by Alexa Land
The troupe lined up across the stage and took a bow, and then Dare dragged Milo out from behind the curtain. The composer quickly tried to smooth down his unruly, dark hair and pulled off his glasses, and then he waved self-consciously. When Dare did the same thing to Christian, the artist grinned and curtseyed.
Dare gestured at me, and for a moment I was too overwhelmed to think straight. Duke appeared at my side and handed me a huge bouquet of red roses. Then he leaned in and told me, “Take your bow, Quinn. You’ve earned it.”
When I stepped forward, the cheering and applause doubled in intensity. I squinted against the lights and looked for my family. They were right there in the first row. My father looked like he was crying as he smiled at me and applauded wildly. I kissed my fingers and stretched my arm toward him, and then I took my bow and stepped back in line.
Haley stepped forward next. He took his bow, and then he reached for me, pulled me to the edge of the stage again, and raised our joined hands in a gesture of triumph. We then rejoined the troupe, and we all took one more bow. The audience was still on its feet, still clapping.
I looked around for Duke. He’d left the stage, and I ran to get him, because I needed to share that moment with him. He dug his heels in when I tried to pull him onto the stage and said, “This is your moment, Quinn. Go enjoy it.”
I pulled him close and told him, “You were a part of that. You’re my muse and my inspiration, Duke. Don’t you see? I know what it means to be in love because of you. If we’d never met, I would have just been going through the motions, but you made it genuine.” He smiled at me and joined me at center stage. When we kissed, the audience cheered.
Finally, the red velvet curtain came down, and Dare and the rest of the guys gathered around me. I tried to shield my beautiful rose bouquet as they hugged me and raved about how well I’d done, and I told them, “All of you were amazing. Absolutely flawless.”
Someone handed me a towel, and I quickly wiped the sweat and colored powder from my face and body as people began flooding the stage. Skye ran to Dare, and the two men kissed passionately. My family appeared at the edge of the crowd that was forming, and Duke took the roses and towel and said, “Let me hold these for you.” I thanked him and rushed over to my family.
Max reached me first and hugged me as he exclaimed, “Dude, you were awesome!”
My brothers and their wives all raved about how well I’d done, and then my mom grabbed me in a crushing embrace and gushed, “You were fantastic, Quinn, absolutely fantastic! So was the show! It was beautifully staged, and so artistic! And that standing ovation was the longest I’ve ever seen!”
When I turned to my dad, his eyes were bright with tears of happiness. He beamed at me and pulled me into his arms as he said, “I’m so proud of you, son.”
I had to ask. “Still think I should have accepted that job with the other ballet company?”
He shook his head. “You’re right where you belong, with a talented, cutting-edge company that was smart enough to build the whole show around you. The troupe is going places after that performance, mark my words!”
I shivered a little as the sweat started to cool on my skin. Just as my dad said, “You’re cold,” my boyfriend appeared beside us with a hoodie and sweatpants. He held the jacket for me, and while I slipped my arms into the sleeves, my father said, “You’re a good man, Duke. It’s reassuring to know you’re always looking out for our boy.”
Dozens of people came up to congratulate me, friends and strangers alike. Even Eide was there with Sergei, which was a pleasant surprise, and Elijah braved the crowd to give me a hug and tell me, “You’re an inspiration, Quinn.”
Haley introduced me to his mom, who kissed my cheek, and his younger brothers and sister. A few people took photos with me or of me, including someone from a local LGBT+ newspaper. Yoshi Miyazaki shook my hand and raved about my temporary tattoo as much as my dancing. I pulled up my hoodie to show him the details before dragging Max over and saying, “You know, my nephew has been looking for an apprenticeship. I think you two should talk.” Max panicked a bit, but I just smiled at him, and Yoshi led him to a less crowded part of the stage and did exactly what I’d suggested.
After about half an hour or so, Skye climbed up on a chair and yelled over the noise, “Don’t forget, everyone, party at Dare’s and my apartment tonight! Bring your friends and your appetite! We’ll get going at about eleven, so the dancers have time to run home and get cleaned up. Or just come sweaty. We don’t care, but our dog might lick you to death!”
