Hidden in the Stars (Falling Stars #2) (38 page)

The audience roars, clapping and whistling.

The lights return to their normal dim. And without looking, I reach out, grab my bottle of water, and gulp. Closing my eyes, I will my body to calm the fuck down. Someone may need to strap me to the booth.

Fuck, that wasn't water.

"Fuck me," Kat exclaims, getting my attention. "She's like a different fucking person up there." Her wide eyes lock on mine. "My nipples are hard." Kat cups her boobs.

"Are you sure?" Elliott asks. "I should check."

He reaches across Serena, the grin falling into to a frown when she doesn't react.

"Babe? You okay?" His hands go to her stomach instead of Kat's chest.

"Do you think Miz Liz is into pregnant women?" Serena ignores Elliott and looks at me.

"What?" Elliott chokes on the question.

"I would do her in a second." She looks to her husband, unapologetic. "I would do her so hard, regardless of our marriage."

Laney spits her drink on the table. Mia and Chris burst into laughter.

"We're out of here." Elliott slips out of the booth, pulling Serena with him.

I catch Serena looking back at Mia, grinning.

"Tell your girl I said thank you." Elliott points at me.

"For what?" I laugh the question.

"'Cause it's been weeks, and I'm so getting laid tonight."

Serena starts laughing at his confession.

Wrapping his arm around his wife, Ell's hand drops to her ass, guiding her to the exit.

"Cheers." Xavier lifts his drink to the departing couple.

"Seriously, my nipples are hard," Kat reminds everyone. "Jack, is she into girls?" She waggles her brows.

"No," I state as the sound of music fills the room.

A drumming begins, followed by chimes. Dancers move in synchronized movements to the stage, each of them in leopard tops and fringed panties. The back curtain parts, revealing Liza in a harem girl outfit.

"Trust in me," she sings and the dancers stop.

Liza continues singing and the dancers kneel to the floor in levels while two others help Liza descend their backs like they are steps. Her bare feet hit the stage and she flows toward the edge, going into the crowd. The dancers follow like they're in a trance

Welcome to my fucking life.

"Shut your mouth," she purrs, using her fingers to lift one guy's chin. "And trust in me." Her hand slips over his shoulders and she's on to the next person. This time, it's a woman.

"You said she isn't into women," Kat accuses in a hush.

Dancers flow around her, pulling at scarves dangling from her waist and a hoop around her neck.

Ignoring Kat, I watch Liza stride toward our table.

Her eyes meet mine and she curls her lip, moving toward me.

The dancers continue to pull away material until she stands in a barely there, diamond studded bra top and thong.

My throat goes dry, making it difficult to swallow, and my dick throbs uncomfortably, wanting to follow her and maybe just fuck her in front of the crowd.

That will show all the fuckers staring at her bare ass thinking they can have her.

Reaching the table, Liza walks right by to the hidden stairs behind me. In the booth, I turn to follow her movements. She twists her body back and around, putting her face in mine. Winking, she straightens and continues leading her followers up the stairs and behind the mirror on the wall.

"Damn, this place deserves respect." Big Kam claps Red on the shoulder after the lights come back to normal.

"I'm hoping it gets some soon." Red lifts his beer bottle and drinks.

"You've got mine and you got some talent in this joint." Kam settles back in his chair. "I mean, Liza's a given, but, damn, that redhead is tight."

"Thank you." Red gives a sly smile.

Knowing about his relationship with Bethany, I'm sure that's the reason behind the look.

"I think you'll enjoy Madame J and Lady Nikle. They're up next." Red nods to the stage.

"You plan on doing guest performances?" Big Kam asks.

"I've actually done one." Red's eyes move to me for a moment. "But, I'd like to do more. You know, to draw people in."

Kam nods, looking deep in contemplation for a moment before he says, "If you can get me on stage with Liza, I'd be down for a spot."

"We'll talk." Red raises his beer.

"I wanna do it," Mia says, leaning her upper body onto the table.

"The hell you do," Chris protests.

Rolling her eyes, she keeps looking at Red. "I don't know anything about burlesque, but I'm open to whatever."

"It's more a cabaret-slash-burlesque kind of thing," Red clarifies.

Mia opens her mouth, but Chris breaks back into the conversation.

"The only thing you're open for is me." Chris sets his glass down, making it clack against the table.

Mia finally gives him her attention. On a sigh, she says, "Do you always have to be an asshole?"

Shrugging, he nods, answering, "You already know this."

"And yet, I still put up with you," Mia says, sitting back into the booth.

Chris puts his arms around her, pulling her into his side. "You fucking love me." He presses his lips to her temple.

My chest aches with want and I crane my neck, looking for Liza.

"She is amazing," Gemma says, obstructing my search with her appearance.

Squeezing into the booth, she forces me to scoot over to accommodate her.

"Do you think she and the redhead would be interested in auditioning with my stage director?" Her large eyes are filled with as much hope as her question.

Shrugging, I say, "I can ask her, but I'm not sure what she wants to do."

