“You’re very forgiving.” A wry chuckle escaped him as he pulled the jacket off over his head and tossed it to the floor. He was wearing dance pants, with a white tank top hugging his chest. “Are you ready to work on your dance together?”
“I am.” Walking over to the CD player, I stopped the music, catching my breath a little more as I turned back to him. I knew he needed this, for me to not act like anything was different. Honestly, it wasn’t. Not for me. He was still the same and always would be, whether he decided to live his life free of fear or locked in his loft. I would love him no matter what, a fact that I needed to show him just as much as he needed to see. “How much did you watch?”
“I’ve watched a couple nights so far,” he admitted quietly.
“You should have come in.” I didn’t want him to feel bad. I was sure we’d spent more than enough time feeling awful about what had happened.
“Scar,” he said hesitantly.
“Don’t. You didn’t do anything wrong. I shouldn’t have pushed you. I’m sorry.” My voice was as soft and loving as I could make it, a smile gracing my face. “You’re the one that’s had to deal with this. I’ll trust your judgment from now on.” Truth be told, I’d been afraid I’d scared him off for good. Seeing him here now was like breathing in fresh air after almost drowning.
“No, you’re right.” He sighed, pushing a hand through his hair. “It’s my stupid pride. Just like when I didn’t want you to know. I’m not ready to not be bothered by it. Maybe someday. Who knows?”
“We don’t have to talk about it right now. But we do have to dance.” Holding my hand out, I waited for him to come to me. Everything would be fine as soon as we touched each other. I knew it.
Gingerly, he took my hand, waiting for me to tell him what to do. I was the one running the show tonight.
“Okay, so we’re going to start out like this.” Slowly, I taught him the dance, going over a few spots more than once until he felt he had it good enough. By the time we were able to put the whole thing to music, two hours had passed.
“It’s beautiful, Scarlet,” he said breathlessly, taking a break for water. “Amazing even. I love it. The moves are so trusting of each other. Does Danny hold his end up well? He hasn’t dropped you or anything?”
“I haven’t taught it to him yet,” I answered, laughing as I wiped the sweat from my face with a towel. “I wanted to work on it with you first, to make sure I had all of his directions right. He’ll do fine, though. He’s an excellent dancer. I’m very happy to have him on my team for this.” Adjusting my black shorts, I crossed the room, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing him lightly. “I need to start teaching him soon, though. There’s one more element to the dance, but we have to have it down perfect before we can implement it.”
“What’s that?” Wrapping his arms around my waist, he held me tightly, almost lifting me off the ground.
“Well . . .” Smiling wide, I pushed away from him and went back to my bag, pulling our familiar covering out. “The whole thing is done in the dark. By both of us.”
“You’ll both be blindfolded?” He sounded surprised, but the look on his face told me it was the perfect cherry on the top of a wonderful dance.
“Until the very end. Then we remove each other’s scarf and see the other for the first time. Like you and me; our love is blind,” I explained, putting the cover back. “You loved me and knew nothing about me, as I did you. Now we know everything and it hasn’t made any difference. You have your scars, but they aren’t important. They tell me how brave you are and the story of you. I still love your body—obviously.” I blushed some at that and grinned as he did, too. “But, we love each other because of what’s on the inside, not what we see on the outside.” Unexpectedly, my eyes filled with tears as I looked at him and I laughed, wiping the moisture away.
Eric, breathing heavily, crossed to me quickly, gathering me in his arms and kissing me with all the strength in him it seemed. “I love you,” he said against my lips. “So much.”
“And I love you.” It was amazing to me how I could mean it more and more every time I said it, without a doubt. It wasn’t something I said just to fill the space, or because I thought it was what he wanted to hear. I honestly, truly, and fully loved him more each time the phrase left my lips.
“Do you want to come to my place tonight?” he asked between kisses, pulling me across the room toward the door. “You have tomorrow off.”
“I would love to,” I mumbled, severely caught up in his touch. “Right now?”
