Center of Gravity (Marauders Book 3)

by Lina Andersson

  Mine was my tool; it needed to function and especially my legs. Lisa had admired my legs to the point where I actually liked them as well. My feet were something of a mess, like all dancers’ feet are, but I’d still loved them—calluses and all—simply since they were a clear display of my hard work. My body fat used to be nonexistent, which meant I didn’t have any curves to talk about and hardly any breasts. My legs, feet, and long neck were what I liked about myself. My legs were long and slim, but still muscular. With emphasis on were. Now, one of my legs was beautiful, the other—not so much.

  “It matters to me.” I looked down at the table. “Whenever I did manage to meet someone, especially if they were outside the ballet, they loved my legs.”

  “Bet they did. Having those things wrapped around your waist has to be something.”

  “I love you, Lisa,” I said with a laugh. “Yes. That was it. And the fact that I could put them behind my neck if I wanted to.”

  “With all the physical therapy you’re doing, I bet you’re still pretty flexible.”

  “It’s not bad, but that’s not it. It looks horrible. There are scars all over it and marks from the nails that were pinned through it.”

  She reached over the table and took my hand. “Honey, you’re a beautiful woman, and the fact that one of your legs is fucked up isn’t gonna matter.”

  “Like I said, it matters to me.”

  We sat in silence for a while, and then she looked at me again. “You gotta masturbate like a maniac.”

  My coffee got stuck halfway down my throat, and I coughed so bad the waitress came over to make sure I was okay.

  “Tell me you at least have a B.O.B.,” Lisa said once the waitress was gone.

  “A what?”

  “Battery operated boyfriend.”

  “No. I’d die of embarrassment if I walked into a sex shop.”

  “Anna, it’s the 21st century. The only ones going into sex shops are couples––since it’s kind of sexy––or people hoping to hook up with someone else who really needs some. People order stuff online.”

  “I live with my aunt. Think she’d notice the package.”

  “You are such a prude! I’ll take you to the sex shop at The Booty Bank.”

  “No!” I did not want to go to a sex shop where I was sure to meet with people I kind of knew. “Not going to happen!”

  “I’m not taking no for an answer. Either that, or you let me set you up with someone.”

  “Who would you set me up with?” Not that I would do it, but I was curious about who she’d pick.

  “Mitch,” she said without even thinking about it.

  “Mitchell Baxter?!”

  “Yes. What?”

  “No. No way. He must’ve nailed half our school—the female half.”

  “I know! Imagine the training he’s had. If it’s just to get laid, experience is a good thing.”

  “You’re not setting me up and definitely not with Mitch Baxter.”

  “He’s hot!”

  He was hot. Very hot and very good looking, but I shook my head. I wasn’t comfortable at all with the idea that he would see my leg, or any other part of me for that matter.

  “Honey. You have to choose, you might spontaneously combust if you don’t get some kind of penis—fake or real.”

  “Is that your medical opinion?”

  “Damn right,” she said with a big smile. “So what’s it gonna be?”

  There was no way in hell I’d let her set me up with Mitch.

  “Sex shop.”

  Not a full hour later, we were walking towards it. To make matters worse, Mitch was sitting outside it next to a blonde guy in his late forties with a long beard.

  “Lisa,” Mitch said and tsked when we came closer. “I’ve told you, if you’re aching I’ll set you free.”

  “Such a stud,” she winked as she walked inside. I followed her, and I was probably bright red.

  There was another guy inside, standing behind the counter.

  “Hey, Wrench,” Lisa said to him. He had black hair and the most amazing blue eyes. If she’d tried to set me up with him, I might’ve agreed, but Lisa just waved towards the door. “Get out. Give us girls some privacy.”

  “Thank you,” I mumbled when the door closed behind him.

  Then I started to look around in the shop, still not moving. The shop was surprisingly... nice. It was bright, not seedy at all, and well organized. My eyes fell on the rack of stripper shoes, and I walked up to them.

  “Can’t believe they’re able to dance in these.”

