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  Release

  (Book 2 in the Captured Series)

  By Louise J

  Release

  Copyright © 2013 by Louise J

  First Edition

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission of the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes only.

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to real people, historical events, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events, locales, persons living or deceased, is entirely coincidental.

  Cover image by Rahim Mercy at rahim.net

  Cover image Copyright © 2013 by Louise J

  All rights reserved.

  Model; Jessica King

  Cover design by Louise J

  For questions or comments about this book, please contact the author at [email protected], or visit louisejbooks.blogspot.com for more details about the Captured series, or the author.

  Acknowledgements

  Nicola, you are my Su, my Leona, and my Kayla all rolled into one. What would I do without you? Thank you for your endless support and input throughout the process of creating Release. Your passion for Dane, Brooklyn, and their journey as well as your constant feedback and encouragement mean more than I can ever tell you. Thank you for being there when my confidence hit rock bottom, and for being honest enough to tell me when I was pulling apart a story I fell in love with from the first word I wrote. I’d have messed up this story and published something that wasn’t true to my heart if you hadn’t been so truthful with me. Thank you beyond words!

  Sam, you and that smart brain and those blue eyes that found and corrected the things I missed – thank you for taking the time to read Release and for helping me keep it as error free as possible. I appreciate your positive encouragement and your feedback, which was greatly needed. Shag Machine has officially made an appearance in Release.

  Mr. J, thank you for sharing me with Dane. And the others, of course! No way would this story exist the way it does without you and my experience of a love so deep and true. Thank you for listening to my endless talk about this book. Thank you for the multiple reads, and your regular and valuable input and assistance. Thank you for telling me when you knew I could do better. Thank you for telling me when I got it right, too. Your honesty helps to shape me. Your belief in me keeps me going.

  Dedication

  This one’s for you Mr. J, my love and my life.

  Table of Contents

  One: Dane

  Two: Brooklyn

  Three: Dane

  Four: Brooklyn

  Five: Brooklyn

  Six: Dane

  Seven: Brooklyn

  Eight: Brooklyn

  Nine: Dane

  Ten: Brooklyn

  Eleven: Brooklyn

  Twelve: Dane

  Thirteen: Brooklyn

  Fourteen: Dane

  Fifteen: Brooklyn

  Sixteen: Dane

  Seventeen: Brooklyn

  Eighteen: Dane

  Nineteen: Brooklyn

  Twenty: Brooklyn

  Twenty One: Dane

  Twenty Two: Brooklyn

  Twenty Three: Brooklyn

  Twenty Four: Brooklyn

  Twenty Five: Dane

  Twenty Six: Brooklyn

  Twenty Seven: Brooklyn

  Twenty Eight: Dane

  Twenty Nine: Dane

  Thirty: Brooklyn

  Thirty One: Brooklyn

  Thirty Two: Dane

  Thirty Three: Brooklyn

  Thirty Four: Dane

  Thirty Five: Brooklyn

  Thirty Six: Dane

  Thirty Seven: Brooklyn

  Thirty Eight: Dane

  Thirty Nine: Brooklyn

  Forty: Dane

  Forty One: Brooklyn

  Forty Two: Dane

  Forty Three: Brooklyn

  Forty Four: Dane

  Forty Five: Dane

  Forty Six: Brooklyn

  Forty Seven: Dane

  Forty Eight: Brooklyn

  Forty Nine: Dane

  Fifty: Brooklyn

  Fifty One: Dane

  Fifty Two: Brooklyn

  Fifty Three: Dane

  Fifty Four: Brooklyn

  Fifty Five: Dane

  Fifty Six: Brooklyn

  Fifty Seven: Brooklyn

  Fifty Eight: Dane

  Fifty Nine: Brooklyn

  One: Dane

  I wake up to wet heat all over my dick. Looking down the length of my body I find Mia feasting on me. I glance over at the clock on her nightstand. Damn, it’s barely seven thirty a.m. This woman is insatiable! I’m pretty sure we only stopped fucking two minutes ago. Shhhit … with head game like this, fuck sleep right now.

