***
Lynne was having such fun performing, even singing Karaoke. She needed that rush of adrenaline, it was the only place where she felt unconditional love. On that stage, somehow, someway, she had the power to touch people, and if only for that moment, their eyes were focused on her, and they loved her. Absolutely loved her. And she felt in control of the situation. She knew she had control issues, but...she liked being able to control a situation, after having been controlled for so long.
And Leif, if he ever was going to learn to be a decent performer, needed to learn how to control a crowd. So before he'd have a chance to decline, she cued the next song, Ain't nothing like the real thing, by Marvin Gaye, and Tammi Terrell.
Leif claimed that he could not sing, but somehow, she figured he must at least be able to carry a tune if he could play the guitar. And, if he really couldn't sing, and she sensed it, she would be there to bail him out. The stage was the true place where she felt in command, where she knew she had all the experience in the world. As long as the sound was good, on her stage, she controlled the outcome.
He'd confided his fear of performing in her, and she almost felt it was her duty to show him, how very sexy he was, and if he was as talented as he'd led her to believe, and the only problem was stage fright, those looks and charisma should lead him to be able to capture an audience.
She could see Leif recognized the song, because he drummed the table in anticipation.
"Well, Tammi needs her Marvin to sing the song. What did you think I'd sing it solo," she called from the stage.
She then, leapt out into the crowd, and began singing as she weaved between the small cluster of tables near the front of the stage.
"I've found my Marvin Gaye. Every Tammi Needs a Marvin," she added.
Leif look panic stricken.
"I've got you. It's okay baby I got you. I won't let you fail," she offered gently extending her hand.
She was more than ready to just go up and sing the song by herself if he was that frightened and wouldn't follow her lead. However, the fact that he placed his hand in hers told her so much about his personality.
The warmth surged through her as she guided him up to the Karaoke stage.
She could feel that his hand was clammy, because he was nervous.
They'd missed Marvin's part when she was gathering him from the audience.
So she led Tammy's verse. She grabbed him firmly by the waist, and looked up into his gorgeous blue eyes. Sure, staring into those blue eyes was part of the drama to get the Karaoke folks worked up into the performance. But his blue eyes were working on her, stirring her even has she tried to get the audience worked up, and "into" their performance.
She stroked his chiseled face, and broke into,
"Ain't nothing like the real thing baby,"
She could see, his eyes searching hers, and she knew, that even though he was familiar with her singing style, she still held him spellbound by her voice. Good thing for him, she was spell bound by how handsome he seemed, and the more she stared at him, the more she liked, even those messy blonde dreadlocks.
She sang with all her heart and conviction, as though she believed the words that Tammi sang to Marvin on wax. Maybe she already felt those feelings for Leif.
When her part was over, Leif's face was an inch from her own. And, rather than sing along, he looked as though he wanted to kiss her.
Words bounced around on the Karaoke screen. Her face was an inch from his own, and he was disorienting her, with the clean smell of his bath soap, lingering, on his cheek, but he did not distract her so much that she missed their cues.
"Babe, it's your line now, come on, you've gotta keep up," she teased.
She was always a natural performer. It had come that easy. Since she was around ten, giving her first "shows" for other children in the neighborhood.
