Chapter 1: Introduction
A thunderous applause roared through the packed Las Vegas auditorium, piercing the air like a battle cry, eclipsing every idle thought and fear in my mind. I looked out from behind the thick, curtained veil and saw thousands of faces waiting to see me, Bella the bodybuilder, in my very first professional competition. I forced a few deep breaths into the corset constricting my lungs, letting them out slowly while mentally repeating my mantra: muscles can't fail, strength can't waver.
The moment Bella stepped into the theater, her heart was beating like the bass drum in a death metal song. The air was thick backstage, thicker even than the hairspray holding her blonde curls in place. Some women paced silently, flexing and unflexing. Ballet music could be heard from the left of the stage, where ballerinas arched their bodies gracefully in a warm-up room.
I could recognize the strikingly different ambiance of other athletes ready on stage. Sweaty bodies jostled against one-another, muscles flexed and retracted, and egos swelled with the music and roar of the crowd. A sudden rush of adrenaline coursed through my veins. They are all here for me.
Suddenly, Jane, my small but fierce bodybuilder friend, snuck up behind me, jolting me out of my thoughts.
"Bella, you ready to own that stage?" Her low voice rasped, vibrant with anticipation. "Dammit, 'ready' is an understatement! I'm fucking itching to take over this competition, Jane." Between gritted teeth, I shot a 'you better believe it' stare at her.
She gave my triceps a playful squeeze.
"Alright, but, Bella, remember - we aren't competing to get into those judges' pants, even if it looks like they want us to."
Suppressing a snort, I leaned in and whispered, "And here I thought the real show began when the stage lights go down."
Jane rolled her eyes, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Exhibitionist tendencies will only get you so far here, Bella.
Now, follow me." Jane gestured towards the stage curtains. The beat of my heart sped up, in sync with the pulsating adrenaline as I stepped onto the stage. Lights, heat, and hundreds of piercing gazes assaulted my senses, but I refused to back down. The muscles on my stomach tightened as I continued my confident glide, showing a body honed by years of hard work.
Minutes later, as winners were announced, I found myself shaking hands with the judges, masking the tempest of raw desire ripping through me.
A hand squeezed my arm, and I heard Jane's smoky whispers, "Stop fantasizing, Bells—it's the after-party now, where we let loose on our own terms."
After exchanging congratulations with competitors, Jane and I escaped to the dimly-lit rooftop, reveling in sighs of relief as we ditched the constraints of stage attire. Champagne bubbles tickled my tongue while I soaked in the expansive city lights and felt Jane's gaze upon me.
Her eyes seemed to pierce deep into my core. A luscious smile tugged at her lips as she raised her glass, a cocksure curl resting next to her face.
"To us, freakin' queens, taking over the damn world!" Jane's voice echoed through the endless night, powerful and unapologetic. The sound of her genuine joy wove itself into my spirit, causing a shudder of primal desire to cascade through my form.