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My nervousness was almost insurmountable as I looked into the full house of the theater from the wings. I smoothed my damp palms over the front of the A-line dress, noticing the distinct tightness around my full hips. A lot had changed in my body over the past couple of weeks, my curves more defined, my breasts fuller, riper. There was a definitive swell to my belly now.
I felt so alive in that moment, so on top of the world.
“I can’t see Nyx,” I muttered, more to myself than anyone else around me, but Tristiana heard my complaint and peered out as well.
“He’ll be here. He lives here,” she reminded me with a short laugh. “He wouldn’t miss your opening show.”
She sounded as nervous as I felt for some reason, and I eyed her warily. “Are you okay?”
“I’m great. Nothing I haven’t done a hundred times before,” she said slyly, sashaying away on her stilettos. I eyed her svelte figure enviously, wishing I’d decided to dance in this production, too.
But I’d had my hands full with the choreographing and management. I had intended to be a part of the show, but withall the planning, I was already exhausted.Maybe after the baby is born, I told myself, but I already suspected that I’d found my true calling: directing.
I was meant to run the shows, not be in them, much as I enjoyed the dancing, too. I was still able to help the performers, teaching the dances with my own unique flare. Every moment of the production had been exhilarating.
Taking my place in the wings, the intro music began, and the theater faded to black as the curtain rose, the audience bursting into applause to see the beautiful dancers prancing on set.
A huge smile took over my face as I watched, each performer acting exactly as they were meant to, the show taking off without a hitch.
Eat your heart out, Maximo’s. This is so much better!
I wasn’t being biased. This was heads and shoulders above the cabaret downtown, and not just because I’d poured my heart and soul into it.
When a strong arm encircled my waist, I didn’t jump, Nyx’s intoxicating, masculine scent instantly putting me at ease.
I should have known he would be here. He never disappoints me.
“Where have you been?” I whispered, cocking my head back to look at him backward.
“I got detained on some business,” he apologized, kissing my neck softly. “You have a full house out there.”
I nodded, pleased with the turnout. “I suspect you had something to do with that.”
“I may have done some marketing on your behalf, but I certainly didn’t have anything to do with putting this show together,” he said, sounding impressed. His tone made my heart pound. He was truly proud of me. “This is one of the best I’ve ever seen.”
I smiled happily, tapping my foot in time to the music as Nyx held onto my waist, the two of us waiting for the scene to end. I helped with wardrobe changes in between sets and at intermission, organized the changeroom to ensure the dancers had everything exactly where they needed it for the second half of the show. The expensive costumes hung in perfect array, the dazzling jewelry lined up properly.
As always, horny audience members tried to come back and get the dancers’ attention, but the Royal Guards kept them away, pleasing my cast immensely.
“This is much better than working at Maximo’s,” I heard one of the dancers confess to another one. “We don’t have to fight off any of the horndogs.”
“And the pay is definitely better!” her friend conceded.
They really do like working for me! I’m a good boss!
And to make it even more worthwhile, we were raising so much money for the underserved residents of the kingdom.
Excitedly, I rushed back to Nyx to tell him what I’d overheard, but when I found him, his ear was pressed to his cell phone, his back to me.
“… don’t care!” I heard him growl. “You’ll get to the bottom of those rumors. I want guards stationed outside that camp twenty-four hours a day until this is resolved. I have guards to get to the bottom of trouble, and so far, you’re batting zero for two.”
He whirled around, his face twisted in anger, but it immediately brightened when he saw me.
“Who was that?” I asked, concerned.
“The head of the Royal Guards.”
“What’s going on?” I pressed when he didn’t elaborate.
