The Romance Dance: Castle Ridge Small Town Romance

by Burton, Allie

  Several other couples swayed to the music as the class practiced what they’d learned last time. Izzy and Edward, who had his hands a little too close to her butt. Danielle and Parker. A few other couples he knew from town.

  He barely noticed them. He only had eyes for the woman he held in his arms. Her goodness came through in the way she spoke. Her caring showed in the way she instructed. Her happiness for life beamed from within.

  He twirled Quinn around in a perfect circle, amazed at his dancing progress and progress in himself. “How are you feeling tonight?”

  “A little sore from laying on the floor.” Her gaze flickered with amusement, and she gave him a saucy smile. “And the piano.”

  He gave a sidelong ogle at the instrument. “I will never think of that piano in the same way again.”

  She laughed, and the sound drew him further in. It was one of the things he found so attractive. She found joy in many things. “In a good way, I hope. No more kicking.”

  “In a hot way.” He twirled her again. “Who knew pianos could be so sexy?”

  “Who knew piano players could be so sexy?”

  Their laughter mingled like their bodies, heating each other, drawing each other closer. After last night, they’d jumped another octave into total harmony.

  “Wow, Reed. You look amazing on your feet.” Danielle sidled next to them, with an uptight Parker in her arms. Her expression appeared content, not radiant. Parker wasn’t the spark in her life. Or that special someone.

  He glanced at Quinn, whose face glowed, as if her spark had been lit. By him. “All thanks to her.”

  Did he glow with everything he was experiencing? Could people tell something significant had happened between them? He didn’t know what to call whatever this was. He didn’t want to categorize, for fear of putting too much into what happened.

  He spoke louder. “Thanks to Quinn’s amazing dance instruction.”

  She blushed and missed a step. “Let’s take a break, class.”

  Reluctantly, he let go of her hand, and let his other hand slide from her waist. He’d worked on his house today, missing her the entire time. The urge to speed up the remodel had overtaken him, because he wanted to show his home to her in the best possible light. A tremble ran through his body. He wanted the home to be perfect, unlike his body. In a way, compensation.

  Sauntering to the area by the counter, Quinn sipped from her water bottle. He remembered those lips on him and his body rocked harder.

  “How’s it going?” The nudge-nudge in his sister’s tone told him Izzy had her suspicions. She handed him a paper cup filled with water.

  “Gooood.” Did he sound too happy? “How about you?”

  “Fine. Waiting on Parker to officially inform me I’ll be the next head chef at The Heights.” She took a sip and gazed at him over the rim. “Have you heard from Dax?”

  Reed swallowed down the water. “No.” The rocking of lust halted and morphed into a quake of guilt. He’d slept with the Quinn before telling Dax of his feelings. As soon as he got home, Reed would tell him about the relationship. Let his brother know Quinn belonged to him.

  She moved toward him with a smile, and his skin tingled, anticipating her reaching him and coming into his arms. “Quinn said Dax’s trip was delayed because of the storm.”

  “Quinnnnnn.” Izzy eyes glinted. “What’s going on between you two?”

  He shut down his emotions, not ready to tell anyone about what had happened. “Nothing.”

  Quinn’s lips flatlined. Had she heard?

  “Hey.” He jumped over to her, all energy and nerves. His fiancée would’ve thrown a tantrum if he’d denied they had a relationship. That’s how he’d discovered she thought they were engaged. He grabbed Quinn’s hand, trying to communicate with the connection. “What’s next?”

  “I was going to ask you the same question.” Her eyebrows wiggled, and she flashed a teasing grin. She’d heard and wasn’t mad.

  He blew out a relieved breath.

  “My brother is dancing marvelously.” Izzy hip-checked him. “What did you do?”

  “Private lessons.” Quinn’s teasing tone combined with a deep husk, shooting straight to his groin.

  Just a laugh, a tease, or a purr from her, and he was a goner. But a happy one.

  She clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention. “Get back with your partners, everyone. We’re going to start the second dance. It will be a tango.”

  He whisked her into his arms and dipped her down with a flourish. He whispered, “I’d love another private lesson tonight.” His boldness surprised him. He hadn’t acted with this much bravado since high school, since before his career took off.

  Quinn’s chuckle hit him in the groin again. He didn’t know if he could make it until later tonight. He might embarrass himself right here. He was behaving like he used to. Having fun, being social, letting the music flow in his head. Quinn brought this back into his life. Maybe he could have this, and her, in his life forever.

  The stereo system died, the music sputtering to a halt.

  “Sorry everyone.” Quinn slipped from his arms. She clicked on the remote, trying to restart the music. “There are a few kinks in the system.”

  “I’ll take a look.” Taking the remote, he moved to the stereo system housed in a shelving unit on the wall. The manual sat beside the box. He flipped through it, reading the varying reasons for the system to be erratic. Wiggling wires, he found a missed connection and reconnected it.

  The music came back on. People clapped.

  “The stereo system will work for now. I’ll read the manual later tonight to figure out a permanent fix.” He took his position at her side.

  “I thought I was giving you a private lesson later tonight.” Her voice oozed with sex and something more.

