When she disappeared behind her bedroom door, Vordol moved to the couch and sat next to Pitannah. He pulled her onto his lap. “Where were we?”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in until their lips were only a breath apart. “I believe you were about to try and tell me what I can and can’t do this evening.”
Sixteen
Later that evening, Pitannah sat at the dressing table and finished applying the last few glitter stones to her face and shoulders. Those, combined with the shimmer body powder that Ruby had let her use, would catch the light no matter which way she turned.
Daloya and Trenna left after helping with her hair and makeup saying they wanted to make sure they got a good seat in the audience for her show.
A knock at her door made her heart skip a beat. Perhaps it was Vordol.
“Miss Fizz, I have a delivery for you.”
Pitannah pulled her robe on and went to the door. The stagehand passed a box of chocolates through the opening.
“Thank you,” she mumbled as she searched the box for a note. A small card had been slipped into the ribbon around the box that read, “Good luck tonight. XXOO. Ms. Ruby.”
Pitannah smiled then frowned. Why would Ms. Ruby send her something she was allergic to?
Using the number Vordol had given her, she sent a message asking if he knew about the delivery.
While she waited for him to respond, she inspected her cape and dress. She wanted to make sure all of the seams were intact and had not been tampered with. Wardrobe malfunctions were an easy way to embarrass rival entertainers.
She sighed as she ran her hand over the front of the gown. It had more lace and sparkle than fabric—yet each “important” part would be covered until she revealed them. Rodney had truly created a work of art.
I can do this.
I have to do this.
A rap at the door startled her. “Yes?”
“You received a delivery?”
The sound of Vordol’s voice sent a ripple of excitement through her. “Yes.” She opened the door to admit him and pointed to the box on the counter.
He carefully inspected the package. “Who brought it?”
“One of the stagehands.”
“Would you recognize him if you had to?” He asked without looking up from his task.
“Most likely.”
“You didn’t open it?”
“No. Only the card.”
“I’m surprised. Most people would have indulged right away.”
She shook her head. “I can’t eat chocolates. I’m allergic to something in it. I told Ruby that this morning. That’s why I messaged you. I wondered why she would send me something she knew I couldn’t eat.”
“Smart. And a good point. She wouldn’t have.” He tipped the box over and checked the bottom. “These have been tampered with.”
“Do you think anyone else received a box?”
“It’s possible.”
“We need to find out. If someone is trying to eliminate contestants, this would be a perfect way to do it.”
“Curtain call in fifteen!” The stage master called through the intercom as he made his rounds backstage.
“Are you ready?” he asked as his eyes dropped down to her robe.
“Almost. You can help me finish.” She took off the robe she had been wearing and lay it across the back of the chair then headed for the dressing screen. When she glanced back, the blatant appreciation in his eye warmed her from the inside and washed most of her doubts away.
“I assume those glittery things come off?” he asked.
“Of course.”
“If I promise to take them off with my teeth, will you leave some of them on for a while after the show?”
She gave him a sexy grin. “I can be persuaded to do that.” She turned slowly, giving him a glimpse of the back as well. “Anything else you’d like to request?”
“You might want to leave those,” He pointed to the tiny scrap of fabric that was currently passing as her panties, “In your dressing room if you ever want to wear them again.”
A wave of desire rippled through her.
“You know it’s taking every drop of control I have to not grab you and push up against that wall. The only thing really stopping me is knowing that if I do, I’ll smear the paint and glitter and mess up your hard work.” A muscle jumped in his cheek. “You might want to get that dress on before I forget you need to be on stage in a few minutes.”
“If you feel that strongly about my costume so far, I suspect the dress won’t really help that much.” She gave him a saucy wink and disappeared behind the dressing screen. She stepped into the center of the dress then eased her arm through the bodice opening, taking care to not disturb the sparkle stones. She adjusted the material around her hips and let the cascade of fabric fall behind her.
When she stepped out from behind the screen Vordol got to his feet. His eyes darkened with desire. “Damn. You weren’t kidding were you? That’s…” He scanned her from head to toe. “Wow.”
His praise made her bubble inside. “Thank you.” She turned her back to him. “Can you get the closure for me?”
He skimmed his fingers down her spine until he reached the bottom of the closure. Slowly, almost seductively he pulled the edges of the fabric together, sealing them as he moved upward. When he finished, he placed a kiss at the base of her hairline. His warm breath against her bare skin sent ripples of longing all the way down to her toes. The fact that he had taken care to not disturb her body art touched her even more.
She turned and stared up into his eyes.
“Later,” he whispered.
He pulled a pouch from his pocket. “Ruby asked me to give you this. A loaner for tonight.” A string of gemstones fell from the pouch followed by a large centerpiece. When he flipped the largest stone over, her breath caught.
“Oh, my… it’s beautiful.” Her hand shook as she reached to touch the center stone. The palm-sized stone flickered and glowed as if it contained a burning flame. She’d never seen anything like it before in her life.
“She said she hoped it would bring you luck.”