  Home and shower fresh, I lay back on the sofa ready to read the third installment of The Millennium Trilogy. My cell phone beeps a text alert; it’s from Gerard. That dude can fuck off. I do actually want to sleep this weekend, even if he doesn’t. I don’t reply just yet, instead, I flip open my book. I’m no further than the first word when my cell rings. It’s tempting not to answer, but after a sideways glance at the name flashing up on Caller ID, I grab it.

  “Hey, big brother,” Saffron chimes cheerfully down the line. “Big brother” means she wants something from me.

  “What’s up, Saff?” I ask as I sit up and drop my novel on the coffee table.

  “Nothing much, wondering what you’re doing tonight?”

  “That’s yet to be decided.”

  “How ‘bout a night out with Adam and your little sister?”

  “Night out?”

  “Yes.”

  “Where?”

  “A show.”

  “What show?”

  “C’mon, Dane, just say yes.”

  “I will when I know what I’m saying yes to.” I suppress the yawn that’s threatening. Damn, I do need to sleep.

  Saffron sighs, unimpressed. “A dance show. Did you watch the last season of All about the Dance?”

  “I haven’t seen any seasons of All about the Dance and I don’t particularly wanna go see it either. Sorry sis.”

  “No, it’s another show altogether, but some of the contestants are in it. That’s not why I’m going. It’s Ella and Kayla’s production, and I’ve got other friends who’ll be appearing in it also. It’s their opening night and I want to support them. They’ve worked so hard on it. The problem is Tracy and Rebecca can’t make it now, so I have two tickets going spare. They’ll go to waste, and you know how much I hate things going to waste. I want Adam to come, but he won’t be the only guy. Joe’s having Nathaniel for us and Jack is here, so he can’t come, and no way in hell am I asking Gerard. I need you. Just come, please, you’ll love it. It’s contemporary, modern, fun.”

  “Contemporary and modern? For real? And there was me thinking they meant the same thing. The show sounds awesome, Saff.”

  She huffs down the line, and it doesn’t sound very ladylike. “Don’t make fun of me, you know what I meant.”

  I was never going to say no. I don’t want to go, but I only say no to my sister if there’s a good enough reason for it. She knows that too.

  “Okay, what time?” I’m already regretting this.

  “Thanks Dane. You’ll need to meet us at seven-thirty. I’ll text you the details. Oh and, big brother, be on your best behavior. Do not switch numbers or take anyone home with you. If I don’t know a performer, one of my friends will. I don’t want you shitting on my doorstep, got it?”

  I curse the day she stole that line from wherever it was she first heard it and decided to start using it on me. I s
hould’ve known this was coming the second she refused to ask Gerard.

  After I agree to the terms, my sister hangs up happy that she doesn’t have tickets going to waste, and her husband, Adam, has company.

  Hold the fuck up!

  Have I really just agreed to go to a dance show?

  I arrive outside the theater, and Saffron and Adam are here with our friend, Su. Saff organizes parties and events, so generally associates with dancers and DJs and such. Many of them she’s become tight with. They’re her outer circle of friends beyond the ones she’s closest to. Some of those people are gathered here.

  Adam and I back up to the wall and light up a cigarette.

  “Man, how’d we get roped into this?” I ask him.

  Now, I’ve got nothing against dancing, I love to dance, but I’m not into this new breed of TV talent shows. If this production is in some way connected, I’d rather not be here.

  My buddy laughs on an exhale of smoke. “I’m still trying to figure that out.”

  “How long’s this thing?”

  “Ninety minutes. She wants to go for drinks after.”

  “Fuck it, let’s bounce now and meet her at the bar.” I’m semi-serious on that.

