Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

Kim

I drag myself to the first rehearsal, still not able to shake my exhaustion. The idea that I might see Leo perks me up a bit.

Not that I'm sleeping with him again, but a girl can dream…

He's still smoking hot and every time he touches me, I turn into a puddle of want.

At some point, when I was lying awake in bed at like two in the morning, thinking about him, I was going through all kinds of justifications.

Like if we have sex three or four more times, could I tell my mom he was my boyfriend?

But then I remind myself, it's not about creating a veneer, it's about actually living a reality.

I don't sleep around.

Still…at twenty-two, is two guys really out of bounds? And again, if we're hooking up regularly, isn't that better than a one-night stand?

Which is how I brainstorm some new rules. Granted, it's middle of the night logic, but I think it holds. While I work for him, no sex. Melissa scheduled me for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. If I could work for four weeks, that would be twelve thousand dollars. If I keep my job at Rebel's, I'll have enough money to take my class, and then move to New York. Charlotte isn't going with me like we originally planned, but I can find other dancers to room with once I get there and I'll even have a nest egg to get myself started.

It was a solid plan even if thinking about moving and leaving Vegas just made me more tired.

But I digress.

What did not fill me with exhausted dread was the idea that in between working for Leo and leaving for New York…maybe we could hang out some.

The idea of being with him was the opposite of tiring. With Leo every nerve ending came alive, and now I'm wide awake at three in the morning.

It was easier now that I knew he hadn't slept with Chandra. And that he'd left me his number like he promised. And somehow having an end date where I leave Vegas makes it easier too.

I know that Leo isn't the forever guy, just like I know when he loses interest it's really going to hurt.

Even understanding he isn't the commitment type, I worry about the end of dating Leo. When things got messy with Bobby, it really messed me up.

Like every bad thought I'd had about myself was actually true.

I finally fall asleep but it's restless and I'm ready to get up when my alarm goes off, even though I'm exhausted.

I walk through the doors at Temptation, making my way to the room where all the dancers get ready. Each of us has a locker and a vanity. In mine is a box with my name on it.

A few of the girls are milling about, and I wonder if I should ask them if everyone got this kind of treatment, a gift box that looks high end, when Melissa walks in the door.

"Hey, Kim," she gives me a friendly wave. She's a curvy brunette who is probably ten years older than me, I wave back. She's really pretty and really nice. "I see you found your uniform."

I look down at the box, suddenly curious about what's inside. I slide off the ribbon, taking off the lid.

Black leather fills the inside and I lift out the piece. It's a full leather bodysuit that goes from wrist to ankle with a crew neck. I stare at it. This thing probably cost more than I make in a month.

"Don't worry," Melissa waves with another smile. "Each of the cages has an air vent above it that blows cool air directly on you so you don't overheat. You get to set the temperature."

I blink in surprise as the other dancers crowd close checking out my clothing. "Oh wow, that's a really nice one," another redhead gushes. "My ass completely hangs out of mine."

That sounds more like Leo's style and I wonder why there is so much…fabric…on my costume. Not that I'm complaining.

"Kim is a family friend of the Kincaids," Melissa says by way of explanation, and I grimace. Will the other dancers dislike me because they think I'll get preferential treatment?

"Leo is doing me a favor. I'm trying to get to New York."

I hear some gasps, but Melissa waves her hand. "Kim got an interview at the New York Ballet."

The other girls begin babbling at once, everyone sounded really excited, but Melissa keeps going. "And I saw your audition. You are definitely doing us a favor. You're amazing."

"Thanks." If only the ballet had thought so. But the words don't sting like they did even a few days ago.

Melissa clears her throat. "Today, I'll give you the playlist. You'll get to know the song set and come up with your own moves. It's just good to have some prepared. Tomorrow, you'll do a rehearsal in costume. And Thursday you'll start."

"Great," I say with a smile.

The redhead leans forward. "I'm Samantha and I'll show you how we enter and exit the cages. It's kind of crazy until you get used to it."

I look down at the leather suit. This whole thing is all kinds of crazy, including the money.

I'm wearing my leotard under my leggings and short sweater. I take off my ballet flats and pull some heels from my bag. There is no way I'm dancing in the cage in flats.

My black leotard has cap sleeves, but it's got a ballerina neck that cuts pretty low and it cuts kind of high on my hip.

I slip on the heels and adjust the ponytail and follow Samantha to a back set of stairs.

We climb up what must be three stories until we enter a large room that's open on one end, overlooking the dance floor below. "No way."

"Cool, right?" Samantha says with a smile. "There's a plexiglass railing but it has several breaks in it, each break for one of the cages. We load in the cages up here and then they raise and lower us as we dance."

We walk toward the edge, and I get a little vertigo looking down as I reach for the rail. Each cage is on a hydraulic pole but currently they are all on the ground, so nothing is between us and the edge where there is no railing.

