Page 33 of Devoted (Love and Burlesque #2)

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

VIVIAN

Where can you even get a dildo that big?

“ S hh, baby. You’re going to get us caught,” I whisper, my mouth pressing against Knight’s throat. He’s so worked up right now that I can feel his pulse throb through my lips.

No one can blame me for jumping on him the second I bumped into him while he wore the costume I created.

Tight black pants show off his tree-trunk thighs, and he wears nothing other than a high-backed corset with a very low-cut front.

Only tiny peeks of his tattoo are visible on his shoulders, but they might as well be invisible with the way his huge biceps steal the show.

Before he had so much as a chance to greet me, I already looked around to see if the coast was clear before I was hauling him into a supply closet at the end of the hallway.

“You’re the one who’s moaning, Vivian,” he laughs, the sound echoing above me as I continue peppering kisses on his throat and chest. Holy hell, this man looks gorgeous in this outfit. I’m already thinking of getting him to keep it on after the show.

His large hands feel like paws resting on the exposed skin of my stomach. My skimpy cheerleader top and miniskirt combo seems to be affecting him, too.

“It’s unfair to wear this and expect me not to sport an erection all night,” he complains. Knight dips his head and begins kissing down my arm while I take my time nuzzling into his chest.

“You can be a good boy and save it for later,” I purr, stepping back only for a moment before my lips are on his again, his mustache tickling my nose.

Just as Knight is about to lift me into his arms, we hear the doorknob of the supply closet jiggle and mumbling voices argue with each other.

“Fuck,” Knight exclaims but stays frozen in his spot. Turning around in his hold, I stand in front of him—like I could shield this massive man—as we both watch the door slowly start to open.

“See, I told you, you just had to wiggle it a bit.” Benny’s voice is heard before we see the dancer illuminated in the light of the hallway. It must be dark in here if he can’t see us yet.

“Shut up and wiggle me a bit,” Dom replies, reaching up to jerk the collar of Benny’s cheerleading outfit. He’s about to drag Benny into the closet—not unlike how I dragged Knight—but stops when he finally notices us.

“ Carajo !” Dom shouts, pressing his hand against his chest. “You two almost scared me to death.”

“What the fuck are you—” Benny was too busy looking at Dom like a lost puppy to pick up on what he saw. A delayed second later, he turns to where Dom is looking, and I smile shyly at him.

“Hi, you two.” I manage to say while one of my hands throws up an awkward peace sign in greeting. Knight’s hand keeps squeezing my waist as he remains silent behind me.

“It seems we’ve mixed up partners tonight,” Dom cracks a joke as his eyes dart back and forth between me and Knight. Keeping his hand wrapped around mine, he steps forward so we are side to side in this weird standoff we find ourselves in.

“Discretion in exchange for not getting fired?” Knight asks, his humor so similar to Dom’s. At least, I think he’s joking about firing them.

“A fair trade,” Dom nods, his easy smirk never leaving his face. From the way he’s acting so boldly with Knight, the two of them must have grown close during their rehearsals for the show.

“Y’all took our spot,” Benny whines, crossing his arms as he leans in the doorway like he intends to stay and hang out.

“I’m going to ignore that, and you two will be leaving,” Knight orders, gesturing for Dom and Benny to leave with a single wave of his hand. Fuck, I shouldn’t find that commanding motion so hot.

“I told you those two were fucking. You owe me twenty bucks and a blow job, Benito,” Dom’s voice carries through the hallway.

We only spare a second to straighten up. Knight looks at me with a worried expression as he tucks my hair back in place. We share a look, both of us knowing this was a close call, and it could have turned out worse.

But, it didn’t. And just like Knight, I trust Dom and Benny to keep a secret.

There’s a feeling blooming in my chest as I watch Knight peek his head to look down the hallway so we can make our escape, and I realize…

I don’t think I want this to be a secret anymore.

Benny and I sit together in the front row, catching our breath after our performance. I’m grateful he agreed to help me with my routine. Otherwise, I would have been lost. Dancing is fun for me, but I definitely am not good at it. It’s all vibes and only an ounce of coordination on the dance floor.

Deciding to put my many years of forced cheerleading practices to good use, Benny and I came up with a fun routine set to “HOT TO GO!” And when he suggested we wear matching outfits, I made that man a skirt and crop top so fucking fast.

We were laughing and having fun on stage, so far from the professional shows that we usually have here, but that’s the beauty of this event.

It’s an entertaining fundraiser for children in need, so no one cares if you misstep or get off beat for a moment.

And with it being the week after Thanksgiving, everyone seems to be in good spirits as we move into the holiday season.

Capping my water bottle, I turn in my seat to take a look at the audience while the last performers set up.

