by A R Steele
“You have got to come see this,” Lev overheard one woman say into her cell phone. He didn’t pay much attention. It was a common sentiment lately.
But when he headed back in that direction a few minutes later, he stopped short.
He’d already met the curvaceous brunette who was lowering herself into a seat. He recognized her gentle face.
And Peyton’s wife had caught sight of him, too.
“Hey!” she called, waving to him with a smile. “I remember you! You’re Peyton’s friend. I had no idea you worked here.”
Lev’s legs shook as he walked over to her. “Does he know you’re here?”
“No. Why?” She glanced up at the stage, where Jesse and Shade were circling around each other. Her expression shifted to one of concern. “How exactly do you know Peyton?”
In that moment, Lev could have ruined Peyton’s whole life. But he was better than that. He was going to choose the high road once again. “You’ll have to ask your husband.”
The brunette’s eyes flashed. “You know what? I should do that. I’m tired of hiding my suspicions and pretending everything is fine. Would you answer two questions for me first? All you have to say is yes or no.”
With a heavy heart, Lev nodded.
“Have you been intimate with him?”
Another slow nod.
She looked stricken, but she went on. “And was it while he and I were together?”
Lev dropped his gaze. “Yes,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
“That’s okay, I don’t blame you at all. Peyton has a way of getting in people’s heads. Trust me, I know.” She shook her head. “I’m going to call him right now.”
Everyone at the table was silent. Lev should have given her privacy, but he was frozen in place.
“Hello, Peyton,” she said a moment later. “I’m doing fantastic, thank you. Before you say anything else, I have a question for you. I’m at the Tool Shed right now, it’s a male strip club. My girlfriends called me to come because they love the new direction here. Seems all the strippers here are into men. And you’ll never guess who works here.”
Her face was icy as she waited. “The friend of yours we ran into at the grocery store,” she continued. “Tell me again how you know him, Peyton. And try it without the lies this time.”
“We’ve thought he was cheating on her for a long time,” one of her friends whispered to Lev. “Never had any proof.”
“You’re right, I don’t trust you,” the brunette said, her voice rising. “You always tell me I’m imagining things, but I’m not imagining the person standing in front of me or what he just confessed. I’m done, like I should have been a long time ago.”
Lev forced himself to breathe.
“You can find somewhere else to stay from now on,” she said. “The house is in my name, remember? Your car is, too, so leave it in the driveway. You’ll have to take a cab. And you can forget going on that trip you had planned – the one I was supposed to pay for.”
There was a brief pause, and then she spoke even louder. “No, I don’t think I’m being too hard on you at all. I’m being generous, actually. But you just made me realize I should call your parents, too. They need to know what a piece of shit they raised.”
With that, she stormed out. Her friends went after her, and Lev stood there alone. Although Peyton’s wife was going through some pain right now, that man had gotten what was coming to him. Karma in action. And Lev didn’t even need to stoop to his level.
As Lev took a turn on the side stage, Lucas danced on the one opposite him. He looked as lonely as Lev did. An idea sparked in Lev’s mind, and he darted into the change room to send a quick text.
When Lucas got on the main stage for his solo dance a few minutes later, Lev stood at the back of the room, waiting expectantly. Even with his excitement, there was a dull pang in his heart. Austin was so close and yet so far.
Customers near the door started to murmur, which made Lev break out in a grin. He turned and waved at Elijah as the former stripper passed through the room, parting the crowd in his wake. Elijah’s gaze was intensely focused on the stage, even if Lucas hadn’t noticed him yet.
Lev bit a nail as he watched Elijah climb the stairs behind the platform. Then he was on it and Lucas stumbled, tripping over his feet as he realized his boyfriend was onstage beside him. The DJ didn’t miss a beat as he announced Elijah was back to grace their stage one more time. Lucas, though – Lucas’s mouth fell open, and he stared in shock at Elijah.
