Take the Lead

by Alexis Daria

  “I went to see her right after I left you that morning. That’s why no one’s been talking about it.”

  His mouth flattened into a thin line. “I wish you’d involved me in this decision.”

  “I had to get to her quickly, before the stupid tabloid articles influenced her.” She blew out a breath and crossed her arms. “Some of them are saying we’re secretly married.”

  One of the PAs came running over to them, out of breath. “I have a message from Jordy. He said it’s taken care of, and you owe him.”

  Gina’s pulse thudded. “What?” When the young woman began to repeat herself, Gina waved a hand to stop her. “No, I heard you. He fixed the footage?”

  The stage manager shrugged. “Sorry, that was all he told me.”

  Nodding, Gina thanked the girl and sent her away. The adrenaline roller coaster and the havoc this evening had played on her emotions left her exhausted, but she still had one more dance, and it had to be perfect.

  “Well, that’s taken care of,” Stone said in a mild voice.

  “Yeah.” Gina glanced around, but there were too many people here for what she had in mind. Grabbing Stone’s hand, she pulled him down the hallway to the loading dock where people snuck out to smoke.

  For once, it was empty. The second the door closed behind them, she grabbed his face and yanked him down for a searing kiss.

  “I miss you,” she whispered against his lips. “Come over tonight? Tash always goes out after the episode taping.”

  He pressed his forehead to hers and closed his eyes. A second later, he nodded. “Okay.”

  “I know we have things to talk about.” She kissed him again. “Now’s not the time or place. But we’ll talk. I promise.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Sounds ominous.”

  She let out a desperate laugh. “It’s not. This week has fucked with my emotions. I can’t sort them all out.”

  He kissed the top of her head and reached for the door. “We’ll do it together.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  The four members of Team Ice Cold stood in the dark in the middle of the ballroom, waiting for the commercial break to end. The audience was hushed, excited to see the final team dance. Just a few yards away, Meli sat at the judges’ table.

  As soon as the first bars of the music played, Gina’s mind cleared. As always, the dance took over, washing away all her hopes and fears about Meli, her job, and Stone.

  The beat dropped. They bopped around in synch, spinning and sliding. Then they launched into the lifts, leading up to the final move—the throw.

  Since Stone was so strong, and Lauren was used to flying through the air on skates, Kevin and Gina had choreographed a routine that combined acrobatics, Latin dance moves, and hip hop to go with Meli’s most famous club songs.

  Gina and Lauren spun out from the guys, danced a few steps together, and swapped partners. Kevin lifted Gina, Stone lifted Lauren, and right before the song ended, they tossed the women to each other.

  It wasn’t a difficult throw. They hadn’t had time to practice anything more impressive. But in mid-air, Lauren and Gina high-fived. Their guys caught them, spun them in a circle, and they all landed in a triumphant pose.

  Gina was proud of their dance. Lauren was an asshole backstage, but a professional as soon as she hit the dance floor. And Stone had worked harder than ever this week to learn both dances and make up for losing time to his injury.

  This time, Gina was prepared to hear Meli’s critique.

  “I loved it.” Meli tossed her notes down on the table. “I could go on about the details—you guys nailed the musicality, the vibe of the music, and took it to the next level—but really, I just loved it. I thought it was perfect. And I’m so impressed. I could never do lifts like that!”

  Gina almost passed out. Only Stone squeezing her shoulders reminded her to breathe.

  Team Ice Cold received a perfect score.

  During the elimination, Gina couldn’t stop grinning.

  “You’re supposed to look worried,” Stone whispered in her ear.

  “I can’t. Meli gave us two hundreds. Nothing can ruin this night.”

  Rick Carruthers ended up leaving at the end of the episode. Gina was sorry to see him go—not as sorry as Stone, though—and they hugged him at the end.

  But then she saw Meli rounding the judges’ table and heading straight for her. Her pulse pounded, and she stepped aside to greet her.

  They were the same height, which surprised Gina. Meli had always seemed taller in the movies.