Tons of familiar faces fill my vision, and I even see Ezekiel and Harriett sitting in a booth off to the side.

There are also some new faces in suits and ties, most likely Adler acquaintances who love giving huge donations at these events.

Past the audience, I see the burlesque dancers slinging drinks while Emma orders them around like a general. The idea of having them trade places with the staff is hilarious.

I spot my brothers among the dancers, both of them having lost their shirts already.

It’s been nice seeing Thomas here more often, though I know it’s because money is a little tight with him and Rhett right now.

T has been working his ass off at his medical residency and dancing at the club on the occasional night off he gets.

And unfortunately, Rhett was just let go from his chef position due to the restaurant where he works coming under new ownership.

Alek sees me staring and waves the bottle in his hand, sending the clear alcohol splashing all over himself and the other dancers behind the bar.

Emma smacks his arm so hard I almost thought it was the reason why the lights started dimming.

But it’s just Seb getting the house lights down and introducing the last performance—Knight and Dom’s routine.

“One and all, let’s make some noise for these magic daddies. If we’re loud enough, maybe they’ll even show us their wands.” Seb’s suggestive words, and even more suggestive tone, have the audience screaming Knight and Dom’s names as a spotlight appears on the closed middle curtains of the stage.

Dom steps out with a flourish as a song with a heavy beat blasts over the speakers.

The corset I fitted for him looks perfect, taking in his slim waist and showing off the majority of the smooth planes of his chest. The light blue beading in the corset works so well with the bronze skin peeking out of his billowy shirt.

He’s a beautiful man, but all my attention—and my breath—is stolen when Knight steps out from behind the curtain.

Our makeup artist must have put something in his hair to make the curls stand out tonight, and I need to remember to thank her profusely.

Knight’s corset, a different shape and setting, has beading work similar to Dom’s but in a muted sapphire blue to match his eyes.

The shine of the beads reflects the shine in his eyes, and I can’t look away.

He’s caught me in a spell within the depths of his ocean eyes.

“Hmm…” Dom’s voice is what pulls me away. “Audience, I’m not sure if you’re the lucky ones or if I’m the lucky one tonight,” he begins, expertly twirling a cane in his hand as he paces the stage. Knight sets up the table behind him, keeping his focus on the props.

“See, I’ve got a very good boy on stage with me today,” Dom pretends to whisper to us, hiding the side of his face from Knight as he says it. The audience whistles. Even from this far away, I can see Knight’s responding eye roll, and it makes me laugh.

“He’s been practicing so hard to give you all an amazing show, isn’t that so, Mr. Adler?” Dom looks over his shoulder as he asks. A middle finger is all he gets back.

“Audience, he’s been bending over backward, pulling things out of my…

” The magician pauses, his hand reaching behind him.

In a flash, he produces a top hat from behind his back.

“Hat. Just like a good assistant should, and caray he just happens to have a good ass, too.” He flips the hat onto his head, pinching at the rim as he backs up to meet Knight in front of the table.

“Without further ado, mis amores , let’s get you squirming in your seats.”

He wasn’t fucking lying, seeing Knight on stage giving bicep flexes and little hip thrusts to the music in Dom’s routine has me sweating in the audience.

Embarrassment never hits me because Benny is doing just as badly as I am, with Dom stripping down to nothing but his pants by the end of the routine.

The final trick starts with Knight retrieving Dom’s top hat from the start of the show, bending over theatrically and swaying his hips to give the audience a good distracting view as he finishes setting up the trick.

“Damn, Mr. Adler!” I shout, joining in the catcalls from the audience. I’ve loved tonight. It’s been a great distraction from the fleeting, doubtful thoughts I had about Knight and myself earlier. I must have been rattled from being caught, I think.

“For this last trick, a loud audience is a must! I want to measure how loud you can be for me.” Dom’s voice drops seductively. “Can you be good and scream for Daddy?” He takes the top hat into his hands.

As the audience begins to yell, Dom starts pulling something out, but we can’t see it fully. “Ah, ah,” he chides. “That’s only the tip. Be louder if you want it all.”

The audience goes crazy, screaming and clapping even louder.

“There we go, listening so well.” He keeps pulling out more of the bright pink dildo. And more. And more. Holy shit, how big is that thing?

“ Más !” Dom shouts, and we keep screaming.

It gets to the point where Dom isn’t tall enough to keep stretching the thing out of the hat, so with one arm, Knight hauls him onto his shoulder as all eight feet of this fucking double-sided dildo comes out of the hat.

“Anyone else need a cigarette after that trick?” Dom’s voice is husky. Finding Knight’s head, he grips his hair and makes him face the audience.

“Say good night, Mr. Adler.”

A little smile grows on Knight’s lips, getting bigger when he makes eye contact with me before skimming over the audience. “Good night, you assholes.”