“I have to do something first.” Reaching out, he flicked the light switch on the wall, plunging us into darkness as he locked the door. Releasing me, he moved to the windows, pulling the curtains shut. “Come here.”
I could feel him in the room it seemed, like a flame burning just out of sight. Easily, I found him, falling into his embrace, kissing his shoulder as he held me to him.
It was much like the first time he’d ever danced with me, the way our bodies moved together. We were comfortable in the dark, not needing to see each other to know we were there, solid and real. He guided me across the floor with ease, spinning and dipping me without another thought, before laying me on the floor, his body covering mine.
Lips pressed against my own, fingers digging into my sides, legs tangling together. Slowly, I slid my hands under his shirt, sliding it up and pulling it off, clenching the fabric in my hands as he trailed over my neck.
Suddenly, he stood up, pulling me to my feet. His hands grabbed the waist of my shorts, dragging them down my legs until I could step out of them. Grabbing my hips, he hoisted me into the air, guiding my legs around him as he carried me, kissing my chest eagerly.
My back met the wall, the only clothing I had left on my dance leotard, and he leaned against me, ready to go right then.
Letting go of him, I reached up to slide one shoulder of my restricting clothes off, but he stopped me, grabbing my hand and bringing it to his face to be kissed.
“No time,” he breathed. Reaching down, he rubbed over the cloth between my legs, catching one edge with his finger and pulling it to the side, along with my panties. Adjusting himself with his other hand, he guided the tip of his cock, already wet, to my opening. “I’ve missed you this way, too. Is that awful of me?” He panted as he pushed in, crushing me against the wall, his fingers digging into my butt cheeks.
“No,” I moaned softly, feeling exactly the same about him. “Go faster.”
Obeying my command, he thrust in and out as fast as he could, his lips kissing my still covered breasts. Right away, I felt myself tighten around him, but refused to give in so quickly.
Holding off the best I could, I kissed him fully, my legs locked around him as he worked, the two of us trembling together. When release did come, we felt it at the same time, clinging to each other until it washed away.
Later that night, at his place, I cuddled in his arms, staring at the ceiling. “You know what my perfect dream would be for my dance?” I spoke softly, knowing he was drifting in and out after our sexual escapades of the night.
“What’s that?” he asked sleepily.
“For you to dance it with me—with the blindfold. I made it for you and you should be the one who performs it. Not in front of a crowd, so to say, but for me. With me.” Smiling, I glanced over at his peaceful face, his eyes closed and lips barely parted.
“I’ll dance it with you,” he whispered. “I’ll do it right now if you want.”
“No.” I chuckled, looking back up at the roof. “Sleep now. I know you’re tired.”
A hand slithered over my skin, resting on my breast, his fingers fondling my nipple and I sucked in a breath, relishing in the feel of it.
“I’m not so tired,” he murmured. “If you’re not?”
“You’re not going to get me out of bed if you keep doing that.” Snickering, I looked at him again, watching as he cracked one eye open.
“That sounds like a plan.” Rolling on top of m
e, he bent down and took the nipple in his mouth, his hands sliding under my back and lifting me.
“Oh,” I moaned, arching a bit.
“Do you like that?” He sounded amused, probably due to the fact that he knew I liked that very well. His naked body pressed against me, not the slightest bit tired it seemed, and he laughed, taking me in his mouth again. Adjusting himself, he settled between my legs, releasing my chest. “Spread your legs,” he whispered seductively. “As wide as you can.”
Opening to a full split, I sighed as he pushed in me again, ignoring the slight soreness I felt from already having sex several times that night. “We’re worse than teenagers.” Laughing, I stroked down his arm, moving slowly with him.
“You’re still a teenager till summer. And I’m a guy. A guy living the dream.” He quickened his pace some and I matched him again, groaning at how deep he was. It felt so good; I didn’t know how he did it. No matter how or where he touched me, I lit on fire, burning until he ended me in a fiery explosion.