  “This from the girl who used to dance on the tip of her toes,” I heard from the door and turned around to see Mitch standing in it, leaning against the frame. “I find that a little more impressive.”

  I blushed again and turned away from him.

  “Mitch! Girl time!” Lisa yelled.

  “Girl time in a sex shop. I might cum in my pants.”

  “Out.” She started to physically push him outside.

  “I’m going, I’m going,” Mitch laughed and waved at me over Lisa’s head. “See you, Anna.”

  When he winked at me, what Lisa’d said about him probably being pretty damn good and her wanting to set me up with him really got to me. I took a deep breath and turned around to look at the shelves with the vibrators.

  If it had been before the accident, I might’ve tried because he was hot, but the cane I was holding onto reminded me of why I was in a sex shop, so I didn’t bother. Despite what Lisa seemed to think, I wasn’t a prude. I used to like sex a lot. We had parties for friends of the ballet on occasion and saying that you were one of the ballerinas pretty much ensured that you got laid if you wanted to. Flexibility was a good thing in bed, and I used to be able to be a damn pretzel if I wanted to. Still could, if the stretching at my physical therapy was any indication.

  “If it helps, I can just turn around and you put whatever you want in your bag, and we’re out of here.”

  “I’ll pay,” I mumbled, and my eyes fell on one that looked pretty.

  I didn’t want one of those penis-looking things with veins on them, but that one looked almost like a rose bud in white and pink.

  “Don’t be silly. Just take whatever you want.”

  I picked up the rosebud one and put it in my bag. “I’m done.”

  “Sure? Just one?”

  I looked around again and nodded. I really just wanted to get out of there before Mitch or someone else came back inside. Or someone I’d really be embarrassed to meet in a sex shop, like Bear. Lisa reached for something and put it in my bag before hooking my arm and finally walking towards the door.

  “Every girl needs a bullet vibrator. Once you do get over that leg thing, it’s great for sex with a partner as well.”

  I laughed and kissed her cheek. “Thank you.”

  “Doctor’s orders. You need to lighten up.”

  When we came out Mitch was still sitting there.

  “Can I have a look at that?” he asked, and for a second I thought he meant the vibrator and hugged my bag closer. He noticed and shook his head with a meaningful smile. “The cane, Anna. Can I see?”

  “Oh. Sure.” I handed it over.

  “It’s beautiful,” he said when he handed it back to me. “Where did you find it?”

  “I didn’t. My parents did. It’s Russian.” I had no idea why I added the last part, but he didn’t seem to think it was odd.

  “Do you speak Russian?”

  “Some.” I knew what was coming, since it always did, and he didn’t disappoint.

  “Say something.”

  “What?”

  “Something fitting.”

  He was smiling, and I couldn’t help smile back. It wasn’t just his smile that was nice. He looked really good, with a full beard and slightly too long hair, both of which looked casually messy, but I was pretty sure it was by design. He had really nice eyes, too, so dark brown they were almost black, and his big smile was amazing.

&
nbsp; This was actually the first time in a long while that someone had flirted with me, and I realized that I’d missed it. I couldn’t help myself when I smiled back and decided what to say.

  “Ya khochu pivo i bol’shiye sis’ki”

  “Do I wanna know what that means?”

  “I want a beer and big boobs,” I answered and took Lisa’s arm. “We ready?”

  “Hey! Say it again,” Mitch yelled behind us with a laugh.

  “Were you flirting with him?” Lisa asked once we were out of earshot. “Because I’d set you up in a second if you wanted to. As long as you don’t expect anything else.”

  “No! I don’t want you to set us up. But like I said, I remember him from school. That’s probably the only thing he needs to be able to say in Russian.”

  She looked at me again. “Okay. But really, just say the word and I’ll hook you up.”

  “You don’t even know if he’d be up for it.”

  “He would. I know him and his taste. I bet he’s already figured out a few positions based on you being a ballerina. Trust me, he’d be up for it.”

  While we walked back to the car, I was trying to decide if it was a good or a bad thing that he would.

