Dark Side of the Moon, 2
I love my job, and I am damn good at it.
I used to be a ballerina but now I am a burlesque dancer.
I live my life the way I want, free from the demands of a pack or family—until my father comes calling.
Now I must return home like a good little omega to marry an Alpha I have never met. He will, no doubt, force me to give up the life I have built for myself and treat me like just another thing to own.
If tonight is my last night of freedom, I will break the rules.
But fate has a funny way of changing the rules when you finally understand the game.
Excerpt:
Making sure to put an extra sway into my hips, I step out from the back and stride toward the bar. Chin up, breasts out, I strut like the proud peacock I am. I can feel the eyes of the other patrons as I walk to the table, smiling at some of the regulars, and it has pride surging through me. I work hard to stay in shape and keep my appearance perfect and it shows.
“Sam,” I call out to the bartender. “Give me a bottle of Fireball and three shot glasses.”
He laughs loudly while gathering the items I requested. “You love doing this, don’t you?”
“Yes, sir. I wouldn’t want it any other way.” I bat my eyelashes at him as I steady the black tray on my left hand before striding away. All the hours of ballet have helped me perfect my balance.
At the entrance to the private room, I knock loudly, count to three, and push the door open before striding in confidently. Three men dressed in suits stare back at me, each of them assessing me with various levels of interest.
“Gentlemen,” I purr seductively. My name is Ballerina, and I will be your entertainment for the next hour.”
“Entertainment?”
The question comes from the man with jet-black hair and icy-blue eyes. Depositing my tray on the coffee table I take a seat beside him on the tan leather couch. His scent hits me, and heat floods my core. Peppermint and coffee.
Thank God for my suppression patch. The males will assume I am simply aroused. If I wasn’t wearing the patch, my omega scent would be filling the room and the club, driving every male mad. The scent of an unmated omega in a state of arousal is enough to drive betas insane. Alphas will rampage and tear this place brick from brick to get to someone like me.
“You are paying for my time and as long as your request falls within the rules we uphold here at Dark Side of the Moon, the sky is the limit. Dancing, talking, drinking, whatever you want.”
I run my fingers along his thigh, trying to entice something, except a frown from the man has me enraptured. Interest shines in his eyes but he holds himself back, spreading his thighs and resting his arms along the back of the couch. More comfortable in his own skin than any man I have ever met. He knows he is attractive and the smell of my arousal hanging in the air is only making him cockier.
“Why don’t you pour us each a shot of whatever you brought in here with you?” he says with a smug grin. “Then we can decide what to do next.”
Rising from my spot I bend over at the waist, making sure the man behind me has an obscene view up my skirt. I’m not usually so brazen but if this is going to be my last night of freedom, I may as well enjoy myself.
“Fuck me,” he grumbles, and I feel giddy at his reaction.
Slowly, I pour the drinks and pass one to each of the men. Turning, I face the dark stranger once more.
“Which one of you is the lucky bachelor?”
“Me.”
That single word carries more weight than anyone could imagine. He sounds about as happy about his upcoming nuptials as I am. Probably got some stupid girl knocked up and now her father is demanding the mating ceremony. Some people are more traditional in their views than others are. I know I wouldn’t be going through with this if not for my father. I had always pictured finding my fated mate and spending the rest of my life with him. In love. Yes, I’m a romantic, not that it matters anymore. Romance will be the last thing I find with my forced mating.
“Well,” I say with an impish smile, clearing the damning thoughts, before grabbing the remote for the sound system and hitting PLAY. “Let’s make sure you enjoy your last night as a free man.”
Walking back around the table, I straddle his hips without waiting for his permission. I place his hands on my hips, already gyrating, making sure he knows this lap dance isn’t for anyone else but him. His fingers dig into the flesh of my ass, and I know I will carry the bruises in the morning. I guess I’ll have to shift before the ceremony to make sure my future husband doesn’t see it. I wouldn’t want to start my mating with a fight straight off the bat.
“What are you doing?” he asks, staring at my breasts as I slowly unbutton my shirt.
“Lap dance, silly. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.”
His friends laugh in the background, but I am more focused on the sound reverberating from his chest. The deep growl builds, making it clear his animal is more than happy to comply.
I have decided that I won’t run from my responsibilities. Tomorrow I will be mated to a stranger but tonight I am still a free woman.
If I must quit my job tomorrow, at least tonight will have been worth it.
I love everything Jade Marshall has written and will always read her books. Cathy and Atlas were great. I loved how the bond started and Loved how the book ended. I was not disappointed in this book. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT
Ballerina is forced into marriage to strengthen her pack.r she may never find her fated mate if forced to be tied to another. Sweet story. I enjoyed it.
When forced to marry, Cathy doesn’t want to give up her job dancing at the Burlesque club, will Atlas let her keep it. Can being forced to marry change your works? This fast paced story is a which is a quick read with a fast story line, will make you want to key turning pages.
Hurry up and run to the computer to pre-order your copy of this book. Soooooo good. I was hooked from the minute I turned the page. I loved the chemistry between Atlas and Cathy even though their fathers forced them into this marriage and put them in this awkward position it turned all spicy and thrilling. I loved how even through all the pressure from their families they were going to live the way they wanted to. The development of their relationship was so well-written I could not put it down. I can't wait for the next one in this series.
Sizzling! They both wanted different things from life and they both didn’t want to be tied into an arranged marriage but sometimes fate has a reason for everything that happens! Cathy always wanted to be a dancer and never wanted to give up her dream. Atlas was in love with another but could he give her up for Cathy? A hot intense steamy sizzling read when two souls collide, can anything stop what fate has always planned? A storyline that will heat you up as you follow the fates of both Cathy and Atlas into their own HEA!
Holy heck! I freaking loved this one. My only peeve is that I wish ballerina's real name was something sexier or exotic. Other then that, I love Atlas & Ballerina's story. Totally worth the read. Total HEA ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ ?️?️?️?️?️
All Cathy wanted to do was dance, but now her father demands she marry Atlas a man who loves another both being forced Into the arranged marriage but could they make it work? Well written engaging steamy desires drama and more!
This was definitely a short and steamy book. The story was really good and I would have loved it if it was longer
The Ballerina is the second book in the Dark Side of the Moon series. It is quite the erotic fated mate romance story. The storyline is compelling and the characters draw you into the story. Cathy and Atlas are engaging characters who learn through some pretty intense events that fate has a way of bringing you what and who you need. I can hardly wait for the next installment in the series.