“What do you want?” His velvety voice floated over me, holding every promise of pleasure, so long as I would ask him.
“Harder,” I whispered, bucking slightly as he complied.
“What else?” His voice was a growl now, something I’d come to realize was a tell of his, an indication that he was close to finishing.
“Faster,” I panted, grabbing onto his biceps as he leaned over me.
Following my instructions, he moved faster, rubbing against me in deliciously sinful ways, sliding in and out, pounding into me with such strength that I didn’t even feel the orgasm building; it was just suddenly there, claiming me as I rocked with him, crying out his name.
“Yes! Eric!”
He began shuddering against me, a groan tearing from his lips as he spilled into me. The warmth seemed to spread all through me, bathing me in golden light as I held him to me. Ever since we’d been able to have sex without a condom, I’d loved this part of our lovemaking. I loved feeling all of him, nothing between us. Going on the pill had been wonderful just for this reason.
Moaning, he slowly pulled out of me, rolling to the side and laying by me again. We were silent for a while, simply staring up, our hands clasped, before I got up and went into the bathroom.
When I returned, he was already under the blankets, wrapped up and going to sleep.
“I love you,” I whispered as I climbed in beside him, kissing him on the forehead. I was feeling pretty worn out myself, my eyes closing quickly as my head rested on the pillow.
“Scarlet?” Eric suddenly asked, his tone uncertain.
“Hmm?” I didn’t even bother opening my eyes as I scooted closer to him, smiling as he laid an arm over the top of me.
“I was thinking . . . What if one day—not any time soon, I mean. It could be in a year or two. Or longer, whatever you want.”
“What are you talking about?” I giggled, quickly falling even further toward sleep.
“Would you marry me?” he asked quietly.
It felt like even my heart stopped at the question, the very air in the room halting in its movements as I opened my eyes and looked at him.
“Not any time soon,” he whispered quickly, wiping a hair from my face. “I know we’re young—you’re not even twenty yet—and you have lots of plans. I want to be part of your life, though. Just someday. Would you marry me someday?”
“Are you serious?” All thoughts of sleep had fled me, my heart finally starting again and pounding away like a madman.
“Yes.” He was hesitant, his face turning crimson. I could feel his own heart beating hard, see the fear in his eyes.
Smiling, I kissed him gently on the lips. “I think I could do someday.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
I was in full on panic mode.
“Is this the right skirt, you think? Should I have decided on a shirt for Danny? Where are the blindfolds? Oh no—did I send the music over to the auditorium?” Flying around my room like a bat out of hell, I tore things out of drawers, paced nervously, and checked the time every thirty seconds.
“Scarlet, calm down,” Eric laughed, motioning for me to come sit by him on my bed. “Everything is fine. Your skirt looks wonderful, the dance works better if Danny isn’t wearing a shirt, you put the blindfolds in your bag with your costume, and you sent the music over a week ago. And checked to make sure you did. Twice. You are right where you should be.” He was wearing a long sleeve, black shirt, despite the sudden onset of early May heat we’d been experiencing. On the bed beside him was an oversized beanie and a pair of sunglasses—his disguise among the masses. I was happy to see him without them now, though, his image so soothing that I didn’t feel like I was quite coming apart at the seams.
“I’m sorry.” Plopping down beside him, I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. “But the showcase is tonight! I want to do well so badly.”
“And you will. All you need to do is take a deep breath and let it be. Everything will work out like it should.” Dragging me closer, he wrapped his arms around me, kissing my forehead. “You’ve done all you can. Let it be.”
“You’ll be there, right?” Fighting the urge to bite my nails, I wiggled away from him, standing and resuming my pacing.
“Yes.” Laughing, he sat up, watching me. “You’re so cute when you’re nervous.”
“Shut up. And you’re still going to meet my dad after the show?” Just thinking about that made me smile. I wasn’t exactly sure how the meeting would go—hopefully not along the lines of “Hi Dad, this is the guy I’ve been screwing since Christmas. By the way, we want to get married someday, sound good?”—but the fact that he’d agreed to meeting the only other man in my life had lightened my mood considerably.
