16. Lark

Chapter 16

Lark

I'm back in a pair of booty shorts and while I don't relish the idea of going back on stage, at least it gives me a purpose. Pike looks at me as if he could eat me and I give my ass a little unnecessary wiggle. Kristy wears a purple latex dress and purple pumps. Ava flitters around, making sure we all have glitter. So much glitter!

Sparkle preens in front of his vanity, letting his tail sway free. His collar makes me shiver. I'm glad Drake never put one on me. Only cuffs and anklets. I can't imagine a collar, but it's part of his costume and he flicks the little bell with a smile. "I'm glad you're back with us, Trick. It was getting lonely being the only twink out here."

I snort because I remember the first time he used that word and I had no idea what it meant.

"What happened to Eric, Sparkle? I thought you and him were a thing," Kristy says.

Sparkle pouts. "We were, but that meat head cheated on me with my cousin. So we broke up."

"Sorry," I say.

"It's fine." Sparkle shrugs. "Just means I'm back in the dating pool." The lights flash a few times. "Gotta meet my fans." He swishes his tail and marches up to the curtain.

Kristy sighs. "He's a handful. Where the hell are Jude and Fran?"

The back door opens. "Speak of the devils," Ava says as she rushes over to help get them ready.

"Ah, Trick!" Fran squeals as she runs towards me.

Pike growls, and my stomach swoops at his protectiveness. Has he always been like this?

Fran ignores my demon, though, and picks me up in a bear hug. "I was getting worried."

"I told you he was fine," Jude calls out while he undresses from his street clothes. He's muscular and only wears tiny underwear on stage, leaving nothing to the imagination.

"Missed you, too," I say, though I'm confused. Everyone always kept their distance from me. Oh… but Drake isn't exactly in charge anymore. Maybe I can make friends now. I give her a grin and take in the dressing room like I've never seen it before. Half a dozen people get ready, chatting, helping each other. It's family.

Tris and Goldie saunter in together deep in some kind of conspiracy theory conversation. I immediately tune them out.

"Sorry we're late, got turned around on our way here," Tris says as she pulls back her blonde hair.

Goldie's already dressed and ready as soon as Sparkle slinks off stage.

Pike tugs my hand and pulls me into a corner where there's a tiny bit of privacy behind a vanity. "Are you okay with this? I should have asked first."

"More than okay. I feel like I have a purpose again. I may not be the best in the room or the most interesting." I give Kristy a quick look. "But I can offer something."

"You don't have to glow if you don't want to. Just do what you're comfortable doing, okay?"

"Thank you."

"And Ava said she'd love to teach you how to sew. I told Drake you weren't confined in the basement all the time, either. I want to take you out."

I cock a brow. "Out? As in?"

"Will you do me the honor of going on a date with me?"

My cheeks burn hot as I nod. "I'm no one special."

"You're special to me."

"Trick? You're on," Ava says.

Pike disappears and I'm left to process what he just said. You're special to me.

It's almost as good as his soft kisses.

"Trick?" Ava says again, and I give her a little wave of thanks as I rush through the curtain to the stage.

I'm not special. Not in the least. Not in the human realm, and certainly not in the Fae lands. I'm just Lark. Plain simple Lark.

Instead of grabbing the pole like I usually would, I walk right up to the edge of the stage and plop on my bottom. My wings fan out behind me and I push my magic to make them glow faintly.

The audience is all mine.

Some days when I'm bored in the basement, I use my illusions to act out the stories in my head. Stories where a brave Fae soldier comes and saves me, but ultimately I get to save myself.

Tonight, though, I build a huge dragon with wings that span the entire room. My magic sings through me. Illusions are easy. They take less effort than glowing, but still require sunshine.

The witches drinking their steaming brews watch with twinkling eyes, no doubt wondering at the power it takes to create a dragon illusion and make it move. I sway my hands over the floor, making the dragon fly through the room. One of the witch familiars hisses before the dragon flies right through it. I set the dragon to fly without my influence and push to my feet. I can feel the stares on my ass as I walk to the pole and start the next part of my performance. My wings shine brighter and brighter with each practiced movement.

I show every person here what's possible when I get what I need. My music slows and I wind down the pole before it ends. The crowd throws money as my dragon illusion fades out. I may not be a courtesan, but I can still enthrall a crowd like I've been trained.

I gather the money from the stage before running back to the dressing room, where I'm greeted with a standing ovation.

"Didn't know you had that in you," Kristy said. "Maybe you do deserve to be the headliner."

I groan. "No, thank you. I'm tired of carrying the entire club on my back." I grin and hope she takes it as the joke, I mean it as.

