“Okay, Jessica,” Stephanie smiled when I rejoined them. “How about we scale it back a bit and just go over each move one at a time. We can really get into the details. Tonight we can run through the whole thing from top to bottom again.”
I nodded, relieved that I wouldn’t have to do the entire, overwhelming routine again. The way Lucas made me feel as he pressed me to his body -- I didn’t trust myself to get through another dance without throwing my clothes off right then and there.
The morning went quickly. Stephanie drilled us on every turn, dip, and, of course, lift, until we could have done them in our sleep. By the time lunch rolled around Lucas and I were both exhausted, sweat dripping everywhere. I could feel the heat on my cheeks, but it wasn’t just from the workout. Lucas’s sweat made his already tight shirt cling to his muscular chest in all the right places and it was all too easy to look at him and imagine pressing myself against him, our tongues coming together as he lifted me onto his narrow waist.
“Where do you want to go for lunch?” Stephanie asked, breaking me out of my daydream.
Embarrassed, I shook my head to clear it. “How about that salad bar around the corner? I don’t want anything too heavy if we’re going to keep practicing after.”
“Perfect,” said Stephanie, but Lucas made a face.
“You Americans and your salads. What I would do for a real, Argentinian steak. We make amazing meat, you know, Jessica. We’re masters of the grill.”
“It’s true,” Stephanie laughed, putting her arm around her partner. “Last time we were there I ate so much beef I couldn’t touch the stuff for weeks when we got home.”
Lucas shook his head in mock disappointment. “You just need to practice. Beef is a necessity for life -- just like tango.”
“If you say so, honey,” said Stephanie. “For now, let’s get some salad, okay?”
“Only because it’s Jessica’s choice and she’s saving the day for us,” Lucas replied, holding out his free arm to me. Trying not to blush, I grabbed my purse and slid under his arm, so that we were walking three in a row. Stephanie smiled and winked at me from across Lucas’s chest. I smiled back and tried to push all my confused thoughts out of my mind.
Focus, I told myself. There’s only one day to go before the championship. Just stay focused.
The salad bar was a sunny little café that we went to a lot between practices. They let you build your own salad and even had grilled chicken, which pacified Lucas at least a little, though he maintained that chicken was basically a vegetable. I liked it because it didn’t make me feel heavy after eating.
Stephanie and Lucas got to the table before I did. As I crossed from the cash register, tray in hand, I saw them slide into the booth together. Stephanie’s hand disappeared under the table and she leaned forward, kissing Lucas passionately. I could see their tongues come together, their lips fervent and wet against each other’s. Their eyes slid closed and Lucas reached up, taking Stephanie’s face in his strong, square hands, tipping her head back to kiss her neck. Although I’d seen them kiss a thousand times, all of the sudden, jealousy like I’d never felt before was rushing through me. My tray shook in my hands and I quickly set it down on the table. It landed hard and some of my water sloshed out of my glass.
Stephanie and Lucas looked up, moving slightly apart. “I’ll be right back,” I stuttered. “Just… call of nature,” I lied. Turning, I made a beeline for the ladies’ room.
For the second time that day I stood in front of a bathroom mirror and took a good long look at myself. What was wrong with me today? First I basically fucked Lucas on the dance floor in front of his girlfriend and now all of a sudden I was angry because they were making out? They were always making out -- they were madly in love. It had never bothered me before.
I thought back to how I’d felt after that morning’s dance. How it had made me feel so powerful -- like I could have anything or anyone I wanted. I’d always thought that what I wanted was to dance and to be admired for my skill. But now I was realizing that it wasn’t just that I wanted to dance and dance well: I wanted Lucas. And, what’s more, I wanted him to want me in return. I was jealous! I was jealous of Stephanie and of their relationship. That was why I’d been so forward this morning. I really had been attempting to seduce Stephanie’s boyfriend right in front of her. And judging by the scene they’d just put on at the table it clearly hadn’t worked.
But why would it? Why would Lucas endanger a perfect relationship with someone as talented, friendly, and beautiful as Stephanie for a girl he just met? Anyone who saw them could tell that they were head over heels for each other. Not to mention, Stephanie had never been anything but encouraging to me. She had taught me so much and been so generous with her time and talent -- even before they’d asked me to take her place in the competition. What kind of person would I be if I turned around and thanked her by trying to steal her boyfriend right from under her nose? Not one I’d be very proud of.
Dabbing my face with a damp paper towel, I knew what I had to do. I had to stop teasing Lucas with my dance moves and behave. He was with Stephanie and would never be with me. I was already getting my dream: I would be performing at the world championships, and everyone would see what a brilliant tango dancer I was. I didn’t need to have Lucas too, did I? No, I didn’t.
Decision made, I head back out to the table where Lucas and Stephanie had begun eating.
“You feeling okay, Jessica?” Stephanie asked, concern in her eyes.
“Yeah,” I answered, poking my salad with my fork. “Just nerves, I think.”
