“Hmmm.” I prevented her from taking a seat, instead making her share a pole with me. “How did your audition really go today? Surely you have more to say about it than okay.”

“I was crying when I sent that text. I was overwhelmed.”

I raised my eyebrow.

“I landed Odette/Odile in Swan Lake—on a professional level.” She looked as if she was about to burst into tears. “I still can’t believe it…All of my dreams are actually coming true.”

“Maybe you’re meant to play that role…” I wiped a stray tear from her eyes.

“Maybe.” She leaned closer. “I’m just happy that they’re giving us the next few days off…I think I’ll be able to relax and keep up with the news a bit more. You know, actually have some semblance of a life outside of the dance hall.”

“You could spend more time with me if you want to take a break. The news in this city is overrated and mostly false.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes,” I said, looking into her eyes. “I wouldn’t believe half of the shit in any of these papers.”

She smiled. “Have you heard anything about the huge trial that’s happening this week?”

“I’m pretty sure there’s more than one.”

“No…” She shook her head. “Not like this one…”

I hesitated. “What makes this one so special?”

“It’s more intriguing than special…It’s about two lawyers who once shared a firm—both of them were big shots, you know? One of them even won against the government in his very first case.”

“It was probably a lucky break.”

“I don’t think so.” She looked into my eyes. “I’ve read the transcripts. He knew exactly what he was doing, and the verdict actually affected public policy.”

I said nothing.

“But the thing is, he never got credit for his work—outside of word of mouth from people who knew the details, you know?” She paused. “But anyway, from what I’ve read and pieced together, it seems like he was falsely accused of a laundry list of federal charges a few years later.”

“Aubrey…”

“It looks like everyone ran with the story—all of the papers, all of the news outlets, and the truth wasn’t filtered until months later, after his name was already tarnished.”

I stared at her, begging her to stop, but she continued.

“The charges are still pending against his old partner to this day, that’s just how many there were. But him—this upstanding lawyer with one hell of a track record, he just vanished. Into thin air.”

“If he was that upstanding, then I’m pretty sure that’s impossible.”

“Is it?”

“It is,” I said.

“I thought that, too…” She searched my eyes for answers. “But I think the guy I’m talking about is capable of anything.”

“What are the names in this case you’re speaking of?”

“The accused is Kevin Hart, and the key witness is Liam Henderson.”

“I’ll google it tonight.” I sighed, not wanting to continue this conversation.

A voice came over the speakers, announcing our stop, and I took her hand again.

“I know you made me agree to stipulations,” I said, looking at her as we stepped off, “but can you agree to one of mine?”

“Depends on what it is.”

“Ask me the deep conversation questions after dinner.”

“Is that where we’re going right now?”

“No.” I led her up the steps. “I wouldn’t dare. I don’t want you accusing me of treating you like all my other dates.”

“Does that mean you won’t fuck me at the end?”

“It means I won’t leave you at the end.”

She blushed, and I kissed her forehead as we walked through the streets of flashing lights and sparkling billboards.

She didn’t say much of anything else as we moved from block to block, only blushing each time I looked at her.

“Here,” I said, stopping her as we approached our first destination.

“Broadway?” She looked up at the grand marquis.

“You mentioned you haven’t had the chance to come here yet,” I said. “I used to come here all the time when I lived here…”

“All the time?”

“At least once a week.” I held the door open for her. “Twice when this particular play was performed.” I ran my fingers across the words, Death of a Salesman, before handing our tickets to the usher.

She smiled as he led us to the private balcony, as he offered us complimentary wine since we were so early.

“I would’ve never taken you for the drama type,” she said, taking a sip from her glass. “You’ve never mentioned that to me before.”

“I actually almost went to theater school instead of law school.”

“What made you change your mind?”

“A law degree attracts a higher percentage of pussy.”

“What?!” She rolled her eyes, laughing. “I’m being serious.”

“I received a bigger scholarship for law school.” I resisted the urge to pull her into my lap. “Best decision I ever made.”

She opened her mouth to respond, but the lights began to dim and she leaned closer to me, whispering, “I would’ve liked to see you as an actor…I think you would’ve been really good at it.”

I felt her placing her hand on my thigh. “I don’t think I would’ve wanted to see you play anything serious though. I think I would prefer—”

“Are you going to talk through this entire play, Aubrey?” I cut her off, ignoring the tell-tale look on her face—the one of severe longing, needing.

“Am I not allowed to make comments?” She sounded offended. “Am I not allowed to do that until after dinner either? If that’s the case, why even take me out? Why would you even—”

“I’ve seen this play a million times…” I pressed my finger against her lips as the lead actor stepped onto the stage. “And although I want you to experience it too, if you would rather me entertain you in a different way, just tell me.”

“What?”

“Would this balcony make it onto your list of approved places?” I asked. “If I fucked you here, would that still count as me being a gentleman?”

Her eyes widened and she quickly moved her hand away from my lap. “I was just teasing you, Andrew…”

“I’m aware.” I kissed her neck. “And I’ve told you on numerous occasions that I don’t appreciate that, whether you’re mad at me or not…”

She sucked in a breath as I slid my thumb underneath her panties.

“I’ll stop asking questions,” she said. “I’ll watch the play…”

As she turned her face toward the stage, I moved out of my seat and kneeled in front of her.

“Andrew?” She whispered harshly as I spread her thighs apart. “What are you doing?”

“Making sure you enjoy the show.”

I didn’t give her a chance to respond. I quickly ripped off her panties, and buried my head in between her legs, running my tongue against her bare pussy—enjoying a taste I’d missed for months. I sucked her clit between my lips, shutting my eyes as it swelled in my mouth.

“Andrew….” She moaned as she squeezed her legs around my neck, grabbing onto my hair and begging me to slow down.

I couldn’t. She tasted too fucking good.

I forced my tongue deeper inside of her, claiming every part, marking what was mine.

Her hips began to rise off the seat, and I pushed them down—punishing her with stronger strokes, slipping my fingers inside of her and commanding her to stay still.

“I can’t…” She thrust her hips up again. “I can’t…”

A loud applause arose from the theater below us, echoing off the walls as the first scene ended.

I sucked her clit harder, darting my tongue against it repeatedly until she couldn’t help but scream my name across the theater.

Shaking, she grabbed my shoulders, gripping me harder than ever as she came into my mouth.

I held her thighs as she continued to shake, as tremor after tremor ran through her body.

As she came back down, I caressed her legs and kissed the inside of her thighs.

Grabbing her ripped panties off the floor, I wiped her clean. Then I stuffed them into my pocket before taking my seat again.