  Inside, I’m pretty impressed with our front row position. It’s hardly surprising with Ella’s involvement in the show, but nonetheless I’m happy with the seating arrangement. It’s quite a nice, intimate feeling theater I conclude as I look around. The four huge chandeliers hanging from the ceiling seem to dazzle in the opulent violet light we’re bathed in, and row-after-row of red fabric covered seats are filled with people. A sell-out first night it turns out.

  Saffron notices me checking out the building’s interior. “It’s nice in here, ain’t it?” she says with enough excitement to make up for Adam and I put together.

  “Yeah, it’s not bad.” I take off my jacket, straighten out my dark green, button-down shirt and relax in my seat.

  “Come on already, I can’t wait for this to start,” Su chirps. She starts muttering names of specific dancers she “can’t wait to watch” tonight.

  “Does Zack know you’ve only come to eye-fuck the male dancers, Su?” I ask. There wasn’t a single female’s name on her little list.

  “Kiss my ass, hater. I’m allowed to look.”

  “Hater? Hold up,” I lean forward, peering beyond Adam and Saffron to get to Su. “Why the hell isn’t he the one using up the spare ticket? Why the hell do I have to be here?”

  “He already had plans, which is good,” the curve that shapes her lips makes her look like a woman who’s up to no good, “eye-fucking hot male dancers isn’t as much fun when your husband’s sitting beside you.”

  I sit back, chuckling. “Looks like you got it wrong with your choice of seat fillers, Saff. You’ve got your husband next to you.”

  “Look, but don’t touch is the agreement. Anyway, I see guys like these all the time. I’m immune, and none of them are as hot as the man I’m married to.”

  Adam smugly pops his collar. “I have nothing to add to that.”

  Now I’m thinking sitting here isn’t such a good thing after all. If we were in the back row, I could whip out my cell phone and play some Tetris. I hate that game, it’s way too addictive, but it’d suit me perfectly right now. I think I’ll see where Gerard’s at, since I’m already out.

  I start to slide my cell out of my jeans pocket and there’s a sudden, gradual depression of illumination. The audience’s chatter simmers to a deafening silence as the floor length burgundy curtains in front of us begin to open. The only source of light is an ice-blue spotlight in the center of the stage. Crouched down beneath it, with her palms on the floor and her head bowed, is a petite woman with short, pixie-styled red hair. I can feel the anticipation all around me as we wait for whatever’s about to happen. It’s as though it’s in living form.

  A sad, enchanting voice starts to sing and the performer rises up and starts kicking her tiny legs in the air, twisting around, and moving about looking as weightless and free as a feather swept up in a summer breeze.

  I can appreciate the girl’s talent, but I’m really not into this. Tetris is so close, right there in my pocket, but I can’t be so disrespectful. Why did I say yes to this?

  The redhead elegantly sweeps off the stage and a guy comes on with two chicks, the glow around them now a passionate combination of red and purple. This looks tricky. I think it’s a love triangle, and the guy is faced with an ultimatum of having to choose between the brunette and the blonde. I want to laugh, what a fucking situation?

  A couple more performances pass; one African inspired and the other with a Latin vibe to it. This is actually a story, each dance is connected. It’s obvious that love is the theme. I’ve got to admit, I’m impressed with the level of thought and creativity that’s gone into the production so far. The parts I’ve focused on have been fascinating, eccentric.

  The curtains close, cloaking us in darkness as slow, sensual instrumental music plays. I look down at my watch, which is a stupid thing to do with it being so dark in here. I’m guessing we’re about thirty minutes in.

  The stage is revealed, again, this time lit in white and indigo with a rectangular block positioned in the middle. It’s dressed with pale blue sheets and pillows. Oh damn, it’s a – I observe it all again, just to be sure – yup, it’s definitely a bed. Interesting. The partners are sitting on the prop, facing each other. As a soulful voice fills the theater, the guy cups the woman’s cheeks between his hands. She pushes against his chest, furiously, and leaps off the bed, away from him.

  As the piece progresses, I’m getting from the song and the dancing, which is angry and at times affectionate, that this is some kind of breakup or fight between lovers. Nice concept.

