“Yes.” Jared didn’t have to think twice before answering.
“That’s good. Hopefully that means you’ll be sticking around after you finish your apprenticeship.”
Had she just hinted that he had a job here if he wanted one?
“Fifteen minutes,” she reminded him.
“More like ten now,” he said with a smile.
She wagged her finger at him in a mock warning and then hurried down the stairs, leaving him to wonder at her words.
5Kyrone
During Kyrone’s break from working at the bar, he headed into the changing room to hang out with his fellow dancers. The large room was busy as dancers got ready to go onstage, took their breaks, or worked on moves on the practice poles. The room was always filled with friendly chatter, although it did tend to smell of sweat and deodorant. The club was a great place to work, and getting paid a fair wage on top of the striptease bonuses helped stop any rivalry from forming between the men. Okay, so there was still rivalry, but it was on a friendly level. Dylan and Hunter always had a standing bet about who could get the most dances. Dylan generally won because he and Jag were the only twink dancers there.
“You vanished mysteriously last night,” Dylan said as he got ready to go back onstage.
They danced in threes. That night, Dylan had been grouped with Jag and Hunter. Kyrone couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy.Henormally danced with the two twinks, but of course he was off rotation until his tattoo healed up. It was worth it, but he still missed the buzz of going onstage. Working behind the bar was pretty lame in comparison, and there were no private dance bonuses.
“What happened last night?” Jag asked.
“We were at The Vibe,” Dylan said, motioning to himself, Kyrone, and Hunter. “And Kyrone pulled the most gorgeous twink. Then they vanished together. I’m taking it, that means you had a good night?”
Kyrone chuckled. “It was definitely hot.”
“You got fucked?”
“Hegot fucked.”
“Are you seeing him again?” Hunter asked.
Kyrone shrugged. “Maybe. We didn’t arrange anything.”
Dylan rolled his eyes. “That means you didn’t even trade numbers, doesn’t it?”
“I know where to find him, and he knows where to find me.”
“Do you want to meet up again?” Jag asked as he touched up the silver body paint that covered his skin. It had sweat tracks through it from the group’s first dance routine.
Jagalwayswore body paint. He was the only dancer who did and the only dancer who got to pole dance solo some nights, but then he wasn’t just fucking the owner of the club. He was engaged to him, so special treatment was par for the course. Not that Kyrone begrudged him. Jag had been one of the first dancers to befriend him when he’d started at the club a year earlier, plus the guy was amazing on the poles. Besides, the body paint was hot. If Jag hadn’t been screwing the boss, Kyrone would have definitely made a move on him. His only objection to the body paint was that it masked Jag’s face, hiding some of his natural beauty.
“He was pretty cute,” Kyrone said. “I definitely wouldn’t say no to a repeat performance.”
“I’m surprised you managed with a fresh tattoo over your chest,” Hunter mused.
“Oh, I managed,” Kyrone retorted, waggling his eyebrows.
“When do we get to see this new ink of yours?” Jag asked.
“When the dressing comes off.”
“You could at least tell us what you got done,” Dylan complained.
“That would spoil the surprise.”
“That’s the point.”
Kyrone laughed. “It says ‘Adonis’.”
