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Standing on stage, the curtain ready to go up I take a deep breath and try to relax. I hate the stage, the performing, being forced to have my body on display, but I have no choice. Not since I was a boy on the streets caught stealing. Handcuffed and dragged into the square for the monthly auction, my life became that of my owners until I have paid my debt to society.
The curtain starts to rise then stops at our thighs. Jax, ever the clown, reaches his hand down to wave, causing the audience to laugh. It’s showtime. A smile plastered on my face, I begin the routine that, by now, is rote memory. My eyes scan the audience, trying to make each person feel that this is just for them. Then I see her.
I can’t take my eyes off her, it’s as if an invisible thread connects us. I dance just for her, sing for her. When she turns to look at the couple next to her, jealousy snakes through me. The music changes, and we jump down off the stage to dance around the patrons, hoping that they will add a tip to their bill. Slowly, I make my way to the honey-haired, blue-eyed siren. Finally, I stand in front of her.
“Hey, gorgeous!” Up close she is perfection incarnate and I feel myself falling down the rabbit hole of love, “How about a private dance? You, me and the lads?” I swivel my hips, thrusting my pelvis towards her.
Her head tilts up, her blurry eyes meet mine as her words slur, “Thanx buth I jut ear fo da sow.”
As if in slow motion, I watch with eyes wide as she tilts forward, her face resting against my pelvis. “Aw, honey if you wanted to give me a blow job, all you had to do was ask.” I pull her up so that it looks to most people as if we are dancing, but in reality, she’s passed out, her head resting on my bare chest. Unsure what to do, I look around for help.
“Looks like Synthi had too much to drink.” The man seated next to her says. Something about him seems off to me, which is further stressed when he follows up with, “Give her here and we will see she gets to her room.” He stands as if to take her from me and I look down at the honey hair against my chest, just able to see her pert little nose and I know I can’t do it.
“I’m sorry, sir. You must be mistaken. She’s here for the show, she said it herself.” I spin away, dancing slowly to the music while carrying on a one-sided conversation with my mystery woman as we make our way to the door that will lead backstage, praying that Mr. Sleazy doesn’t push the subject. As soon as we’re through the door, I scoop Ms. Honey into my arms and walk to the dressing room.
“Fynn, who do you have there?” Tobis calls.
“Don’t know. She caught my eye and when I approached her to see if she was interested in a private show, she passed out, knocked me off my feet in the process. The sleazy guy next to her tried to act like she was with them, but I got a bad vibe.”
A slender man steps out of the kitchen, a cookie in his hand, to walk next to me. “She’s a looker. And those clothes...” He looks her over. “Hey, no pockets. Dressed like that she must have a purse or something.”
I roll my eyes at him, “You would notice that. I didn’t look for one, thought it was a better idea to make a natural exit rather than a scene. She was in Clarissa’s section if you want to go look for it. Mr. and Ms. Sleazy are easy to spot. Frayed shirt open to his belly button revealing a thick pelt of fur, she looks like a model a few years off the runway.”
“Gotcha. I’ll check the floor and with Clarissa.” Tobis turns and quickly makes his way back to the dining room, his hips swiveling with the natural grace of a dancer.
I continue into the dressing room and lay Ms. Honey on the sofa. My hand smoothes her hair back, loving the feel of the silky strands. Now that she’s safe, what do I do with her?
“Hey, bro! Who do you have there and what did you do to her?” Roberd asks as he, Jax, and Sawyr enter the room.
“Just a guest that had a bit too much. Thought it was better for her to be in here than out there at the mercy of whoever helped her.” Pausing, I raise an eyebrow, “No takers on a private dance? Umbri isn’t going to be happy if we don’t either get some customers into the brothel or a private dance.”
“Don’t see you bringing in a pigeon or two. What’s your excuse?” Roberd glares.
I point at Honey, “She’s right here, well physically here at least.”
“Umbri won’t see that as pulling in your share,” Sawyr says quietly.
I look up at them, “What would you have me do? Have Mr. Sleazy out there take her for whatever reason he wanted to? Leave her here alone and possibly get sent to auction?”
Tobis takes that minute to walk in, a black coded purse on his shoulder. “By the looks of this, she isn’t just a nobody so best to keep her safe.” He hands the purse to me and turns to the other men in the room. “Okay, boys! Time to go make our living. Slap on those sexy grins and flex those muscles.”
He herds the men out, pausing to look back at me. “Take care of her. You never know what may come of it.”