Stephanie reached across the table, covering my hand with her own. “Don’t worry, honey,” she said. “You two are going to knock them dead. I’m so impressed by how far you’ve come so quickly. And after this morning’s practice, there’s no way we can lose. Right, Lucas?” She smiled at her boyfriend.
Lucas put his hand on top of Stephanie’s, his thumb brushing my wrist. “I absolutely agree,” he said. “Don’t scare yourself, Jessica. We’ll be unstoppable.”
“Thanks, guys,” I said, giving them a weak smile. If only nerves were all it was.
When we got back to the studio, Stephanie wanted to run through the entire routine again. It was my nightmare. I knew I had to make it passionate, but I knew that if I let myself get carried away again it would be unfair to both Lucas and Stephanie. I could feel sweat break out on my forehead.
“Just like this morning, okay?” Stephanie grinned, settling herself in her chair. “I want to get burned by the sparks flying between you two from all the way over here.”
“Sure thing, boss,” Lucas joked. He turned, holding out his hands to me. I swallowed. Here went nothing.
Lucas drew me back against him, his fingers once more brushing my most sensitive skin and that bulge in his pants straining against my ass. All I wanted was to press myself against him, my body undulating against his. But then I caught sight of Stephanie, watching us eagerly, her face aglow with anticipation, and I froze. I felt my body stiffen and I remembered what was really going on. This was just a dance. This was not a foreplay.
The music began and we started dancing. I executed my moves perfectly but I couldn’t relax. Every moment of the dance all I wanted to do was throw myself at Lucas and take him there on the dance floor. Since actually doing that was obviously out of the questions, I felt like I had to control every movement to keep my body from misbehaving. The passion and sensuality of this morning’s dance were gone. Instead of feeling bold and empowered, I was a stiff, jerky mess, constantly second-guessing myself: had I been to forward? Had I pressed my breasts against his chest too hard? Had my body done something to betray my feelings?
At the end of the dance, as he lowered himself down on top of me, instead of reaching up and kissing him as I had that morning, I turned away, looking toward the far wall. I couldn’t bear to look at him when he was so close to me.
When the song finally ended, Lucas offered me his hand to help me sta
nd. Instead, I got to my feet myself. We looked over at Stephanie. She was frowning.
“Why don’t we try it again?” she said. “Don’t forget to let your emotions carry you, Jessica. This is all about the passion that the dance brings out in you both. About the undeniable passion, the two of you feel for each other. Remember how you did it this morning? That was perfect. Let’s try for that. Don’t be shy! You were amazing earlier today.”
I winced and tried to smile. This morning -- if only she knew. She would be throwing me out of the studio, not encouraging a repeat performance.
“Okay,” I said. “I’ll do my best.”
But no matter how many times we did the routine that evening, I couldn’t bring myself to let loose. I knew it was affecting my dance, but I couldn’t help myself. I felt like I was teetering on the brink of a chasm and keeping control of my body was the only thing stopping me from toppling over the edge.
When practice finally ended for the day, I could see that Lucas and Stephanie were confused by my sudden change, but I just couldn’t bring myself to explain. The competition was tomorrow. I just needed to grit my teeth and bear it. Then all this would be over and I could go back to dancing at home in my underwear.
“Make sure you get some sleep, okay?” Stephanie said as we locked up. “You need to be at your most relaxed tomorrow.” She put her hand on my shoulder comfortingly. “Try not to think about the competition. It’ll only stress you out. You can’t get your nerves get to you -- you’re an amazing dancer, Jessica. You and Lucas will blow the judges away, I just know it.”
“Thanks, Stephanie,” I said, cringing inwardly. If only she knew the truth! Stephanie had always been so supportive and helpful that now her worry just made me feel even worse. “I’m going to go home and do exactly that. I’ll see you guys in the morning.”
“Okay,” Stephanie drew me in for a quick hug. “And thanks so much for doing this, Jessica. You’re a life saver.”
Feeling even guiltier than before, I headed home.
Chapter 6
A few hours after I’d gotten back, I was sitting on my couch with a glass of wine, trying to push today out of my mind and focus on tomorrow, but it was hopeless. I kept imagining Lucas’s hands brushing across my mound or his tongue wrapped around mine as he hovered above me in our final move. I groaned, feeling my pussy grow warm at the very thought. Maybe it would be better if I just quit right now and saved us all from the situation. I looked up at the ceiling, hoping for a distraction or a solution. No solution presented itself, but thankfully a distraction did. Someone was knocking at my door.
Putting down my wine, I went to open the door, only to find Stephanie and Lucas outside.
“Guys!” I said, taken completely by surprise. They’d never visited my house before. “Is something wrong? What’s the matter?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” Stephanie replied.
“At least we hope nothing’s wrong,” Lucas added. “Can we come in?”
“Of course!” I stuttered. “Of course!” I backed up to let them pass. “Sorry, it’s a bit of a disaster. I haven’t really had time to clean much these past few weeks.”
Stephanie laughed. “Considering the hours we make you put into practicing, we can hardly blame you for a few dirty dishes!”