  “Gina, I want to say what a pleasure it was to see you dance tonight.” Meli leaned in to give Gina a kiss on the cheek. She smelled like roses. “I have to run to catch a flight, but I’ll be in touch. Be well.”

  “Thank you.” Gina returned Meli’s wave, stunned.

  I’ll be in touch. What the hell did that mean?

  She met Stone’s eyes over the crowd of dancers surrounding Rick and his partner, Mila. The heat was back in Stone’s gaze. Tonight, they would talk out whatever was between them.

  The prospect terrified her. She didn’t want anything serious, didn’t want to talk about her feelings or relationship fears.

  But he was right. He deserved to have his say, and to know why she’d pulled away.

  The thought of being close to him again filled her with warm, delicious feelings. She wanted him. She missed him. And maybe having him in her bed again, being close to him, held by him, might be worth the discomfort of baring her heart.

  * * *

  “You want to tell me why you’ve been avoiding me all week?”

  They sat on the edge of Gina’s bed, facing each other. She still wore hair extensions and full-face makeup from the filming. Hell, Stone was probably still wearing makeup, too. He held himself stiffly, his lips pressed into a flat line.

  She fiddled with the quilting on her blanket. This was the last thing she wanted to be talking about. It would be so much easier if she could say she was over him, that it had been a fun fling, but it was time to get back to business.

  It wasn’t true, though. Even now, with all her doubts piling in, she still wanted him. Not just for fun, or for sex, but for more. For the way he listened to her and respected her. For the way his strong fingers found all the knots in her back muscles and brought her relief, simply because he wanted to help. For the way he made her laugh with his quiet, unexpected silliness.

  Deep longing churned her insides, made her want to lean toward him until she fell into his arms. Maybe then the unrelenting yearning would cease.

  But then what would happen when he left?

  He was waiting for an answer, jaw set and eyes wary.

  She swallowed hard and told him the truth. “You scare the shit out of me.”

  His lips quirked. “Ditto.”

  With a groan, she gave in and closed the distance between them, cuddling into his embrace. “What do we do? Where do we go from here?”

  What do I do when you’re gone? She didn’t say it, though. It would reveal too much, and she wasn’t ready to think that far ahead.

  He held her against his chest and rubbed her back with his big, rough hands. Everything about him was big and rough, until you realized he was the sweetest, most caring man you could ever hope to meet.

  “We keep trying to win,” he said. “The rest of this . . . we’ll figure it out. We have time.”

  They didn’t, though. It was only a matter of weeks before the season ended. He was leaving. What more was there to figure out?

  She lifted her head, zeroing in on his lips. “Stone?”

  His hand stilled on her back. “Yeah?”

  “I don’t want to talk.” She crushed her mouth to his, loving how his arms banded around her. He groaned as his tongue swept into her mouth.

  They tipped sideways onto the bed, tugging at each other’s clothing.

  “Stone, I need you. Now.”

  It was the most she was willing to admit. Need—physical need
—was something she was comfortable with. The rest of it? Feelings and shit? They got in the way, made things messy.

  Gina broke the kiss, panting. “Damn. We haven’t showered yet.”

  Stone gave her an incredulous look. “Who cares?”

  She blinked. “Oh. I guess you’re right. Sorry, I don’t usually date dancers.”

  “I’m not a dancer, remember? I’m industry adjacent.” He dragged his tongue down her neck, pressed kisses over her chest until he reached her cleavage. “Anyway, sweat doesn’t bother me. I like you sweaty, clean, dressed, undressed . . .” He yanked off her shirt and bra. “I just like you.”

  Emotion overwhelmed her. She shoved it back as he pulled down her leggings. Of course he’d say something like that when she was trying to lock her feelings away in a box where they couldn’t interfere.

  “Never figured you for a romantic,” she said under her breath in an attempt to break the tension.

  “I’m full of surprises.” He grabbed the back of his t-shirt and drew it over his head.

  “Could barely get two words out of you in the beginning that weren’t a sigh or a complaint.”

  “What I wanted to say wouldn’t have been appropriate.” He pressed her thighs apart and stroked her with his fingertips. “You’re already wet.”