"Brat." She pulls me in for a hug. "Hit the shower."

"Gladly." I take the water bottle Ava offers and make my way to the bathroom.

As soon as I have the door shut and locked, I meet Pike's hungry gaze in the mirror.

"Did you like what you saw?" I ask. My heart flutters as I wait for his answer. My wings lift and drop with my breaths.

"Trick. You're magnificent." He spins me to face him, then lifts me to the counter. His tail comes up to wrap around my waist as if he claims me and no one else can have me.

"I'll be mad if you don't kiss me soon." I grab one of his horns and pull him down. The moan as my hand slides down the shaft sends a shiver through me. "Sorry, forgot they were sensitive." I start to remove my hand, but he presses his to me.

" Don't let go."

I squeeze, pulling another moan. "Kiss me, then. Please."

"Patience, little Fae."

My cock takes notice of the nickname. One I've loved since the beginning. He rocks against me, making me harder.

I lift my face and tug at his horn. "Kiss me."

He cups my cheeks so gently and I melt into him. My free hand clutches his shirt. My eyes shutter closed the moment his mouth meets mine. He steals my breath with a bruising kiss. I wrap my legs around his hips, trying to get closer. His cock rubs against me, making me shudder and moan.

"More," I whisper.

His hands roll down my body to lay on my thighs. "How far have you gone?"

"You were my first kiss."

Pike's breath hitches. "How?"

I shake my head. "I had plans, but Drake spoiled them all before any of them could be executed. That night I was snatched I'd planned to get my first kiss with the Winter prince."

"The boy you ran off with was a prince ?"

"The third one, yes." Toren was— is —only a few months older than me. We were a perfect match and had I been allowed to live my life as mapped out, I more than likely would have been his courtesan. We'd talked about it. He was a jealous boy and I probably would have been miserable.

"I think Drake saved me, in a way." I drop my hand from Pike's horn. "Not that I'm happy about his treatment. But the more I get to know you, the more I realize I would have been miserable in court. I need… freedom. True freedom."

"How does knowing me help you realize that?"

I tap my bottom lip as I think. "You let me decide things. I don't have to deal with procedures and etiquette. I don't have to entertain you."

"Funny, since your performance got me all hot and bothered."

I laugh as I pull him by his collar. "True, but you let me just exist. No hoops to jump just to get sunlight or food. I can be a brat and you don't punish me for being me." I run my finger over his collarbone. "At court I'd have to dress a certain way, act a certain way, and sleep with whoever the king wanted me to. I'd have a contract and rewards for everything, but would it be living?"

Pike kisses the top of my head, but it's not enough, and I lean in for another kiss to my lips.

"I still want to go home," I whisper. "I miss my mother and Wren. I miss the meadows. The magic. The music. The dancing. Being Fae ."

"I'll get you home." Pike brushes a tear from my cheek.

"I've messed up the moment." My shoulders drop, but Pike tips my chin up to look at him.

"You're allowed to feel everything you're feeling, Trick."

"Lark," I whisper. "My true name."

He brushes the hair from my face. "Lark." He smiles so wide his fangs show. "Suits you."

My face heats again as I try to bury myself in his chest. "That wasn't very special, was it? It's all I can give you. All I?—"

"Lark," Pike whispers my name and it's everything. "I don't need anything."

"We had an agreement. It's not fair to you?—"

He presses a kiss to my lips over and over. "I don't need anything, Lark." He kisses me again. "Just keep being you and I'll do everything I can to free you."

"I'm nobody, Pike. Just a Fae that got caught up in some witch's scheme."

"Give yourself more credit than that." He kisses down my jaw, down my throat.

I'm lost in his little nips along my naked flesh. My cock strains in the tiny shorts. I can't ask him to touch me, to do more. He's already done everything.

"Let me take care of you, Lark."

I nod and reach for him the moment he kneads my thighs. My heart pounds. No one has ever touched me. I've never touched anyone else and hope I'm not a bumbling fool that Pike regrets helping.

"Relax, little Fae," Pike says as he drops to his knees. He hooks the waistband of my shorts. "Lift." I'm in a daze as I follow his directions. "Good boy."

Pre-cum leaks from my cock. Pike kisses one knee, then the other as his hands slide up and down my thighs. "So pretty. So needy."

A whine escapes me as I lean into the mirror. "Don't tease me too much. You have an untouched virgin on your hands. I'm not going to last."

He grins up at me while his tail slides me closer to the edge of the counter. "I love your scent." He presses his face to me, minding his horns, and breathes in.

Pike's tongue darts out to lick my tip and I grip his horns. "Fuck."

