“I had to fight the energy going through the machine into me to shut it down. Once it was off, I dropped to my knees as the energy faded from the room. I hadn’t even caught my breath when the first beam shot out from my eyes. In my panic, I damaged equipment and hurt several people before it clicked that I needed to shut my eyes to make it stop. After that, I had to wear a weight band to keep my eyes closed for weeks before I learned I could control the power.”
“Damn,” Aiden said with a sympathetic frown creasing his forehead. “That sounds pretty traumatic.”
Mike shrugged off the memory of that night, managing a smile as he looked at Aiden. “What about you?”
Aiden looked as if he wanted to press for more, but Mike kept his expression neutral and his mouth shut. He was done talking about that night. Aiden got the message because he started talking about his own enhanced event.
“Nothing as dramatic as your tale. I literally woke up one day sparkling.”
“You’re kidding.”
Aiden grinned. “Nope. I was in the dormitory at the New York Ballet Academy when it happened. I had no idea what was going on or how to turn it off. I just sparkled non-stop. It wasn’t long before I realized I was hypnotizing people as well. I took a medical hiatus from ballet school and went home to figure out what was happening to me. My parents called in doctors and sent me to specialists for enhanced people. Like you, I eventually learned to control my powers. But when I tried to go back to the academy, they informed me I was no longer a part of their program and would not be allowed to return. Ever. I tried several different programs but they’d all been advised of my shiny new ability. I received rejection after rejection, each one stating something along the lines of they couldn’t risk me being on stage and suddenly lighting up like a Christmas tree to blind the audience or hypnotize the other dancers.”
“Ouch. And that’s how you became an exotic dancer?”
“Eventually. First, I spent a lot of time locked in my room, depressed that my dream had been stolen. Then I went through a rebellious stage. I started growing out my hair and eating all the junk food I hadn’t been allowed while in ballet training. It went on like that for a while, until my oldest brother got married. He had his stag party at a strip club. I watched the workers on stage, unashamed of their naked bodies, glitter sparkling on their skin. It hit me that I’d found a place where it would be fine if I sparkled while I danced. So, I figured, why not trade in my dance shoes for a pair of pleasers?”
“How’d your parents take that decision?”
“Oh, they were scandalized of course. What would their friends think when they found out their classically trained son was twerking on stage with dollar bills in his thong?”
Aiden laughed, but the sound was fond, hinting at the good relationship he had with his family.
“My dad came around first. He was a danseur too, so he understood that I needed to dance no matter what. And after he accepted that he wasn’t going to steer me into teaching or anything involving classical dance, he threw up his hands and installed a pole in my bedroom for me to practice on.
When I first got on stage, it was a big fuck you to the classical ballet world. My original signature performance started with me wearing a tutu. Since then, I’ve found my place as a sex worker outside of thumbing my nose at ballet, and let go of the regret and bitterness. Most importantly, I discovered I love riling up the crowd with my body.”
“You’re very good at it,” Mike murmured.
“Ah! So, you did like my performance.”
Mike realized he might as well come clean and admit it. “I did.”
“I’m flattered,” Aiden said with a smug smile curving his full lips.
“It was a shock to see you at first, but once I got over it, I really enjoyed watching you. Is that okay to say? I’ve never known anyone who is an exotic dancer and I don’t know what the boundaries are.”
“Compliments are welcome. Stripping is a job and I appreciate when people like what I do.”
“In that case, you’re the best I’ve ever seen. I don’t know anything about dance styles, but the way you move—elegant and sensual and powerful all at once—I couldn’t take my eyes off you. And the way you command the crowd. You had them so eager to watch you I think they would have given you their first born if you’d asked.”
Aiden’s smile went from smug to unabashedly pleased while a blush dusted his cheeks with pink.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I hope I get to see you dance on stage again someday.”
“Consider yourself invited to come and see me perform whenever you want.”
“I’ll take you up on that.”
“Can I ask you something else?”
Feeling good that he’d shared his story with Aiden, Mike answered right away this time. “Of course.”
“Does your right hand give you trouble?”
Woah. He hadn’t expected that. Mike instinctively stiffened at attention being called to his hand but he answered the question. “No, not at all.”
