Off Broadway (6 page)

-8-

“What’s wrong with you tonight? You’re all jumpy.”

Avery looked up at Dan and her eyes widened. “Nothing,” she mumbled.

She’d been walking around him on eggshells all afternoon. He’d thought they came to some sort of resolution yesterday, but she was like a skittish cat.

“It’s not
nothing
,” he prompted.

She lifted a slender shoulder. “I don’t know. Just nervous about the show
tomorrow.”

Dan
stood up and walked toward her. He took her hand in both of his. “Avery, listen to me.” The smoothness of her skin was addicting. He couldn’t stop himself, he slid his thumb over the inside of her wrist. “You’re gonna be great. We’re gonna be great. The show is incredible. Your voice, your performance… I’ve never seen anything like it in cabaret.”

She laughed. “
That’s because you’ve never worked in cabaret before.”

Dan
dropped her hands and raked his fingers through his hair. “Yes, I have. Once. A long time ago.”

Her mouth opened in a perfect o.
God, her mouth would be so perfect for…he shook himself.
Focus with the big head, not the little one.

“When I first got out of college,” he said, looking past her to the piano, “I was a cabaret piano player. It only lasted about six months, but I saw enough performances to know that you’re different.”

“Who did you perform with?”

Was he really going to get into this the night before the show? He looked at Avery with her beautiful blue eyes blinking at him and made a decision. She should know. Maybe then she would understand why he couldn’t get involved with her.

“Isabel Evans.”

“Really?” Her eyes widened even more. “She’s a huge star. She has like a dozen CDs out and she gets asked to perform at huge venues.”

Dan
sighed. “Yeah. I know.”

Avery chewed her bottom lip. H
is gaze zoned in on the perfect cupid bow. He rubbed his hands over his eyes and moved to the piano bench. Avery followed him, laying a hand on his forearm.

“What happened?”

Pings of electricity raced from her point of contact straight to his cock. He moved his arm away. Rejection flashed across Avery’s face. God, she was so gorgeous when she was vulnerable. He wanted to kiss the self-consciousness from her, wanted to take her in every way until she believed that she was the most spectacular woman in the world. Instead, he inched away.

“I fell in love with her,” he said. “Well, I thought I fell in love with her. It wasn’t that hard. Everyone falls in love with Isabel.
She takes up all the space in the room, draws you in and doesn’t let go.”

Avery stood up. “I see. So that’s why you don’t date singers?” Her hand shook and it was too much for him. He pulled her back down beside him on the piano bench.

“Yes and no.” He moved his fingers over the piano keys but didn’t play. “I found out that Isabel was fucking around with other guys. Lots of other guys. I didn’t take it that well. I sort of freaked out in the middle of a performance. And she bit back. By the next morning, she had annihilated my reputation. No one would hire me. I couldn’t even get a wedding gig. I had to leave LA. That’s how I ended up in South Carolina.”

Avery’s shoulders slumped. “I understand,” she whispered. “All that stuff with Nick probably wasn’t a good idea
, huh? It probably brought back too many memories.”

Dan
lifted her chin, tracing her jaw with his fingers. “No, sweetheart. It wasn’t like that at all. That was about the hottest thing I’ve ever experienced. My dick was on perma-erection the rest of the night.”

Avery blushed and his balls tightened. Would her blush cover her whole body?

“I thought it was pretty hot too,” she said. “But still maybe not such a good idea.”

He laughed. “Yeah, I’m pretty much not going to ever look at your costume the same way again.”

She leaned into him, her body making contact with too many parts of him all at once.

“Do you think…” she started, but then shook herself and inched back.

“Do I think what?”

She stood up. “Do you think we’ll be ready for the show?”

Back to business. His shoulders slumped. “Yeah. I do. Did Nelson confirm the New York Times reviewer is going to be there?”

“Yeah
. Opening night. And the Carmichael told me they sold out.”

“Really?”
Dan had played before big crowds before, but the Carmichael was like the Carnegie Hall of cabaret venues. He cleared his throat. “Will you need help with your costume again?”
Please say yes
. 

She smiled. “No. My brother and his boyfriend are coming. Plenty of extra hands.”

He nodded. “Okay then, do you want to go through the last song again?”

A determined look crossed her face. “No,
Danny Piano, we’ve had enough rehearsal. I want you to take me dancing.”

His mouth dropped open. “Excuse me?”

She put her hands on her hips and his eyes moved directly to her pebbled nipples. “You’re always sitting at that bench.” She gestured to the piano. “I know you’ve got moves. I want you to take me dancing. I’m too keyed up about the show to sleep. The only way I’ll get any rest is if I drop from exhaustion.”

