Page 30 of Allured (Love and Burlesque #1)
CHAPTER THIRTY
ALEK
Sinning never looked so good.
W e’re not supposed to, but I peek my head past the side curtains on stage to try to catch a glance of Ezekiel. It’s not that I’m nervous about the show. Hell, I haven’t been nervous about performing since my first year here. But I am anxious to get a glimpse of my boyfriend and see where he’s sitting tonight.
“If you can see the audience, the audience can see you, Alek,” Benny chides, using a phrase I ingrained into the newbies a few weeks ago.
“Yeah, yeah.” I wave him back. Benny’s too much of a gossip to resist peering over my shoulder to scan the audience as well. I don’t even have to tell him who I’m looking for. I’m not shy to admit that I’ve been gushing over Ezekiel since we’ve been going steady.
“Hottie Professor at ten o’clock.” The large man smacks me on the back before retreating into the wings where the rest of the dancers are lined up and waiting for the show to start.
I glance over to one of the booths on my left and see Ezekiel sitting comfortably with Knight, though I notice how his hand is gripped a little tightly around his drink.
I can’t hear what they’re talking about but something tells me that the vibes are a little tense between them. My anxiety spikes thinking it might be because of my past with Knight, even though Ezekiel had promised it wasn’t an issue for him.
As I keep watching their conversation, I notice Knight give a sad smile before wrapping his arm around Ezekiel’s shoulder in a quick goodbye. My angel takes a moment to compose himself before directing his eyes back to the nearly pitch—black stage. I made a mental note to ask Ez what that was all about.
He can’t see me, especially with any glare coming off the house lights, but I swear I feel his eyes lock in on mine. Excitement shines in my angel’s eyes and I can’t believe I’ve found someone so supportive and understanding of every facet of me.
It strikes me then that I’m not worried about what exactly was said between Knight and Ezekiel, but I’m concerned about his momentary unmasking in response to the news Knight must have given him. For as stoic as Ezekiel’s learned to be, he still wears his heart on his sleeve for those who know him. I feel like that includes me now.
My admiration of Ezekiel is interrupted by a captivatingly loud voice and I shove my thoughts away to fully focus on the show.
“One and all, welcome to the Garden of Eden, the original sin!”
Hearing Seb begin his welcome speech and layout of the rules, I slide my head back between the curtains with a grin spread across my face.
“You fuckers all ready?” I whisper—yell to the men lined up behind me. I can hardly see their features in the dim light but I know the routine of the show like the back of my hand, so I’m aware of where they’re all standing.
“Dude this thong is stuck up my ass,” someone complains.
“That’s what it’s supposed to do, dumbass!” Benny huffs in reply.
A loud shush from Viv shuts us up. She’s probably the only person who can control a room full of rowdy performers with a single command. While she’s there to take care of any costume emergencies, she also acts like a shepherd rounding up some stubborn asses that were let loose.
With a chorus of apologies towards Viv, the guys and I saddle up for a hell of a show. Tonight, the burlesque dancers all have on Rocky Horror Picture Show—inspired outfits. Viv had a blast with these costumes. I’m quoting her when I say ‘nothing like seeing some big—ass dudes in femme clothing’ and honestly? Yeah, I can agree.
Keeping with the decadent and sensual theme, we’ve got a cirque trio made of fucking runway models, Gia, Lyot, and Gale, performing with us. And our last act is a BDSM magician named Dom. It blew my damn mind that those two things could be combined at first, but within a few minutes, Dom had me volunteering to show off his tricks during rehearsal.
An ensemble full of muscles, corsets, and lace? You can bet our shows have been all sold out this past week.
“Summoning Alek to the stage!”
Seb introduces me and I step out in all my leather pants glory to greet the audience tonight. The cheering is instantaneous and it helps fuel my energy for the show.
“Looking a little weighed down in those pants tonight, buddy,” Seb jabs at me, making the audience laugh and whistle at my outfit. The corset is all angles and shine, my pants, a reflective black leather, glisten in the lights of the stage while I stand centerstage in a casual pose.
“Nah, I’m light as a feather, baby—” Running my free hand through my hair, I nip at my bottom lip and give a cheeky wink to the man in the sound booth.
“But I can see you’re stiff as a board.” Seb’s perch isn’t far away from where Ezekiel is sitting, so I take a quick second to send over a discrete wink his way too. I catch him blushing before I turn away to continue my introduction.
“Y’all are really in for it tonight. Alongside me and the burlesque boys, we’ve got some amazing guests. The wicked and sultry cirque trio and the devil himself, Dom the magician. I swear the shit that guy does ain’t holy by any means.”
The crowd cheers. Their level of excitement increases my adrenaline and goosebumps form from the anticipation. Every show is special to me but they’re even more exciting when I know my man is here watching me.
The stage lights above me suddenly go out, leaving the stage pitch black for a moment before a crimson light shines in front of me, casting my silhouette on the illuminated back curtain. I don’t look behind me but I know the audience sees the horns that have sprouted on my head— a cute little headband mechanism set up by Benny.
With lust dripping from my voice, I say the last line of the show introduction.
“I hope you’re ready to drop down on your knees and… confess early Sunday morning, because you’re gonna need to repent after tonight!”
Smoke begins to fill the stage while the audience goes wild. The next blackout gives us all the handful of seconds we need to set up for the opening number where we’re also joined by our guest performers.
Gia, Lyot, and Gale are set over by their straps, discreet glow—in—the—dark tape marking their positions in the dim light. Dom is positioned on the opposite side of the cirque trio with a rigged up and scandalously dressed down assistant on each arm.
Lastly, the boys and I are on the outer end of the stage closest to the audience. Benny rolls over a gold throne for me to sit on, which I immediately fall into and pose my legs over one arm of the chair while laying my back over the other arm.
The burlesque dancers all surround me in some kind of blasphemous, but also kind of hot, recreation of the Last Supper.
3…2…1…
The lights turn on, the music blasts, and we’re all organized chaos on stage for the opening number.