“And Ruby is really okay with me wearing it?”
“Yes, she really is.”
“But…”
“No buts. I already don’t like the idea of you being out on stage in the middle of the spotlight where you’re vulnerable. If you give me even half a reason, I will toss you over my shoulder and we’ll call it all off.”
She lifted her chin. “No. I can do this.” She put her hand on his chest. “I want to do this. Besides, we can’t let some wanna-be win by deception.”
The muscle twitched in his jaw but he nodded once.
A buzz at the door caught their attention. “Miss Fizz. You’re needed at the stage entrance.”
“On my way,” she shouted through the door.
“I’ll put it on you,” he told her. She turned, once again giving him her back. He draped the necklace around her neck and fastened it at the base of her neck.
“Now, my cape.” She pointed at the mostly sheer length of fabric draped over the dressing screen.
He held it up along the top edge. She slipped her arms through the tiny straps and he let the fabric fall into place.
When she looked back at him he gave her a reassuring smile. “Beautiful. I’ll worry about whoever wants you out of the competition. You knock them dead out there.” He opened the door and stepped out into the hall. He checked the area, then motioned for her to follow.
She grabbed her gloves and fans, then took a deep breath. With her head held high she stepped out.
People darted here and there with last minute preparations. Based on the music blaring from the stage, the opening act was still on. It was nice having Vordol in front of her to clear a path. When they reached the holding area just outside the staging area, Vordol stopped and spoke to one of the security officers.
Based on his expression and his hand gestures, Pi
tannah guessed he was telling the officer about the tampered chocolates. The officer spoke into his communicator then pulled out a notepad.
As she watched their interaction, her vision became blocked by yards of sparkling pink material. Pitannah blinked and stepped back to escape the cloud of perfume in front of her. Candi, the contestant that stopped in front of her, raked a cold glare over Pitannah until she spotted Ruby’s necklace.
“So, how did a serving girl like you afford that? Did you steal it, too?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I know all about your arrest. How’d you manage to get security to let you go? Did you give blow jobs to every one of them?”
“You’re disgusting. And I wasn’t arrested because I didn’t steal anything.”
“I suppose that stolen necklace in your room didn’t count?”
Pitannah frowned. “What stolen necklace?”
“Oh, well… just something I heard through the grapevine.” Candi waved her hand in the air as if to dismiss the thought. “At any rate, I don’t know how a nobody like you has made it this far. But, whomever you’ve been sleeping with won’t be able to help you with this round. You’d do well to just give up now before you embarrass yourself.”
“You know, Candi, you’re awfully worried about a nobody like me competing tonight. Perhaps you would do well to worry about your own routine and how you’ll finish without tripping over that ego of yours.”
“Why you—”
Vordol caught Candi by the arm mid-strike. “I recommend rethinking your actions.”
“Unhand me, you brute! Security!” Candi screeched.
“I am security.” He flashed his badge. “If creating a scene is your objective, I’ll be happy to have Officer Jelaz and Baylona”—he motioned to the guards standing near the stage entrance watching their interaction—“escort you to the office for questions and to fill out a very long, in-depth report. In which case, you’ll miss your turn on stage.” He released her arm as if it were filth. “Your call.”
She harrumphed and cast one last nasty glance at Pitannah then stomped off to take her place near the stage entrance.
“Thank you,” Pitannah whispered.
“You’re welcome.” Vordol’s gaze tracked Candi’s retreat. “That’s one nasty piece of fluff.”
Pitannah choked on a laugh. “Apparently so.”
Vordol shook his head.
“She said they found a stolen necklace in my room.”
Vordol squirmed. “They did. But it had been pilfered while you were with me, at the Tavern Lounge. Security footage confirmed your location, so they dismissed the evidence on the assumption that someone was setting you up.” He looked to where Candi spoke animatedly with some poor stage attendant. “That information was kept quiet. How did she know about it?”
“She said she heard through the grapevine.”
“Grapevine. Sure.” He put his hand on her back. “You need to get ready to go out. I’ll be here keeping an eye on things. One of my brothers will be in the audience watching things, also.”
She blinked in confusion. “Your brother is here? Has he been here the whole time?”
Vordol smirked. “No. Rege and his fiancé arrived last night. I’ll introduce you later.” He gave her a pat on her backside. “Now, go light up that stage.”
She smiled and went to take her place with the other contestants near the curtain entrance, but as far away from Candi as she could be. When she looked back, Vordol had faded into the shadows. She finally spotted him half hidden next to some equipment. Something told her that she’d always be able to pick him out of a crowd.
Seventeen
Vordol whispered into his communicator. “Contestants are lined up and about to take stage. You in place Rege?”
“Of course.” Rege’s tone said he was slightly insulted someone would think he wouldn’t be. “Amethe is sitting right next to Ruby and she’s armed. I’m just behind the two of them. Zak is off to the left and Yranac to the right.”
“I can’t see the audience or much of the stage from here. I’ll have to use the monitors to be able to see Pitannah while she’s on.”