He didn’t know how he would take an entire night of his body pressed to hers, but there was no way he was going to refuse her.
Not with the flushed, determined look on her face. “Okay. Dancing it is. Do you have a place in mind?”

***

The club was packed. Too many bodies. Too much heat. Not enough patience to wait at the bar for drinks. Avery was so proud of herself for demanding Dan take her dancing, she didn’t really think about the consequences of a night pressed against him on the dance floor. She felt him get hard the minute she slid into his arms. And she loved it.

Song after song their sweat mixed, their bodies pressed, their hands roamed… Everything about him was made to fit into every part of her. He rubbed the bottom of her breasts until her legs nearly buckled underneath her, allowing him to hold her weight in his arms.

She slid her leg between his and grasped his hips, sliding her fingertips into the top of his jeans to keep his hardness pressed against her. She ground against him, working them both into a frenzy. It was allowable fucking and her body was on fire from it.

“I need to take a break,” she breathed into his ear. “Why don’t you go get us a drink?”

He groaned. “Thank God.”

She batted her eyes at him. “What?” she asked, sliding up his length.

He pulled her off him. “You’re playing with fire, Avery. Watch yourself. This isn’t how you behave with your creative life partner.”

She bit her lip, but didn’t relent. Balls to the wall, she reminded herself. “We have all our clothes on.”

He swatted her ass and stepped away. The sting made her squeak in pleasure.

“I’ll get us drinks.”

Avery nodded and moved toward the bathroom. She locked herself into the first stall and slipped off her underwear. She lifted her foot onto the seat of the toilet and moaned the second her fingers touched her slick folds. She swirled her index finger around her clit and pinched her nipple with her other hand. Her fingers were too small. She added another, but her body was begging for more intense relief. She should have packed her travel vibe. Should have forced Dan in here with her.

Minutes later, the door banged open. Her hand stilled.

“Avery.”

Oh Christ.

“You’re in the women’s room, Dan.”

“You’re taking too long. I look like an asshole with two drinks sitting in front of me and no woman.”

Her hand slipped out of her. Her body was even more keyed up. She needed release.

“I’ll be right out. I promise.”
She just needed a minute more…or another set of hands.

“I see your panties on the floor.”
His voice was deep and smoky and filled with lust.

Crap. Her face burned as she leaned over to snatch them off the floor.

“You can finish, you know,” he said and she heard a rumble in his throat.

“We’ve been through this before. If you don’t want me, you better just go.”

“Christ,” he cursed. “What the fuck are you doing to me? You
know
this isn’t about me wanting you.”

She slipped her underwear on and unlocked the door. “You’re afraid. Because of Isabel,” she said when she stepped out of the stall. “I
get that. But I don’t cheat on men.”

His eyes lingered over her and her body buzzed with want. “This isn’t about Isabel. It never really was.
We have this great creative connection. But I don’t think I’m enough of a man to be that person in your regular life too. I’m sort of a disaster. I’ve lived in South Carolina for too long and I have a chip on my shoulder about singers. I don’t think you want to risk your career on a relationship with me. I know I wouldn’t.”

She stepped toward him. “I won’t send you back to
South Carolina.” She licked her lips. Just one kiss. Her body willed him forward, but he didn’t move.

“
I just… I can’t lose this, Avery. I’ve worked too damn hard to bring myself back to this level. I can’t… I can’t lose it all again. I can’t lose you. Not for a great lay.”

Her breath caught.

“South Carolina. I escaped after the mess with Isobel, and no one would return my calls. All I was doing was playing ballet recitals and teaching stupid kids about music theory. This gig, this chance with you, it’s everything. I can’t risk it.”

Her heart skipped and cracked. “I wish you would,” she whispered.

The air crackled between them. Her breathing grew shallow. Because he might be worth it. The risk of feeling the way she did about Dan might be worth it.

He moved forward and grabbed her. The air whooshed from her lungs and he slanted his mouth over hers. His tongue dove into the depths of her mouth and her arms circled around him, drawing his body closer. It was a better kiss than she
’d even imagined. Slow at first, then hungry and demanding, but with enough hesitation to allow her to explore him back. She whimpered and rubbed her pussy along his hardened length.

The door to the bathroom swung open and
Dan pulled away from her. Three women walked in, eyeing them speculatively.

“Are we interrupting?” one asked with a smile.

Dan took Avery’s hand and pulled her toward the door. “Nope. Nothing to see here. Carry on.”

“I need to go,” he said as soon as they exited the bathroom. He dropped a kiss on her forehead. “
Nelli’s waiting for me. Try to get some sleep. Tomorrow’s a big night.”

