1. The Maximalist

CHAPTER 1

Max

The silence of the crowd was deafening.

I reminded myself that on this planet, crowds weren't as raucous as others. They weren't as loud. The silence wasn't a bad sign. When the performance started, they would clap and cheer.

But for now? I could hear the rustle of the leaves over any idle chatter. My stomach was full of butterflies. My heart wouldn't stop pounding.

I readjusted my grip on the straps that would soon lift me up into the air. I was thankful for the gel I'd used on my hands that soaked up any sweat. That would keep me from having an injury or fall.

My sequined suit glittered like a thousand stars. The cape I wore was sequined and bright blue, mirroring the oasis that stretched around the stage. It created a circle, and beyond that was where the audience sat. I couldn't see their faces, which was good and bad for my nerves.

This performance was part of me now. I'd lost track of how many times I'd practiced, but this was it.

This was my moment.

My debut performance.

"Breathe," Madam said into my earpiece.

It was her last reminder to me. I could hear the pride in her voice, and that made me smile. It made me relax.

I was one of the gems. I was part of the burlesque troupe now, not just as an assistant, but as a performer—something I'd dreamed of for so long. There had been many people along the way who didn't believe in me, but for those who had, they'd kept me going.

They'd cheered me on.

I breathed out. I was ready. I couldn't be more ready.

"Welcome to the Galactic Gems Burlesque show!"

Madam Moonie's voice echoed through the oasis, smooth and boisterous. She tailored her words for every place we visited, reading into the crowd and how they would best respond.

"We are honored to be here on your planet, in the lovely H?rne Forests. Thank you for welcoming us to your home!"

The crowd clapped, which was a good sign.

"Now…please welcome our newest member to the Galactic Gems. An aerialist, a performer, an eclectic rising star—please welcome the Maximalist!"

I tightened my grip on the straps as they lifted slightly and I curled into a ball, barely raised above the ground. My wrist looped into one of the straps, but I gripped both because soon I would use the two for a variety of moves.

My cape ensconced me as the music started, a soft violin rising into the countless leaves that crowned the venue. I lifted higher and higher, my muscles straining as I stayed in this position. They had become accustomed to the burn.

The music rose and rose, and so did I, until it hit a crescendo.

I burst free, opening up my body like a star. My cape swirled as I began to spin, using the momentum to turn. I reached up, grabbing hold of the second strap and lifting myself, pushing against the straps as I flipped myself upside down.

I heard their claps and cheers. But I did my best to ignore that, focusing on the swell of the music as I moved my body. It thrummed in my veins, every musical note ingrained into me. I wrapped my leg around one strap, freeing a hand so the first piece of clothing could come off.

This was burlesque.

I grinned. They cheered as my cape fluttered to the floor, leaving me in my suit. I unhooked my leg and then slipped my ankle through the loop, moving up so I could do the same to the other. I split my legs in the air, a horizontal line.

I grabbed on to the bow around my neck and gave it a sensuous tug, enjoying their response. I pulled it loose and let it fall to the stage.

I undid the first button of my jacket. My muscles quivered as I held this position, each one of them engaged. I slowly undid the next button and the next, using the movement to engage with the crowd. Finally, the last button came free, and I slid the jacket free, letting it fall down.

Another piece for the stage.

They cheered, their voices rising with the music.

I'd never felt more alive. The energy was addictive, and I felt all of my worries fly away. All the pent up anxiety melted into the moment, into doing what I loved. What I'd always dreamed of.

I went through my performance, giving it everything I could.

Tasseled pasties shook on my nipples as I moved. I was down to them and my suspenders, and then my pants. I flipped upside down again, enjoying their gasps as I grabbed onto the straps, pulling my ankles free and replacing them with my wrists. I rolled up, my shoulder pulled behind me as I hung sideways by one arm.

I pointed my toes, holding as I spun again.

The music thrummed as I reached for my pants. With an easy rip, they came free, the buttons along my legs snapping open, as well as the back. The crowd cheered again, especially now that I was down to pasties, suspenders, and a sparkly pair of very short shorts.

I rolled out of that grip and grabbed onto the straps with both hands, pushing against them and straightening my body back, as if I were doing a plank on the floor…only I was fifteen feet up in the air. I grunted as I held it, living for their applause.

The end was coming soon. I breathed out as I changed into another pose, and then slid my arms through the straps, posing as I rocked back and forth to create momentum. I twirled as the rigging slowly lowered me back towards the floor, spinning faster until my toes met the stage.

I used the momentum and sprinted forward, sliding to my knees. The crowd cheered as I grabbed onto the suspenders, popping them free. I rocked my hips to the beat, sliding across the stage into my last position.

The lights dimmed, the music ending.

"Give it up for the Maximalist!"

The crowd roared.

I was out of breath and covered in sweat, but the euphoric feeling rushing through me was almost better than sex. I huffed as I waited for the cue, seeing a stagehand dashing across for my clothing as I stood. I followed them to the edge of the stage, the dim light hard to see in as I stepped into a small, silent boat.

"You did amazing," they whispered to me.

"Thank you!" I was still breathing hard as I tried to relax.

Crystals that grew on the outer edge of the pool glowed a gentle blue, providing enough light for us. This had to be one of the stranger venues we went to, but it was worth it. A couple of other assistants rowed us to our ‘backstage' area.

