2
Aria
Nerves consume me when I step back on the stage after my break.
My mysterious stranger—and I realize he’s still that because I didn’t ask his name—was even more magnetizing in person.
He’s much taller than I initially thought, easily six five. And bigger, too. Those broad shoulders…those thick arms…his tree trunk thighs.
And his piercing grey eyes. His skin.
A deep tan that’s genetic, not from the sun, even though he looks like he spends hours and hours outdoors, scaling mountains.
And his hands.
God, everything about him is electrifying.
But his voice was what sent the army of butterflies soaring in my belly. It pulsed with authority and filthy promises even when he was just talking about liking my songs.
The low, deep sound of it made my insides go off like fireworks on the Fourth of July.
I hurried off the stage earlier when I saw him talking to Candy, bewildered by the unpleasant tightening in my chest that I recognized was jealousy.
Candy is well-known for her flirting with the customers.
She’s Barry’s favorite waitress because her big tits brings in the most customers and her friendliness makes them spend money on exorbitant, watered down liquor.
So my spirits had dropped when I saw her walking over to my guy, and misery claimed me when she lingered far longer than she had with any other customer tonight.
But he isn’t interested in her.
He wants to go for a drink withme!
I know I’m stupid to let that fill me with such giddy excitement but I can’t help myself.
Fear and panic have been my companions for so long, it feels good to let another emotion take over for a while.
I clear my throat and launch into the song he requested.
I can feel Barry’s disapproval for repeating a song I’ve already performed, but I don’t glance his way. I can’t.
My whole attention is absorbed by Mysterious Guy.
He’s returned to his chair at the back of the room. I’m a little disappointed. I hoped he would sit closer.
So he can see his effect on you?
See that your skin is flushed and your nipples are standing up like cheeky little sentinels ready to salute him?
Okay, maybe it’s a good thing he’s in back. Because those minutes in the break room had been…stomach churning. In the best way. I’ve never reacted to a man like that.
Even now my nipples are still hard, still stinging and painful, and it has nothing to do with the restricting bust of my too-tight dress.
My panties grew damp the moment he entered the back room, and watching those strong, capable hands grab the chair and straddle it that way had made every bone in my body go melty.
I’d been jealous of that chair.
Jealous of the denim that stretched over and caressed his hard muscled thighs. Hell, even jealous of the baseball cap that covered the rich strands of dark brown hair I’d seen peeking out the back of the cap.