“I have so much to tell you.”
Chapter 30
Spendingthe evening with Qwill had been everything I'd been wanting and more. After telling him about the donation I'd given to the center and how I'd convinced the owner of my apartment building to sell to me, I told Qwill all about how I'd spoken with Evangeline about my new work schedule. He was ecstatic for me and kept telling me how proud he was of me.
Then I'd been on the receiving end of his praise as he'd bent me over the kitchen bar and eaten my ass like he was starving before plowing me hard against the granite.
We'd spent the night watching TV and lounging on the couch before retiring to the bedroom and actually sleeping. I had to be up the next morning because I needed to head to Downpour as soon as possible to start rehearsing for my return to the stage.
And now, that time was upon me. I'd spent all morning working with the club's usual choreographer to tighten up the routine I had in mind. I was doing three dances to three different songs over the course of the night, and since it was the first Friday night return of Cowboy Connor, we were all expecting a full crowd, so I had to get my choreo down.
After about the sixth run through of my three songs, I was feeling pretty confident that I had it down. But now that I was standing backstage, about to go on and perform the first of my dances, the nerves were settling against the inner lining of my stomach.
“You'll be great, Thayer.” Rocky told me from my left. He was one of the backup dancers for my routine and was my moral support through this.
“Thanks.” I nodded. “I didn't think I'd be this nervous. I'll be fine once we hit the stage.”
“This routine is fucking awesome.” Rocky added. “And such a great song to perform to.”
The smile staining my lips was genuine and wide. We were about to do a routine to Rebecca Black'sTRUST!and I was really looking forward to it. I had fun plans for the whip wrapped around my hands, the first time I'd be using a prop like this in one of my routines. I was sure it was going to get the crowd going.
“Welcome back to the stage, Cowboy Connor!”
Exhaling, I pushed by the curtain and took my place on stage as the backup dancers took their places. The crowd was roaring with applause that was way more plentiful than I was expecting. My eyes scanned the crowd until I saw Qwill's handsome face in the back, giving me a lopsided smile from afar. Smiling back, I finally felt ready to get started.
The opening bars ofTRUST!started, and as soon as there was a whip crack within the track, I made sure to crack my own whip in perfect unison with it. As the routine progressed, I started zoning out as the choreography took over but not in a way that usually happened. Before Troian had arrived back in town and before Qwill and I had started our romantic journey, I always zoned out during a performance and became a void. But now, I felt different. As I nailed the steps and hit the marks I'd practiced in rehearsal with the other guys, I found myself reallythriving in the moment. It was like zoning out, but focusing on what I was doing instead of just becoming a numb dancing puppet. It was like I had finally reset my bones to fit my body again, and realizing that as the performance came to an end brought tears to my eyes. I was feeling like I was rejuvenated again, back in control of my life and looking forward to every possibility that a new day would bring.
The last line of the song was coming up and I tossed my whip aside so that I could appropriately get in position for the finale move I'd planned. I made sure I was dead center of the stage as the song issued the last line as I ripped off the beige fringe pants I'd been wearing to reveal the green fringed jockstrap I was wearing. The crowd let out an approving uproar, their cheers gaining new heights when I turned around and showed my perfectly framed bare ass. I turned my head over my shoulder to regard the crowd, smiling widely as they cheered for me. I was breathing heavily from the detailed routine we'd managed to pull off.
I kept scanning the spot I'd seen Qwill earlier but he wasn't there anymore. I was so glad that I had an hour and a half in between my next performance so that I could ask what he thought of my first performance back. As the announcer asked for more applause and the crowd obliged, I smiled and waved with my fellow dancers as they closed down the stage to set up for Cowboy Connor's next performance. I made a beeline backstage so that I could change and find Qwill, but Evangeline found me on the way to the locker rooms.
“Great job!” She beamed with pride, clasping her hands together. “You're being requested in suite three.” I gestured toward my jockstrap that barely covered everything to explain that I needed to change but she put up a hand. “He's requesting you in that, actually. Paid extra for it.”
“Seriously?”
“He says he's a big fan.” Evangeline replied, but the smirk onher lips seemed out of place besides her normal eagerness to make more money.
I wasn't sure how I felt about giving a private dance in something where my ass was completely exposed. Moreover, I wasn't sure how Qwill would feel about that. He was my boyfriend now, and while he was completely comfortable with me continuing to dance, it felt kind of weird to be in something so revealing now that I was spoken for.
Giving Evangeline a nod, I headed toward the front of the club so I go talk to the guy in the private suite. Maybe I could convince him to let me change if we refunded his money. Obviously I couldn't exactly explain why I wanted to change but maybe he'd be more open to the conversation.
I pulled back the curtain of the third private suite, disbelief brightening my face as I saw Qwill sitting in the lush velvet couch, mimicking the last time we'd been in here together. Incredulity scrolled across my face as I crossed my arms, letting the curtain fall on its own behind me.
“You know you don't have to spend money to spend time with me, right?"
He chuckled, those gorgeous golden eyes shining in the low light. “But then how would I get a lap dance while you're wearing that sexy jockstrap?”
“Oh, you mean this?”
I faced my bare ass towards him, teasing him as I watched Qwill from over my shoulder. His eyes flew to my ass, a low growl emitting from him that reverberated to my crotch. Following his growl, I walked over to him on the couch and sat on his lap. I draped my legs on either side of him and shivered with desire when his hands went to my hips, lightly applying pressure to my skin.
“So goddamn beautiful.” He said, heat rushing to my cheeks.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, careful not to irritate his gills as they shifted from the near contact. The low lightingof the suite caught on his jewel, the liquid inside sloshing lightly. I made sure not to disturb the chain it hung on as well, especially now that I knew it held poisonous virces blood. “And you're painfully handsome.”
“Painfully, huh?” Qwill laughed lightly, swirling his fingers over my hips. “You were amazing tonight, by the way. It looked like you were really in your element.”
“You know, Ifeltlike I was in my element.” I puffed out my chest with pride. “Tonight felt different.” I gave him a wicked smile laced with affection. “I think you have a lot to do with why I'm feeling so confident again and like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be in my life.”