The statement is true, and the fact that I don't know what she wants to do, bothers me. I glance back at Chris, who still holds Mia captive.

Am I being like him? I haven't asked Liza once what she wants.
Closing my eyes, I rub my forehead.
Damn it, I am being like Christopher. Fuck.

"Are you okay?" Gemma's hand lays on my forearm.

"No," I groan, throwing my body against the back of the booth. Lifting my hand from my head, I motion to Chris. "I'm acting like the douche sitting across from me."

After the show when most of the crowd is gone, Sid leads the way backstage. She, Xavier, and I the only ones, besides Red, left from our group.

"You're not gonna act like your brother, are you?" Red asks, keeping pace with my strides.

"Meaning?" I round a small table.

"Meaning, you aren't going to rush the stage and carry her off because she's half-naked." His brow raises, anticipating my response.

Grinning, I shake my head.

"Nah. I'm a proud man, watching her perform."

"Good, cause I don't want to ban your ass."

"You'd ban me?" I fake shock.

We reach the curtain camouflaging the door to the back.

"Damn straight."

Sid pulls back the sheath of red velvet, grabbing the door handle. Xavier stands close to her back, holding the curtain open.

"Can I get some space, Gandalf the Red?" she asks, obviously annoyed.

"I'm just being helpful," Xavier responds innocently, but he could definitely help without riding her back.

"Mmhmm." She pulls open the door, putting force into it, landing an elbow in his rib.

Xavier gasps from the pain.

"Damn, woman. I'm all for rough, but at least ask my safe word first."

Growling, she slips through the door.

Xavier stands, holding the door open, giving us a large, goofy grin.

"You're a masochist." Red shakes his head, passing through the door.

"Maybe a little." He shrugs.

"You're a brave man," I say, patting his shoulder before ducking into the next room.

"Not really," Xavier says, closing the door behind him. "You guys are just a bunch of pussies. And speaking of pussy, where's my little hellcat?"

He cranes his neck, finding Sid talking to some performers.

"Excuse me," he says, moving in her direction.

At the private dressing room door, Red knocks. Calling through the door, he asks, "All the goodies covered?"

The door swings open to Bethany standing in a pink kimono.

"Like you wouldn't come in either way." She smirks.

"If it were just you, yes." Red grins back, grabbing her hips and backing her into the room.

The moment I enter, Liza turns from her mirror—one fake eyelash still on, curly blonde extensions hanging from the corner of her vanity, and a pile of make-up covered face wipes in front of her.

"Hey," I greet, taking the chair next to her.

"Hi." She blushes.

Looking away, she removes the remaining false lash and scrubs at her face. I watch the way she moves the cloth around her eyes, nose, mouth, neck.

And…I'm hard. Christ, is there anything she does that doesn’t turn me on?

"You're making me self-conscious."

Her words pull me out of my lustful thoughts.

"Why?"

"Because you're staring." Twisting in her chair, she drops the used wipe onto the pile. "I warned you."

Furrowing my brow, I ask, "Warned me 'bout what?"

"That I don't look like Miz Liz outside of this place."

She turns away again, hiding behind her hair.

Grasping the bottom of her chair, I pull her toward me.

"Jackson," she yelps, holding the sides for balance.

Taking her face between my palms, I kiss her hard and push her chair back in its place.

"Hurry and finish, so we can get home."

Her eyes wide in surprise, she nods.

"And so we can save Xavier from an early death."

Keeping her eyes on the reflection, she asks, "Death?"

"Yeah." I nod. "Death by Sidrome."

"Sid..?" She stops and bursts into a fit of laughter. "Oh, shit," she pants, "I'm going to have to tell her that one."

"Don't you dare." I straighten in my chair.

"Why not?"

She collects the wipes, throwing them all in a trashcan between the vanities.

"Because she scares me," I answer honestly.

It makes her laugh harder.

"Don't worry," she pats my leg, smiling, "I'll protect you. Besides, she'll love the nickname."

I snatch her hand from my thigh, bring it to my lips, and kiss.

"Let's get out of here."

Nodding, she quickens her clean up routine.

Before we leave the dressing room, Red mentions Big Kam's interest in performing to Liza. He also mentions what Gemma said to me about auditioning. I hadn't even realized he'd been listening to the conversation.

Liza looks both nervous and surprised. Red tells her to just think about it and they'll talk later. Then he tells us good night and kicks us out of the dressing room.

"They're going to have sex in the room where I get dressed," Liza groans.

"Probably," I agree, placing my hand on her lower back.

"I need to add disinfecting wipes to my bag," she sighs.

"Where's Sid?" I ask, scanning the open backstage space.

"I don't…" She pauses and then stiffens. "What did you do?"

Snapping my eyes to Liza, I follow her gaze.

Sid gives a big smile and releases the doorknob she holds, rushing toward us.

"Talk later, walk now," she rambles, rushing by us.

Looking back to Liza, her worried eyes meet mine.

All she says is, "Run, run now," before bolting after her cousin.

Hurrying to keep up with them, a muffled crash comes from behind. Not looking back, I pick up my pace.