Avery leaned against the wall and watched h
is gorgeously tight ass make its way out of the club. God, she hoped she wasn’t making a mistake.

-9-

“How’s my favorite singer?” Rich asked, walking into her dressing room with a giant bouquet of
obnoxious flowers.

She smiled. “Carnations. The flowers of death. Rich, you always know just what to get me.”

Brandon trailed in behind him. “I told him not to get you flowers on the side of the road.”

Rich
squished the flowers in the vase full of roses on Avery’s vanity table. “Yeah, but I knew she’d buy herself roses and I can’t compete with that, especially on a bouncer’s salary.”

Avery bought herself roses for every show. It staved off the disappointment of not
getting them from anyone else. She also bought herself an enormous box of chocolate on Valentine’s Day.

“Don’t put those stinky flowers in with my roses,” she said with a
grin. “Go bring them to Danny Piano. I’m sure no one got him flowers.”

“Why don’t you give them to him?”

Avery opened her mouth. “I’m going slow. He’s got a bit of baggage to contend with. I’m not sure crappy funeral flowers are really going to win him over.”

She stood,
walked behind the screen, and pulled her bodysuit on.

“Thanks for coming tonight,” she said, turning her back to Rich so he could fasten the
tiny snaps.

“Ricardo gave us all sorts of crap, but then Brandon and I threatened to go work at Crazy Horse and he shut up.”

“You don’t want to work at Crazy Horse. They sell booze there. You’ll end up in too many fights.”

Rich finished fastening her and squeezed her shoulder. “Thanks for the concern, sis.”

She smiled at him. “I’m just saying, Scarlet’s is all nude, but at least you don’t have a bunch of drunken assholes to deal with.”

Brandon chimed in, “We’re not leaving Scarlet’s. The 401k is matching. We just like to keep Ricardo on his toes.”

Rich spun her around. “You look beautiful. Are you nervous?”

Avery nodded. “Of course. The New York Times reviewer is here. I’ve been waiting for this one for a long time.”

Like since she first started performing.

Rich massaged the kinks from her shoulder. “Of course you have, sweetie. But remember, it’s just one review. You’ve been reviewed all your life. You can’t let that guide your course.”

Avery nodded. “It’s a little different when it’s the New York Times.”

Brandon walked up and offered her a hug. “We’ll still love you all the same. Now get out of your head and go seduce that audience.”

She smiled at them both. “I’ll see you after? To help me with my costume?”

Rich looked at Brandon quickly and then focused on her. “Of course.”

***

The room was perfectly lit to bring out Avery’s beauty. Dim golden lights, intimate cabaret tables, there was a coziness to the Carmichael that made it New York’s most favorite cabaret venue. And exactly as he expected, e
very eye in the room was on Avery the minute she walked on the low stage with her long, snug pants, tipped hat, and too high heels. When she smiled and welcomed the people in the audience, he could have sworn he heard a collective sigh from the men in the room. Dan had never seen anything like it. Not even Isabel could hypnotize an audience the way Avery could. She was electric, part flirt, part ingénue… She held everyone captive. Including him. Without the hours of practice being distracted by her, he’d have never gotten through the show.

She was shameless as she peeled layer after layer
of clothing from her body, poking fun at the entertainment industry, seducing everyone, and then pulling back and slamming them all with her raw talent.

The eerie silence from the audience as she sang the last note of
Is That All There Is
was followed by thunderous applause. Avery glowed. She pulled Dan into a heart-stopping hug and then offered a saucy bow to the audience.

Fifteen minutes after the show, he tapped on her dressing room door.

“That was amazing.”

She beamed. “It was. I’ve never performed like that. Not with Scott.
Not with anyone. You’ve brought so much to this show.”

Dan
shook his head. “That was all you tonight, sweetheart.”

She turned to the flowers on her vanity table and inhaled deeply.
He watched her in her mirror, and his gut tightened. Who the fuck gave her flowers? Deep, red roses.

“From one of your admirers?” he asked.

She grinned. “Sort of.”

“Please don’t tell me they’re from Nick.”

She laughed. “No. I don’t think we’ll be hearing from Nick again. I think I might have hurt his feelings.”

“He should have known better.” He eyed her.
“So who got you the flowers?”

She lifted a shoulder. “I did.”

He laughed as relief poured through him. “Really?”

“Yeah. What’s so funny?”

He crossed his arms and stared at her. “Kind of sad that a beautiful woman has to buy herself flowers on her opening night.”

She lifted her chin.
“Better than only getting them from your brother or not getting them at all.”

