epilogue Aubie
Three months later…
THE FLIGHT FROM MADRID WAS delayed, which ordinarily would put me in a bad mood and send me running home for some serious cuddle time, but Cutter is at work and I’m expected at Eros tonight, so I grab the first cab I see when I leave the terminal and head straight for the club.
It’s Cale’s big night. The first routine he designed and choreographed himself. As predicted by none other than me, he’s become a star. In fact, his willingness to push limits has made him the biggest draw at the club. Up until now he danced the routines Beaulieu and I created for him.
Hiring Beaulieu was the smartest thing I could have done for the school I named Se Dévêtir. Yeah, maybe calling it Disrobe is a little on the nose, but that’s why it’s in French. Class it up a bit, as Jimi would say.
I found Beaulieu teaching avant garde dance at a small studio in Nice. A former premier danseur, he was intrigued when I approached him about managing my fledgling school.
“What discipline are you teaching?” he asked.
I figured there’s no subtle way to say it. “Stripping.”
He didn’t say anything for several minutes, then a slow smile crept across his face. “Do you know why I quit dancing?”
I know he left the Marseille ballet to dance for some small house outside the city. “I assumed it was due to an injury.”
“No. I left Marseille because I got tired of dancing the same half dozen pieces of music every season. I wanted something more creative.” He dropped his voice. “Unfortunately, I was a bit too creative.”
“Meaning?”
“They said I was too risqué for their troupe because I wanted to do a nude show. And here you come with this opportunity. The irony is not lost on me.”
I know the minute I have him hooked. “Is that a yes?”
“Where do I sign up?”
He has six full-time students now and works with members of the acting troupe and several of the dancers.
Speaking of them, there’s been an overhaul of the house at Eros since Daryl tweaked the format of the club.
Four regulars quit, though surprisingly Dominic wasn’t one of them.
In fact, he took to his new role like he was born to it.
He’s become known as the true dom of the stable, and his routines are not to be missed.
Three former dancers went to work at Scarponi’s new club, though one has since come running back to Eros with a revamped attitude.
Guess working for a mafia boss isn’t the cakewalk he thought it would be.
So far he’s only been able to dance on open Sundays because the lineup is just that crowded.
Izzy has a waiting list of international dancers who have requested auditions.
Cutter says they lost a few club members when they announced the change in concept, but they’ve gained twice as many back.
One of the new security guys Cutter hired, Lionel, greets me at the back door when I get to the club. I’m glad he’s got someone permanently patrolling the parking lot now, not that we’ve had any more trouble.
I head straight for the dressing room when I get inside, dropping my bag by the door and looking around for Cale. He’s at his usual perch in the corner putting on his makeup. When I approach, he jumps up and throws his arms around me.
“You made it.”
“You think I would miss this? My little baby, all grown up. It does a mother’s heart proud.”
“Fuck off,” he laughs and drops back down on his stool, suddenly looking nervous.
I squeeze his shoulder. “You’re going to knock ‘em dead tonight.”
His smile reappears, his eyes again sparkling with cockiness. “Of course I am.”
“There’s my Cale.”
Daniel sails into the room with Fletch, his new on stage partner. I’m still getting used to the new goth persona, though beneath it he’s still the same sweet Daniel. When he spots me he runs over and engulfs me in a hug. “Darling, I haven’t seen you in ages.”
“I was here last week.”
“Like I said.” He leans close and lowers his voice. “I kept an eye out for your man while you were gone. You know, in case anyone got any ideas.” He looks around the room, but nobody’s paying him any attention.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised Daniel stayed and adapted to the new reality.
He died his hair black and wears a lot of leather on stage now, which plays well with his pale complexion.
He has a great bondage series going with Fletch, one of the new guys, which has given him all those fans he wanted.
I understand Daniel better now. Eros is his family.
In a way, it’s mine too.
I swallow a laugh at the thought of Cutter’s reaction to hearing Daniel was keeping an eye on him. “Thanks,” is all I can manage with a straight face.
Speaking of Cutter, I’ve been here a whole ten minutes and haven’t seen him yet. I pull out my phone and shoot him a text.
ME: Hey baby, I’m in the house.
STUDMUFFIN: When you say house, do you mean home or here?
Close enough to swallow your cock.
Be right there.
I grin and tuck my phone away, then look up at Daniel. “Hate to hug and run, but I’ve got something pressing.”
