Breaking Hearts (B-boy #3)

by S. Briones Lim

  “I thought you needed to feel the music?” Despite the coolness of her tone there was no hiding the amusement bouncing between her eyes.

  “You know if your body danced as well as your eyes do, you’d give me a run for my money.”

  She blinked, tearing her gaze away from me. “What do you mean?”

  “Nothing,” I muttered. “Okay, let’s talk about something to get your mind off dancing. Just keep your ears open to the music, but keep your mind on me.”

  She mumbled something under her breath that I couldn’t hear.

  “What was that?”

  “Nothing,” she said quickly. “What do you want to talk about?”

  “Surprise me,” I answered, flashing a smile.

  A mischievous smile curled up on her face. “You don’t realize it, do you?”

  That I’m falling for you every moment we spend together?

  I swallowed past the lump in my throat, and replied with a voice that sounded like a prepubescent boy. “Realize what?”

  “Given that you haven’t mentioned it, you totally didn’t.” She really wanted to drag this out, didn’t she?

  I rolled my eyes. “Obviously I don’t know what you’re talking about, so please enlighten us mere mortals.”

  “You totally just breakdanced.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “While I played, you totally did a flip thingamajig.”

  I froze on the spot, which was ironic since my shy counterpart continued to sway along to the music, completely oblivious to my internal meltdown.

  “I did?” I breathed in wonder. I’d been so focused on Mallory—helping her, lusting for her and falling for her, that I didn’t even realize I had in fact landed a gainer.

  When I had danced along with her music it certainly wasn’t for me. I did it solely for her; the person who ironically I thought ruined my ability to begin with.

  “I did it,” I whispered once again. I felt a jubilant shudder run rampant through my body. “I fucking did it.”

  Mallory released my hand, moving hers up to my arm and squeezing gently. “Are you okay? You’re shaking.”

  “I just…” Like the pieces of a puzzle, everything seemed to fit together, creating the big picture in my mind. How could I have not seen the answer before when it was literally right in front of me the whole time?

  “I danced because I wasn’t thinking about it,” I said softly.

  “Followed your own advice, huh?” She winked, giggling in that cute little way I was slowly growing to love.

  “I was dancing for you.” Only you.

  The final note was sung and soon the room filled with silence. Mallory kept swaying absently, as if oblivious to the lack of music.

  She was finally moving her body and she was doing it for me!

  One by one, it was as if the revelations were blasted out of a cannon and landing smack between my eyes. All this time I searched high and low, trying to figure out how to fix me and later how to fix Mallory. What I didn’t see then that I clearly saw now was that we were each other’s answered prayers.

  During my relationship with Roxie, I always felt a huge disconnect between the two halves of my life—breakdancing and being with her. The two were mutually exclusive. With Mallory, breakdancing had become synonymous with her. Sure, in the beginning it was more antonymous, but the two went hand in hand regardless. However, this day…this day I was finally able to see that one caused the other.

  It felt right.

  Mallory’s breaths seemed to be the only sound I could focus on. I let my gaze wander up and down her face, which she immediately hid with her mess of blonde hair. Desperate to see those icy eyes again, I pushed the strands back, feeling my breath hitch when I noticed the depth behind her pupils.

  She was trying to tell me something, but what?

  A rush of sensations ran through my body. It felt cool and hot, like a blast of icy lightning was thrown down by Zeus himself.

  “Mallory,” I whispered. The last thread of self-control had officially left my body. Finally allowing myself to do what I’ve wanted to for weeks, I leaned forward, preparing to kiss her.

  Her gaze was locked on my mouth, her tongue licking her own in preparation. She stammered, “W-what about that jinx?”

  “You were never a jinx.”

  She lifted her eyebrow. “Well, you had an odd way of showing it.”

  “I know,” I replied with a flinch. “I’m sorry.”

