Vaudeville Runaway, page 5
“Are you chickening out?” Laura asked. “Because I can make all those things happen.”
“No I’m not chickening out. I just figured it would be a good idea to not give myself another injury.”
What the fuck?
Damien peered through the bleachers to see Kitty carrying heels that looked like they could kill someone – and nearly did. With Laura of all people – the witch who had zero friends after being gone for ten years, other than her family.
What were they even doing in here? It didn’t sound like Laura was giving the human a tour.
Then Laura got to work setting up the hardwood floor around one of the poles they had running from floor to ceiling. She jerked it around and yanked, making sure it was secure. Then the witch went behind the bleachers across the tent to grab one of the chairs and set it up right in front of the pole.
Holy shit, was this really going to happen?
Kitty used that chair to strap on those killer heels. Damien hated how much he liked them. There was no scent of pain on the air, so the witch’s magical salve must have done its job.
Then the small human stood up and tested out the pole. She took off her sweater and wiped the metal down as she walked around it.
“You gonna turn on the music?” Kitty asked as she tossed her sweater to the ground. “Or are we going to make this weird?”
Laura smirked and sat on the folding chair. She tapped her phone then crossed her arms over her chest as she waited. Damien couldn’t remember the last time he saw the witch smile since she came back from finishing all her doctor training. Things were always awkward with the doctors when they first came back – or so his dad had told him.
Music started, slow and sultry – filling the tent. Damien recognized the song from the radio but he couldn’t have said what it was called if someone had asked. He narrowed his eyes as Kitty leaned back against the pole and grabbed it over her head with one hand, eyes locked on Laura.
Suddenly this felt like he was intruding on a personal moment.
It was the way she eyed the witch – heat in her eyes as she started swaying her hips, sliding her back down the pole slowly. It wasn’t an impressive move. So simple literally anyone could do it. No, what impressed Damien was the heat Kitty built between herself and her audience.
Even Laura shifted, uncrossing her arms as she no doubt realized she’d gotten a lot more than she’d bargained for.
Then Kitty did some sexy little thing with her ass and twirled, stalking around the pole in time with the music – keeping her eyes on Laura the whole time. She used her free hand to trace her own curves and then rubbed her mouth. It was weird but it brought his attention to those full, bee-stung lips and made him wonder what they would look like wrapped around his cock.
Damien took a step back and shook his head. What the fuck?
If he didn’t know better he’d say this chick was some kind of witch using a love potion, but he knew for a fact she wasn’t. There was no acrid smell of ozone on the air that told him magic was being used. This was all Kitty.
She had stage presence. He’d give her that. But could she do everything she said she could?
Why did he even care? It wasn’t like she was going to up and join the circus. Normal people didn’t do that. But if she had the skills…it was an option.
Damien crossed his arms and leaned them on the bleacher in front of him to watch her with a professional eye. Tuning out the music he watched as she used just one hand to pull herself up and upside down, legs falling open in a split perfectly in time with the crash of drums.
Another quick move turned the side splits into front splits as she spun lazily around the pole. But that wasn’t too hard. What impressed him was when she released the pole with her hands completely to fall backward – holding all her weight on the pole with just her thigh and waist in the right place.
It wasn’t just the incredibly hard move that required more body strength than Damien had thought she possessed – it was the way Kitty held her arms, one finger pointing toward Laura as she slowly spun around the pole. It was the ballet-like way she held her arms but also how she stared at her audience, asking Laura to hold her breath with her – asking Laura to watch Kitty take this chance with her life just for the woman watching the performance.
Presence. Confidence. Allure.
Kitty had it all and Damien was speechless as he watched his mate.
She mixed gymnastics moves into her routine – making the dance exciting and sexy as she slowly took pieces of her clothing off until she was in nothing but her underwear and bra. When she dropped from the top of the pole Damien came out of the bleachers, terrified she was going to hurt herself.
Then right as the song ended her thighs clamped together and Kitty caught herself two inches from the floor – flourishing her arms in triumph. She looked up, smiling. That is, until she saw Damien.
His heart was pounding as he realized she was okay.
Holy shit.
Was that what it was like when the audience watched him, Adam, and Calvin?
Instantly she got down from the pole and grabbed her sweater which made Laura turn around with a frown on her face. “Look, I’m sorry,” Kitty told him. “I didn’t realize anyone needed the tent. This was just…” Kitty sighed and put her sweater back on over her bra. “Laura used magic to make my hair pretty so I owed her a dance.”
Damien didn’t know whether to yell at her or laugh. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked at Laura.
“No one was in here,” Laura said with a shrug. “But we’ll get out so you can practice.”
Kitty’s eyes sparkled as she stepped into her skirt. “Can I watch?”
He still didn’t know what to say to this female. But Damien did want to see if she would work with him. He just wasn’t sure how to ask her so he went for his usual straightforward approach and hoped for the best.
“Only if you try a few stunts with me,” Damien finally said.