  -o0o-

  Irina was at home when I got back, and I could smell the food the second I opened the door—goulash. I went into my room and quickly hid the bag underneath my bed before going out to the kitchen. Apparently Lisa was right; I was a prude.

  “Zvezda!” she smiled when she saw me. “How was your day?”

  “Good,” I gave her cheek a kiss. “Yours?”

  “Drama! All drama! They’re about to cast the parts for a new version of the Swan Lake, and everyone is on pins and needles. It’s a mess.” She waved with her hands while she was talking. “So fed up with them. And you know those men are the worst. They always talk about women bitching, but men are no better.”

  I sat down at the table and hung my cane on the windowsill. As much as I loved hearing about it, it did bring back some memories of what that was like. I didn’t like the drama, but I missed that feeling in my gut when we were waiting to find out who got a part we all wanted. I’d had the lead in Swan Lake several times, and it was one of my favorites, since it demanded so much, both technically and emotionally. I especially enjoyed the diversity—the shifts between the innocent Odette and the temptress Odile—that was what really did it for me. I loved it, and the new head choreographer had done some amazing things with it. I firmly believed his fourth act of the Swan Lake was the best ballet anyone could ever see. I’d been so proud to be a part of something so amazingly beautiful.

  It was demanding, though. It meant about a total of an hour of dancing of the two and a half hours that the show went on, which might not sound a lot, but it really was. When I was dancing the Swan Lake, I avoided anything that could be dehydrating, and I took potassium in the morning and at night to avoid cramps. I remember nagging about it, but I even missed those damn cramps. Those cramps and that pain was a lot better than the pain and the cramps I had now, because there had been a purpose to it.

  “How’s Violet?” she asked, as she put the casserole on the table. “How far along is she now?”

  I was glad for the change of subject and took a deep breath to let go of the gloomy feelings.

  “Not sure, seven months, or something like that. She’s fine.”

  “And Lisa?”

  “Lisa’s just fine. Her usual self.”

  “Can’t she set you up with a nice man?”

  “Tetya!”

  “What?” she said with her hands up, still holding the ladle. “A man doesn’t have to be a bad thing.”

  “Is that why you never had one?”

  “I’ve had plenty of them. Never wanted to keep one, but they’re still nice to have once in a while.”

  “Are you saying I should get a man, so you’ll get this place to yourself?” I teased.

  “Maybe. Eat!”

  “Just let me know, and I’ll spend a night at Lisa’s or something.”

  “Or I’ll just stay with him.”

  “Wanna tell me who ‘him’ is?”

  I was actually thrilled she was seeing him, whoever he was, but I was mainly glad that we’d left the topic my nonexistent love life and focused on hers instead.

  “One of the members of the orchestra. I’ll introduce you when I’m ready.”

  “I’d like that.”

  Later that night, I picked out the vibrator with a big smile. It had to be better than just my own hand and it was pretty. I just hoped it didn’t buzz too loudly; my room was wall to wall with Irina’s. Although I guessed I had to be more worried about me being loud rather than the vibrator.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  An Active Night Life

  -o0o-

  Mitch was working on a car when he noticed Lisa pulling in on the lot. He dried off his hands and went to catch up with her before she went inside the clubhouse. He’d been waiting for her, but she hadn’t been by all week. It wasn’t really something he was in a hurry to talk to her about, but since she was there he’d grab the chance.

  “Hey, beauty. Got an ask.”

  “Ooohhh.” Her smile grew big, and she tapped her fingers against her chin in a contemplative manner. “Means you’re gonna owe me.”

  “Yeah. I’ll owe you. Gonna help me or not?”

  “Ask me, and I’ll tell you.”

  Lisa had always been an incredible tease. When he was fourteen and got a boner from seeing a bowl, fruit, hill, pillow, or pretty much anything in the shape of a boob, she used to ‘accidentally’ stroke her chest against his arm. He had to give it to her, though, she’d been very helpful when it came to make him understand women.

  “The Ballerina who was at the sex shop last week, think you can give me her number, maybe address, and possibly put in a good word?”