“Uh huh. Wouldn’t happen to be tall, dark, and built like a Greek god would it?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I lean over Cale’s shoulder. “See you out front.”
“Have fun,” he calls.
I make it out into the hall as I hear Cutter’s deep voice getting closer.
Izzy is trailing him, perpetually mad about something.
Or maybe she’s just stressed. Daryl has put a lot more responsibility on her shoulders, part of his new Take Time For Daryl campaign, and while I know she’s happy to be moving up, she tends to take things a bit too seriously.
I wait until they turn the corner then reach out and grab Cutter’s hand. “Sorry, Izzy,” I say as I pull my boyfriend into the same storage closet Daniel blew me in my first night here.
“Aubie, I swear…” Izzy snaps. I don’t hear any more after I slam the door.
“What the hell are you doing?” Cutter hisses as I flip on the light and shove him against the door.
I smash my lips to his. There it is. His taste. His tongue like a lifeline I can never get enough of. He kisses me back for a moment, then pulls away and stares at me.
“Aubie.”
I smirk. “Cutter.”
“We’re in the closet.”
“Not anymore. I mean, not that you ever were. You came out all clean and shiny.”
“What are you talking about?”
I frown at him. “Aren’t you glad to see me?”
He sighs. “God, yes. Come here.”
When his arms close around me I go to my happy place. My hands immediately get to work unbuttoning his pants. I need them out of the way. I need his cock in my mouth yesterday.
“Aubie,” he protests, trying to push my hands away. Good luck with that. “We can’t do this here.”
I chuckle under my breath and palm his now bare cock. “Says who? You forget, I’m a partner.”
“Izzy knows we’re in here.” I ignore him and ravage his mouth some more. “Someone will hear us,” he manages to mumble, testing all the excuses.
“Guess we’ll have to be quick and quiet. You remember how to do that, don’t you?” I sink to my knees and wrap my hand around his cock.
“Aubie, I…oh Jesus, I needed that,” he groans as I suck his length into my mouth. His hands grip my hair and hold my head in place, not that it’s going anywhere. “Fuck, I’ve missed your mouth.”
I hum around him, which sends a yummy shot of precum across my tongue. I need more. I take him to the back of my throat and go to work on him with my tongue. If his moans are any indication, it’s exactly what he wants.
I may be addicted to the taste of Cutter’s cock. Just can’t seem to get enough of it. I know I don’t have much time before I have to be out front for Cale’s performance, but that doesn’t stop me from showing my man just how much I missed him the last four days.
We had phone sex two nights ago but I swear Cutter has saved it all up since then, because his cock is like a steel rod in my mouth.
I hollow my cheeks and suck him as deep as I can while my fingers caress his tight balls.
He bucks against me, all worries about where we are forgotten as he chases his release. And I’m here for it.
It’s been a while since we did anything in public, and the thought of where we are adds that certain element of spice that takes it from a little diversion to stratospheric pleasure.
You know what they say, you can take the boy out of the exhibitionist, but you can’t…
well, you get the picture. I think one good tug would get me off right now.
I massage the head of his cock with my tongue, sliding along his slit until he’s squirming in my mouth.
My hand wanders across his taint to play with the entrance to his hole. When I dip a finger in knuckle deep, he brings his hand to his mouth and bites down to stifle a moan. The need in his voice causes my own cock to ache painfully.
Fuck, this is torture.
I need to feel him railing my ass.
I need to drink in all those desperate little noises he makes when he cuts loose and lets me wreck him.
I need to fall asleep every night in his arms and wake up every morning with his cock pressed against my ass.
The last four days have been hell. And while the travel is fun, in that I get to see the world, I hate the lonely nights.
In the past I would fill the time with meaningless hookups in whatever hot club was the best place to cause a scandal, but now if I’m not haunting the fetish clubs of whatever city I’m in, I’m sitting in my room watching porn–for research–and waiting to Facetime my boyfriend. Yes, this is my life.
And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I push the finger deeper while swirling my tongue up and down his cock. I just need to hit that one spot…
“Fuuuck, Aubie,” he groans as he jerks against me then fills my mouth.
That’s the one.
My favorite flavor. When I’ve sucked him dry, I pull off and look up to meet his blissed out espresso gaze as a lazy grin curves his lips.
“Welcome home, baby.”
