Page 2 of Perfect Rhythm

SHADE

“Damn, you went all out, didn’t you?” my bodyguard, Trace, shouted over the music as he stood next to me in the VIP section.

“What?”

He nodded toward the exit. “With that big ass birthday billboard.”

“Oh, that?” I waved him off and returned my gaze to the crowded dance floor beneath us. “I just wanted to show some birthday love. No big deal.”

“Hmm...okay.”

I frowned. Trace was saying a lot without saying anything at all.

“If you got something to say, then just say it,” I snapped. “You know I don’t like beating around the bush.”

He folded his arms in front of him, scanning the crowd with practiced ease. “I’m not saying much. I just don’t think I’ve ever seen you do something like that for a woman before.”

“Man, chill. It’s just a sign. You’ve seen me buy all kinds of shit for women.”

“True. But that out there...that’s something different. It seems a bit more… personal .”

“It’s not,” I quickly shot back, unable to think of a better response.

He nodded slowly. “If you say so.”

“Whatever. Fuck you, Trace.”

He laughed. “Don’t come at me sideways because I’m noticing shit.”

“I’m not coming at you—you know what? Let’s just end the conversation here.”

“Fine with me.” He shrugged.

I shoved my hands into my pockets and lifted my head.

I was trying to act unbothered. But the truth was, I was bothered as hell.

My boy was on to me, and I didn’t like that shit.

I couldn’t explain why I felt the need to purchase a whole fucking billboard just to say happy birthday. Usually, I just took everyone out for the night to celebrate and covered the bill. But for some reason, that just didn’t seem like enough this time around. At least, not when it came to Nyx.

So much had changed since opening night, and I guess I had my creative director to thank for that. Because before she decided to switch up the choreography, Nyx and I barely crossed paths.

Originally, we only had a couple of songs where we danced together.

But that was all it took for the fans to take notice, and according to social media, Nyx and I had the kind of chemistry that sizzled the moment we stepped on stage together.

A few shows in, and the audience would scream louder every time we danced close to each other, begging for us to give them more.

The shit was insane.

But I couldn’t say that I blamed them. With every show, I became more and more infatuated with the way Nyx transformed on stage. The way she moved—confident, sensual, completely in her element—Nyx was cold as hell, and tonight, she made sure everyone took notice.

“Thanks for the happy birthday wishes,” a soft voice whispered in my ear.

I looked over my shoulder, surprised to see Nyx standing on the chair behind me.

“You’re welcome. Glad you liked it.”

“I did. But I must say, I wasn’t expecting something so...um...massive.” She cleared her throat. “I mean, is this something you do for all of your dancers that are turning twenty-six?” She let out a nervous giggle.

“No, just you,” I said before I could catch myself.

Fuck !

I froze, then squeezed my eyes shut before opening them again slowly. “I just wanted to do something special for you as a thank you. You’ve done a lot to help make my tour a success, and I appreciate that.”

She shrugged. “It’s no problem. I was just doing my job.”

“Yeah, well, you did that and some. The crowd loves you, and I can’t even lie, I love your ass too.” My eyes widened. What the fuck is happening? “I mean, I love watching you perform,” I corrected.

Laughing, she nodded. “I know what you meant.”

Thank God.

Wait…I wonder if she’s just saying that to make me feel better about blurting out dumb shit?

I turned around to say something else, but her smile had faded. Her eyes were glued to her phone. Whatever she was staring at had her full attention. But it didn’t look like the good kind.

“Everything okay?” I asked.

She didn’t respond. Instead, she grabbed Skye’s hand and stormed away.

“That was an interesting conversation,” Trace said with a chuckle.

“Shut the hell up.”

Still laughing, he shook his head. “Damn, she really got you?—”

“Didn’t I say shut up?” I returned my gaze to the dance floor, my mind still focused on what had Nyx so pissed off. “Did you see where they went?”

“Yeah, they went to the bathroom.”

I slid my hand over my beard. “What do you think she was looking at in her phone? She seemed pretty upset.”