As Skye jumped off the chair, I turned to my dad and asked, “Want to come to a party?”
“That’s a bit late for this old man, but you and Duke are still planning to come to Sunday dinner, right?”
“You’re not old, and we’ll absolutely be there.”
Once my family headed home, I took Duke’s hand, and we returned to the dressing room to get my stuff. When I sat down to put my shoes on, my legs started shaking. I’d been running on pure adrenaline, but as it ebbed, pain and exhaustion crept into every part of me.
I’d practiced the ninety-minute routine several times beginning to end, but I’d always held a bit back. That night, I’d left it all on the stage. Every jump was as high as I could possibly go, and every spin, kick, and turn was as sharp and precise as it could be. I gave everything I had, and I was feeling it.
Duke draped my backpack over his shoulder, and then he surprised me by picking me up. I murmured, “You don’t have to carry me,” even as I wrapped my arms and legs around him.
He kissed my forehead and said, “I know. Humor me.” I was grinning as we headed to the door.
*****
When we got home, he carried me into the house and left me on his bed while he filled the tub. Then he stripped me and bathed me gently, while the hot water soothed my aching muscles. Afterwards, he wrapped me in a big, fluffy towel, returned me to the bed, and asked, “Are you hungry? I made you some homemade macaroni and cheese, and there’s a cake for dessert.”
I grinned at him and held out my arms. “That sounds fantastic, but come here first.”
Duke climbed up onto the bed and gathered me in an embrace. Then he rubbed his cheek against my hair and told me, “You were breathtaking tonight. I didn’t realize you’d been holding back during rehearsal. That had already been incredible, but seeing what you’re really capable of absolutely blew me away. I’m in awe of you, Quinn.”
“All the guys danced their hearts out, not just me.”
He said, “You’re going to take some time off now, right? A couple weeks maybe, to rest and relax?”
“God yes. I think I might spend the next few days right here in this bed, aside from that party tonight.”
“Are you really up for that?”
“No, but I’m going anyway.” I flashed him a tired smile and added, “Please don’t ask me to dance.”
“I promise I won’t.” He reached behind him and took something out of the nightstand, and then he curled up with me again and handed me an envelope. “I got you a present, speaking of R and R.” He watched with anticipation as I parted the flap with my fingertips and looked inside.
“Plane tickets to Las Vegas at the end of the month! We’ll be there on our birthday!”
He nodded and grinned at me. “I booked a hotel and got us tickets to a big Halloween costume party. It seemed like something you’d enjoy.”
I threw my arms around his neck and said, “This is amazing! Can I pay for half of it, since it’s your birthday, too? That way, it’ll be a gift to both of us.”
“Nope, it’s on me, and you don’t have to worry about whether I can afford it. Not only am I back at work, but since I decided to sell the house, I don’t have to be quite so careful with every penny. I won’t suddenly start living like a tycoon, but three nights in Vegas is definitely in the budget.”
I kissed him before saying, “Thank you, Duke. This really means the world to me.”
; Duke smiled at me and caressed my cheek. “I love seeing you so happy.” I felt exactly the same way about the joy that lit up his eyes.
Chapter Fifteen
Two Weeks Later
“It’s a love grotto!”
Duke looked stunned as he followed me into our Las Vegas hotel room and murmured, “Um, this wasn’t intentional.”
I ran across the suite and took a flying leap onto the round bed, which was in a sunken recess off the living area. “It’s the used porn mattress’s twin! Oh my God, come here. The bed has a control panel!”
He climbed onto the bed with a concerned expression. It started to vibrate when I pushed a button, and I whooped with delight. The next button made it rotate slowly, and I exclaimed, “This is the best hotel room ever!” I flopped onto my back and burst out laughing. “There are mirrors on the ceiling! That’s so great!”