Laura’s eyes widened – she knew Damien hated when people watched him practice. “I’ll, uh, go make sure there’s a tent and put your shit in it,” Laura said. “Thanks for the dance, Kitty.”
The human frowned but shrugged. “Sure, thanks I guess. I’ll see you in a bit.”
Damien waited until Laura was out of the tent before he spoke again. “Take off those shoes.”
Kitty rolled her eyes and then sat down. “Why are all of you so bossy?”
His lips twitched and he couldn’t hide the smile from her. “I don’t want you twisting an ankle. By the way, I didn’t mean to spy on you. I thought she’d show you the tent and then leave.”
She smirked up at him and yanked off the heels. “Why are you so shy?”
Had anyone ever asked him that question before? Damien blinked. “You make me nervous. Let me check something.”
He knelt down and took one of her feet in his hand and Kitty let him inspect the bottom and the pink marks that were all that were left of the damage done the night before.
Kitty studied him as he rotated her ankles and checked their strength. “Why do I make you nervous?”
Her eyes were gorgeous and Damien couldn’t help but stare. “You know exactly who you are.”
Kitty looked surprised by the answer. “I suppose I do even if I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. What stunts did you want to try? Just so you know, it’s been a while since I partnered with anyone. I’ve only danced for the last year and a half.”
He nodded and stood to prep the mats. Most of the floor was springboard so it would help. “What’s the most intense layout you’ve ever done?”
Kitty watched him and then stood to take off her skirt so she was in nothing but her boyshorts. “Double layout, full in full out. But that’s not something I’ve done with a partner.”
Pausing in his assessment of the floor Damien looked up at her in surprise. “That’s still really impressive. Have you ever done aerial silks?”
She shook her head. “No, though I’ve always wanted to. I’ve done a bit of hoop work though, but none of that made me money unless it was a private party. What exactly do you have in mind?”
That was when Damien stepped forward and placed his hands on her waist. She had the muscles and for some reason he just felt like this would work. “Just go with the flow for now,” he told her. “Do whatever feels right. I’ll make sure you don’t eat mat.”
Placing her hands on his arms, Kitty studied him for a moment before she nodded. “Okay. You drop me though and this little experiment is over and I get to punch you in the face.”
Damien couldn’t help but smile at that. “Deal, but I won’t drop you, Kitty, I promise. Ready?”
Those full lips kept catching his attention. He needed to focus. Because he really wanted this to work.
“I’m ready,” she murmured. “Let’s do this.”
Reminding himself to adjust for his shifter strength, Damien bounced down slightly once and then on the second tossed her up. Kitty didn’t hesitate. She kept her body straight and strong, bare feet perfectly placed for him to grab and hold her up – arm extended above his head.
“I’m going to put on some music,” he told her. “Remember, go with the flow.” Shifting he put the weight of her body and both feet to one hand. Her balance was perfect and she only shook once before she found her center.
Then music filled the tent and Damien warned her with a small dip before he tossed her in the air hard.
It was exactly as he’d thought it would be. She knew what to expect from him and Damien watched carefully as she flipped and twisted in the air in time to the music. It wasn’t her skills that impressed him this time, but how easily she trusted him. Kitty never once wavered or shook.
She knew he was there for her – a strong base that would catch her no matter what. Damien wouldn’t let her hit the floor, even if he had to get hurt to prevent it.
When the song slowed to its end she looked down at him and twisted her body, placing one hand on his shoulder while holding his gaze. Damien felt his breath catch as he stared into her eyes.
Then she jumped up, twisting her body upside down, and he placed his hand on her waist at just the right moment. Kitty spread her legs in a split, then slowly moved her waist until she was completely upright, balancing herself on one hand.
Damien released her and made himself as sturdy as a rock, but he couldn’t look away from her. His breathing came fast and hard but he never wavered. How was she so in tune with him? How did Kitty see so deeply?
Then she swung her legs and Damien caught her when she dismounted. It was no dismount that he’d done before though. Her legs wrapped around his waist and her arms around his neck right as the song ended. But he couldn’t let go of her just yet.
The two of them together just felt...right.
“That was fun,” she told him, sliding down his body to the floor. Did she have any idea how tantalizing that was? “I haven’t done that in a really long time. Who would have thought we’d be such good partners? Even with my ex-boyfriend it took us years to get to that kind of instinctual connection.”
The feel of her against him lingered and Damien knew as he watched her slip her skirt back on that they’d found her in that park for a reason. Kitty was meant for him – for Calvin and Adam. She was meant for the circus…
If she wanted it.
“You are very good,” he told her. “Maybe you should practice the trapeze with me.” He watched her reaction carefully.
Kitty didn’t seem frightened. She just looked up and considered. “I’m too hungover to try something new. Can we do it tomorrow?”
Geez, she could do all that hungover? Damien smiled. What couldn’t she do?
At least when she said ‘tomorrow’ it meant she had no plans to leave any time soon. “Sure. Let me take you to your new tent,” Damien murmured.