“Mmm. You know what the best part about leaving is?”
His eyes narrow. “What?”
“Coming home to you.” I stand and help him put himself back together.
“Did you get them?” he asks.
I know what he’s referring to; the reason for my trip. “Soledad and Fredrico will be at Eros for three nights the end of next month. I’ve got to talk to Daryl about the visa thing, but first I need to get out front to watch Cale.”
I pull him after me, ignoring Izzy’s disapproving glare as we pass her in the hall.
“You’re still moving in this week, right?
” I ask as we make our way toward the front of house.
It’s not like he isn’t already living with me.
We spend all our time at my house, but he still keeps the apartment.
Part of me wondered–just for a minute–if it wasn’t his escape clause, but I figure if he stuck around this long, he’s in for the long haul.
And now that his lease is up, it’s time to make it official.
He nods. “Got a truck lined up to donate my furniture. Daryl is going to help me move the rest.”
I glance back at him. “Daryl?”
“I know, I know,” he chuckles. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
I shake my head and push through the door to the backstage. I can feel the buzz of the crowd out front, and part of me can’t help taking a moment to savor it. There’s nothing like that rush of adrenalin before taking the stage…
And the moment is over because this is Cale’s night.
The house lights dim as Cutter and I make our way to the back of the room. The audience sits forward in their seats, anticipation lighting their faces. Just knowing Cale’s up next has them primed.
Figures my phone would pick now to vibrate.
I’d ignore it but I’ve got a few business deals up in the air right now.
Who would’ve thought it? Me, a responsible businessman.
My father would have been so proud. You know, if I cared.
And if he wasn’t so pissed about me using Gauthier money to fund a sex business.
At least he stopped calling me, so there’s a plus.
Even my therapist thinks that’s a good thing.
I pull out my phone and see it’s Maxwell Jones. “My dear Maxie Pad, to what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Fuck off, Aubie,” Maxwell growls. “I just thought you’d like to know, we arrested Ethan Lennox this afternoon.”
This day just keeps getting better. It started when I landed the most sought-after S&M act in Europe and brought me home to blow Cutter in the closet at work.
Perfect day, or so I thought. Now I get this icing on the cake.
I glance across the room at Jimi working his magic behind the bar. I wonder if he knows.
“What finally did him in?” I ask.
“You were right, the guy was bad news. After sitting on him for a while, we got enough for a warrant. Found a kid passed out in one of the bedrooms at his house, naked and drugged. Can’t be more than sixteen or seventeen.
We also found hard drives with video of past victims, along with a shit ton of cocaine, fentanyl, and a powdery substance we suspect is scopolamine, which would explain his victims’ erratic behavior.
We’re having the lab analyze it now. The real prize, however, was the ledger we found in his safe.
It outlines the whole operation. Names, dates, locations. ”
“Does that mean you’re going to cut a deal with him?”
He chuckles. “Not a chance. He’s going away for a long time. In fact, the ledger gives us everything we need to round up the whole crew. Vice has been after these guys for months. You just served them up on a platter.”
“Well, you did the work.”
“Yeah, but credit where credit’s due. You gave me the information. Thanks for that.”
“Just doing my civic duty.”
“If you need anything, I’m a favor away. And keep me in mind if you come across anything else.”
“Always.”
“Who was that?” Cutter asks as I pocket my phone. The beat of the music drops as Cale saunters onto the stage.
“Friend of mine who also happens to be a narc. They just arrested Jimi’s ex.”
He frowns. “And that’s good news?”
“It is when he drugs and traffics young men.”
“Oh. How did Jimi get mixed up with him?”
Cale’s first move brings a collective gasp from the audience. Good boy.
“Long story,” I say. “Suffice it to say I can breathe easier now knowing he won’t fall victim to a predator.”
He leans over and plants a kiss on my cheek. “You’re a good friend.”
“Know what else I’m good at?”
“I can think of a couple of things,” he says, his eyes twinkling.
“Only a couple?” I lean closer. “Guess I’m going to have to up my game.”
He smirks. “Yeah, you have been slacking.”
“Just for that, we’re going straight home after this. Let Javi close the club.”
“And what will we do?”
I waggle my brows and give him my brattiest smile. “Anything we fucking want, baby.”
“Now that sounds like a plan.”
“It is. A long term one.”
He kisses me again. “My favorite kind.”