  The chick is wearing a short, satin nightie. It’s navy with thin straps and leaves very little to the imagination. I’m even getting flashes of her black panties as she skillfully throws herself over the bed. Now she flings herself at the guy and he catches her in an amorous, frustrated embrace.

  She’s unbelievable.

  They both are, but I’m more interested in watching her. This is the first time I fully focus on the facial expressions. With her it’s passionate, almost pained, and I can see that she’s feeling every word of the song and every move she makes.

  A woman with a talent, whether it’s a physical skill like this or a smart head on her shoulders, is something I find extremely attractive. Talent, a beautiful face, and an amazing body are exactly what are in front of me right now.

  This is the ultimate temptation, has my sister done this to me on purpose?

  By the end, it looks as though the couple have made up.

  There’s a fifteen minute intermission now. Saffron and Su, who’s gushing over that last dude, head off to the bathroom while I talk shit with Adam. Before we know it, the show starts back.

  The girl with the pixie hairstyle is up again with some guy and they’re doing a street dance routine. This is the third time she’s been on. Makes me wonder if that one who did the bedroom dance will be back on. I may not be allowed to talk to her, but it doesn’t mean I can’t look. Though, my version of looking isn’t as innocent as Su’s.

  Next, I get what I was hoping for.

  She’s with a different male partner, no props, just the two of them enveloped in violet light. As the music starts, the guy lifts her up with his hands clasped at her waist and they spin around, before holding each other passionately, her arms and legs wrapping around his body and her long, straight brunette hair cascading down over her shoulders.

  Instead of fighting, I’m seeing that they’re falling in love. It’s intimate and tender at times, and they’re so good at acting it out, you could easily believe they really do love each other.

  She probably has men falling for her all the time, on and off the stage.

  She’s breathtaking.

  I wonder how close to the doorstep she is.

  A series of perf
ormances later, it’s all over. The dancers line the stage and take a bow while the audience erupts in applause; many standing in their obvious appreciation. Fuck it, I’m doing the same thing, that show was the best thing I’ve seen in a long time.

  The dancers take it in turns stepping forward, their name is announced.

  I hold on to the only one I’m interested in knowing.

  Brooklyn Scott.

  I help myself to one final glance at Brooklyn as she vacates the platform in a long, peach and yellow dress, the split up the center opening with her strides, making way for the most amazing legs I’ve ever seen. Three times I got to see her do her thing tonight.

  Once the curtains close, and the theater is lit in amber, most of the people are ready to leave within seconds. I return to my seat for now.

  “I’m so proud of Ella and Kayla for coming up with such an incredible production,” Saffron says to Su. “No doubt about it, Brooklyn would’ve won All About the Dance with Owen if she didn’t get injured.”

  “She totally would have. I can’t imagine the devastation of making it to the final three and then getting a horrible injury like that. She’s so hot. I’m so glad Owen is gay.”

  I can’t help but laugh at Su and her little crush.

  Saff leans forward in her chair, looking at Adam and me. “Do you guys wanna go for a drink? Ella, Kayla, and their dancers are going.”

  “Not unless you want me shitting on your doorstep. Good thing Owen’s gay, Su might’ve been the one shitting on your doorstep.”

  “Oh, I still might,” Su says, grinning. Like she’d ever cheat on her man.

  “Surely you can handle a ten minute drink, Dane. C’mon, just one,” Saffron whines.

  I say nothing back, but my lack of a “No” is a clear “Yes.” This sister of mine has Adam and me right where she wants us, right there in the palm of her hand. Neither of us ever tells her “No”.

  Thirty minutes later, I’m sitting at the end of the bar with Adam. I’m on my second white rum. Saffron’s mingling with her friends and friends of friends.

  “The way things are headed, we’re gonna end up drunk, man,” Adam says, as I order us another drink.

  “Sure looks like it.” I didn’t expect to get drunk tonight, but if we keep going like this we will be. “I’ll be back in a minute,” I say, standing up from my stool.