maybe I could borrow it for an evening.” He winks and places it carefully back on the rack.

Next he shows us backstage, where the props and scenery are kept. Sophia gasps at the artwork, and Gabe explains how each backdrop is painted by hand.

Then he leads her out onto the stage, and she persuades him to pirouette across the sprung floorboards. He adds some leaps in for added effect and all three of us are clapping by the end.

He smiles at us broadly and I can feel that happiness in his bond again. It’s not just Sophia’s presence, it’s the fact Liam and I are here too.

“Your turn, Sophia,” he says gesturing to the empty stage.

“I don’t think I can remember any of the steps.”

“Well, go stand in the centre and show me your best first position.”

She strides right to the middle and positions her feet in a V shape. Gabe comes to inspect her, adjusting her chin and straightening her spine. “Not bad,” he tells her, before sweeping her forward and kissing her lips. “I always wanted to do it up here,” he whispers loud enough for both me and Liam to hear, but if that was his hope, he’s out of luck. The stage manager comes and shoos us off in the next moment.

“Shame,” he mutters as we duck behind the curtain. “Let me show you my dressing room instead.”

Liam freezes and my own spine stiffens.

“Are you sure, Gabe?”

As lead male dancer for the Studworth company, he has his own private dressing room, reserved exclusively for him. In recent years, nobody but the pack has been allowed to enter.

Gabe tries to hide it, but I can sense the tension in his shoulders.

“I want Sophia to see it.”

“Oh God,” she jokes, “is it hideously obnoxious? Am I going to have to break up with you when I see it?”

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