  “You sure can, Private Dancer.” He couldn’t wait for class to end.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Candlelight shimmered and scented the bedroom with a floral smell. The bed was fitted with sexy, silk sheets. Sheets Reed couldn’t wait to slide around on. A bottle of wine chilled on the nightstand, two glasses side by side. Classical crossover music played on small speakers. Quinn had set the mood for romance.

  A pang shredded through him that he couldn’t identify. Fear or anticipation? Rolling his shoulders, he knew he anticipated the sex. It was the romance that had him worried.

  Quinn posed at the doorway leading from the bathroom, wearing the same peach camisole and shortie-shorts she’d worn the first night. The night she’d gotten soaked helping him with the leak and his lust had reared its head.

  My, how their relationship had changed.

  From antagonistic to friends. From friends to lovers. From lovers to…

  He froze. His thoughts tornadoed, spinning and spinning until he forced them to stop. He didn’t want to analyze what they had or were to each other. He just wanted to love her body, make her feel good, persuade her to orgasm. Last night, both times had been rushed. Tonight, he’d take his time. Savor and sample.

  Her long hair hung past her shoulders brushing the top of her breasts. The thin spaghetti straps of the camisole could be easily torn off. The skimpy outfit tucked in, emphasizing her slim waist and long, slender legs.

  Taking her all in, his head spun again. “Wow.”

  “You’re overdressed.” She strolled toward him, tempting and desirous.

  After class, he’d hurried back to his apartment across the hall and thrown the stereo system manual on his coffee table, too much in a hurry to read the boring technical information. He’d brushed his teeth and put on more deodorant and aftershave. He’d grabbed one, no three, condoms, having high hopes for the night.

  When he’d bought the extra-large box of condoms at the convenience store, the male clerk had given him a high-five. He was doing what any normal male would do. He was normal.

  His spirits rose even higher and he teased, “Do you want to undress me or shall I?” He flicked the first b
utton on his shirt.

  “Oh, I want to watch.” She perched on the bed. Crossing her dancer’s legs, she smiled a secretive, sexy smile. A smile saying she awaited the pleasure of the evening.

  With nimble fingers, he undid the buttons on his shirt. He might want to make love slow, but he wanted to get naked fast.

  “Slower.” Her order caused his motions to stop. He wasn’t used to talking and teasing and tantalizing while having sex. With Elizabeth it had been a scheduled appointment, and they’d lost any spontaneity and fun. “I want to anticipate the unveiling of such a fine specimen of manhood.”

  His chest rose and his cock twitched, rearing to go. She thought he was a fine specimen? From construction he had nice arms and broad shoulders. And from constant physical therapy his waist was narrow and his thighs muscular. Since the accident, he’d never considered himself good-looking. He was too big and brawny.

  While Quinn was slender and petite. Last night he’d worried about crushing her delicate frame. Until he realized how strong she was. She didn’t possess an ounce of fat. Her flexible legs had twisted into incredible positions he’d only dreamed about. His shaft hardened and grew.

  “Why’d you stop?” Her demanding question brought him out of his fantasy and back to the moment.

  Except every second of tonight was a fantasy.

  He flicked the rest of the buttons and tugged off his shirt, pretending to dry his back, sliding the material back and forth and flexing his muscles. During sex with Elizabeth, he’d gone through the motions, his mind sometimes wandering back to the music.

  Quinn’s pupils dilated, and her eyes softened with desire. Her mouth opened slightly as if already tasting him.

  Feeling silly and turned on, he tossed the shirt in her direction. When she stretched to catch it, her breasts jiggled, and he noted the nipples through the fabric. A thrill spiraled through him. His striptease was working.

  He straightened and shot her what he hoped was a sexy grin. He unsnapped the button on his jeans and teased the zipper down, back up, down again. He held a laugh in until she licked her lips, her gaze glued to his manhood jutting out from his boxers. The laugh escaped in a slow sizzle.

  “Are you always this slow of an undresser?” The teasing question edged with impatience. She wanted him naked.

  His shaft surged. He wanted both of them naked, and him on top of her. Except good things came to those who waited. He wanted to please and pleasure her, first.

  “You told me to go slow. You don’t like?” He twirled around, similar to how she often did in the studio. Bending, he wiggled his jeans over his hips.

  “Oh, I like. I’d just like it a little faster.” The breathless mewl she made had his pulse picking up pace.

  “Fast was last night.” He yanked the jeans and kicked them off from around his feet. His long socks and underwear were the only thing left. The socks, covering his mangled ankle, wouldn’t come off. “Tonight is about slow.”

  She leaned back on the bed with a come-hither expression. Her perky breasts tipped up in the air. She uncrossed her legs, giving him a glimpse of paradise. “How slow can you go?”

  “I can go all night.” The brag was optimistic. The way she devoured him with her eyes, he could go at any moment.

  “Then, let’s get started.” She flopped back onto the bed, her body displayed for him.

  Only him.

  Possessiveness grabbed onto him. He couldn’t let her go. He was in lo—

  Lust.

