by Amy Daws
A light breeze blew over us and she shivered ever so slightly. My leather jacket was draped over her like a blanket, but her bare legs still stuck out beneath it. They had to be freezing. I needed to get this girl back to her apartment because there was no way we were going back to the fraternity house after the scene I caused last night.
I just knew I wasn’t ready to let go of her yet. Her gold digger comment from earlier repeated in my head. It bothered me last night, but I let it slide because she really had no idea how little I care about that shit. I wasn’t dumb. I could tell she didn’t come from a lot of money. It was one of the things that attracted me to her actually. My entire life I’d been around girls like Sasha. Girls from a pedigree, who’s daddies paid for everything for them. Girls who actually had money, but are the biggest gold diggers of them all because it’s all they fucking thought about. Their next handbag, their next designer outfit, fashion show, whatever. Women in New York could be so shallow about their fucking clothes.
The fact that Adeline didn’t have a lot of money meant she had earned every facet of her life. Nothing was handed to her. And yet, she carried herself with more grace and integrity than most of the people my parents socialized with. Adeline wasn’t intimidated by wealth and power. She was just focused and determined to carve her way in this life with her own two feet. Her own two perfectly pointed feet.
Last night, protecting her against Blake and seeing her shed tears for him was hard. Damn hard. But I hoped and prayed that I saw her shed her last tear over him. I could feel her opening up to me. I could see her walls falling. And I wanted it all. Every bit of it. But right now, I really just wanted to get this girl into a bed.
“Adeline,” I gently rubbed her back over my jacket. Just thinking about her in my jacket made my dick stir. What was it about a woman in your own clothes that was so fucking sexy?
“Hey, baby…we should go,” I said again and she stirred and squirmed her crotch right into my groin.
Oh fucking hell. I tried to break my concentration from how close her apex was to my dick, but all it did was excite me more. Well, she said she liked how I looked at her, so this should be of no surprise.
“Ummm,” she mumbled and lifted her head to me. Her eyes were droopy but still twinkling, even in her obvious state of exhaustion. “Are you trying to poke me awake right now?”
My body shook with silent laughter. “Stop fucking squirming on me and I could be a little more gentlemanly.”
She pushed herself up so she was straddling me and I was intrigued by that lascivious tweak to her brow. Her brown hair was a gorgeous mess all around her, which only had me thinking about bed head and tangling in the sheets with her.
“You’re really not helping matters,” I said as she wiggled herself right on my package. “I swear to God, baby,” I warned as she teased me to my breaking point.
She giggled and I paused for a moment, staring up at her dazzling clear blue eyes. They were positively glittering with happiness and her gorgeous as fuck playful smile made me ache for more. More of what? I wasn’t quite sure yet. But I knew that this girl was something special. The way my heart felt in this exact moment was something I’d never experienced before. It was a strange aching comfort because what it was aching for was sitting right before me. Suddenly, I knew that this was a moment I would want to remember for the rest of my life.
Her words from last night echoed in my ears: But what I want more than anything is a secret.
I think I want it too, baby. I think I want it more than I’ve ever wanted anything my whole damn life.
“Why the sudden serious expression?” she asked with the look of an angel sent from heaven. “What am I doing to you, Leo?”
She sexily thrust her crotch forward.
So many things, baby. So many things. If you only fucking knew.
In a flash, I sat up and grabbed her around the waist, hauling her up with me. She laughed loudly and wrapped her legs around me. My hands tickled her bare thighs right where her lacey underwear covered her ass.
“Where are we going?” She giggled and clutched her arms tightly around my neck.
“Your place. I can’t deal with this shit in public. What I want to do to you right now…” I stopped myself from finishing that sentence because I know she was still determined to take it slow. And so was I…to an extent.
***
I didn’t remember the drive to her place. I didn’t remember parking my bike. I didn’t even remember her unlocking her apartment door. The first time I had a conscious thought about what I was doing was when we broke the threshold of her apartment and I slammed my lips to hers the second she finished locking the door behind us.