"Darling, that's just a taste." He swirls his tongue around the crown of my cock and I hold on tighter. He takes his time, slurping, tasting, acting like it's the best treat he's ever had. The sensation is almost overwhelming and I have to take a few deep breaths to keep from blowing too soon. My hips move of their own accord, his head bobs as he takes more of me in his mouth. I'm not impressive, not like Pike. Whose dick is as big as my forearm and I don't want to think about how he'll spread me open one day.

"Sweetheart, I don't know what you're thinking about, but?—"

"You have a giant dick," I blurt out, then slam my hands over my mouth and look to the door.

Pike laughs and goes back to slurping. "I do if you're comparing dicks in the human realm."

"Obviously, I am. And the Fae realm. I've seen a few in my lifetime, just never touched any." Still haven't touched one.

"Maybe we should remedy that." Pike pushes back to his feet. His erection strains through his pants.

"Can I?" At least playing with him takes the focus off my need and lets me give him something for once. He yanks his belt through the loops and I damn near come from the sound alone.

I slide from the countertop and work the button of his jeans open, then the zipper. He helps me push them down his thighs. "You wear those weird jockstrap thingys." Not that the strips of elastic and cloth do anything to contain him. It's like a sling for his dick he's so hard.

"I like them. You'd look good in one." The end of his cock glistens. My heart pounds as I reach for him. "You are so red, Lark." Pike grabs my face and kisses me over and over, taking me out of my haze. One of his hands takes mine and guides me to him. "Tell me to stop if you don't want this."

"I want this," I whisper against him.

We both moan out at the contact. He's huge and my hand barely goes around him.

"We need lube to make this better. Spit in your hand."

I do as he asks, and the slide is much smoother as I test my strokes. It's so awkward at this angle, but… I'm touching a dick that's not my own. I laugh as I drool over his tip. Both hands work his shaft until he's thrusting into my offering.

"I do love a good fumbling virgin." Pike kisses my neck. "It's so endearing." Another kiss and another.

His hand finds my cock, and I moan into him. My legs threaten to buckle at the pleasure of it all. I love the feel of his cock beneath my hands and the scent of his arousal. I love the taste of his lips.

Pike slides to the floor and pats his thighs. "Sit in my lap."

I eye him before doing as he asks. He takes our cocks together in his big hand and pumps a few times. I have to grip his shoulders to keep from collapsing. My hips thrust. "Don't stop," I breathe out. "Don't stop."

His tail slithers up my back, driving sensation along my wings.

"Not gonna last," I pant. I thrust faster, wanting, needing more. My wings snap open and my head goes back as my orgasm tears through me.

Pike's tail squeezes me as he shouts his release. Cum shoots to my chest.

We're both breathing heavy and I blink up at the lights in the ceiling. "That was incredible." It takes me time to gain composure. What do I do now? Heat seeps into my cheeks as I sit in Pike's lap in our mess. I should know what comes next.

Pike's head goes back as he leans against the wall. "Fuck, darling. I already wanna go again." He drags his finger through our mixed cum and sucks it off. "So good. You're like honeyed cream." He scoops more off his chest and offers it to me. "Wanna taste?"

Of course, my curiosity gets the better of me. I've tasted my own release before, but together the flavor lights up my taste buds.

Someone pounds on the door. "How long are you going to be in there? I gotta pee!" Goldie yells.

I can't help the laugh. "We should let the others in. I'll shower later."

"You stink so good." Pike snuffles along my neck as he pulls me to my feet. We dress quickly. Only a little bit of heat fills my checks as we leave. I don't think I like others knowing we got up to something in the bathroom with everyone right in the dressing room.

"I'll see you tonight, Lark," Pike whispers as he drops a kiss to my cheek and poofs out.

Ava's smile takes up her face.

"What?"

"You're happy. Really happy."

Damned cheeks burn now. "I am."

She wraps me in a hug, but her nose scrunches. "You really need a shower."

"That was the plan, but Pike got to me first."

"Well, get washed up, and get excited because tomorrow is your first sewing lesson. I'll have you making your own costumes in no time." She grins up at me.

"You're the best, you know that, Ava?"

"I know, Tricksy." She boops me on the nose.

Music still thumps on stage, but it's just the two of us right now while Kristy wraps up the night. Pike hired in a team of brownies to clean up after Kristy's lust experience so Ava doesn't have to deal with the mess of cum and other questionable fluids.

"We're almost free," I whisper. "Almost."

She gives me a sad smile, like she doesn't believe me.

"Just a little longer, Ava." I squeeze her hand before I take over the bathroom again, this time for my originally intended purpose.