by Vivian Wood
I wrinkle my nose. Dropping my phone in my bag, I pull out my pointe shoes. “Sorry. It’s been a really crazy week. Like… after Crispin shot Calum, everything I knew flew out of my head. I had honestly forgotten that little tidbit. Sorry.”
I quickly finish getting my shoes on and head over to the bar.
“You really don’t have to apologize to me. I get it.” Using the barre to balance herself, Ella stretches her leg up over her head and pulls a face. “God, my hamstring is so tight.”
I smile at her, stretching my arms into the air. “Yeah?”
She gives me a playful pout. “Should I not have told you about the article?”
“No. You did the right thing. The more I know, the better. I’m just wondering what’s going to happen now that it is out in the world.” A thought occurs to me, making the blood leave my face. “Oh, god. I hadn’t even considered dealing with Bas today.”
“I wouldn’t say anything if I were you. Let Bas come to you if he’s so concerned about your protection.” Letting her leg down slowly, Ella winces.
I cast an eye over her. “Are you okay?”
She rolls her eyes. “I’ll be fine. I just have to dance it out.”
My lips curl up. “That sounds like a ballerina’s work ethic to me.”
“Mhm.”
“Oh.” Ella winces. “I am also supposed to tell you that Eric got offered a position with the New London ballet…”
My eyebrows shoot up. “He did?”
She nods. “That’s the good news. The bad news is that he already left.”
My eyes widen. “He what?”
Ella shrugs. “He got the call two days ago and said yes. He didn’t even say goodbye to me in person. He just said…” She screws up her mouth for a second. “He said that he noticed that you and Calum were an item. And he felt like it would be better if he just started fresh. Then he got the call from London…”
“Jesus,” I say, shaking my head. “He left because of me?”
“It sounded more like he had an incredible opportunity and he used your situation as fuel for the fire he would need to get himself to London. That’s all.”
She stretches her leg as high as it will go, as though she hasn’t just told me something big.
I turn, catching my reflection in the mirror. While Ella continues to warm up, I can’t stop thinking about Eric. I drove him away.
Well, more precisely, my relationship with Calum did. That means that he probably liked me.
Still, I can’t feel too bad for Eric. He had plenty of time to pay attention to me. Before Calum, Eric was the one who I was sure was going to take my virginity.
In the end, Calum took it. And I can’t say that I’m sorry about that. He’s brought me pleasure like no other every time he casts his brooding gaze my way.
I sigh, going into the splits. My mind wanders back to the article.
Namely, how many people will know that I’m the dancer in need of protection.
I should really tell Calum about the article so that he is not blindsided by it. Screwing my mouth to the side, I head over to my bag.
“I’ll be right back,” I call back to Ella. I scoop up my phone and head out into the hallway, already dialing Calum as I go.
The phone only rings twice before Calum’s image appears on my screen. I can see his sleek kitchen in the background.
“Hey,” he says, frowning a little. “I have Lucas here with me.”
He swings his phone around to show Lucas sitting at the kitchen island, sipping a coffee. I blush for no real reason. Suddenly it seems like my relationship with Calum is serious enough that he would just casually mention that I’m calling rather than just silence a call in front of his brother.
It feels a little weird, I guess.
I smile at Lucas. “Hey…’
Calum moves his phone so that he is facing the camera again. “Just wanted to give you a heads up. You know, in case this was a booty call.”
My cheeks grow even warmer. Even though his humor is disarming, I won’t let him distract me from my mission. “Calum, I have to tell you something serious.”
His eyebrows rise. “Yeah? What’s that?”
“There is a story about us in the arts section of the Times. We’re not mentioned by name… a blind item, I guess you could call it. But the article doesn’t portray our… relationship… in a particularly flattering light.”
He turns to Lucas. “Pull the Times arts section up on your phone.”
Calum moves over to where Lucas is looking at his screen. “Way ahead of you, brother.”