  “I don’t want to do anything that’ll just get thrown in my face again, Asher. I can’t stand feeling as if I’m anything less than…you know…”

  “Perfect?” I suggested, earning me a slight nod. “But you are perfect. You’ve always been perfect.”

  “I’m not talking about piano,” she said quietly.

  I nodded. “I know.”

  I tucked a yellow strand behind her ear, taking in the beauty that I’d tried my hardest to disconnect from. For the first time in a long while everything felt crystal clear. “Mallory, in all those books we read they always said that everything happens in your life for a reason.”

  “Yeah, I know,” she murmured quietly.

  “And now I see that you came into my life to show me what b-boying really is supposed to be.”

  “And what is it supposed to be exactly?”

  I could almost hear her heart beating and was sure it was in sync with the pounding of my own. “Breakdancing isn’t supposed to be only for me. It’s not a one person thing.”

  “Okay?”

  “It’s like what I’ve been saying to you all along. You perform for someone else, always for someone else.” My statement was heavy and dripping with hidden messages.

  “So the jinx is gone?” The hopeful look into her eyes warmed my heart as well as made me want to chuckle. “What if this is another Bria incident? What if you screw up again and I’m to blame?”

  I knew she was taunting me, making me pay for the few almost kisses between us that never happened.

  This would not be another almost kiss.

  “Fuck the jinx.” I pressed my lips against hers, putting a stop to all the paranoia and useless anxiety hanging in the air between us. I kissed her hungrily, like a starving man eating for the first time in years. I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her into me with such force that I was afraid I’d broken her. But she wasn’t fragile, even if she believed she was.

  She’s the strongest person I know, albeit also the most stubborn as she quickly showed me when she pulled away.

  Feeling empty—not to mention rejected—I frowned, ready to ask her what was wrong. To my relief, she surprised me by placing a quick kiss against my throat. “Fuck the jinx.”

  As I grunted in approval she pulled at my arm, leading me toward her bedroom.

  Chapter 31

  Mallory

  If I thought the night of Club Mal was astounding, I was dead wrong.

  “This…isn’t…another…hookup…is it?” I gasped as Asher’s fingers rubbed against me, massaging the hottest part of my body. Despite being fully attended to, it selfishly cried out for more, wanting nothing more than to feel Asher’s touch against it.

  Asher’s breath was hot as it blew against my neck. “If it is another hookup, I better think of a better hashtag to get you back.” He groaned, pulling his fingers out of me and pinning me onto my bed. In a move that I could only attribute to his b-boying repertoire, he twisted one arm to wriggle out of his shirt, while at the same thrusting against me, creating friction with his jeans against my cotton leggings.

  I moaned, eyes fluttering repeatedly. I gasped and pointed toward my bedroom door. “The door! I don’t know what time everyone’s coming home.”

  He sighed and shut his eyes. “You’re ruining my game, Carmichael.”

  “But—”

  “Just kidding.” He shot me a wink and jumped off my bed, kicking the door closed and locking it. Once the lock clasped shut, he spun on his heel and took a runni
ng leap, flying onto my bed in Superman fashion.

  I giggled, automatically rolling onto him. Placing a soft kiss on his forehead, I half-joked, “Are you sure you’re okay with this? I don’t want to screw your game up again, you athlete.”

  He pushed my hair back and grabbed onto each side of my face. “You are the opposite of a jinx…and even if you are a curse, douse me in your potions. Give me that horcrux you always talk about.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Nice.”

  He poked me in the side, causing me to break out in a fit of laughter. “Ticklish?”

  “Just a bit—” My eyes widened when he leaned up and placed a hungry kiss against my lips, cutting off my train of thought.

  There would be no more talking between us, unless you count our moans as talk.

  Asher’s fingers gripped onto the bottom of my leggings, pulling my pants straight off of me as I ripped my shirt off. He placed his hands on each of my legs, traveling up toward my thigh. My vag was crying, begging to be touched again. But I knew I had to be patient.

  This isn’t a hookup. Enjoy it.