He may not have wanted a mate or understood before why this one had been destined for them. But Damien could see it now. She was incredibly easy to be around.
“You’re not as mean as you look you know,” Kitty told him, slipping on the sheepskin boots with her heels in her other hand. “And you’re really pretty when you smile.”
Damien snorted at that. “Let’s get you settled. But don’t tell anyone I’m not mean. That would make me lose my allure.”
Her snicker was the best thing he’d heard all day.
Chapter Seven
Kitty
Her tent wasn’t as big as Calvin’s but it was still nice and spacious. Kitty liked the bed too. Where the blankets had come from she didn’t know but they looked quilted by hand and made with love in bright colors.
Everything about the circus was bright. She knew there was more under the surface, but so far everyone she ran into was mostly happy. They all had their shit, but this was a family. This was…exactly what she wished her family had been like.
Not conforming to their ideals had made her parents shun her in a way. They’d asked her to leave and not to come back until she’d changed her ways. No matter how much she knew they loved her – it had still broken Kitty’s heart. When she made life choices she’d always expected to have the support of her family.
As she looked around at the gold, purple, and red tent she felt like this kind of family would accept pretty much anything. They’d accept you how you are. Even if one of them wanted to leave the circus – Kitty knew they would support that person and remind them they always had a home here.
She wanted that so badly.
And honestly, who knew Damien could be so fucking hot?
Glancing over her shoulder she watched the way he frowned at everything, his arms crossed over his chest again. Why did he like people thinking he was mean? It wasn’t like these boys were damaged. No, Kitty knew the damaged ones immediately.
For once she was drawn to the ones who wanted to help her.
“So why did you want me to do stunts with you?” Kitty asked, flipping open one of her suitcases. She desperately needed to take a hot shower and then she wanted to wear something warm.
“I think you should join the circus,” Damien told her, coming over to see what was in her suitcase. He lifted up a velvet robe with one finger and smiled. “You sure have interesting tastes.”
“Consider me old school burlesque,” she snapped, grabbing the robe from him and holding it to her chest. “What makes you think I can even do what you do? I have no circus training. And I doubt you want a stripper doing stunts on a pole.”
He shrugged but didn’t move away. “You have the skill and strength. It wouldn’t be hard to train you.”
The heat of his body felt amazing while the heater worked overtime to make her tent warm. But Kitty took a step away. All three of her so-called ‘mates’ were confusing as hell. Did they want her?
She didn’t really know.
Did she want them?
She was attracted to all three of them. But three guys at once was something she’d never really considered even if she did have polyamorous friends, gay friends, drag queen friends…Kitty loved the whole LGBTQ community but had never thought to date more than one person at a time – with the intention of being with all of them.
After her ex-boyfriend Kitty hadn’t had time to date anyone…
She froze as she realized she’d only ever been with one person in her whole life. That made her feel weird. And now she was considering three…but, it wasn’t the idea of polyamory that bothered her. Kitty had been exposed to it enough it wasn’t strange.
No, what made her feel weird was that there was this magical fucking fairy bond connecting her to three males who used magic to turn into lions and a witch who could make her hair gorgeous with a snap of her fingers.
Why would they ever be interested in her if they weren’t ‘mates?’
“Damien,” she said, throwing some of her clothes into the dresser. “If we weren’t fated to be together, would you think I’m attractive?”
He sat on the edge of her bed and considered her. “You’re definitely attractive, but I don’t honestly know. Maybe? You were in danger and then suddenly you were my mate. But I don’t think it’s what you think it is.”
What did that even mean? “Well…could you explain? I’m trying to figure this out after learning there’s a whole other world, and then figure out my life. I need help I think.”
Damien grabbed her hand and tugged her down so she plopped on the bed next to him. He was a lot more open after their moment in the tent – it had been super intense and Kitty couldn’t stop thinking about it.
“I’m not suddenly in love with you,” he told her. “I am interested in you because I know you’re compatible with me – that we would be mates after we, uh, have sex.”
Kitty giggled at that. Damien was so uncomfortable and it was adorable. “Yeah, Laura explained that part to me.”
He breathed a sigh of relief and then looked down at her hand in his – he still hadn’t let go. Kitty thought he might now, but instead he twined his fingers through hers and it made her stomach flutter with that delicious feeling of a crush starting.
“It’s always seemed kind of pointless to me to date other women when they weren’t my mate. I would always choose my mate over them – the universe created her, er you, for me. That’s not something I’m going to throw away. But we still have to build a relationship like normal people. We have the choice to decide we don’t want to be mated to you if things don’t go well. It’s happened before. But because magic is involved feelings tend to be…sped up I guess.”
Kitty just stared at him. “Have you ever said so many words at once before?” she teased.
He actually blushed and it made her smile. Not only was Damien gorgeous, he was adorable too.
“Have you ever been with anyone before?” she asked.
“Only Calvin and Laura.”
Kitty blinked in surprise. For some reason that made her entire body tingle and she felt breathless. “I have so many questions.”
Did this make her feel weird? Or did it turn her on?