Duke gripped the red velvet bedspread as he glanced upward and told me, “The room pictured in the online reservation form looked normal. I didn’t plan on bringing you to the set of a 1970s porno movie. I just clicked the box to upgrade us to a suite with a spa tub for two. Who knew that included mirrored ceilings, a vibrating bed, and whatever’s happening over there?”
He gestured at a golden cherub nestled in a bed of plastic flowers. It was in what looked like a cylindrical cage with diagonal, clear plastic strings in place of bars. I jumped up to take a look at it. When I flipped a switch, the interior lit up, and after a moment, rows of what looked like tiny glass beads began to travel down each of the strings, creating the illusion of rain. I grinned and touched one of the beads, then rubbed my thumb and forefinger together and said, “Oh weird, that’s actually oil. I don’t know what’s happening here, but I love it!”
I returned to the bed and bounced up and down, while Duke studied me and asked, “Do you really like this place, or are you just being nice? Because we can move to a newer hotel on the strip if you want to.”
“This is a million times better than a regular hotel room!” I poked the control panel a few times and flopped onto my back. I’d revved up the vibration as far as it would go, and it was so vigorous that when I said, “Ahhhhhh,” it came out in a staccato rhythm, kind of like a machine gun.
He grinned and said, “I picked this place because it has an original 1950s tiki bar downstairs, and I thought you might enjoy that. Since you appreciate kitsch more than any other person alive, it looks like I accidentally found the perfect hotel.”
“A tiki bar? Epic!” I turned off the spin and the vibration because I was getting dizzy, and Duke stretched out on his side with his head propped up in his hand. I leaned in and kissed him, and then I said, “Thank you for this birthday trip. It’s the best vacation I’ve ever had.”
He smiled at me and pointed out, “We’ve been in Las Vegas less than an hour.”
“I know.”
“Also, I’m sure your parents took you on all kinds of fantastic trips when you were growing up.”
“Yeah, but this is better, because I’m here with you, we’re in such a fun hotel, and in just a few hours, we’re both celebrating a birthday! How great is that?”
Duke reached out and ran a fingertip over my earring. I’d swapped out my usual silver studs for a new pair that looked like miniscule Captain America shields. “One of the many things I love about you is your unwavering ability to see the positive in any situation.”
“Well, that’s pretty easy to do when everything is amazing!” I kissed him again before climbing off the bed and saying, “Let’s see what other wonders await us in the love grotto.” When I pulled back the heavy, dark red curtains, I murmured, “Oh wow.”
We had a fantastic view of the strip, which lit up the night in the middle distance. I opened the glass door and stepped out onto a narrow balcony. A warm breeze stirred my hair and carried the faint sound of Mariachi music. Duke came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my shoulders as he said, “The one good thing about being so far from the strip is actually getting a great view of it. That said, I thought we’d be closer. I’ve never been to Las Vegas before, so I didn’t know how it was all laid out.”
I turned to face him and reached up to cup his cheek. “Please tell me you’re not disappointed.”
“I’m not. I just wanted everything to be perfect this weekend. I also wanted to show you how much you mean to me, and a funky, old hotel about five miles from the strip doesn’t really convey that message. You deserve the best, Quinn, and this….” He shook his head.
“It’s perfect! We have a huge suite with a killer view and a vibrating bed, and somewhere there’s even a tub big enough for two. How great is that?”
“You promise you’re not just pretending to be excited to make me feel better?”
“I promise, and here’s proof. If you were going to design the perfect room for me and you had to choose between elegant or fun, which would you pick?”
“Fun, no question.”
“Exactly!” The frown line between his brows eased, and Duke grinned a little. I smiled at him and said, “Let’s go find that tub. I’d love a soak before we head down to the tiki bar.”
Duke seemed a lot happier as he let me tow him through the suite. A seating area with plush, red velvet furniture and gold accents was complemented by gold-toned wallpaper, and on the other side of the room, a pair of double doors led to a cavernous bathroom. It featured a huge shower, double sinks with a faux-marble vanity, and the best bathtub I’d ever seen in my life. It was glossy red and heart-shaped, and big enough to easily hold four people. I squealed with delight, and Duke chuckled and said, “Okay, that tub is totally you.”