  Still, I could help him speed things along just a bit…

  I bit my lip and tried to pull my panties off, but he wasn’t about to have it.

  “No,” he whispered, placing kisses on my stomach, top of legs—everywhere but the only place that really wanted to feel his touch. “Not yet.”

  “But…”

  “You like that word, don’t you?” He rolled me over and bit my butt softly, causing me to squeal with laughter.

  “We totally didn’t do that during our first night together,” I breathed; shocked by the pleasure the slight pain rewarded me with.

  “We didn’t do this either.” He pushed my legs apart, lowering his head and placing his tongue against the crotch of my cotton panties. Despite the material acting as a barrier it somehow intensified the sensations.

  My eyes automatically rolled to the back of my head. “Oh, fuck!”

  He placed my trembling legs across his shoulders, pressing his thumb against the material. Before long a shudder ripped through me, convulsions taking over my core.

  As I was being rocked by ecstasy, Asher pushed aside the crotch of my panties and licked my delicate lips. The stark difference between the cloth and his slick tongue hit me at full force and before I knew it I was shaking uncontrollably…and then I let out a giggle.

  Asher pulled away slowly and lifted an unamused eyebrow. “Something I’m doing funny?”

  “Your stubble tickled me,” I answered, biting my lip so I wouldn’t crack up once again.

  “Tickling you?” A mischievous look flashed over his face. “How’s this for tickling you?”

  His fingers plunged inside of me, causing my upper body to fly off the mattress in shock.

  “Does that tickle you?” he asked, pulling away from me.

  “Please…please…I need to feel you,” I gasped. “Inside of me. Now.”

  Asher didn’t need to be told twice. As I was still trying to come down from seeing stars, his jeans were falling to his ankles with his boxers following soon after.

  “Do you have protection?” I asked, licking my lips hungrily when his dick sprung forward, just asking to be touched.

  Order and control had nothing on me. Not anymore.

  I reached out, clasping his cock in my hand, pumping against his shaft.

  “Mmm, yeah, baby.” He stiffened, instinctively thrusting against my palm. “D-don’t let me finish. Not yet. I want to finish inside of you.”

  Almost out of thin air, a purple cellophane wrapper appeared in his palm. I frowned, not sure whether to feel impressed or downright scared. “Uh…how’d you do that?”

  “Magic,” he replied without hesitation.

  “Are you sure you’re not the warlock?” I asked, watching as he ripped the wrapper open with his mouth and rolled the condom onto himself. “Maybe this whole jinx was a way to discover your powers after all.” In my most serious expression, I told him, “You’re a warlock, Asher.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Even I know that’s not the right line to the story and no, I am not some evil warlock…but I do have a wand.”

  I lifted an eyebrow, feeling the blood rush to my core as he positioned himself between my legs. “Well, I’m hoping your wand is as magical as you think it is.”

  “Baby, by the end of the night, your pussy will be crying out for more, and trust me, this magician never reveals the secrets to his tricks.”

  In one determined move, he thrust forward, entering me. Despite having hooked up before, this time it felt different and even brand new. I gasped as he filled me, forgetting how thick he felt inside of me. It was as if my cherry was being popped for the umpteenth time.

  “Abracadabra,” he whispered, placing kisses down my neck.

  I ran my fingers through his hair and yanked him up gently, staring into his eyes. “Please stop with the magic talk, you’re killing the mood.”

  He laughed and lowered his head onto my right breast, sucking my nipple. My back arched in response, meeting his touch. He pulled away long enough to ask, “How’s that for killing the mood?”

  I groaned; words suddenly inaccessible to me.

  This was definitely not a hookup, nor was it reminiscent of our failed one-night stand. This was something different. From the way my body responded to his to the way his touches felt against my skin.

  There was care, there were feelings, and there was definitely something there that was missing before.

  I gripped his hips, relishing the way his pelvis rolled against mine. “Wow, this feels nice…”

  “It feels like magic,” he whispered.