Elijah shrugged off his shirt and took hold of the pole. The customers clapped and cheered as Elijah did a slow spin. Once Lucas collected himself, he went back to what he’d been doing. He’d probably described his routine with Lev to Elijah, because they quickly fell into something similar. But in this case, they were giving each other looks that implied they wanted to tear off what little clothes they had on.
Lev leaned against the wall, satisfied with himself. He’d pulled that off nicely… but he himself was still alone. He glanced around, seeing Jesse and Shade holding hands at a table full of customers, and Ace’s face reddening as he spoke to a few women and gestured at Gabriel.
Cooper and Owen were on the side stages, only looking at each other. With a sigh, Lev glanced over to the DJ booth. Even Yorick was making googly eyes at Wright, the bartender. And Trenton and Brentley were probably making out in their office right now.
It was time for Lev’s solo dance, so he pushed off the wall and headed up to the front. The usual spring in his step was nowhere to be found. Only a few more hours until he could be with Austin again, he reminded himself. And he could probably take a break and sneak out for a few stolen kisses before the end of the night. It wasn’t the same, though. These guys were all over each other, and Lev didn’t even get to look at his boyfriend.
As Lev stepped onto the stage to the sound of The Way I Are, he fought to keep from pouting. He had no reason to be upset, but… maybe this was what Austin meant about him being a brat. The thought made him smile, and he grabbed the pole for a preliminary spin.
Then he looked up and saw Austin standing in front of him. Lev shot up, letting out a squeak. His hands rose, covering his mouth as he stared up at Austin. What in the world was Austin doing? Austin would never strip in a million years. This wasn’t going to be a repeat of Elijah showing up to surprise Lucas.
As he gaped, Austin pulled something from behind his back. A chair. Huh? Austin gave Lev a smirk as he spun it to face him and sat down in it. Customers cheered, and it occurred to Lev that they had figured out what was going on before he even did. His mind wasn’t quite working right, because he couldn’t tell what Austin meant as he beckoned to him.
At last he bent over to let Austin whisper in his ear. “Give me a lap dance, kid.”
Lev’s eyes widened even more. “Oh-h-h-h.”
The whole exchange had only taken a few seconds, and the song was still only building up to the chorus as Lev went into his usual moves. He took a step away from Austin, looking him in the eye. Despite the crowd’s cheering, he could forget anyone but the two of them was even there. He grabbed Austin’s hand and lifted it, sucking his index finger into his mouth. Sparks went through Lev as he let go and dragged Austin’s hand down his bare chest.
Austin sat back, his eyebrows raised, giving Lev an appraising look as if he was a real customer. Lev sure hoped he measured up to Austin’s appraisal. He moved closer, taking his other hand and running both of them over his abs and waist. The touch reminded him of what they’d done in bed last night.
He leaned in now, exploring Austin’s body in a way that would have been downright inappropriate with an actual customer. He kissed his way down Austin’s neck and then tweaked a nipple, which was hard under the fabric of his shirt. Austin let out a low groan, a sign of appreciation. Lev made eye contact again and began to sway in earnest.
Never before had he danced for someone who actually turned him on. Austin’s shoulders
were so broad and his thighs were so distracting. Lev straddled his lap with some difficulty. He was so large that Lev’s toes barely grazed the floor. There were a few scattered giggles as he found his balance. But they quickly turned to a hushed silence as he began to grind on Austin, rubbing against him, crotch against crotch.
Lev would have taken satisfaction in how quickly Austin’s cool, collected demeanor disappeared – but the slow, sexy grind had him panting, too. He stroked Austin’s jaw, the rest of the world falling away as he continued to work his hips. As the song came to an end, he slowed, staring into Austin’s eyes with undisguised lust. They were going to have fun later on tonight.
Austin rose, grabbing his hand, and they took a bow together. The audience broke into applause, shouts and whistles coming from every corner of the packed room. The stage was strewn with tips Lev had never seen arrive.