“Are we protecting our ballerinas?” Calum reads over his shoulder. “Who the fuck even told anyone about this?”
“It looks like they have Emma on record…” Lucas says, his eyes narrowing on his screen.
“And Basil,” I chime in.
Calum’s expression is thunderous. “And they say what? That I’m taking advantage of you?”
I shrug a shoulder. “They say that someone close to the dancers is sleeping with them. And they have Emma on record saying that the stage manager before you left because he was involved in a similar scandal.”
Lucas chuckles. “Well, they aren’t exactly wrong about that.”
I grimace. “I thought you should know.”
Calum growls. “I practically singlehandedly support the New York Ballet. I can’t believe that anyone has the nerve to fucking talk to a reporter about me.”
I squint. “Well, you did just fire Emma.”
“For blackmailing me! It shouldn’t have been a surprise to anyone involved.”
“Let’s talk about what this means for your career as stage manager. I think that’s the most important part, don’t you?”
Calum shoots his brother a black look. “No. I can walk away at any time.”
“Who is going to run the NYB without you?” I ask. “You would basically be putting the whole company in Basil’s hands. Nothing against him, but I can’t see that working out.”
“Fuck,” Calum mutters. “Emma has really kneecapped us. I actually admire it even though I’m going to make sure that no one of note ever hires her again. She’s done in this town and with ballet.”
I scrunch up my face. “Calum?”
He looks at me, his expression fierce. “Yes?”
“I don’t want you to take the article too much to heart. I don’t feel unprotected.”
He darts a gaze at his brother, a guilty note rippling across his face. “Beauty…” He sucks in a breath. “We should talk about that later.”
My lips curve up. “No need. I just wanted you to know that I am fine.”
Calum exhales, shaking his head. “Heads are still going to roll over this article.”
“We should really talk about replacing Emma so that you can step down,” Lucas says.
Down the hallway, I hear the echo of voices. Probably other dancers starting to arrive. I bite my lip.
“I should go.”
Calum stares at me broodingly. “I’ll have a response to this by the time you get home. This will not go unanswered.”
I nod. “I never doubted you for a second.”
There is an awkward moment where I might have said, ‘I love you’ if Calum was alone. But I spend a few too many seconds thinking about it. I see similar discomfort on Calum’s face.
He clears his throat. “Bye, Kaia.”
He disconnects the call before I can even formulate a response. My shoulders droop just a bit.
Not that I should be surprised… Calum and I are still working out the finer bits of what being together and being in love mean. I make myself pause for long enough to take a full breath.
And then I head back into the studio, my mind full of Calum.
5
When we finally have sex three days later, it’s like a lightning strike. Hard, fast, and bright.
I can’t get enough of Calum.
I get home from dance practice a bit late and make my way to w
hat I think of my apartment. When I step into my bedroom, he’s waiting for me. And he looks hungrier than I’ve ever seen him.
He stands up, arching a brow. “Come here, beauty. I can’t wait anymore.”
Dropping my bag on the floor, I practically race over and lift my face toward his, waiting to feel his sensuous kiss.
When his tongue slips between my lips, I let out a moan, meeting it with my own. My back arches, my chest presses up against him. He grips my tank top and explores the skin beneath, slipping his fingers beneath the waistband of my leggings. He drags out every moment, an exquisite torture.
He’s wearing a black t-shirt and oversized loose pants. I push him onto my bed and he pulls me down with him. He kisses me deeply as he pulls at my leggings.
I’m already toeing off my shoes and shoving the leggings off my body. He growls and grabs my thigh. Draping it across his lap, leaving me exposed. His hand drifts up toward my pussy, kneading and squeezing my thigh as he goes.
When his fingers brush the sensitive skin of my slit, he finds me dripping fucking wet.
“Oh, beauty,” he purrs, his voice gone to gravel. He teases my crevice again with the lightest of touches. “You’ve been such a good girl. Now relax and let me show you your reward.”
I can do nothing but gasp and nod.
