“Oh my god,” Rudy says. “Is he for real?”
I wonder about that sometimes myself. “Thank you,mon tueur. They are lovely.”
“One more thing.” Specter opens his wool coat and pulls out a small stuffed hedgehog. “You needed a new one. I figured you could keep it here so you always have something that feels like home.”
Dammit. I blink to push back the tears. “Specter…”
“I’ll see you soon.” His eyes roam over me for several heated moments before he kneels in front of me. “The things I’m going to do to you tonight.”
My stomach flutters. “Maybe I had plans for you myself.”
“I’m your humble servant, your willing devotee. Whatever you want, you can have, even if I have to move mountains to make it happen.”
I cup his chin. “You’re more than enough.”
He takes my hand and kisses it before rising and walking out of the dressing room.
“Jesus Christ, Cashmere. How do you handle all of that?”
“It’s a lot, but…” I straighten my shoulders. “I deserve it. I earned a love like his.”
Rudy’s face lights up. “Hell yeah, diva.”
Ivy is up first, and he rushes into the dressing room for a few final touches. He’s doing his popular Poison Ivy aerial routine. It drives crowds wild.
Music is already pumping through the club, slightly muffled from here, and I finish dressing.
“Did you hear which band it is?” Rudy asks.
“No. You?”
“Yeah. It’s Crimson Velvet.”
“No way. Huh. I didn’t clock them as queer.”
Rudy gives me a hard look. “Seriously? You don’t remember that huge scandal with the lead singer banging his bass player?”
“No. When did that happen?”
“Like, three years ago. The bass player even left the band, but they got him back. Now there’s this electric tension and rage between them. Everyone thinks they’re the best they’ve ever been now.”
“That’s awesome. I don’t really listen to them. A little hard for my taste.”
“They can be. What’s your song choice tonight?”
“‘Closer.’ Nine Inch Nails, baby.”
“I fucking love that song.”
“I had to go last because I’m busting out a new trick.”
He grins. “What?”
“Oil. At the end. I think it’ll be awesome.”
“Can’t wait to see it.”
I can’t wait to see Specter’s reaction to it.
