Page 15 of Devoted (Love and Burlesque #2)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
VIVIAN
What’s a finger-fuck between friends?
M y boss finger-fucked me in an alley. My mind should be reeling after what happened on Friday, but I’m just thinking about how that sentence sounds like the title of a Fall Out Boy song.
It’s Tuesday afternoon, which is like my Monday morning, and I’m working on some costumes at the club.
With a frustrated sigh, I set down the fabric I was working with and lean back in my new chair.
Somehow, my old one disappeared and was replaced by this fancy one with proper lumbar support.
I’m only twenty-six years old, but these tits hanging off my chest trick my back into thinking we’re in our fifties.
So, yeah, I’m using the chair Knight snuck in here.
I need a break anyway. I can’t concentrate for shit, because I keep replaying everything that went down with him. Including how he walked me back into the club and then disappeared with a swish of the cape he used to clean us up a few seconds before.
I know he’s here today. I saw his car in the parking lot, and I’m not going to let him run away this time.
As much as I loved the physical intimacy we shared, I kind of wish we had more time to talk things over.
We’re both just so fucking hotheaded and he’s so fine, I couldn’t resist the magnetic pull of our lust. After he initiated everything with that kiss, the ball was in my court—he made sure of that—but I was the one who shot the final shot for both of us.
The sound of the club’s intercom, a sharp beep, sounds off as I start gathering my notebook for our start-of-the-month meeting.
“Attention, one and all, our Daddy has called?—”
“I’ve asked you all to stop calling me that.” Knight’s voice doesn’t sound as agitated as I thought it’d be.
“Anyhoo, Mr. Adler has called a staff meeting in the main lounge in five minutes.”
Shaking my head, I let out a laugh at Seb’s antics. We all secretly call Knight ‘Daddy’—a nickname started by Alek’s teasing—but Seb’s one of the few employees who will say it to his face.
The sound of my fast steps bouncing off the walls of the hallway matches my heart rate right now. I’m nervous. How is it going to feel, seeing Knight again after everything that happened? I swear, if I close my eyes and let myself feel, it’s like his hands are all over me again.
Only making it halfway across the stage, my steps falter when I see Knight standing next to Alek at the end of the stage.
I can only see him from behind, but it’s enough to send a flush of heat down my neck.
Trying my best to keep walking while also secretly checking him out, I shift my eyes to focus on how fucking hot he looks right now.
Knight’s shoulders strain against his Oxford shirt, the white fabric fighting for its life to keep in those muscles I felt a few days ago. Instead of tapering slim, I love how his abdomen fills his shirt, looking sturdy and so freaking strong.
I need to stop checking him out before I make an ass of myself by slipping down the stage steps because of my drool. Holding my notebook to my chest, I walk through a few of the rows and tables until I find an open seat next to Benny.
“Honey, you are not slick, throwing your eyes around like that,” Benny leans in and whispers, giving me a shit-eating grin when I roll my eyes at him.
“Shut up,” is all I can respond. There isn’t much protest in my voice, but I do make sure to give him a light smack on the arm for good measure.
“Now, if you all can settle down,” Knight booms, and before I can look up at him, I just know he’s staring at me.
It’s a palpable heat when his eyes are on me.
My eyes finally meet his as everyone quiets down, and he’s looking at me with an annoyed expression, eyes narrowed as if I’ve somehow ruined his day already.
Good. That’s what he gets from running away from me after I literally had him in the palm of my hand.
He shifts his angered stare over to Benny for a flash before he’s back to addressing the crowd. “Thank you for gathering on time. Alek and I have several exciting updates to inform you of.”
“You could sound a little more excited, Knight.” Alek claps him on the shoulder as the audience chuckles.
“It’s not my job to entertain, I believe that’s yours.” Knight huffs, removing Alek’s hand from his shoulder. “Which brings us to our first announcement.”
Alek claps his hands and looks at the audience with a huge smile. “I’m the new culinary creative director for Adler Entertainment!”
Cheers erupt from our coworkers, mostly safe-for-work stuff, with only a few curse words in merriment. I already knew about the announcement, but I’m still emotional about seeing my brother so happy.
“Now, now.” Alek lowers his hands, and the crowd lowers their cheers.
“This doesn’t mean I’m gonna stop dancing.
It would be a fucking shame to deprive y’all of this ass,” he pauses to cock his finger and wink at the crowd.
“It just means I’m gonna be in a normal, non-tear-away suit or chef’s jacket depending on the day, in an office a few days a week. ”
I almost burst out laughing when I see Knight gulp at the idea of Alek in an office, as if he didn’t take the decision to give the role to him.
“This also means that we have a new lead dancer,” Alek announces. Finding Benny in the crowd is an easy task, and he motions for him to stand up. “The big guy himself, Benny, is stepping in with his size fourteens to be our new lead dancer!”
The staff cheers on our gentle giant, including me.
“Thank you, thank you.” Benny waves, a bright smile shining on his face. When he sits back down, I wrap an arm around his waist in a side hug.
“Proud of you, big guy,” I whisper as the crowd almost completely quiets.
Benny has been such a great friend. Other than my brothers, he’s the first of the dancers I made a costume for, and even getting his initial measurements was quite the experience.
It’s the only time I’ve seen a measuring tape just rip like that.
A whistle brings everyone’s attention back to the stage. Alek rubs his hands together like a greedy raccoon with a troublemaking expression to match.
“And as mine and Benny’s first combined special event, we’d love to introduce y’all to…” Alek pauses, ever the drama queen. It works, though, because I don’t have a clue what’s going on, and I’m scrambling to the edge of my seat. “…‘Talk Turkey to Me.’”