  “I know.” She dove into his lap and tugged at his shorts. “Off.”

  Once they were both completely naked, he sat on the edge of the bed.

  “How do you want to do it?” she asked.

  “You’ll see.” His sexy smile made her skin tingle and her pussy clench with need. He patted his lap. “Have a seat.”

  She went to straddle him, then noticed he faced her closet. The closet, whose sliding doors were floor to ceiling mirrors. “Oh. I do see.”

  He nodded, and she positioned herself on his lap, facing their reflection in the mirror. He gripped her hips and guided her onto his cock. She hissed as he sank inside, stretching her in the delicious way she’d come to crave. His heat seared into her, lighting her up from within.

  Their reflections watched them move. He wrapped an arm around her waist to take more of her weight and spread their legs wide. In the mirror, his thick rod could be seen disappearing inside her.

  So. Fucking. Sexy.

  He rocked his hips, the move sending shock waves through her body. Shivering, she bore down on his cock, increasing the pace. Their reflections matched their movements. His cock slid in and out of her, the image mesmerizing her. She told him with her body what she couldn’t put into words.

  Behind her, Stone groaned, pressing his face to her shoulder. Their eyes met in the mirror. Holding her gaze, his hand dipped down and pressed on her clit. She almost leaped off his lap as fire lanced through her veins.

  “Yes. Touch me. Fuck me. Yes.”

  “Gina.” His voice was a growl, the syllables yanked from somewhere deep within him. “You’re killing me.”

  “Don’t stop.” A note of pleading infused her tone. Tingles shot through her. “Please, Stone. Don’t stop.”

  “More?”

  “God, yes. More. More.”

  He gave it to her. Hard. Fast. He was consuming her from the inside out. His cock drove into her, relentless and demanding, radiating pleasure through her limbs. His arms supported her, pinning her to his lap and holding her up when she lost her strength. His hips pumped like a piston, nailing her like their lives depended on it. He surrounded her, invaded her, and she only wanted more.

  It would never be enough. She’d never tire of him.

  She didn’t want him to leave.

  Full, intense pressure in her pussy distracted her. Or maybe she just didn’t care anymore. Maybe it was okay to give him everything.

  Pressure mounted. Pleasure spiked. She dug her nails into his thighs, gritted her teeth, and gave him everything she had to give, calling out his name as she came.

  Stone flipped her over onto the bed. She landed facedown, but didn’t move. He could do anything at this point, and she wouldn’t move. In the aftermath, her feelings were raw and bare. She wanted him so much. But she couldn’t have him. Not for real, not forever. She had to be careful with more than just her feelings.

  She flapped a hand at him before he could enter her again. “Condom.”

  He paused. “What?” His voice sounded strangled.

  “Condom. No sense playing with fire.”

  He didn’t answer. Instead, there was the familiar sound of her bedside drawer being yanked open. Frantic rummaging, a muttered curse, a rip of paper, and then he was back on top of her, pushing one of her knees up and sliding into her from behind.

  It was the smallest of barriers, but it broke her heart to ask for it. To need it between them, for practical reasons and emotional ones.

  He started fucking her again. From this angle, he went so deep, and her pussy was so sensitive, he wrung a breathy cry from her with each thrust. Her body no longer felt like her own. It was his, and hers, just as his body was now his and hers. She was a mass of pure sensation, and she couldn’t have moved if she wanted to.

  His thrusts took on a shorter, harder rhythm. He slammed into her, the fingers of one hand digging into her hip while the other roughly caressed her ass.

  “God, Gina,” he ground out. “I’m—fuck. You’re—christ, damn it. I’m coming.”

  In the back of her mind, she wanted to know what he was going to say. But her own body was lighting up, the intense drive of his cock pushing her over the edge again. Time enough for talk later.

  “Me, too.” The words burst out of her on a gasp. “Don’t stop!”

  He growled. “Never.” His hips slammed, his cock surged. Her orgasm ripped through her. Her limbs shook. Her pussy spasmed. She pressed her face into the mattress and cried out as it all became too much.