“Yes. I’ll meet him after the show, when you bring him up to my box. Gini reserved the whole thing for me, so we’ll have it all to ourselves. I don’t know if she was more excited that I wanted to come, or that she got to help set it up.”
Smoothing a hand over my practice skirt, I bit my bottom lip, thinking over everything that needed to be done before the show. Had I done it all? “What if I don’t get changed fast enough after mine and Danny’s dance? My ballet number is right after that and I have to get in my tights and everything.”
“Meg will be there to help you. Really, Scar, you know all these things. There’s no use in freaking out. Breathe and let it go.”
Nodding, I took a deep breath, checking my watch again. “Shit!” The air whooshed out of me, and I grabbed my bag, hauling it over my shoulder. “I’m going to be late for our final practice! I have to go!” Darting around the side of the bed, I pecked him on the lips quickly and dashed out the door, running for ballet practice.
“Break a leg,” he yelled at me down the hall. “I’ll see you afterward.”
“I love you!” I screamed, laughing at the pounding of my heart but not feeling like it was funny at all.
“Love you, too!”
Sprinting across the street, I flew through the doors of the practice building, dashing all the way down the hall until I reached the door that opened into the backstage area of the auditorium. Tripping into the dressing room, I quickly took my sweater off, yanking my pointe shoes out of the duffle bag and sliding them on.
“Where have you been?” Meg asked, already perfectly dressed and made up for the night. “We’re starting in three minutes.”
“I lost track of the time while I was panicking. I can’t believe it’s the end of the year. It feels like it snuck up so sudden.”
“Dancers to the stage,” a voice said over the speaker system.
“Are you even warmed up?” she asked, concerned.
“Not yet. Don’t worry. I’ll stretch on the barre for as long as I can.” Standing from the chair I’d sat in, I followed her out of the room, checking to make sure my hair was still secured in its bun. When we entered backstage, I went straight to the barre and began stretching.
“Hey, Scar,” Danny said,
joining me. “You ready for tonight?”
“Absolutely. You?” Smiling, I watched as he copied whatever move I did. We’d spent loads of time going over our number, with and without the blindfold. He’d learned it perfectly, too, much to my happiness. There wasn’t another student here I would rather be dancing with.
“I’m ready to roll,” he said, making a show of flexing before laughing. “Really, though. Can we go through it one time before curtain to ease my nerves? Who would have thought not being able to see everyone in the audience would make it more terrifying?”
“I know right? I still have to change right before curtain, though, since this goes right up to that. But I can do it during the first dance. Does that sound good?”
Nodding, he finished his stretching and moved away. “Sounds good. I’ll see you then.”
Spending as much time as possible warming up, I hurried on the stage with the rest of my class as Gini motioned us over, ready to start the final rehearsal for our main ballet of the night.
“Welcome,” she said happily. “Congratulations are in order; you have all finished a year in our training program.” She clapped, along with the other teachers in attendance, and the students joined in, an excited energy buzzing through the space. “As a reminder, you are asked to stay here after the entire showcase is finished, to have your final interview with Mr. Andrews, Mr. Lucky, Mr. Webber, the director of the company, and me. Once this rehearsal is finished, we will have thirty minutes until curtain. Please remember to remain in the green room unless your dance is up next. There will be a television broadcasting the stage in there, so you can watch everyone’s performances.”
Mr. Webber stepped forward then, smiling. “I look forward to seeing how you’ve all progressed over this past year. You’ve worked hard; we won’t keep you waiting long on our decision. At present, there are only eight spots open—five girls and three boys. After your interviews tonight, you should expect to hear a decision within a week. Thank you.”
We applauded as he took his leave, my nerves growing to new heights. “Five spots,” I muttered next to Meg.
Watching Over Me: A Dreams Novel Page 16