“Do you guys, uh, want a glass of wine?” I offered. “I just opened a new bottle. I find a glass at night helps me sleep when I’m stressed.”
Stephanie nodded. “I’d love one, thanks, Jessica.”
Lucas smiled, “Is it Argentinian? You know, we make the --”
“Best wines in the world,” Stephanie finished for him, rolling her eyes with a smile. “The best beef, the best wine, the best dancers…”
“Not to mention the best lovers,” Lucas said with a teasing smile, running his hand through Stephanie’s hair. I swallowed and looked away, hunting for two more glasses as they smiled dreamily at each other.
“Thanks,” said Stephanie as I passed her a glass. “Cheers!”
She tipped her glass against mine and Lucas’s. Once we’d all had a sip, she set her glass on the table and looked at me intently. Oh no, I thought. She knows.
“Honey,” she said, “we’re worried about you. This morning you danced so beautifully I almost wanted to cry. But this evening you looked like a robot. A very talented robot, obviously, but still a robot. Did something happen? Is it just nerves? Talk to us, Jessica. We want to help.”
“I…” I froze, not knowing what to say. Should I lie? Should I admit the (horribly embarrassing) truth? “I…”
“Whatever it is,” Lucas said kindly, “don’t be ashamed. We’ll understand. Dancers have all kinds of problems. I’m sure it’s nothing we haven’t seen before. Whatever it is, we can get through this together.”
“You’re such an amazing dancer, Jessica,” Stephanie continued. “We all know it. And yes, this competition is important to Lucas and me, but even more than that I would hate for you to go out there and not show the world how incredibly you can dance. You deserve recognition for your abilities.”
Stephanie’s concern made me feel even more awful. I couldn’t do this. “I’m so sorry, guys. I just can’t go through with the competition. I know it’s last minute notice, but I just can’t do. I... I have to quit.” Just saying the words broke my heart.
Stephanie and Lucas were stunned. They stared at me in silence until finally, Lucas said, “What? You have got to be kidding, Jessica.”
“I’m not,” I insisted. “I’m so, so, so sorry. But I just can’t do it.”
Stephanie shook her head. “No, Jessica, don’t be ridiculous. You have to go through with the competition. After all the effort and time you’ve put in… please, Jessica. Please reconsider.”
And then, suddenly, I felt tears well up in my eyes. Of course, I wanted to go through with the competition. It would be the most amazing thing that ever happened to me. And I felt so guilty for letting them down, but I didn’t want to come between them and I knew I wouldn’t be able to control myself if I had to dance with Lucas again.
“I’m so sorry,” I said again, sniffing and wiping my eyes.
“Oh, honey,” said Stephanie, coming over to put her arm around me. “Just tell us what’s actually going on. Don’t be afraid. You can tell us anything.”
I looked up at her. Her beautiful face was creased with concern as she gently wiped tears from my cheeks with her thumb. “I… you’ll hate me,” I mumbled at last.
Stephanie and Lucas laughed. “I don’t think we could ever hate someone who has worked so hard to help us,” Lucas replied, coming over to put his arm around me as well.
I looked down at my feet. “I… I’m… I realized today that I… have feelings for Lucas.” The last few words all come out in a rush. I froze, my eyes wide. There it was, out in the open. Quickly, awkwardly, I began to explain. “I realized that I had feelings for Lucas but you two are so perfect for each other and I didn’t want to get in the way or make things difficult, so I thought it would be better if I just left.” I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks. “I felt like I was betraying our partnership.”
“That was why your dancing got so weird tonight,” Stephanie said. “You were trying to bottle up all your emotions.”
I nodded miserably. “Yes,” I said. “Because... that morning we got so carried away and I… it made me feel things that I don’t have the right to feel. I didn’t know what to do!”
Lucas and Stephanie looked at each other above my head.
“And that was why you wanted to quit the competition? Because you didn’t want to get in the way of our relationship?” Lucas asked.
I nodded again.
“Oh, Jessica,” Stephanie said. “You should have told us. There was nothing to worry about. You know, we think you’re a very sexy woman.”
“I -- what?” I looked up, confused.
“It’s true,” said Lucas. “We’ve always thought that the way you dance is thrilling to watch. The way
your body moves is incredibly seductive. We both think so.”
Stephanie brushed my hair back from my face. “What would you say if we all danced together?” she asked.
“The three of us together?” I asked, my breath catching in my throat.
“Yeah,” said Stephanie, smiling. “All three of us.”
“Okay,” I whispered.
Lucas put his hands on my hips, bringing me flush against his body. The bulge in his pants was harder this time and his growing erection throbbed against my ass. I swallowed.
Stephanie smiled, watching us. “Don’t be afraid, Jessica,” she said. “We’re all in this together.” And she came up to stand in front of me, putting her hands on my hips, one leg sliding between mine and grazing my clit. Looking deep into my eyes, she ran her hands up my body, bringing my arms up over my head. Her fingers on my bare arms made my skin tingle. My breath caught in my throat.
Big Bad Billionaires [Volume 1] Page 81