The cheering only got louder as Austin put his arm around Lev. Every girl in the place was on her feet, and even the other strippers were clapping for them. Lev flushed deeply as he cuddled closer under Austin’s arm. He’d never felt so loved, so protected. His bad mood from earlier felt like it was a lifetime ago. He had everything he wanted.
Peyton’s insults from the other day flickered through his head, and Lev’s grin actually widened as he thought about how he’d nearly taken them seriously. He didn’t need to make it on Broadway to be a success in life. Sure, he would still love to see his name in lights, but he had everything he needed right here.
Austin nodded to him, and they took one final bow.
All Lev could see were the lights, and all he could hear were the cheers.
He wished this moment would never end.
**
Thank you for reading Final Act!
This is the last book in the Tool Shed series, however, there is a short epilogue about Trenton and Brentley’s wedding. You’ll get to read about what happens to Austin, Lev, and all the other couples a year down the line.
Click here or type http://hyperurl.co/steelenewsletter to get this special bonus content for free. You’ll also get the first two full novels from another series, as well as receiving updates on my new releases.
If you missed the previous books, you can pick up Hard Wood, Full Frontal, VIP Room, Live Fantasies, and Exposed on Amazon now.
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Acknowledgments
Thank you first and foremost to the amazing and supportive readers who read these books. It’s always a pleasure to hear from you, especially when you ask about what’s going to happen next!
My alpha and beta readers. Your feedback is absolutely invaluable in shaping the books.
My ARC team. Your reviews help me in more ways than I can explain.
My feline co-author, for the companionship and cuteness.
I have many more stories in my head, so please do keep in touch – subscribe to my newsletter or follow my Facebook page for updates on my future books.
Turn the page for a look back at where the Tool Shed series started!
Hard Wood (Tool Shed Book 1)
Chapter One
Even for a bouncer, the man blocking Gabriel’s path looked decidedly unfriendly. Gabriel restrained himself from wiping his palms on his pants as he inched forward. He’d chosen this outfit so carefully. The whole look would be thrown off by sweat stains.
The bouncer’s arms were crossed over his massive chest as he glared down at Gabriel. His ripped, sleeveless shirt showed off his even more impressive biceps. Gabriel was right in front of him now, and he’d still made no move to draw back the red velvet rope.
“No boys allowed,” the bouncer grunted. “Go home.”
Gabriel fingered his collar, smiling weakly. Did he look like he was there to gawk at hot men? Not that he didn’t enjoy that on his own time, but was it that obvious to other people? He actually wasn’t here for that reason.
“I’m not here as a guest,” he said. “I have an interview scheduled.”
“An interview for what?”
“To be a stripper.”
The bouncer, whose neck tattoo read “Austin,” looked Gabriel up and down. Gabriel shivered slightly under his appraisal. He had the feeling that Austin didn’t believe him. He’d sent his pictures to the owner, Trenton, who had responded a few days later. Although the guy’s grammar had been terrible, he’d seemed enthusiastic enough about Gabriel. Did he honestly look that out of place?
He suspected the bouncer was about a second away from telling him to go home again. He hadn’t even gotten inside yet, and he was about to get rejected. What was he thinking?
Stripping had sounded like so much fun when the lady in the food court had suggested it to him. He’d been doubtful at first, but she’d talked him into at least trying. Every friend he’d told had thought it was hilarious and encouraged him. When he’d gotten the interview, it had sounded like an adventure.
Gabriel hadn’t pictured himself actually standing here getting sized up by a man with six pieces of metal pierced through his face. His eyes lit on the second glittering hoop in the bouncer’s nose. Make that seven. His heart beating faster, he considered turning around and leaving without even being asked.
But with a raise of his double-pierced eyebrow, Austin pulled up the rope again. “Follow me. I’ll have one of the guys show you around.”
Gabriel didn’t dare to disobey. He took the elbow that Austin mockingly extended to him and stepped over the threshold. There was no going back now, even if he wanted to. Even if he was dying to.