Trace frowned. “How the fuck would I know? My job is to keep an eye on you, not the woman you’re losing your mind over.”

“Ain’t nobody losing a damn thing.”

“Bullshit! You can’t even get your brain to work now that you’ve said more than two words to her.”

He wasn’t lying, and the shit was pissing me off.

I moved closer to the railing when I saw Nyx return from the bathroom. But unlike before, she was in a better mood. Her angry expression had been replaced with a soft grin.

Skye grabbed her hand, whispered something in her ear, and pulled her toward the dance floor. Whatever she said made Nyx belt out a laugh, and it was a beautiful sight to see.

Suddenly, I felt something rough press against the corner of my mouth.

“What the fuck?” I spat as I swiped away the napkin that Trace held against my face. “What the hell are you doing?”

“I was just trying to get that drool off your mouth.”

“Yo, don’t ever touch me like that again. You play too fucking much.”

Still laughing, Trace balled up the napkin and shoved it into his pocket. “Just trying to look out for you.”

“Yeah, well, do it without putting your hands on me. I’m good.”

“Mmhmm, I can tell.”

Ignoring him, I continued watching Nyx.

The beat dropped, and she melted into the music. Her body moved with effortless rhythm. Hips rolling, arms fluid, every step dripping with confidence and heat. Then, without warning, she dropped into a flawless split.

The crowd erupted.

I smirked, biting back a laugh as I shook my head. Her ass is showing out tonight.

She lifted her head, her sparkling brown eyes finding mine through the crowd. She’d caught me watching. Her grin curled higher, like she’d expected nothing less. Then, with a lazy flick of her wrist, she motioned for me to come her way.

I stood up straight and strolled out of the VIP.

All eyes were on me, and I could hear the anxious whispers as the crowd created a pathway that led me straight to Nyx.

The beat softened, falling into a slow, sensual rhythm. The lights dimmed, and the opening chords poured through the speakers.

It was my voice, low and raw, slipping over the room like silk.

With desire burning in her eyes, Nyx motioned for me to sit in the chair that she’d just pulled to the center of the floor.

I knew exactly what was about to go down, and the crowd did too. Nyx was about to perform a fan favorite. But it wasn’t just the lyrics that made them go crazy. It was the moves that came along with it. Moves that only Nyx could pull off.

With a wicked smile, she dropped in front of me, then placed her face inches away from my lap. A low groan rumbled in my chest, barely audible over the music as she pretended to do some shit that should only be done behind closed doors.

“Fuck it up, Nyx,” a girl belted out from the crowd.

Without question, that was exactly what she was doing. It was like she was purposely in overdrive, going harder than I’d ever seen before. The more her head circled near my dick, the harder it became to hide her effect on me.

Finally, she lifted her head and slid her hands up my chest, her ass swaying from one side to the other. Leaning into my ear, she whispered, “You better get your friend under control.” She glanced down at the bulge in my jeans. “He’s telling on you.”

“And whose fault is that?”

She laughed. “You’re funny.”

“Trust me, I’m not trying to be.”

Still laughing, she straddled me, then grabbed my hands and placed them on her ass. Given how easy it was to feel my dick, I assumed she would take it easy.

But the joke was on me.

She lowered herself just enough to feel me, then rotated her hips slowly as she pressed the side of her face against mine. No one could hear as her moans seeped into my ear, forming a memory I’d never forget.

The shit was intense, and if I didn’t know any better, I would’ve thought that Nyx was fucking me with her clothes on.

“I swear, I wish I was in her shoes right now,” another girl said.

Nyx continued to grind on top of me, her movements seamless, camouflaged as nothing more than a dance move.

Seconds later, the same girl shouted, “Girl, I need to trade spots with you.”

But Nyx didn’t break character. She just went harder, forcing me to fight back every urge I had to pick her ass up and carry her off the floor.

If this was a preview of how she got down behind closed doors, I was all in.

Just as the song was ending, Nyx stood up and finished what was left of the performance. My hand slid over the spot that her body had just covered. Baby girl was dripping wet.

A slow smile curled on my lips. Let the games begin.