I flipped the lever to plug the drain and turned on both water spigots full-force. Then I peered over the edge of the giant tub and said, “What do you want to do for two hours, while the tub fills up?” I was only slightly exaggerating.
“Hmm, let me think.” Duke’s grin turned devilish, and he scooped me up and tossed me over his shoulder while I whooped and laughed. He carried me back across the suite, then down the four steps to the sunken bedroom, where he pulled the bedspread aside and tossed me onto the black satin sheets.
He stripped me quickly and efficiently, which made my cock throb. It was just so sexy when he took control. Once I was naked, I wiggled around on the silky bedding and said, “We totally need to get satin sheets at home. This feels amazing.”
Duke met my gaze as he began to undress, and I stopped wiggling so I could watch. He unbuttoned his pale blue shirt slowly and deliberately, then slid it off his broad shoulders and let it fall to the floor. He pulled off his shoes and socks and tossed them aside, and my gaze ran down his smooth skin and landed on his hands as he unfastened his belt. He pushed down his khakis and briefs in one motion and stepped out of them, and then he stood before me for a moment and let me look at him, probably because I was rock hard by that point and squirming for another reason, besides the feel of satin against my skin.
His cock had started to stiffen, and I spread my legs shamelessly and massaged my erection as my breathing sped up. Duke climbed up onto the round bed and pushed my thighs even farther apart before sliding his lips over my swollen cockhead. Pleasure rolled through my body as he started to suck me. I watched him for a few minutes, and when he looked up at me with my cock in his mouth, my breath caught.
After another minute, I flipped around and took him in a sixty-nine, sucking him almost feverishly as he picked up his pace. He paused just long enough to lick his finger, then went back to sucking my cock as he massaged my hole. In the last week, he’d started fingering me whenever we were doing anything sexual, and I absolutely loved that. He hadn’t fucked me yet, but it seemed like he was building up to it, and I was enjoying the anticipation.
When he slid his finger into me, I moaned around his cock. I’d cleaned myself thoroughly right before we left San Francisco in anticipation of exactly what was happening, and I’d even worked a little lube into myself, so his finger slipped in
fairly easily. He added a second one, stretching me slightly. I bucked my hips and rode his fingers, thrusting just a little into his warm, wet mouth.
He started massaging my prostate as his other hand cupped my balls, and the pleasure was so intense that I came just a few moments later. I kept sucking him hard, bobbing my head as I slid my mouth up and down his thick shaft. Duke came a minute after I did, shooting into the back of my throat as he pushed into my mouth.
His fingers slipped from me when we were both done, and we fell back onto the mattress with huge, satisfied grins on our faces. He laughed when I said, “Viva Las Vegas.” Once we caught our breath, I said, “We’d better check the tub,” and we slid off the slick sheets. On the way to the bathroom, I retrieved my toiletry bag from my suitcase, then dumped a travel-size bottle of body wash into the water to make bubbles.
The huge tub was a little more than halfway full, so we climbed into the warm water, and I curled up on Duke’s chest. “I have a new goal for the apartment we rent after we sell the duplex,” he murmured. “A bathtub big enough for both of us. I don’t really care if the rest of the place is a hovel, as long as it has a giant tub.”
“I totally agree with that.” I reached over and shut off the water, and then I sat up and said, “Oh no, I just remembered the swing set! We don’t have to leave it behind, do we? It means too much to me!”
“Maybe your parents will let us put it in their side yard. I know they took down the swings you had as a kid, but if you tell them you really want this set, I bet they’ll agree to it.”
I nodded and rested my head on his chest again. We’d started researching the real estate market over the last couple of weeks, but since Xavier was out of town, we hadn’t gone as far as putting the house on the market yet. We wanted to give him plenty of advance notice before that happened.
After a moment, I asked, “Do you think we can find an apartment that allows pets?”