  Chapter 32

  Asher

  “And five, six, seven, eight.”

  The next two days were the happiest and most carefree I’d felt in a long time. Day in and day out I practiced alongside her, rediscovering my body the same way she rediscovered her passion for music.

  Unfortunately, due to Mrs. Jonas’s countless phone calls and angry knocks at the door we had no choice but to brave rehearsing back at SDU. What sucked about having to do so was that Mallory was still petrified of running into Damien off hours, but luckily we didn’t have to worry about any of that.

  It was like the black clouds of bad luck lifted away, shining golden rays of fortune over us. While we navigated through campus, trying to figure out what to do, we happened to hear a few dance majors arguing about their performance piece. Exchanging one knowing look, Mallory and I followed them to the opposite end of the Performing Arts building where our luck would shine once again.

  “I’ve never been in this part of the building before,” Mallory whispered, eyeing the dancers, who were only about twenty feet ahead of us. Their tight bunheads looked almost like mirrors, reflecting light right off their hair.

  “They’re not going to bite, Mal.” I kept my voice light, though in truth, the dancers looked almost otherworldly to me. They definitely did not scream friendly. Mallory’s answering shudder caused me to instinctively wrap my arms around her shoulder. “Why are you so nervous? Relax.”

  “I just don’t want to run into Damien again,” she admitted as another shudder took over her body. It was as if the weight of her words affected her physical well-being, a manifestation of all her fears in a collision of shivers.

  “It’s fine. Like you said, you’ve never been to this part of the building before. Is it safe to assume that Damien probably hasn’t either?” I paused when I realized she wasn’t listening to me. “Mallory? What’s up?”

  She skidded to a stop and let out an excited squeal. With a trembling finger, she pointed toward the open door beside us.

  “Is that what I think it is?” I gulped.

  She nodded excitedly, never once tearing her gaze away from the beautiful wooden piano peering back at us. With cherry red wood and a wicker type pattern on top, it was the most beautiful sight I’d ever seen in my life. Well, after Mallory, of course.r />
  “Well, I’ll be damned,” I whistled, examining the room. It looked like any other stereotypical dance studio complete with a mirrored wall and one of those ballet barres, but what made it extra special was that darn piano.

  “Hey, can I help you?” a stern voice snapped. We’d been so mesmerized by the instrument that we almost didn’t notice the lone dancer rehearsing in the room. The statuesque girl’s toe shoes thumped against the wooden floor as she walked over to us. “I reserved this room for an hour. I still have twenty-minutes.”

  “Uh…s-sorry,” I stammered, taken completely by surprise. “We didn’t realize.”

  Mallory, on the other hand, didn’t seem the least bit bothered. “Come on,” she practically screeched. “I think there are more places like this one.”

  “Have a good practice!” I called out as I was practically yanked down the long hallway.

  Door after door, room after room, it was as if we had died and found ourselves in piano heaven. Once we found a space to practice in we knew there was no stopping us.

  “You mean to tell me that you never knew these studios were here?” I asked incredulously as I set down my gym bag. The dance instructor from the morning class was more than happy to let us use the space after her class, especially when we explained our situation with Damien. Apparently, he had rubbed a few other professors the wrong way—what self-entitled bastard wouldn’t—so helping us out was like a big fuck you to him.

  Mallory shrugged and took her place on the bench. “I told you. I lived in the Music Hall. I don’t know how dancers live.”

  I shot her a wink, knowing it would cause her cheeks to redden again. “You know about this dancer.”

  And there it was; the blush I’d grown so fond of.

  “Okay, okay,” she grumbled, shyly, taking her place behind the keys. “Let’s get on with practice.”

  Mallory had done a bit fine-tuning on her piece so that it melded better with my b-boy steps. Damien wanted original from her? Well, he was going to get something fucking unique.

  The thing that Mallory and I found out quickly was that though we were both great individually, we excelled together. Maybe all those things I read were right. The universe does amazing things in sometimes really fucked up ways.