The clapping didn't die until Madam Moonie's voice came on, talking as the crew rolled everything over for the next performer, Lady Luun. She waved from her little boat as we passed each other.

"Good luck!" I whisper-yelled to her.

Our boat came to the edge, and I stepped out. Stella was waiting there, already dressed for her performance. She wore a stunning crystal corset with a sheer robe that swept around her as she moved. She pulled me into a hard hug.

"You did amazing!"

I sniffled as I started to come down from the high of performing. She leaned back and shook her head.

"If you cry, then I'll cry, and my makeup is perfect," she hissed. "So save those tears for after the show, okay?"

I laughed and blinked them away. "You look flawless and we don't want to ruin that. Are you sure I did okay?"

"Max, you're a natural," she said. "You should be so proud. You've been working your ass off. And now you get to enjoy the rest of the show after you go talk and flirt with the H?rne official."

"The what?" I asked.

Stella made a face and sighed. "Madam Moonie is fighting to get our damages covered, and it ended up going to one of the forest officials. They're not royalty, but they're like a…mayor? I guess? I don't know. Madam wants us all to greet them."

Stella gestured behind her and I peeked around her shoulder.

Standing a few feet away was a very tall Arborian who was absolutely breathtaking. They had smooth purple skin and wore long, elaborate blue robes with intricate gold details. A hammered gold collar gleamed around their neck, and earrings dripped from their potted ears. They had long hair that framed their chiseled face. And then there were their horns—a rack that went from dark purple, to pink, to bright orange—reminding me of vibrant branches.

They were stunning.

"Go say hi," Stella whispered. "And try not to drool on them."

I gave her a look, but she didn't hide her smirk as I slipped past her and went towards them. I hesitated as I approached, but as their gaze met mine, I felt drawn towards them, a magnetic field pulling me in.

My head craned back as I looked up at them. "Hi, I'm Max," I said.

Their eyes seemed to darken for a moment, the frosty violet turning deep purple. They blinked and their color returned to normal. "You can call me Moss," they said. "Can I help you?"

Yeah, you could help me.

They immediately scowled as if they'd heard my thought and took a step back, which hurt way more than it should have coming from a stranger. And especially since I hadn't even said anything.

I crossed my arms and cleared my throat. "Enjoying the show?"

"Yes. Humans are very talented, although loud sometimes."

"Arborians are very quiet," I countered.

The corner of their mouth tugged into a smile. "Not always."

I didn't know what to make of that and now felt awkward. I was supposed to be riding the high of my first performance, not fumbling through a conversation with a hot alien.

"I hope you enjoy the rest of the show," I said.

I slipped past them, but I wasn't paying attention to the ground. My foot hooked under a root and I fell forward, but then Moss was there, their broad hands catching me in the blink of an eye.

The moment they touched me, three things happened at once.

One—an electric current ran through my body that made me gasp, and made them gasp too.

Two—my cock hardened as pleasure buzzed through me.

Three—they immediately released me and I fell flat on my face.

"Fuck," I grunted, pushing up. I froze as I registered how painfully obvious it would be if I stood right now. Oh gods, what am I supposed to do?

Moss crouched down, covering me with their robes. They let out a low snarl as they hovered over me. "You are trouble," they growled.

"Me?" I hissed. "What was that?"

"Shh," they snapped. "Sit up, human."

"Max. My name is Max."

"Max. Please, sit up." The plea in their voice alarmed me.

"I'm…" I trailed off, blushing hard. What the hell was happening?

Instead of waiting for me to move, they scooped me up with ease. Their body felt feverish against mine, radiating waves of energy I swear hadn't been there before. "Dressing room. Do you have a private one? This is a problem. A horrible, horrible problem." They let out a soft string of curses that were too fast for my translator.

"Yes, it's a room at the base of this tree. I don't understand what happened?"

All I'd done was fall flat on my face in front of them.

They were already moving. We earned a few curious glances from stagehands and crew, but everyone was in show mode. I could hear Lady Luun's music and knew Stella was next.

Moss rushed through the carved opening at the base of the tree, their horns gleaming in the amber lighting that shone around us.

"Down on the right," I said.

I should have demanded they put me down. Instead, I held onto their robes as they carried me down the hall to the last door on the right. They kicked open the door and stepped in, shutting it behind.

"What is happening?" I asked.

They set me down, their brows drawing together into a scowl. I stepped back from them, my every defense going up. They paced back and forth, making a series of growls that I couldn't interpret.

"There is something about you that has ruined me," they finally said, casting me an accusatory glance.

"I don't know what you mean. We just met," I said, crossing my arms. I did nothing to hide my cock or how hard it was against my shorts. "And honestly, for this, your company should pay for the damages."

"The damage payment is the least of my concerns," they growled.

"What is your problem?" I growled.

They stepped closer, towering over me, but not in a way that was intimidating. In fact, if anything, it only turned me on more.

"You are my problem," they said. "You've sent me into sporev. Just by touching you."

I stared at them, holding their slightly panicked gaze.

"I don't know what that means," I whispered.

"You do, given that you appear to be aroused."

"Well, I am," I muttered, my cheeks now burning red hot. "For whatever reason."

"Our pheromones are causing this. You've sent me into sporev, which means my pheromones are now much stronger and... It's like a heat. A sexual frenzy is taking us over as we speak, and there's only one way to satisfy it."

"How?" I asked.

"By bedding you."