Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Dancing with them was a dream come true.
They gathered together and held hands as the music of the last song began to fade. It was their cue to take the stage.
“Let’s get out there and earn our hot cocoa tonight.” Tam squeezed Hop’s hand.
They took their places in the dark. With his back to the bar and the majority of the crowd, he lifted his arms, curling one over his head with the other straight up, and cocked his hip.
The club was alive. Hop felt the energy of the audience lick up his spine.
He wiped everything else from his mind except the dance. As Rihanna’s voice rose above the club noise, Hop gathered all his nerves and bound them up in a knot. He flexed his fingers once and loosed his shoulders.
Worries vanished as the lights came up and the thumping beat of Rihanna’s “S&M” pounded from the speakers. The sensuality of the song spurred him on.
The first line of the chorus was Hop’s motto. It spoke to the deepest darkest parts of himself he kept hidden from everyone. So, yeah, he lived this routine like Tam had created it for him. And on stage, no one would judge him. No one could stop him.
The freedom was almost as intoxicating as having all those eyes on him.
Chapter Three
“Prince is here.” Mark bent at the waist. He was out of breath like he’d run all the way from Central Park. Rafe’s office door stood ajar behind him, and music from the club filled Rafe’s office enough to make hearing Mark’s voice difficult.
Rafe had been in a trance working on the budget when Mark rushed in like the dogs of hell were on his ass. It took all of three seconds for Mark’s words to sink into Rafe’s shocked brain. But when they did, Rafe dropped the pen in his hand and stood so fast his chair tipped over with a loud crash.
“What?” His pulse sped.
“Prince. Here.” Mark shouted between huge sucks of air.
“Now?” Rafe sprinted around his desk to the door. “Why? When? How long?”
Mark shook his head. “I don’t know. I saw him in the VIP section by accident.”
“Fuck!” He pushed past his general manager and hurried down the serrated steel walkway leading from the stairwell to his office as fast as he could without actually running. Below his feet, the lights of the club flashed and swirled like a trippy mushroom-induced dream.
He recognized the song that was playing. It was a sexy pop tune by Rihanna. Dalia liked this one. He used to play it during their sessions and watch her squirm. But he couldn’t stop to listen, couldn’t even take a moment to appreciate the memories because fucking Parker Prince had shown up at the club without warning.
What the hell was he doing here?
In the shadows, Rafe squeezed his fists closed as anxiety bubbled in his stomach. He had to go out there and face him. This wasn’t something he could let Mark handle. And even though the VIP section was smaller and private, there’d still be too many people for him to be comfortable.
What other option did he have?
None.
As he dashed down the stairs he heard Mark following. His heart beat too fast. He needed to calm down before he showed his face. Be professional. Be stoic. Be confident. Never let them see how much he wanted this deal. Never let them see a weakness.
He paused at the bottom and took a deep breath. Then another, because one wasn’t enough.
Mark rested a palm on his shoulder. “You got this, boss.”
Rafe nodded, straightened his tie and strode through the secret doorway hidden behind a thick curtain and into the VIP lounge. No one noticed his arrival, which was good. It gave him a chance to observe before he made his presence known.
Prince, wearing his platinum blond hair tied in a ponytail and a tailored tuxedo jacket made of what looked like neoprene and vinyl over a graphic T-shirt and jeans, stood near the railing with a woman. She had short hair curling around her ears. Her red pantsuit said she wasn’t one of Prince’s posse. Maybe an agent? She pointed below and smiled at Prince, who nodded.
Rafe had no idea who was performing at the moment. He had so many performers on retainer and Mark was in charge of the schedule. He took a quiet step forward to see what they were looking at and caught a glimpse of lavender and pink hair. His heart gave one excited thump, and without realizing it he walked right up to the railing to stare down at the dancers.
The five of them were in perfect sync. God, they danced like sin, down on their knees all submissive and wanton. No wonder Prince couldn’t take his eyes away, the image they made was intoxicating, especially with the suggestive song lyrics.