“Which one is your lady friend?”
“She’s the one in black lace with the firestone necklace. You won’t be able to miss her.”
There was a pause as the contestants walked across the stage for introductions. “Got her.”
“I’ll stay below. Security has officers patrolling back stage as well as the corridors out front of the cabaret.”
“I think this is as safe as we can make it without calling in the rest of our brothers,” Rege told him.
Vordol grunted. “With a half dozen dancers in various states of undress, safe would be relative with that bunch.”
Rege chuckled. “Good point.”
The contestants assembled in the designated area below stage as the first one prepared to go out. Pitannah would be one of the last acts.
Not long after the first took the stage, one of the contestants in the group made a strangled noise and grabbed their stomach. The choking sounds she made as she ran toward the dressing rooms did not sound good. One of the stage hands chased after her.
The group of contestants whispered amongst themselves, but Candi’s smug voice rose above them all. “I guess she couldn’t handle the pressure.”
Pitannah glanced his way. He shook his head urging her to do and say nothing.
The stage hand that had followed the ailing contestant yelled for the stage manager. Shortly after, someone shouted for a doctor. The contestants watched silently until the stagehand monitoring the stage entrance called for the next contestant. The young lady seemed shaken by the incident but took her place.
Pitannah went up to her and said a few words then clasped hands with her. Whatever she said made the girl stiffen her spine and regain her composure. With one last nod to Pitannah, the girl sailed out onto the stage.
Candi shot Pitannah a hostile glare from across the room, but thankfully Pitannah was too focused on the contestant she had spoken with to notice. Candi’s attitude set off several of Vordol’s internal alarms.
An older woman, similar in build to Candi, came to stand next to Candi. The two of them whispered a few words and their gazes darted toward Pitannah. The older woman nodded and walked away. Vordol had to stifle the urge to follow her. He couldn’t leave Pitannah unattended with this group.
There had been eight finalists. With one fallen ill and two having finished their act, that only left four he needed to watch closely. Those who had finished would be held in a waiting room on the other side of the stage until all acts were complete.
For once contest rules would work in their favor.
The next two acts were called in order until only Pitannah and Candi remained.
From where he stood, he could see Pitannah made an effort to keep her distance from Candi. But the hateful ball of fluff seemed to be determined to demean Pitannah at every opportunity. More than once he was tempted to line the spoiled brat out. Not that Pitannah couldn’t handle herself—he just hated bullies.
Finally, the stage hand called Pitannah to take her cue. He moved to get a better view of the stage, but where he could still keep an eye on the hateful ball of fluff too. Despite Candi’s delicate appearance, he did not trust her.
The music began and Pitannah swept into her routine. He was pleasantly surprised that the song she had chosen was one he knew. Since he’d seen her dance a couple of times, he could tell she followed the same act but with subtle variations. The costume pieces were what made it seem different.
In his earpiece Rege said, “Your girl’s good. I don’t think anyone down here has looked away.”
“Yes, she is,” Vordol agreed.
A moment later Rege added, “Amethe wants to know where she can get a set of those fans. And quite frankly, I would consider it a personal favor if you would find that out for me.”
Vordol rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I�
�ll get right on that.”
Knowing what lay beneath her pasties and tiny bits of lace made watching her dance uncomfortable. If he wasn’t careful he’d be sporting a hard on for the rest of the night.
As the music tempo changed then reached its crescendo, one of the spotlights above the stage popped and shorted out, taking the whole line of lights out with it. The entire cabaret was cast into darkness.
Vordol rushed out onto the stage and wrapped Pitannah into his arms. His only thought to cover her in case someone wanted to attack her in the dark. “It’s me,” he told her when she struggled against him.
“Vordol? What’s going on?”
“Ruby is covered,” Rege told him through the earpiece.
“I have no idea but you are not staying out here as an open target,” Vordol told Pitannah.
“Then waltz me over to the stage exit. Because apparently I won’t be able to hide in the dark.” She stretched one arm out gracefully behind her so he could see the glowing lights illuminating the edges of her cape.
“Dammit.” His instincts screamed for him to drag her to safety but the contest was important to her. There had been a few annoying incidents, but otherwise he couldn’t be certain she was in immediate danger. Drawing on the dance lessons Ruby had given him over the years, he spun Pitannah away from him, then pulled her back as he steered them both toward the stage exit. She picked up on his lead as if they had been dancing together for years.
When the house lights came on, he dipped her backward over his arm as if worshiping her. When he pulled her upright again, their breaths mingled and he struggled to remember why he couldn’t kiss her senseless and stake his claim on her in front of everyone.
The audience applause dragged them both back to reality. Pitannah made her bows and allowed him to escort her off the stage.
“Wow,” Rege murmured into the mic. “Talk about a quick recovery.”
“We do what we can, right?”
He handed Pitannah off to the stagehand who was directing contestants. They were expected to wait in a lounge that had been setup below stage until all acts were finished. With a look he let her know he would find her as soon as he could.
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