“Is that what hooks you, Avery?
” He took a step forward, unable to control his need to be closer to her. “Flowers?”

“Well, I don’t know a woman who would say no to flowers. But no, that’s not a deal maker for me.”

He licked his lips and her eyes focused on his mouth. “What is a deal maker for you then?”

“Brains. Talent. Desire. Integrity.
” She ran her finger over the edge of a petal, not meeting his gaze in the mirror. “It doesn’t hurt if he can fuck like a champion.”

The air in the room pressed against
Dan. “Why are you still in your costume?”

“I’m waiting for my brother. He said he’d come back and help me.”

The paleness of her skin tempted everything in him. “I’ll help you,” he murmured.

Her eyes m
et his in the mirror. She bit her bottom lip and it went straight to his cock.

“Are you sure?”

He stepped behind her and unfastened the first snap. “I’m sure.” He fisted his hands for a second to keep them from trembling. “Not much left now anyway.”

Her breath caught as he traced his finger down her spine.
“I won’t let you out of this,” she whispered.

He moved his mouth to her neck. “God, I hope not.”

His fingers unsnapped her quickly. He pulled the body suit off and she gasped as soon as his hands brushed over her breasts. He spun her around and plunged his tongue into her mouth. She tasted delicious. Strawberries and mint and a hint of sparkling wine. She whimpered and his hands dropped to her waist. He lifted her onto the edge of the vanity table and wrapped her legs around him. His aching cock pressed against her core.

***

Avery was dizzy and breathless. Dan’s kisses assaulted all her senses and her body was on fire.

“You’re wearing too many clothes,” she whispered, kicking her heels off her bare feet and hooking him closer. She pulled at his belt and he chuckled.

“I hope your brother doesn’t come in,” he said, loosening his pants as she worked the buttons on his shirt.

She peeled the shirt from his shoulders and ran her hands over his toned chest. Tanned and lean and smooth and delicious.
“Somehow I think he forgot about my costume on purpose.”

Dan
laughed. “Good man.” He pushed his pants down and she gaped at his hard cock. She hadn’t gotten a complete view of it when she was with Nick. She licked her lips and he groaned. “Stop doing that or I’ll come before I’m even inside of you.”

“You better not,” she whisper
ed, wrapping her hand around his thick shaft. “I have plans for you.”

He cursed as she worked her hand up and down
the length of him. His fingers fumbled with her underwear until he ripped the things off.

“
Excuse me. You owe me a new thong. Those are expensive.” She tried to give him a look of disapproval, but it was too hard to focus with his fingers sliding into her folds.

“Okay. I’ll buy you a new one. But don’t wear underwear next time and we won’t have this problem.”

Avery opened her mouth to answer, but was rendered mute by two of his fingers plunging into her as his thumb swirled around her clit. She opened her thighs further and arched into his hand, still working his cock.

“God, your fingers,
” she breathed.

He grinned and nipped at the spot just below her ear. “Piano player, remember?”

“Hmm…”

She rocked against him, mewling as he whispered in her ear. “I can’t wait to feel you come. Your body is amazing. It’s on fire. So wet and beautiful. Tell me what you want.”

She pushed him back, her gaze focusing on his dark nipples as she lifted her legs to the sides and rested her hands behind her on the vanity. Her hips tilted upward. “Lick me.” His lids dropped. “Please.”

She was demanding in bed. She always had been. For most guys, it was an excuse to try to dominate her or
even worse, her commands made their cocks instantly deflate. Dan grinned at her, his hardened shaft seeming to get even bigger, and dropped to his knees.

“I’ve wanted to taste you from the minute I saw you,” he whispered against her clit.

She wanted to respond, but she couldn’t speak. His tongue plundered the folds of her labia, probing inside of her before his mouth found the bundle of nerves surrounding her clit and he sucked so hard, she screamed out.

Her hips arched further into him and he continued to tease her
with his tongue.

“Fingers,” she whimpered. “Fingers.”

He nipped her clit one last time. “No, sweetheart,” he said, lifting himself off the ground. “Not right now. My fingers need a rest.”

She whined, but couldn’t take her eyes from him as he bent over to fumble in his wallet. He pulled a foil pack out and she grabbed it and slid the condom down him to the sound of his laughter.

Her body ached to be filled. “Fuck me. Please.”

He impaled her in one swift move and she
whimpered again. His hips thrust forward and she met him, hooking her legs behind him, drawing his perfection closer. He continued to pound his hardness into her until they both cried out. Her body tensed around him and she felt him release, causing her to spasm. Yes. Danny Piano had definitely been a good idea.