Page 187 of Sin City Dark
Odd.
The stage curtain fluttered. Jannie smoothed her dress, running her fingertips over the delicate sequined leaves. She now regretted refusing the champagne because her mouth was suddenly dry. It had a lot to do with Nick’s presence beside her; something about it felt different here. Usually a calming presence, he vibrated here with something almost unsettling.
Bondage.
What did that look like? What exactly did he do, and what else was he into?
The gong sounded again, and the lights dimmed.
Nick leaned over to murmur directly in her ear. “Here we go.”
Her heart began a wild hammering that echoed in her throat. A strange, fizzy sensation sparked in her chest and traveled to her fingertips.
The music changed to a tune she’d heard before but couldn’t quite place.
Slowly, the curtain rose, inching up to reveal some sort of …
It was a sphere. A sphere made up of clear, crisscrossing tubes, making it almost see-through. A spotlight shone on it, and it sparkled, reflecting light around it in multicolored hues.
The next moment, a man strode onto the stage, his footsteps clicking as if his heels were metal-tipped.
Jordan.
His attire reminded Jannie of a medieval knight’s. The silver metallic knit mesh fabric of his sleeveless shirt resembled chain mail, and under the bright stage lights, it highlighted every muscle on his chest and abs. His dark gray pants looked painted on, hugging his legs so tightly that Jannie saw a noticeable bulge as he paused just beside the sphere, which reached up to his chest.
The spotlight shone on him, and he was mesmerizing.
Jannie wanted to shift in her seat.
Except she didn’t move. Couldn’t. Every bit of her focus was on that stage and on that man, and she licked her lips as her heart seemed to take flight.
He took a step. Two. He braced his long legs apart with two metallic clicks, placed his hands on his hips, and waited, focusing intently on something to the side of the stage.
Another spotlight snapped on.
A woman.
Her head was bowed, and her glossy auburn hair hung down her back, nearly reaching her waist. She stood still, hands clasped in front of her. Barefoot and wearing a short white gauze blouse, she radiated a powerful sexual energy by simply standing there.
Never in her life had Jannie been turned on at the sight of a woman. But now …
For the longest moment, Jordan stood still, his gaze fixed on that woman, until she began trembling, and Jannie knew it wasn’t fear that made her shake. Her shudders were barely noticeable, but they were there, and having been the recipient of Jordan’s laser stare, Jannie understood what she must have been feeling.
So much energy between the two, such a strong vibe exchanged, and yet, neither even moved. Jannie watched in fascination, feeling herself grow lightheaded, so palpable was the anticipation.
At long last, Jordan took one giant step toward the woman. Immediately, she raised her head, and their eyes met.
Pure worship.
No other way to describe the expression in the woman’s eyes.
Jannie gulped, her throat suddenly constricting at the sight. If this girl were a flower, Jordan was, without a doubt, her sun.
A tiny smile played on his lips. Slowly, he raised his arm, palm up, and beckoned with four fingers. The woman immediately moved toward him, her steps sure and graceful, the hem of her see-through gauze shirt hitting just below her butt, swishing softly with each step as she approached the waiting Jordan.
The outline of her curves and high, round breasts was clearly visible through the sheer fabric, and Jannie wondered if she was nude underneath.
Nick leaned toward her, his face close to her neck, his breath warm in her ear, and his voice uncharacteristically gravelly as he asked, “Are you OK?”