  So much. He was just so much. He would be the end of her.

  He groaned, his body tensing. A second later, he planted a hand on the bed. The tips of his hair brushed her shoulder blades as he crashed onto the bed beside her. When he pulled her against him, she cuddled in closer.

  Snuggling his face into her neck, he whispered, “Don’t shut me out, Gina. We can figure this all out together.”

  She exhaled. Hard as she’d tried to close herself off to him, this night had wrung her out, demolished her defenses, left her heart open. Still, she wanted to believe him, to think they could have some kind of future.

  Twining her fingers with his, she nodded. “Together.”

  But at what cost?

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  When the little plane touched down in the small coastal town on Alaska’s panhandle that served as home base for the Living Wild crew, a lightness Stone hadn’t felt in months infused his soul. Exiting right onto the runway, he stopped and took a big, deep breath, filling his lungs with clean, crisp Alaskan air. It was colder than Los Angeles, but May in Alaska was gorgeous.

  He turned to help Gina down the steps. The rest of the production crew filed out behind her.

  “You all right there?” he asked.

  “I like planes.” She sent Jordy a side-eyed glare. “Not seaplanes.”

  Jordy threw up his hands. “We’re taking the helicopter this time. Relax.”

  A bunch of the Living Wild crew waited to escort them to the Glacier Valley Inn, and then to Nielson HQ, where Gina would finally meet Stone’s family to film clips for the semi-finals episode.

  As much as he loved his family, he didn’t want Gina to meet them. Not there, not on camera, not as these personas they’d crafted for television. He didn’t even know who they really were anymore.

  Miguel, one of the producers from Living Wild, pulled Stone aside. “Do any of them know?”

  Stone shook his head.

  “Good.” Miguel clapped him on the back. “Keep it that way.”

  A sense of unease descended like a cloud. It was a mistake to bring Gina here. It had been a mistake the first time, but he hadn’t any say in it then. This time
, he should have insisted. Maybe a couple of his siblings could have flown to LA for the semi-finals footage instead. Then Living Wild could have done a special episode with it, too. Living Wild in Los Angeles, or something.

  Perhaps his own selfishness had made him think this was a good idea. He’d missed Alaska, and he wanted Gina to see it the way he saw it, without the surprises or gimmicks from her last trip. He’d wanted to show her the place he loved, like when she’d taken him for a tour of Central Park.

  Now that they were here, those desires seemed naïve. Gina was gorgeous and spirited, strong and determined. But she wasn’t made for Alaska. She wanted things he’d never be able to give her, and the kind of life that was impossible here. He could never ask her to move here with him, and all he wanted was to come back home.

  And Gina. Yes, he wanted Gina, too. There was no way he could have both.

  She looked up like she felt her eyes on him, and smiled. So sweet. But not for him.

  What the hell was wrong with him? He should be able to give up on his stupid dream of living here on his own terms. But Alaska was in his blood, had invaded him to the point where he was hooked on it. Even now, after being back for only a matter of minutes, he soaked in the air, the scenery, the sense of calm. He’d known LA had depleted him, he just hadn’t realized how much.

  The Dance Off gave him his own room at the Glacier Valley Inn. It was weird, since a different room already had the rest of his belongings in it, but he couldn’t tell them that. Barry, one of the inn’s owners, caught Stone coming out of his new room and gave a friendly wave. Stone froze, then checked to make sure no one from The Dance Off was around.

  “Hey, Stone,” Barry said, coming over. “Welcome back. Marnie and I have been voting for you. Glad to see you doing so well.”

  “Thanks, Barry. Means a lot.” He shook the other man’s hand.

  At that moment, Gina exited her room down the hall. She stopped when she saw them.

  Barry’s gaze lit up. “Oh, there’s Gina. I hope you two won’t mind posing for a picture later. Marnie’s down at the store, but I know she’ll be real happy to see you both.”

  “It would be our pleasure.” Gina gave Barry a brilliant smile, but when he wasn’t looking, she raised an eyebrow at Stone.