At first, it’s like any other show. Katie sings and dances. She’s good, looks great, but there’s something a little… strange. I can’t put my finger on it, not right away.
And then it hits me all at once, about halfway through the show.
She’s doing everything. She’s hitting every move, hitting every note, and it’s real. She’s perfect, like she was born to be on stage, and everyone loves her. They scream the words and writhe and dance and it’s like she has them under her spell.
I start to feel it myself. I’m staring at her, really staring, trying to see the Katie I know, the spoiled princess from her absurd mansion, but I can’t see it. Instead, there’s some kind of goddess up there.
She’s in her element. That’s it, put simply. She’s in her element up there on stage, like a fish in water. This is what she is, her truest form, her simplest self.
It’s mesmerizing.
Afterward, instead of hanging around in the green room, the whole entourage heads to a local club. I’m shoved in the limo with Katie and twenty of her closest friends, and I can’t get the image of Katie up on that stage out of my mind.
I mean, now I think I get it, at least a little bit. Now I know why these people all want to be around her.
I want to be around her after seeing that.
God damn, Norah. I knew I wanted this girl before, but now…
Fucking shit, now I can’t resist.
The club is loud and a security nightmare but at least we’re ushered into a private VIP section. Katie sits in a group of people, including Jasper, and I hang around the outskirts.
She comes to me after an hour. I knew she would, sooner or later. I keep catching her glancing over at me, throwing me these little searching looks.
“How’s it going?” she asks, a little too at ease.
“I watched your show,” I say to her instead of answering.
She frowns, a little surprised. “You did?”
“I did,” I say. I lean closer to her. “You’re good.”
She smiles at that, a genuine smile. “I know, idiot.”
“No, you’re really good. Like you were born to be on that stage. You ever wonder why people love you so much?”
She stares at me. “I haven’t talked to you all day and this is the first thing you say to me?”
I shrug. “You should know. It’s because you look like you were born to be up there.”
She laughs a little bit, shaking her head. “You’re unbelievable. I thought you were just some stupid jarhead?”
“I am,” I admit, grinning.
“So why this sudden wisdom? You know, telling me all about myself.”
“I’m a very good reader of people, princess. Gotta be, when you run a squad. And you, yeah, you were born to be up there.”
“Thanks,” she says.
I stare into her eyes and I can’t help myself. I grab her wrist, not too hard, but hard enough to let her know that I’m not about to let her run off.
“Come with me,” I say, leaning close.
“Where?”
“Come on.” I pull her away from the group, but she follows me.
There’s a hallway off the back side of the VIP section, leading back to the kitchens and to the bathrooms. I pull her through a side door marked ‘Employees Only’ and flick on a light switch.
It’s some kind of office. I shut the door and slam the lock shut before turning on her.
“Why are we in here?” she asks, but she knows. She’s already leaning up against the desk, looking fucking sexy in this black sequined dress that barely covers her perky little ass.
I step forward and press against her, pushing her back and up onto the desk. She wraps her legs around me as I take her hair in my fist, grabbing it tight, letting her know that she’s fucking all mine right now.
I kiss her hard and slow, breathing in through my nose, sharp and intense. She tastes like rosewater and cucumbers, smooth and delicious and perfect. Her tongue rolls over mine as I kiss her, our bodies suddenly locked together as she wraps her arms around my neck.
I pull her hair back, making her gasp, and I kiss her neck.
“You were thinking about me up on that stage,” I whisper in her ear.
“No,” she says.
“You were. Every time you moved those fucking hips, you were thinking about moving them over my big, hard cock. Tell me that’s what you were dreaming about up there.”
“Maybe,” she says.
I slide her skirt up and roll my fingers over her wet panties. She lets out a little moan as I slide my hand down the front. She’s soaked already, and I know it’s true, she’s been thinking about me all night.
“You were dreaming about this,” I whisper. “You were imagining riding my big cock up there. You like thinking about your big, rough bodyguard taking your pretty little princess body. You’re a spoiled brat and you need a big Daddy to take care of you.”