I pressed her up against her door and kissed her like I was going to lose her if I stopped. My hands groped greedily up her dress, tickling just the edge of her panty line and stroking her over top of the fabric.
“Leo,” she said on a cry as I broke my lips from hers and hungrily kissed down her neck. She could feel very free to utter my name again if she wanted to. Fuck, I loved my name on her lips.
I stood up straight and pulled my jacket off of her shoulders, slowly letting it drag over every inch of her arms. The jacket dropped to the floor.
“I thought…” she started and then paused, taking a big gulp of air. “I thought we were going to take it slow.”
I grumbled moodily. “We can. We will. But fuck, Adeline, we’re not kids. We can still do other things.”
I pressed my hands on either side of her face, trapping her against the door and eying her carefully. Damn she was gorgeous. Her lips were plump and raw from my assault on her mouth. I loved marking her with my body.
Please God, don’t let her put the brakes on this right now.
“Things,” she repeated, eyes locked on mine in heated desire. She pulled both of her swollen lips into her mouth and bit down on the lower one, releasing it painfully slow. My dick hardened. I pressed my groin into her to show her just how much she affected me.
Her eyes flashed ravenously and she glanced down at my obvious state of arousal. Deep desire washed over her features and she grabbed my neck, pulling my mouth back onto hers. She turned us so my back was to the door. Her hands trembled as she began unbuckling my belt. My dick screamed with delight.
Just a hand, baby. Just put those beautiful hands of yours on me and I’ll want for nothing in this moment. Just give me your hands…
Suddenly she stopped our kiss and dropped to her knees, taking my jeans and boxer briefs with her. Before I knew what the hell was happening, her mouth was on me, wrapping me in a tight cocoon of wet, silky heat.
Holy fuck, I’m going to marry this girl.
She rocked her mouth over my dick several times, sucking even harder on the tip as she pulled her mouth back. Jesus, fuck! This girl…this girl had skills! Suddenly, she unsheathed her teeth and I could feel her pearly whites rubbing ever-so-lightly over my length. Scared and exhilarated as fuck, I slammed my fist against the door in pure exaltation. “Holy fuck, I’m going to…”
“Let go, Leo.” Her voice was hoarse and laced with so much arousal it brought me to my peak.
Before I could stop myself, I released. She quickly wrapped her mouth around me again, taking everything that she had so quickly brought out in me.
As soon as my body stopped shuddering, I grabbed her arms and pulled her back up to me, covering my mouth with hers and hugging her tightly around the waist. I needed to show her my appreciation. Like, right the fuck now.
Without breaking our lips, I carried her over to her futon. I set her down and removed my shirt, enjoying the sexy look she got in her eyes every time she saw my abs. I just realized the real reason I go to the gym six days a week…that girl, right there, staring up at me like she wanted to lick me. The reality was, she was so, so much more.
I knelt in front of her and slid her lacey panties down her body. She lifted her hips to help, then reached for her shoes. I shook my head. I loved those fu
cking boots…they were staying put. I then pulled her dress off, grateful as hell that she had no bra on. The instant gratification of her leaning back naked before me officially ranked number one in the most sexually satisfying experiences of my life. And I wasn’t even inside the damn girl.
I spread her legs and groaned with anticipation of tasting the sweet arousal that I knew I’d put there. That dampness was us—our attraction—our connection. Whatever cosmic thing we discovered in each other was important, and not something I was taking lightly.
***
Sometime after seven a.m., we lay completely naked on her futon with just a sheet draped over us. I couldn’t believe how sexually sated I felt considering we still hadn’t even had intercourse. Foreplay with Adeline Parker was fucking epic.
We blinked slowly, gazing into each other’s eyes, both deliriously tired but willing ourselves to stay awake and not end this incredibly happy bubble we found ourselves in.
Sleep took us. Hours later, when I woke before her, I watched her sleep and just appreciated all that had happened between us. We hadn’t known each other long, but already I had told her so much more than I’d ever told Sasha. I never opened up to Sasha about Professor Callahan’s challenge and how that affected me. There was just something about Adeline that made me want to be better. She was inspiring me.