He grins and squeezes my ass as he pulls me on top of his lap. As I straddle him, I can feel his cock between my legs, wrapped in his loose dark gray sweatpants. I’m already wet and I know what he likes; he likes knowing that he turns me on, that he makes me crazy. So I grind against him a little bit, unabashed.
“Fuck, baby,” he says. “Claim me. Show me how bad you want me.”
I bite my lip and make eye contact with him, easing my head back with a low moan.
“Calum,” I gasp. “You don’t know how much I have missed your incredible cock stretching out my tight little pussy.”
Even through his pants, I feel his heated weight, and I’m ready for him to tear off the rest of our clothes and fuck me right this second.
It’s never that easy or fast with Calum, though. He likes to take it slow, to tease and torture me.
His mouth moves from my lips to my jaw and travels to my neck. The light cotton of the tank top’s neckline stops him, and he growls. With one hand, he pulls the tank top up and over my head. He tosses it to the side, giving me an impatient look.
The only thing between him and my flesh is a frilly pink bralette.
“If you like this bra, you’d better get it out of my way before I rip it off with my bare hands.”
I hesitate and then pull it off, shyly covering myself with my hands. I’m hot for him, that’s for certain. But that only takes me so far.
Calum smirks at my hesitance. “You know that you are probably the most exquisite girl I’ve ever fucked? I love watching you when you’re brazen. My little toy, only a slut for me and me alone.”
He shifts me up above him so my nipples meet his mouth. I feel his fingers digging into my ass cheeks, dangerously close to my pussy, as the warmth of his mouth consumes one nipple, and the other.
I whimper as I feel my nipples harden against his tongue. I want desperately to be lower, to be able to rub myself against his cock again, but he keeps me firmly poised inches above his lap.
It makes me squirm. I’m aching for his touch. His big hands spread my bare ass cheeks apart until I moan.
“Calum…” I whimper. “Please. You’re killing me.”
“Fuck, you’re wet,” he tells me between sucks on my nipples.
“Stop teasing me,” I say, frustrated.
“Is this what you want?” he asks as he lowers me back down.
He slides a finger inside my pussy and pushes his thumb against my clit. I shudder at the surprise of it—and the pleasure of having some part of him inside me.
I can't bring myself to reply, but I move against his hand eagerly. His hands are deft, with practiced flicks against my G-spot and just enough pressure on my clit to get me halfway to orgasm. But no closer.
I kiss him deeply, eyes squeezing shut. I’m close to grinding on his hand like a heathen.
“Easy, baby,” he whispers. “I am going to make you come when I’m good and ready.”
There is a part of me that thought maybe he’ll just stop. Maybe it is all just a game, a power trip. I ride his hand harder, lifting my head, and offer my breasts to his lips again. He spanks me once on my ass, hard.
“That’s not easy,” he growls. “That’s full throttle. Be patient. Good things come to those that wait.”
I feel a new gush of wetness between my thighs. My entire body is on fire.
“Fuck! Calum, I am trying to slow down,” I cry out. I need him like I’ve never needed him before.
He slips his finger out of my pussy and flips me onto my back. The coolness of the bed is a shock to my skin. He kneels and spreads my legs wide.
“God damn. You are a fucking feast, beauty.”
I allow my head drop back as he kisses his way down my thighs. When he reaches the top of my thigh, he kisses his way across it, trailing his tongue against my sweat-slicked skin. He comes so close to tasting me, really tasting my pussy, and yet he pulls back.
I shake my head back and forth, ready to burst.
“Fuck! Calum, come on!” I cry, pounding my fists.
“What do you want?” he asks me, smirking.
“I want you to lick my pussy,” I demand. Bucking my hips, I’m too excited to pretend I’m anything but crazy turned on.
“God damn. Hearing you say it makes my cock hard as a fucking rock, beauty.” He gives me a dark smile before he lowers himself between my legs.
