Vaudeville Runaway, page 12
Adam kept one hand on her waist to support her and the other on her back, but she was already doing much better than before. “I just can’t stop thinking about those girls and that place. I’ll have to talk to Mamie about our Sanctuary funds and see what we can do.”
“Some of them are going to need rehab, if they even want it,” Kitty warned him. Then she pulled and started spinning her body, wrapping the silks around her body as she went up and up. When she was about five feet above him she stopped.
“But I think it’s amazing that you care so much,” she said, dangling upside down.
Adam stayed underneath his mate, spotting her just in case she slipped. But Kitty had so much natural skill he wasn’t even worried – not now that she seemed to have renewed purpose. She was no longer fighting him, Damien, or Calvin every step of her training.
He was too nervous to ask her what had changed her mind and potentially ruin things.
“It’s hard not to care about people who are suffering,” he murmured, watching her do a few little tricks.
Kitty did a flourish and a flip. Then she climbed higher, wrapping the silks with that sensual way she had. Each time she did it, the moves became less clinical and more natural. It wouldn’t be long before the audience would barely know she was wrapping the silks with each move she made.
Then Kitty let go completely and as she fell the silks pulled and turned her body. The whole time made it look like a dance until she was yanked to a stop with her nose three inches from the floor in a pose that would have made Adam’s father proud.
After all he was the one who had brought the aerial silks to the circus.
“Dammit,” she muttered, flipping to her feet with a practiced air, releasing the silks. “I wanted to get closer to the floor.”
Adam grinned at that. “Well, let’s just say the audience wouldn’t notice a difference between one inch and three. It was beautiful regardless. Have you been practicing on your own?”
She hung onto the red silks and smiled at him, twirling around playfully. “Maybe.”
His heart skipped a beat. “With a spotter?”
“With Laura as a spotter and with mats.” Kitty stopped her twirling and those blue eyes were full of mischief and fun.
What had Adam done before she came into their lives?
“You’re really improving,” Adam told her, grabbing onto the silks to pull her closer. “You could do any of the different aerial skills with how quickly you learn and adapt. And I think you would excel at all of them.”
Kitty smiled and let him pull her closer and closer until she was barely an inch away. “The three of you are good teachers. And talking with Mamie helped.”
He wanted to ask what they’d talked about, but he also didn’t want to pry too much. Adam was afraid of how devoted he was to her. It made him second guess everything – every thought and question and conversation he had with her made him wonder if he would scare her off.
So instead he nuzzled against her, breathing in the smell of her sweat and the mate bond. It was delicious and Adam purred as he rubbed his nose along the line of her jaw. “You smell so good,” he murmured.
When her breathing hitched his lion rumbled his pleasure.
Adam dragged his lips over to hers and licked them gently – tasting her.
Kitty dropped to the floor with a gasp and he caught her, stabilizing her before she could stumble and fall. Then Adam kissed her.
Sunshine and honey and a hint of flowers – he couldn’t put his finger on which one but she smelled warm and fun. Adam wanted to drown in her scent – to lose himself in this moment with her.
He wanted to memorize how she wrapped her arms around him so they were closer.
How she deepened the kiss and tasted him just as much as he tasted her.
Just in case she decided to leave them.
One of his brothers had left the circus and this life so Adam was all too aware that it wasn’t for everyone. Not a day went by he didn’t think of Christian and what he was doing.
When he’d left it had nearly broken Adam. They’d been so close. He didn’t think he could do it again.
Slowly he released her and then stepped back. Adam blinked the haze of her from his mind and tried to remind himself that he couldn’t claim her no matter how much his teeth ached or his claws begged to spring from his fingers.
How was he going to survive when she left? Adam couldn’t imagine life without her anymore. Was he supposed to just perform each night for the rest of his life like nothing had happened?
“Is everything okay?” she asked, frowning when he took another step back.
Adam shook his head and tried to smile. “It’s fine. You did great today. I should practice my routine with Damien and Calvin.” Maybe they could help talk him off the ledge. They had to be going through something similar right now.
Kitty stepped toward him and grabbed his hand. “Adam, please. Talk to me. You’re not fine.”
Sighing, he knew he couldn’t leave now without making things worse. Adam looked up at the rigging for the silks and grabbed one of them. He wrapped it around his arm and gave her a rueful smile. “I was just thinking about having to let you go when the time comes. It wasn’t easy when my brother left, and for some reason I get the feeling it will probably be worse than that when you do.”
Instantly she looked guilty and sad. “I’m sorry,” she whispered as she shrugged one shoulder in apology.
Adam forced a smile onto his face. “Don’t feel bad. I wasn’t trying to sway your decision or anything.”
He should have just lied to her, but he just couldn’t bring himself to deceive his mate. This was not what he’d thought the mate bond would be like. It was a lot deeper and more soul-consuming than he’d ever thought possible.
The way she studied him made him squirm. Kitty could see right through him and somehow she knew how far he’d fallen for her. “Have you been with anyone else before this?”
Kitty grabbed the other silk while she waited for his answer and wrapped her arm just like he had his.