She looked so perfect and peaceful in the mid morning sunlight creeping in through her blinds. Her chestnut hair splayed wildly across her pillow. Her dark lashes fanned her cheeks perfectly. My heart shifted beneath my chest…like the gears on my bike and all of it—just felt right.
Unable to keep my hands off of her, I trailed my fingers lightly from her cheek, to her neck, then to the valley in between her perfect breasts. I half smiled as goose bumps prickled over her body. Still, her eyes remained closed. Her breathing remained heavy. I continued my descent over her toned stomach, and finally to her wet and ready center. I relished the sound of her deep breathing, as it grew more labored in her contented sleep. When I plunged my fingers inside of her, she moaned my name out in her slumber with that hoarse, morning voice. There was no way foreplay was going to be enough anymore. Slow or fast, I was going to make this girl mine.
CHAPTER 21 ~ Adeline
Leo would be mine if I had any effing say in the matters of my heart. God damn it! It was everything I could do short of shoving my vagina in the deepfreeze to concentrate on ballet right now! Leo had done everything possible right, and I was left strung out like it’d been my first time seeing a guy naked!
Damn his fuck-me gaze. Screw his two percent body fat. Blow his snarky-ass responses. My voice box was fucked all to hell, and we hadn’t even done it! I was already on a one-way trip down the aisle prepared to scream out two scary words: fuck me!
After our cat-nap on my futon, Leo had been good to go again…and I wasn’t about to turn down a little more action. The idea of exploring how many things we could do together was electrifying. And we were on our merry way to discovering them; I just effing wished we could have finished what we’d started! But nooo. That would have been too damn perfect.
Leo had taken off after...well, after Ivan “informed” Leo that he had a spare key by walking in on Leo preparing to go down on me. I didn’t know who was more upset. “Guy L” trying not to be upset that “Guy I” had direct means to my studio. Or that “Guy I” had to calm “Guy L” down so he didn’t get knocked out by his right hook. Fucking men! They were all caught up in whose-got-the-bigger-dick-drama while “Girl A” was strung out, seconds from experiencing bliss!
***
The subway ride to Joffrey with Ivan was a fun one. I got the distinct impression that, after this morning, he would be just fine staying at Joffrey and finding a new dance partner. That was probably for the better. I sincerely believed that my conversation with Higgins would end as well as my drizzled climax. Hot, bothered, and ready to take pent-up aggression out on anyone.
“Ivan, I just don’t understand why you’re so upset! Talk to me!” I pressed my lips together to keep from yelling at him to grow a pair.
“Your boy-toy has jealousy issues, Addy,” he balked, holding onto the balance rail on the subway.
I couldn’t deny that. Leo hadn’t acted smoothly this morning. Of course, Ivan could have gawked a little less.
“He’s just protective of me.”
“He thinks I’m into you!”
“Aren’t you?” I asked and the pressed my lips together. I was seriously worked up. “Not everything we act out on stage is faux. You have to feel some of that offstage.”
“I’ve been your partner for years, Addy. Years! I’ve seen you through some shit, and then this guy walks into your life and suddenly I’m defending and re-defining what we are? Let me make this clear. We are partners. We are friends. We make a fucking living with our bodies and the ability to push ourselves to the limits. So yeah, we have to mix well. Do I think being with you offstage would ruin our partnership? Yes! And since we both have the mutual understanding that the ballet is priority number one, we work.”
Ivan glanced up at the digital screen that indicated that we were arriving at our stop. “This is us.”
We came up from the subway. I followed him into Joffrey, giving him some space to simmer down. When we were ready for rehearsal, he held the door open for me as we entered the dancing floor. The room fell silent upon my entrance. Higgins’ face went icy just as it had been for the past week.
“Joffrey’s Board of Directors has made a decision,” Ms. Higgins said stiffly. “My office. Now.”
We followed her out of the practice room. If her pressed lips and sub-zero glare were any indication of how this meeting would play out; we were totally screwed.