Calum spreads my pussy lips with two fingers. I gasp and writhe, pure anticipation at this point. His tongue runs across my clit, firm and slow, before it dips down into the deepest of my folds. I cry out and dig my fingers into his hair to hold him closer to me.
“Oh god. Oh, Calum!!” As he works his tongue faster, I can't stop calling out his name. “Calum, fuck! Right there, don’t stop…”
When he slides a finger into me again, I reach for my breasts and pinch my nipples.
“I want to taste you,” I say, unable to take a full breath. He pulls his finger from my body and leaves a flutter of kisses on my clit.
“What about you? Don’t you want to come?” he asks. But even as he asks, he’s already eyeing my body like a starving man.
“I will. You’ll make me come.” I issue it as a challenge. He releases a low chuckle, fisting his impressive cock.
“God, look at you. All spread out, ready and waiting, already wet for me. You want me to fuck you, beauty?”
I swear, I can feel my pupils dilate. “You know I do. I have been waiting for this moment. You know that you can make me come. So fucking do it.”
Calum climbs on the bed, his eyes sparking as he over me. He fists his cock again and brings it flush against my entrance.
“Just remember that you asked for it,” he mutters.
When he penetrates me, I am shockingly tight. It feels so fucking good. I feel every single inch of him as he thrusts his long, proud cock inside my body.
“Still with me, Kaia?” he asks me.
“Yes, yes,” I breathe into his ear. “Please… I want this. I want you to fuck me. Please, Calum.”
He buries his face in my neck and breathes me in. He takes his time, sliding in and out of my pussy oh so slowly.
When he teases me, lingering with barely his tip inside me, I struggle and demand that he go deep. Every time he slides against my g-spot, I scratch at his back and call out his name. My mouth finds the slick skin on his neck and I mark him with kisses and bites.
I’m not afraid of who will see. This man is mine.
“Calum, yes! Don’t stop,” I encourage him.
I am so wet it is almost unbelievable. He kisses me, slowing even though I just told him not to.
“Not so fast. I want you to slow it all down. G
et on top,” he tells me. “Watching you ride my cock is like every fantasy come to life.”
I bite my lip and nod. He switches our positions in the blink of an eye. On his back, he watches me straddle his hips. My hair has come undone and hangs in knotted waves over my breasts. He reaches up, grabs a fistful of my hair, and pulls on it lightly.
I gasp and look up but he’s already letting my hair go.
“Damn,” he says, his eyes fixed on my tits. “This is fucking perfect.”
I look down and grasp his cock to bring it to my pussy. He moves his hands to my hips.
“Easy, beauty,” he warns me. “It’s been a week since I’ve come.”
I let my weight fall onto him, but he holds me up. I blush again. He seems to want to watch me take his cock into my pussy.
“Please,” I say, looking up at him. “Fuck me. Like really fuck me.”
He pulls me down, hard, onto him. I throw my head back and call out.
My nails dig into his chest and he clutches my ass as I ride him. It’s perfect, the two of us moving as one, our breathing harsh. My tits bounce freely, swaying each time that I move.
Every part of his skin feels like silk underneath my fingertips. My wetness is so intense it drips down between his thighs.
My eyes close tight and I grind hard against him. I’m close, so close.
“Look at me,” he tells me.
I open my eyes, biting my lip.
“I love you. I love you so fucking much,” he says, his dark eyes intense on mine.
“I love you too,” I whisper, my breath coming in gasps.
He pushes himself up and wraps my legs around his back. From here, he is in complete control — and my nipples are once again aligned with his face.
He lifts me and lowers me onto his cock, while he covers my chest in marks that I know will darken to hickeys by tomorrow. I can’t care about that right now; it feels too primal to be marked by him, too fucking good.
I score his back with my nails, marking him in my own way.
My legs are locked around him, his lap soaking with my juices.
“I—” I gasp out. “I’m going to come…”
He can feel my orgasm start to wash over me as my innermost muscles clench. It is enough to push him over the edge and he comes with me.