The door opened into the back of the room. The bar was right across from the entrance. On the shelves, bottles were backlit in a way that made their colorful contents glitter. Gabriel’s eyes didn’t linger on the alcohol. The hottest guy he had ever seen was striding right toward them.
His breath caught in his throat. “Who is that?”
Austin snorted. “Gay, huh?”
Damn, the guy had figured that out quick. Although heat crept up Gabriel’s neck and up his cheeks, he nodded.
“Well, that’s Ace. Good luck with that.”
“What do you mean?”
Before Austin could respond, Ace was at their side. Gabriel could hardly keep his eyes off his shirtless body. The stripper was buff, but lazily, as if he only went to the gym when he felt like it. The neon lights reflected off his glistening muscles. A baseball cap topped his shaggy brown hair.
“Who’s this?” Ace asked.
“New stripper. I need someone to show him around a bit and take him to Trenton.”
“Don’t you worry,” Ace grinned. “I’ll take very good care of him.”
Gabriel must have made a little sound of distress, because both Ace and Austin glanced over at him. Realizing he was still holding Austin’s elbow, he dropped it immediately. Hopefully his embarrassment wouldn’t show on his face.
“Come with me, Your Highness,” Ace said, offering him his arm. He’d clearly picked up on the bouncer’s mocking tone. Heat rushed through Gabriel as he took his elbow. He actually felt less safe when he saw the bouncer’s retreating back. What had he gotten himself into?
As they walked in, he took in the full environment. The room was larger than it looked from the outside, perhaps three times the size of his trailer. But the similarities ended there. Blinking neon lights bathed this room, glimmering off every reflective surface, and pounding music vibrated the hardwood floors.
“Some history first,” Ace said with sarcastic deference. He made a swooping gesture that indicated the entire room. “The Tool Shed has been open for almost a year now. It’s the only all-male strip club in the greater Bridgehaven area. And of course, it’s the only one that caters exclusively to female patrons. Men aren’t even allowed in the door.”
“I noticed.”
Ace glanced at him, which made Gabriel’s heart beat harder. “Better for business. Chicks shell out more for male strippers than gay dudes do. Especially in this area.”
/> It made sense. Gabriel just wished Ace was gay. Not that he’d ever have a chance with him, of course. The more he looked at that guy, the better-looking he got. His attractiveness was a little ridiculous.
Gabriel shouldn’t have been surprised. The employees here were hired to be good-looking. Still, as he glanced around the room, he didn’t see any other strippers who approached Ace’s level of attractiveness. For his own job prospects, he hoped the rest of them weren’t too hot.
Holding Ace’s arm felt silly, and Gabriel tried to let go of it. “Ah, ah, ah!” Ace exclaimed, grabbing his hand and placing it back on his elbow. “Don’t let go of me. What if you get lost?”
Gabriel hoped his cheeks weren’t as red as they felt. The idea of getting lost in a place this size was ridiculous. And if Ace kept making him touch him, he was going to get hard. His discomfort was amusing Ace, and maybe this really would have been a fun joke if they were both straight. How would Ace feel about this if he knew Gabriel was gay?
The tour continued. “This is the main room. The stage is up there, the tables are over here…” Ace waved his hands around.
Ten or twelve small tables dotted the area they were walking through. About a third were occupied by small groups of women. Although the place was nowhere near capacity, Gabriel could see the appreciation on the faces of the customers who were there. Considering the glorious specimen of manhood he was next to, it was hard to keep a similar appreciation from washing over his face.
Stop thinking about him like that. Gabriel wasn’t here to ogle the strippers. As hard as it was going to be, he had to act oblivious. These guys were all sure to be straight, anyway.
“So you like stripping?” he asked, making an attempt at small talk.
“It’s all right. Bit dull when it comes down to it.”
Gabriel wondered what that meant. He assumed some of the guests would be taking a stripper home tonight. It would be the perfect gig for a guy who was into that. Surely Ace would partake of the job’s side benefits.