Ivan followed behind me, closing the office door behind us. We weren’t alone. One man and one woman both twice my age sat in the seats. The woman appeared oddly familiar, but I couldn’t quite place her. I never thought that a woman in a Chanel pantsuit fiddling with a pearl necklace could be so menacing. Her pearl necklace had to be more than my annual salary at Cuppa. I doubted that her bright red Birkin Bag was a knock-off. Her hundred dollar haircut left me feeling underdressed in my barre workout attire that consisted of black leggings over my fitted grey tights and a yoga top. Her brown hair lay still onto her shoulders in tight, brown curls like they’d been hairsprayed to death. Not a single lock out of place. I tried not to notice as she threw daggers at me with her striking dark-brown eyes. Her glare was nothing compared to Ms. Higgins, who was eyeing me from behind her desk like I had purposely sabotaged the school.
At least the gentleman sitting next to the stuffy Chanel woman seemed to acknowledge the fact that I was a human and had actual feelings. Under his white mustache was a gentle smile. His hair had all but vacated his head, shining in the room. He had the lean body of a male danseur, but now dressed in pin-striped suits rather than dance wear. He clutched his Fedora hat as he shook our hands.
“Ivan, Adeline, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said politely. “I’m Mr. Scott. A talent agent for Focal Pointe Contemporary Ballet Company.”
“I assure you it is our pleasure,” Ivan said. All his anger and frustration with me earlier evaporated. “Focal Pointe is doing some amazing things.”
“We are honored to meet you,” I stated.
The woman rolled her eyes. Ms. Higgins extended her hand. “And this is Evelyn Richards. Adeline, you might be interested in meeting the woman who has funded the scholarship you received.”
Evelyn Richards? Leo’s mom? I struggled to keep the astonishment and horror off of my face. I envisioned meeting his mother vastly different. She looked ready to beat me with her purse and walk all over me with her Louis Vuitton shoes! The blood drained from my face. My scholarship…
Laying her hands on her desk, Higgins clenched them together. “Your Areosmith performance has had varied results. I’m disappointed to say that several scouts stopped pursuing you after your stunt in the fishnets.”
/> I had multiple scouts? Why had no one told me?
Ms. Higgins opened her desk drawer and pulled out another tabloid. I couldn’t read the headline, but how could I not see the infamous image of Leo carrying me with my tutu framing my butt? “Four were considering you for contract until Bad Girl Aerosmith Ballerina hit the headlines.”
I hadn’t seen this paper. Ivan was determined to stare at anything but me. His nondescript behavior meant one thing. I hadn’t just made two papers. There had been more… My humiliation was immeasurable.
“Mrs. Richards is revoking your scholarship after the negative publicity their company has endured,” Higgins said, getting back to business. “They are also considering pulling all their funding from Joffrey.”
“What?” I couldn’t believe it! “Because Leo was kind enough to drive me home?”
“Leonardo was foolish to associate himself with…” Evelyn looked me up and down like I was a gold-digging whore. Her judgmental glance confirmed every horrible fear I had. “…girls like you.”
“So you’re really going to just let us go after Joffrey sold out every show?” Ivan asked in disbelief.
“Joffrey School of Ballet will not tolerate this lack of discipline from any of our students.” Higgins smiled brightly. “You however are more than welcome to stay in attendance. You did not show up late for the show. You did not make a mockery of the show’s attire. You didn’t parade around in the streets after the show. So you’re more than welcome to stay. We’ve already lined up another prima for you to partner with for the next show.”
“There won’t be another show.” Ivan slipped his hand next to mine. “Why are you here, Mr. Scott?”
Ms. Higgins answered for him. “Mr. Scott insisted on seeing Adeline perform once more before making a decision regarding your career. Because of our long-standing friendship, Joffrey has agreed to a private showing.”
“Why has Mrs. Richards requested an audience?” I asked, unable to meet her gaze.
“If Adeline can prove to Mrs. Richards that we teach only the most gifted and dedicated dancers, she won’t pull our funding,” Higgins stated.