Adam smiled to see it. She was always learning. “I’ve never had a girlfriend or a boyfriend. But there are plenty of people I’ve seen casually, or slept with just the once. It’s strange growing up knowing that someone will be your mate, but not knowing what to do until you find them. It’s a weird limbo.” He started walking backwards, keeping his eyes on hers. “But I wanted experience. I wanted to make sure I was sexually proficient for the day I did finally meet her.”
Then he winked and ran. Hopefully that would distract her from his momentary lapse.
Kitty watched him run straight at the bleachers and her eyes widened when he jumped up. Momentum and speed had him soaring over the ground in a circle around her. Adam gave her a playful grin and then reached out with his free hand.
Would she take it?
Kitty grinned right back and caught his hand at just the right moment.
The added weight changed his path into a smaller circle as they stared at each other, spinning faster and faster. Adam released her then and they both went flying, still circling each other but wider than before.
Adam started climbing up his silk, hand over hand and was pleased to see when she did too. “Stop in the middle and do the wrap we learned today,” he yelled across the space.
The massive big top was always strange when it was empty. Soon everyone on the aerial arts, tightrope, and any special rigging would be there for dress rehearsal. Adam wanted to see if Kitty could do this before they had an audience.
He climbed higher and higher until he was at the very top where both of the silks were tied. A little bit of maneuvering and he had her swinging in the direction he needed. “Get ready to grab hold,” he warned.
Then Adam slid down the silk and reached out. Her hand was exactly where he needed it to be and she caught him, sending them in a new direction once more.
“Do you trust me?” he asked as she hung upside down just above him. Adam was already wrapping his silk around his legs as they flew.
Kitty nodded.
“Then let go…now!”
She did and they both fell together until he hit his anchor and her fall came to a sudden stop, pulling them in another direction, another spin – her toes pointed barely an inch above the ground.
Kitty laughed and flourished a hand, keeping them connected with just one arm. “That was terrifying!”
They started slowing down. Adam made sure he was secured and then let go. He reached for her other hand as he held them both with his legs alone. “I would never drop you,” he promised.
Adam would be there to support her, to catch her, to be the strength she needed when her own failed. Kitty was it for him.
She took his offered hand and a little tug had her flying up. Instinctually she wrapped her arms around his neck and then posed as he outstretched his own arms. It was one of those pretty ‘look at me’ moments while they flew right over where the audience would be during a performance in one large circle.
Adam wanted her to stay. Badly. Not only because she was his mate, but because this, here in the big top, performing with her – it felt perfect. It was like he’d been missing something in his performance with Calvin and Damien his whole life.
And now…Adam was pretty sure he’d found that missing piece.
“Kiss me,” he whispered as they swung.
Kitty stared into his eyes and then lifted herself up effortlessly. The show of strength was anything but small, and yet she made it look as easy as breathing. Then she was kissing him and Adam had to concentrate so he didn’t make a rookie mistake.
Because she consumed him with her taste – with the emotions he could feel through the small thread connecting them. It grew a tiny bit every day.
Adam grabbed her arms and dropped her down. Kitty shrieked and he couldn’t help but laugh. “Wanna try something stupid and dangerous?” he asked, eyeing the distance from where they were to the floor.
He released his hold a little on the silks and they slid down until they were only a few feet from the sawdust.
She gasped when he flexed his thighs and they stopped. Kitty looked up at him again, back arched perfectly, legs posed. “Sure, let’s do something stupid.”
Oh, that wicked grin.
“I’m going to toss you right when we pass your silk. Catch it and do something flashy.”
Her eyes widened and Kitty found the silk. “Okay. I’m ready.”
Adam felt her excitement. He could taste it on the very air. This—this was how he wanted to live every day for the rest of his life. Then he flexed his core and tossed her right at the red fabric dangling from the top of the tent.
Kitty caught it with her thighs and hands and held on tight. They’d have to work on that. But then she released her legs so she spun in tight circles…then she let go with one hand so she went faster and faster while Adam circled her.
One little flip and she was back on the fabric, toes pointed down. She would look fabulous with a pair of pointe shoes.
Kitty put her foot down and stopped completely – flourishing an arm as if there really were an audience watching them.
She was perfect.
Chapter Sixteen
Kitty
With her arm flourished in the air and her heart still pounding Kitty looked up at the spotlight that was right on her. She knew it was just practice but it felt real. It felt like she belonged here in this place with the echo of thousands of people clapping.
Then Adam grabbed her and pulled her into a hug that nearly crushed her lungs. Kitty laughed and pushed him away – knowing full well that she was only able to because he let her. Adam growled playfully and yanked her forward, kissing her like a drowning man and she was air.
It took her breath away and made her entire body tingle – still high from the adrenaline.
“Am I interrupting?” a familiar voice asked. It was cranky and annoyed and very human.
“Charlie!” Kitty exclaimed, releasing Adam and whirling around to see the girl standing at the entrance to the main tent.
Charlie looked as pleasant as ever with her arms crossed over her chest, glaring at Kitty. It looked odd with the makeup she still wore. “So am I interrupting?”