  “Mitch, are you trying to get me to help you do a ‘cum and run’ on my friend?”

  “Hey! You let her loose in the sex shop last week, so I’d say she obviously needs some.” He moved closer. “And you know I’m very good at doing that and letting her go on and find the love of her life. I’ve done that with your friends before.”

  “Do you even know her name?”

  “Sure. Anna and some weird, Russian last name starting with D—I think it was.”

  “Impressive.” She took a deep breath. “Truth is, I gave her the options of letting you nail her or a visit at the sex shop. She chose the shop. Apparently she very vividly remembers you fucking every girl at school.”

  “Damn!” That was a bit of a disappointment, but at least Lisa’d had him in mind, which meant there was some hope.

  “So why are you so interested?”

  “Ballet dancer. Bet she’s flexible.”

  “You nail dancers all the time. Got a strip club full of them, and I’ve been to it, those are some flexible bitches.”

  Lisa’d visited the strip club a few years earlier, and that hadn’t gone over all that well with Bear. He’d been furious and had decided it was Mitch’s fault. Which it hadn’t been. Lisa’d asked if she could come, and he’d said yes, but despite Lisa defending him, he’d been on Bear’s shit list for months.

  “Not the same,” he said as an answer to Lisa’s statement. He wasn’t sure how to explain it. “They’re easy, you know that, and they just love showing off how flexible they are. Once in a while I like...”

  “Mitchell Baxter, are you saying you once in a while want an innocent girl?”

  “Not innocent, but someone who isn’t a borderline hooker, and who doesn’t get down on her knees in front of me just ‘cause I say so.”

  “You want some girl that not all of your brothers and you have nailed hundreds of times.”

  “Something like that. Judging by the blush when she was in the sex shop, she’s a little innocent, she’s a ballerina, and pretty damn hot.”

  “All this,” she swept her hands in front of him, “is of course very sweet,
but there’s a small hitch. She’s a little innocent, and not all that easy to get into bed. Which means you’re gonna do your charming shit on her, nail her, and then leaver her behind crying.”

  “I won’t!”

  “So how are you gonna get her to put out then?”

  “I was hoping you’d pimp me out again.” She just kept eyeing him with her hands crossed over her chest, and he sighed. “So, no deal?”

  “Tell you what, if she says she really needs some, I’ll send her your way. No charming, just have sex with her—good sex—and that’s it, unless she calls you again.”

  “What do you want for that?”

  “You’ll owe me a big one. Not some little shit thing, a real favor, and I can cash it in whenever I want to.”

  “Do I get her number?”

  “Not today.”

  “Damn, Lisa! You’re a better negotiator than your dad.” He pulled her in for a hug. “I’ll be nice and not hurt your friend.”

  “If I give you a shot.”

  He kissed her cheek. “I’ll trust your judgment.”

  They both knew that the only point with the conversation was for him to let her know he was interested, and she’d give him a go if she thought Anna could handle it. He’d never mess with one of her friends in a way that could hurt them. This was just their normal dance, and even if it had been quite a few years since they’d done it, it was familiar grounds for both of them.

  With a smile, she walked away, and Mitch couldn’t help himself.

  “Hey, Beauty! Nice to see you still got it.”

  “I’ll never lose it,” she said with a wink, and he laughed. “And I gotta say, even taking into account that nice speech you gave me, she’s not your type.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “She’s pretty, but she’s no knockout.”

  He thought about it. He actually thought Anna was a knockout, and she wasn’t that far off his normal taste. She was pretty, really pretty, and moved like a real dancer, which he liked. Once in a while he liked some class.

  -o0o-

  “Chucky, Dutch, and the two members from the Dutch club are coming next month. And I’m guessing Sisco was right, and we’re all gonna have a problem keeping Dutch and ‘the Dutch’ apart. Either way, they’re landing in the US in two weeks, gonna stay in Englewood for a while, and then they’re coming here. So,” his dad leaned back at the head of the table and lit a smoke, “tell me what you got.”