We walk to the table hand in hand. Alec is the very embodiment of self-pride, swaying his hips and bouncing on every step at the rhythm of the music. The people around us are applauding him enthusiastically, but dare not get too close to him because of my warning glares. My baby does not like strangers in his personal space. I am here to make sure he feels comfortable. I can't stop smiling, looking at his bright, happy face. This is how I want to see him all the time. My perfect, sexy, spicy Peppercorn.
I am ready to give him a sultry smooch, no matter who's watching, but my plan is foiled by another wave of applause. Something is happening on the stage behind us. I don't really mind missing it. Perhaps it is best to try convincing Alec to leave. He will walk away as a winner, pleased and in high spirits. Who knows what Victor will come up with next. I'd rather not find out.
"Teddy Bear, you'll have to carry me home." Alec giggles, slurping a big gulp of my original Ice Flower cocktail. I'm already beginning to reconsider the amount of vodka I have included in the recipe. The dancing has sobered up my boyfriend a bit, but he doesn't seem to have any intentions of cutting down on the drinks. He peeks at the stage, grins, and instantly takes another swig. "Peacock! What does this show-off think he can do to outshine me? I danced with the Dark Sun boys themselves. Did you see me with Em and Lucky? Pfft! I wiped the floor with your alleged Frenchman, didn't I?"
"No one can steal your show, babe," I assure him, trying to pull discretely the glass out of his hand. "And he's not mine. You are. What about going home and..."
"I choose 'You Can Leave Your Hat On' by Joe Cocker," Scarlet yells in the microphone. "We wanna see some abs, right? RIGHT!?! I don't hear youuuuu..."
"Yeaaaah!" the crowd screams.
"Whaaaat?" Alec shrieks, pushing me away and tightening his grip on the drink. I don't like the glint in his eyes. I've seen it before, when he raised his hand and accepted Victor's challenge. I can smell the storm coming. And those girls... Oh, my God!... a walking disaster, just like My Peppercorn. He looks outraged. "Is he going to strip? I thought this was a dancing contest. What the actual fuck? Honestly Sam, sorry to say it, but your best friend sucks... not in the g-good way, like s-sucking dick, ya know... "
Sunny's rapturous laughter ends Alec's speech about the good and bad ways of sucking, but his Japanese friend is not done yet. "Aaahahaha! Alec, we terribly suck, too... in the good way!"
They clink their glasses and Alec joins the cackle, "We suuuck... t- totally... Hahaha!"
I palm my face. Em is smirking.
"Babe, you should really slow down a little. Want me to fetch some soda?" I reach again for Alec's glass. He perches on a high stool and pouts, hugging it like some kind of a treasure. I give up and focus on the nearby events.
His suspicion is fully confirmed when the girls drag a chair in the middle of the stage and place a hat on Victor's head. What a blow bellow the waist! I knew it. I am not letting Alec do anything like that, even if I have to tie him down. Unfortunately, I have the bad feeling he's going to try. Alcohol seems to have erased all his restraint. Common sense has never been his strong suit anyway, and he has never listened to me. I am ready to go ballistic. Is this some kind of a joke?
Victor sits with his back to the audience. The lights go out. The music starts. A spot light falls over him when Joe Cocker's raspy voice sings the first verses. Victor kneels on the chair, holding onto the backrest and starts moving seductively his hips back and forth. The audience is exalted. The screams become deafening as he stands up on the chair, facing the hall and throws away the hat. There is a short scramble among the nearest viewers. A woman manages to snatch it and waves it above her head with a shout of victory. The star girls appear, each wrapping their arms around one of his thighs.
"Damn!" I hear Sunny's voice in the darkness. "Alec, you'll have to do it too. He's good, but I'm sure you'll be better."
"You know what? You're absolutely right," Peppercorn says fervently. The blood freezes in my veins. I must stop him. He goes on eagerly, "Why the hell not? Of course I'm way better. You can bet on that."
The lights are finally on. I turn to the two tipsy, flushed boys and grumble, "Absolutely not!"
Alec only rolls his eyes and sticks his tongue out at me.
"Kitten, maybe we should stay out of it. Booze is never a good advisor." Em puts his hand on his boyfriend's shoulder, having sensed my worry. "Alec and Sam can discuss..."
Before he can finish, Sunny does absolutely the same as Alec, rolling his eyes and sticking his tongue out at the startled rock star. Alec gives his mischievous friend a five and they start cackling again. Dark Sun's vocalist glances at me compassionately, shaking his head, but dares not interfere any further. The brats obviously have us wrapped around their little fingers.
The action on stage is at full power. Victor jumps from the chair and unbuttons his shirt. The girls grip the front hems and open it with a swing. I have to admit that he knows how to sway his hips and show off his pecks. The bar is in an uproar. The noise is unbearable at the end of his performance. People are whistling and chanting his name as he strides confidently towards us with a shit eating grin. Thank God he still has his pants on.
"How do you beat that, little, innocent, pretty boy?" He pins his eyes into Alec's, sipping from a coffee based, non-alcoholic cocktail. Clever bastard!
"This has gone too far," I growl, gripping his wrist. "Alec is not going to take the bate. Enough! Put your shirt on and stop making a spectacle of yourself. I know what you're up to and you're going to regret it, if you don't cut the bullshit."
My Peppercorn glares at me and pokes Victor's chest with a finger. "Just watch me!"
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Photo 79042255 © Wernerimages | Dreamstime.com
A/N
Hello at the end of chapter 63!
Thank you for reading and supporting! ❤❤❤
You are amazing!
Was this what you suspected? 😀
Was it fair for Victor to strip?
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Love: Anny