“No, not at all.” Kitty ran up to the other dancer and then stopped dead when she saw it wasn’t just makeup on her face.
A deep rumble from behind her made Kitty shiver and she glanced over her shoulder to see Adam’s eyes glowing gold. She cleared her throat. “Uh, can you go get Laura? Now?”
Then he blinked and looked at her, eyes still glowing. Without a word Adam turned and left through the backstage tent.
Kitty turned her attention back to Charlie, hoping the other dancer hadn’t noticed the weird, but…it was hard to miss with no one else in the tent. “What happened?”
Charlie shrugged and watched Kitty warily as she approached. “Matteo found out you came to the club and was furious about it. Even with a neck brace on the asshole is still strong as fuck.”
It was bad too. Blood covered the entire left side of Charlie’s face. The only good thing was that it looked like it came from one cut, not multiple. “And he let you leave?”
“‘Let’ is a strong word,” Charlie muttered. “He fired me after one of the girls snitched that I’d taken money from you.” She shrugged again like it didn’t matter, but Kitty could see the tears in her eyes. “No good deed right?”
Well, fuck. Kitty wrapped her arms around Charlie, ignoring how she stiffened, and just held her. This time her bad luck hadn’t affected her – but someone else. Which was so much worse.
“What happened to the other girls?” Kitty asked, pulling back to inspect the cut.
“I gave them the tickets. They’ll come or they won’t,” Charlie told her. “I need to sit. I don’t feel so well.”
“Shit, of course.” There was nowhere to sit except the ground though so Kitty pulled them both down to wait for Laura. “Well, you can’t go back. Do you have anywhere to stay?”
Charlie blinked back tears and took a deep, shuddering breath. “Not without money. He took what you gave me – said you owed it to him anyway. And I wasn’t feeling up to fighting him for it like you had. I’m sorry.”
Kitty wished she’d actually killed Matteo. The bastard was a fucking garbage stain who deserved to be washed clean from the world. If she had, then Charlie wouldn’t be here, hurt and bleeding with a concussion.
“Kitty, what’s wrong?” Laura asked, rushing into the tent. Instantly her friend went into doctor mode at the sight of the blood. “Oh shit. Okay, both of you come with me.” Laura helped Kitty walk Charlie into the tent city where Laura’s hospital tent was.
No one said anything as they made their way through the tents and thankfully most of the performers were practicing or eating so there weren’t many out and about.
Calvin was already in the hospital tent and he took Charlie from them, helping her onto one of the beds while Laura went to go wash her hands. Damien came in with one of the cameras next.
“Charlie, right?” Calvin asked, keeping his voice low and soothing.
She nodded, eyes a bit wide as she took everything in. Kitty wrapped her arms around herself and watched, feeling totally helpless.
“We’re going to take pictures of your injuries. Are there any others? If you’re uncomfortable with me, Adam, or Damien let us know. We can leave and let Kitty and Laura handle it if you like.”
Charlie glanced at Kitty and she nodded in reassurance, remembering how just a little over a week ago this had been her.
“I don’t care if you’re here,” Charlie said. “I’m not hurt anywhere else except a few bruises and this cut on my face.”
“You don’t need a rape kit?” Laura asked gently, sitting on the bed beside Charlie, inspecting the wound while Damien took pictures of it.
Charlie shook her head. “I don’t, but thank you for asking.”
Once the pictures had been taken Damien walked out, glancing at Kitty sympathetically, Adam hot on his heels. What they were about to do she had no idea, but Kitty felt responsible for Charlie. She wasn’t going to leave.
“I’m sorry,” Kitty said again. “I should have known better than to give you that money at the club.”
“Shit happens,” Charlie said. She winced as Laura started cleaning her cut. “I appreciate what you were trying to do.”
“Do you have a place to stay?” Calvin asked, only looking at Kitty once.
Charlie looked to Kitty again. “No she doesn’t. She can stay in my tent with me,” Kitty told Calvin. “I can help her get used to things. Well, as much as I can.”
There was a whole lot of weird that Kitty still didn’t really understand. And she wasn’t even sure Calvin would want to tell Charlie. Would he give her the same choice he did her? Or would he keep her in the dark because Charlie wasn’t his mate?
Was she someone else’s though?
Kitty sighed. This was moving faster than she’d anticipated.
Damien ran back into the hospital tent looking harried. “Kitty, the lawyer wants to talk to you. Ours, I mean. I told her what happened and she needs to start working on the case with you.”
Fuck, she’d forgotten she still had to do that. Kitty sighed and looked over at Calvin, wondering what he thought of it all.
“Go,” Calvin said. “Don’t worry, we’ve got this. We’ll take care of her and I’ll have some of the guys bring another bed into your tent.”
Laura looked up and gave her a grim nod. “It’s not life threatening. She’ll be fine after some food and rest. I won’t even have to stitch it up, just a bit of glue.”
Or magic glue. Kitty didn’t bother to ask.
“Kitty,” Charlie called out as she started to leave. “I want to testify against him. Tell your lawyer that.”
She nodded. Served Matteo right to get put in jail for this. Kitty turned and left with Damien, hoping their lawyer would give her some good news.
