Chapter 17 #4
He sauntered to the front of the stage, his presence commanding all the audience’s attention.
“Alright, alright. Good evening, everyone! You’ve all given me no choice but to treat you to a little tune…
Even though I was engaged in an especially important discussion with my lovely lady friend over there.
” With a flourish, he pointed his finger towards me. “Wave hi, Jane!”
The flock turned in unison to catch a glimpse of me, and I felt my heart skip a beat under their collective gaze.
I awkwardly waved, a mixture of embarrassment and delight flooding through me, but I couldn’t help the wide smile that broke across my face.
Glade was a musician.
“Anyway, thanks for having me! If you know this little number, sing along,” he announced, flashing a cheeky wink at the audience.
With a brief exchange of words, he leaned in to whisper to each bandmate, who nodded in understanding. Moments later, Glade stepped back to the front of the stage, energy radiating from him as the crowd quieted, eagerly awaiting the performance.
As he plucked each string, a soft, enchanting melody filled the air.
Soon, the bass added depth, its deep rich notes reverberating through the crowd, while Glade’s fingers danced across the strings with a grace that captivated everyone.
The rhythm built gradually, the drums joining in with a steady heartbeat that pulsed through the floor, followed by a second string instrument that layered harmonies, creating an atmosphere brimming with joy.
Glade’s voice soared through the tavern, inviting me in like a warm breeze on a summer evening.
Each note flowed effortlessly, wrapping around the audience and drawing them in with its undeniable beauty.
The patrons, once bustling and animated, fell into a hushed reverence.
A few lifted their hands to the ceiling, their palms glowing with Source Light that shone like fireflies in the dusk.
They swayed in unison, lost in the alluring melody that dared to hypnotize us all.
The first verse flowed seamlessly into the chorus. The beat quickened, and the patrons danced jubilantly to the infectious rhythm. They spun in circles, held hands, and dipped one another lovingly, fully immersed in the spectacle of Glade’s unparalleled gift.
Glade’s energy surged as he sang, his strumming becoming more upbeat and livelier. His gaze remained locked on mine as he sang lyrics celebrating flowers, bees, and the beauty of falling in love.
As I dreamily rested my face in my hands, happily lost in the music, Janint approached the booth and shouted over the noise, “Well, get on up there, young lady! Don’t embarrass your man!”
Before I even had time to react, she seized my wrist and pulled me from the booth, dragging me toward the dance floor. The crowd enveloped me, pulling me into a whirlwind of swaying bodies.
I stood awkwardly for a moment, glancing up at the stage. Glade caught my eye and winked, sending a warm and fuzzy feeling through me. It must have been the beer.
I danced and danced and danced.
For the first time since arriving on Ornath, I left all my troubles behind the music. I felt ecstatic. I felt erotic. I felt spectacular. I felt free, and it was all thanks to Glade’s beautiful voice resonating throughout the cramped space, filling my veins with ecstasy.
A winged man lifted me into his arms, and I caught Glade watching us intently as he spun me around. As the man drew closer, Glade’s jaw tense, his stare fixed on me even as he performed.
Within moments, to my utter dismay, the song came to an end, and though the crowd clamoured for an encore, Glade politely declined, stating he was with a guest and didn’t wish to be rude. He shook hands with his fellow band members before stepping off the stage amidst a round of applause.
Glade made a beeline for the winged man and me as he descended the few steps. He approached politely but cleared his throat, firmly asking, “May I have this dance?” His eyes were wild and frenzied, but his face remained solid like a petrified statue.
The other man bid me farewell and swiftly backed away, leaving Glade waiting for my reply with his hands clasped behind his back.
I studied his face. While he wore a cheerful, calm expression, his features were tight and rigid.
He squeezed his jaw and flared his nostrils as if trying to restrain himself from doing or saying something he would surely regret.
If I didn’t know better, I would have thought he seemed jealous, but that notion felt impossible and absurd.
Still, despite his demeanour, he was exquisite, and I couldn’t help but adore every layer I uncovered of this man. I found myself wishing he had remained on that stage, singing songs to me forever.
Unable to form words, I breathlessly nodded, and he swept me into his arms, pressing me tightly against his chest. Our hands clasped together as his other arm slid around my waist. At the same time, mine wrapped around his shoulders, holding on as tightly as I could.
Glade stood a foot taller than me, yet our mouths were mere inches apart as if he was tilting into my space willingly—as if my mouth held a magnet and his lips were made of steel.
The music shifted to a slow, teasing rhythm, gaining momentum as it went. Other patrons gathered in couples around the dance floor, swaying together, while Glade guided me around the room.
His hips rocked as he held me against him, his gaze locked on my face. I wanted so badly to smile, to frown, or to do anything at all, but instead, I found myself enraptured in a never-ending staring contest, unable to glance away from the depths of his ocean-blue eyes.
Though we moved across the floor elegantly and nimbly, his expression remained hard as stone, tortured, as his gaze flickered between my lips and my eyes, a whirlwind of pained thoughts clearly swirling in his mind.
Still, he maneuvered us expertly through the haze, never colliding with another couple.
My body felt weightless as Glade seemed to lose the battle with his sanity, leaning his forehead against mine as his eyes closed in agony.
I inhaled sharply, holding my breath. The mere touch of his skin against mine was electric, shocking me to my very core.
It felt incredible and fitting, like two puzzle pieces finally finding one another.
But with no warning, the song ended, replaced by a fast, upbeat melody that shattered the tension between us. Glade and I jerked away from each other clumsily, but before I could escape the dance floor, he lifted me by my waist and spun me around in the air.
The new tune reminded me of an infectious and lively pop song.
One of the band members stood behind an extensive machine resembling a DJ booth and keyboard, skillfully mixing the sounds together.
The rest of the band joined in, playing their instruments in unison, while the singer returned to the front and belted out lyrics about spending the night with a stranger.
Despite my best efforts, my body surrendered to the beat, and my hips swayed with the rhythm. I ran my arms and hands through the waves of my hair, lifting them above my head, feeling the music penetrate my bones.
Glade danced opposite me, mirroring my movements as I enjoyed every moment of the carefree fun.
He closed the distance between us, and the heat radiating from him made me feel scorched.
In a spontaneous burst of energy, I reached under my black A-line dress and pulled off the under-layer of white linen fabric that covered my arms and chest. With that, I felt wholly exposed, but I didn’t care in the slightest. I tossed the fabric aside, letting it drift away.
Glade caught my hands in his, twisting and turning me toward him. We danced together, our bodies moving in sync, laughter spilling from our lips as I revelled in the glee of the moment.
My backside pressed against Glade’s pelvis, and my shoulders rested flat against his chest. I tilted my head back to gaze up at him as if he were the only man on the dance floor… And in the entire world, for that matter.
I pressed my hips further back into him, feeling a rush of heat in my chest as I savoured the sensation of every inch of him against me.
Just as quickly, he spun me around to face him.
In one fluid motion, he lifted me into the air, the crowd roaring around us, and in that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of bliss in the arms of the man I trusted.
For the next few hours, Glade and I danced together, lost in the euphoria, lost in the music, and lost in each other, without a single care in the world.