Free Revelations: Book One of the Lalassu by Jennifer Carole Lewis Page A

But after his earlier flash, he would have recognized her no matter what disguise she wore. It was his mystery lady.

 
     
     
    Chapter Eleven
     
    Oblivious to Michael’s shocked realization, the singer continued with Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend , making the rounds of the men and pulling sparkling ornaments out of their pockets and decorating herself as she moved around stage. Two other women joined the performance, but he kept his attention focused on her. She’d been sexy at the club and the police station but now kicked it up to a new level of indulgent sexuality. Discomfort nagged at him, as if he were trespassing on something private that had accidentally been put on display.
    The number came to a close, with all the women glittering in their jewels and the male props banished from the stage. “Ladies and gentlemen,” an unseen MC announced, “the Blue Curtain Theatre and Club is proud to present our lovely Jewels of the Night, beginning with the lovely and fiery Ruby!” The strawberry-blond dancer dressed in brilliant crimson sashayed forward, lifting her skirts just enough to reveal high heels covered in shimmering red sequins.
    “Our beautiful and exotic Opal!” The statuesque woman with chocolate skin shimmied up, her white dress glittering with an iridescent rainbow of colors.
    Michael stayed focused on the third woman, held by both his compulsion and sheer disbelief.
    “And of course, the star of our show, the incomparable and always-sexy Onyx!”
    The black-haired singer stepped forward, lazy bedroom eyes sweeping the audience as she undulated her spine in her clinging cocktail dress. “Diamonds are good, but sometimes a woman has to be her own best friend,” Onyx said. “But this isn’t what you came here to see. You came here and plunked down your hard-earned money to see dancing and singing by beautiful women.”
    The audience clapped and hooted with approval. Uncomfortably, Michael began to wonder if he’d misjudged the entire thing. But why would he have been compelled to come here if not to rescue his mystery woman?
    Onyx pressed an open-mouthed kiss onto Opal’s scarlet lips and the audience broke out in enthusiastic hollering. Michael looked away. It was more than just discomfort at the voyeuristic display—he could sense an aura of danger around her. Masked by the sensuality, it changed a commonplace act of titillation into something darker, like a cobra swaying to hypnotize a mouse.
    “Every lady here is a precious gem, ladies and gentlemen.” Onyx’s arms spread wide to encompass her fellow dancers. “Every one a stone cut into a beautiful, glittering work of art and illusion. But maybe it’s time to strip away the illusion. What do you think?”
    Her darkened lips curved in a delighted smile as the crowd shouted. Reaching out, she yanked down the zipper keeping Ruby’s dress closed. The strawberry blonde’s eyes and bright-red lips went round and she clutched the loose fabric against her. Michael quashed his automatic instinct to intervene. It all had to be part of the show.
    Onyx flicked a finger underneath the material as if peeping underneath while Ruby winked approvingly at the audience. “Tonight, you’ll look beneath the fantasy.” Onyx sauntered over to Opal, slowly unzipping the other dancer’s costume. She paused to listen to the audience’s encouraging applause before shaking her head, zipping it back up.
    The audience erupted in wolf whistles and shouts, and Onyx smiled at them, stripping down the zipper fast enough that Michael would have bet money it would rip. But it had clearly been designed for this kind of hard usage. Her eyes swept the crowd, meeting his for the briefest moment. He sucked in a breath, the air resonating in his chest as if he’d inhaled a chiming bell.
    It vanished when the performer’s mask was firmly in place once more. “A little fantasy can be a good thing. Because fantasy is just another word for imagination.” She