That's when I feel a hand on my hip. I don't even have to look to know it's Leo. I can feel him, smell him, long before I see him.

With his hand on my hip, he curls me toward his body, settling me into his side. My face heats as Samantha's eyes go wide. "Mr. Kincaid."

He gives her a nod, before he turns to me. "There will be a cage operator who helps you in and out while he runs the cage. Is that all right? You look a little out of sorts."

I nod. "I'm sure it will be fine."

"Afraid of heights?"

I shake my head. "No. I don't know what happened. I've just been off. I got a little dizzy."

A small line appears between his brows. "You said that yesterday. Have you told Charlotte? Seen a doctor?"

"So you and Mr. Kincaid like know know each other," Samantha says softly.

It must look so bad that he's holding me like this. Questioning my health. I try to step back but he keeps me tight.

"I'll take it from here," Leo says, still staring at me, not even looking at Samantha. Then he reaches over and pushes a button, the sound of a motor firing up as the cage clanks into motion.

"Thank you, Samantha," I call after her. She gives me a small wave before she reaches the stairs and disappears.

I thump Leo on the chest. "You can't do that."

"Do what?"

"Look," I let out an exasperated sigh, "I've worked with a lot of groups of women, and they don't like it when they think the boss is playing favorites."

He has the decency to frown. "So I should give Samantha extra dances and extra pay tonight?"

"Yes, please," I softly answer before I see his nostrils flare.

"You know I love it when you say please."

"Leo," I gasp. Then I clear my throat. "Maybe I should call you Mr. Kincaid?"

"Only if you want me to put you over my knee."

I stare at him, not entirely hating the idea if I'm being honest. But the cage reaches the top and I turn my head to stare. It's larger than I thought, plenty of room for me to move and I feel much safer at the top with the cage blocking the opening in the rail. There is a four-inch gap between the cage and the landing, but Leo's got my hand firmly in his as I move away, stepping over the gap and into the cage.

There isn't even any music, but I grab a bar in the middle and swing myself around, my back arching as I pivot on my toes.

"Jesus Christ, I'm going to hell." Leo is still in the opening, his eyes glued to my body. "You are way too good at that."

I give him a sassy little grin. "This was your idea."

His gaze turns so hot, it could melt my leotard off. Sex with Leo was amazing, but I have this vision of both of us actually being naked, of our skin sliding together, and the next swing of my hips goes out even further.

He lets out this growling sound. "Cue the music."

A popular dance song fires up and I listen for a second before I start to move. I can't help it, I keep looking at him and he's devouring me with his gaze. My body pulses with that same raw desire I had that night at the wedding.

This man is like a drug…

My neck arches, the movement carrying all down my body.

A muscle ticks in his jaw and my gaze slides down to see the erection in his tight jeans. I nearly lose my footing then.

"Cage coming down," he yells and then pushes another button.

I hold on as it starts to move, the speed slow and the motion steady enough that I quickly adjust.

That's when I notice, Leo wasn't the only person watching.

Bartenders, waitstaff, dancers have all stopped to watch me as the song changes and I switch the rhythm and the moves.

The cage starts going back up, my body tightening at the idea of seeing Leo again. The energy between us is electric and I briefly wonder how I'm even going to hold out a month.

It's one thing when I didn't have to see him. But now…

I hit the top and he stops the cage, reaching his hand in to help me out. "Is that it?"

"For cage practice…yes." He doesn't pull me close this time and once I'm out of the cage, he doesn't wrap an arm around me. "The rest of rehearsal will be on the floor."

I nod, trying to fortify myself for his next offensive attack. But it doesn't come.

He drops my hand and walks away, only giving me a quick, "Good luck," over his shoulder.

I'd been readying myself to tell him that we weren't happening yet. That we needed to wait. Ever since I met Leo, he's been chasing me like the lion he is.

So I'm completely unprepared for him to be the one who walks away.

And I have to admit, it makes me want to chase him. I start across the room to follow him down the stairs to the dance floor, but I can't keep up. I am in three-inch heels. When I get to the bottom, he's gone.

I don't ask, instead, I join the rest of rehearsal. The girls are all good dancers, but I can tell by the way they watch me, that everyone thinks I'm special.

"How do you do that with your hips?" Samantha asks as she comes to stand next to me.

Something softens and warms in me. I love dancing but there is something about teaching moves that really makes me excited. "I can show you."

"Really?" Samantha exclaims and several other girls come in. I look back, giving them all a smile. "It's a pop that starts in the toes…"

For the next fifteen minutes, I show the other cage dancers how to up their game with their hips.

It's so weird, I've been avoiding this kind of stuff for as long as I can remember. What does it say about me that this is where I excel?

I try to shake off the thoughts. I'm not here for Leo. I'm here to make money, finish my degree, and get out of Vegas.

And I've got a performance to prepare.