“Oh, Mark,” I gasp, my legs trembling as I step back. “We can’t do this here.”
He stands before me panting, his hair tousled, his shirt loose, and God, he’s like a dream. I smooth my hair and straighten my sweater. I have to get to my room, but he stops me.
“Wait.” I glance up, and his expression, his beautiful, caring face melts my heart. “I hope your search went well.”
I nod, turning away so he can’t see the mist in my eyes. It didn’t go well, and in the smallest part of my heart, I’m glad. I don’t want to leave him.
“It’s not true…” His voice is quiet. “I want you to find what you’re looking for, but I wish we had more time.”
My eyes go to his, and I see his struggle. It’s my own reflected back at me. “I told Gavin I’d take the job.”
“I return to the show tomorrow night.”
We’re quiet in the face of our shared future.
“It’s your last night before you’re a star.” Slowly lifting a finger, he traces it along the line of my hair, a sad smile curling his lips. “Better rest.”
I turn and run into the blackness to my little room as the passage door closes behind me. Two turns and I’m there, but I pause in the narrow hallway before opening the door. I press my fist into my chest and exhale, ordering myself to get control.
But I can’t escape him. Images of Mark stubbornly invade my thoughts. His friendly smile, his burning kiss, his gentle touch. He promised to keep me safe.
Is it possible we’re stronger than the forces surrounding us? I spent today learning I’m trapped in this machine… Can Mark help us escape? Shaking my head, I know my salvation won’t come in time. He’s right. I need to make the most of tonight, because tomorrow everything changes.
Mark
Again I’m in the darkness high above the stage, waiting.
Gavin was pleased when I told him I’d take the job, but he was confused when I insisted I had to keep this task, up here in the dark making sure Lara doesn’t fall.
He started to argue. My work for him doesn’t involve being on the set crew. Still, I argued I know the requirements of this position, and I’ve proven I’m willing to do what it takes to keep her safe.
His watery blue eyes slid to my hands, and he agreed to my terms. Whether he knows my real reason, I can’t tell, and I don’t care. I don’t trust anybody up here with my girl, and I won’t risk Lara’s life as long as I’m here.
I promised her I’d be here every night, and I won’t break my promise.
Only this night, it’s Vanessa climbing that narrow ladder to the catwalk. With a heavy exhale, I step away, to the farthest point from the swing.
She doesn’t wear a robe or any cover over her body. Her costume is more revealing than the one Lara wears, and it’s somehow less sexy as a result. Vanessa stands at the top of the platform in a nude thong, a network of glittering strings draping from her neck over her bare breasts, and the smallest pair of wings attached to her shoulders.
Her blonde hair is long down her back to her ass, and her jeweled heels are so tall, our eyes are level. It’s clear her outfit is patterned after those runway angels. It’s a sexy getup, but for me, it’s on the wrong woman.
“Mark?” She trots across the narrow boards to where I’m standing, arching her back so her full breasts lead the way. “I think one of my straps came undone while I was climbing the ladder. Would you check it for me?”
She pauses a moment, standing very straight in front of me. I can see… everything. She’s not wearing pasties. She’s pretty much fully nude.
“It all looks… fine.” Turning my head, I fix my gaze on the show unfolding below. Tanya is doing her contortionist routine, tossing scraps of fabric into the wings with every backbend and twist.
“It’s not on the front,” Vanessa argues. “It’s on my ass.”
She spins on her heel and leans forward, thrusting her bare round ass into my crotch and twerking it. Fuck. My body responds to her movements because, hell, I’m not dead. Still, I take a step back.
“Yeah, it looks okay to me.”
She straightens and looks over her shoulder, eyes narrowed and lips curved in a smile. “I felt that.” She turns again and moves closer. “You like what you see?”
I’m at the end of the walk, and she’s pressed against my chest, putting pressure on the front of my jeans, and I distinctly feel her hand stroking my cock up and down, running her nails over my growing erection.
“Mmm, it’s so big.” Her green eyes sparkle. “I’ll leave my door open after the show, and you can sink this lead pipe deep in my well.”
Reaching down, I catch her wrist and move it off my crotch. “You’re going to mess up your costume.”
Her hand twists in my grip, and she guides my fingers between her legs. “Feel how wet I am for you.”
I pull my hand up and out of hers before she makes it to her cunt. Jesus, how long does it take to get to the musical cue? She’s all over me, and I don’t want to touch her.
Clearing the thickness from my throat, I move to the side, allowing her to have my place against the metal guardrail. I cross the narrow strip of boards to the bench and pull a pair of leather gloves out of my back pocket.
“You need to get seated and attach the safety harness.”
She turns and walks to me like a model on the catwalk, eyes fixed on mine. “You always make me wet, Mark. Do you know that?” Long fingernails trace up my forearm, and I step away, returning to my place beside the rope without answering.
Facing me, she sits, lifting her bare breasts as she holds the sides of the bench. Then she opens her legs wide, flashing me her pussy before crossing them again. The musical cue sounds, and the seat moves out over the open stage, but she looks back over her shoulder and mouths the words, All for you.
I almost mouth back, No thanks, but it doesn’t matter. She’s descending. I’ve made it through my last night in the dark with that naked octopus. I can think of five guys who would give their front teeth for my spot up here with Vanessa, and I’d gladly give it to them. The only catch is I’m not sure I’d get it back when Lara returns, and I have to be here for my girl.
The swing makes it to the bottom without a hitch, and I toss the gloves on the chair, hopping on the ladder and quickly returning to the floor. It’s early enough I might catch Lara before she calls it a night.
I know she’s tired. I know she’s worried about returning to her place tomorrow night. I want to reassure her about all of it. Even better, Terrence leaves for the Caribbean tomorrow. I’ll have the house to myself, and I want to ask her to come home with me after the show. I want to keep her safe there, away from this place at night.
My chest is tight, expanding with my dreams of our future, my plans for cheating the system, when Gavin bumps into me in the wings.
“Whoa, there.” He steps out from the side door, and seems surprised to see me. “Mark—just the man I was looking for. Come with me.”
“I-I was just—” I hesitate, my eyes traveling to the door leading to Lara’s room. I’m not supposed to be back here.