  He was in lust, dammit. If he fell in love, he might think of devastating loss, and if he thought about losing Quinn, he’d freeze at this important moment. He didn’t want to lose Quinn tonight. He’d think about tomorrow and the future another day.

  Stripping off his boxers, he joined her on the bed. He lay beside her and snuck a hand inside the peach camisole. His hand thumbed her nipple, pleased when it pointed higher. “Where do you want me to start?”

  “There’s good.” She ended on a moan as he fondled her.

  His cock hardened to a rod. “Second position?” He’d learned a few things from her. “Or as we called it as teens, second base.”

  “You should take my camisole off.” Her coy-suggestiveness pleased him.

  “Should I?” He dropped his mouth on her breast through the silky material. His tongue laved first one, and then the other, breast. “Do you still want the camisole off?”

  “Yessss.” She hissed.

  “Too bad.” His shaft throbbed at the sexy sounds she made. “The texture of the material is so soft.” He pinched her nipple and her body jolted. “So sensual.” His hand slid to her waistline and grazed the skin peeking between the top and bottom. “So wet.” His hand went lower, between her legs.

  Her body pushed against his hand. She squirmed. “Please, Reed.”

  His movements paused, dragging out the sexual tension. “Please, Reed, what?”

  “Please, touch me.” Her words nearly undid him.

  Through the silk, he caressed her most sensitive spot. Wetness pooled on the material throwing off the muskiness of sex. The sparks she must be feeling ignited an answering spark inside him.

  He had to taste her.

  Dragging off the silk shorts, he tossed them in the air. They landed around the bottle of wine they’d not had an opportunity to drink. They were both already drunk with their lust.

  Raising her long, flexible, amazing legs, he draped them over his shoulders, positioning his mouth at her entrance. His tongue laved the delicate, swollen nib, and she tasted like sweet marmalade.

  At first touch, her butt raised off the bed. “Oooooh.”

  Her purr curled through him, lighting an urgent fire. He reined himself back, because he’d promised slow. “My turn for commands. Say my name.”

  “Reeeeeed.” She stretched his name out and it ended on a high note.

  The fire flamed, engulfing him in an inferno. “A divisi is when musical parts are split or divided. When you say my name, I will lick.”

  “What?” Her wispy tone suggested she was coming out of a desirous haze.

  “You set the tempo by saying my name.” He tasted her. “Say my name.”

  “Reed.”

  Flaring, he licked and sucked in control of her. Needing her to want him as badly as he wanted her. “Say it.”

  “Reed.”

  The heat ignited to an inferno. He sucked. “Again.”

  “Reed.” She panted. “Reed.” Her voice grew higher. Her body jerked and swayed with the movement of his tongue and mouth.

  His cock urged release with his own wetness, his body responding to her taste and her call. And his possession.

  “Reed, Reed, Reed.”

  Every time she said his name he licked and sucked and fire scorched inside him. He felt her nub swell and fill with need. She pushed her clit against him, wanting more and faster. His tongue was getting a workout.

  “Reed, Reeeeed, Reeeeeed!” She screamed his name. Her body bucked, and spasmed, and rocked. “Oh, Reed.”

  The fire incinerated, and power exploded through him. He’d done that. Made her scream his name. Made her come. Made her feel good.

  Peeking up, he watched her expression. Her skin glowed. Her mouth opened slightly and she panted. The muscles on her face relaxed. Her lips turned up in the most beatific smile.

  The smile was the final ovation.

  * * *

  Quinn’s orgasm continued to rock her body. She lay back on the bed, experiencing the aftereffects. Her body was languid. Her mind mush. But her heart…

  Her heart stepped in an unfamiliar dance.

  His emerald eyes stared from between her legs. She should’ve been embarrassed at the position, instead she felt satisfaction and fulfillment and need.

  Always the need. “Reed.”

  “You want more?” His pleased chuckle made her giddy.

  “You’re awfully pleased with yourself.” She rubbed his thick, dark hair.

  “I’m awfully pleased
with you.” He helped her remove her legs from his shoulders and he crawled up her body and gave her a kiss on the mouth. “You are amazing.”

  Her inner glow brightened. He played her body like she was an instrument attuned to only him. “You make me amazing.”

  And it was true. Similar to an apprentice with a principal dancer, he’d mastered her. Made her experience things she never had before, made her the best she could be. He did the same in everyday life. She was a better teacher and a better businessperson because of him.

  The soft gleam in his eyes showed his pleasure at pleasing her. The mischievous glint told her he wasn’t done with her yet. The glow intensified, restarting her desire. She wasn’t done with him yet, either.

  After putting on a condom, he poised above her, his hands taking the weight of his body. His legs were positioned between hers, and his tip twitched at her entrance. Wetness pooled between her legs and her need spiked.

  His gaze bore into hers. “I want to make you feel amazing again.”

  His tip nudged and a new spasm shocked her body. His manhood slid into her, filling her, making her more complete, more satisfied, more whole.

  He moved in a slow tempo, each thrust had her clenching around him wanting to keep him inside, wanting to please him like he’d pleased her. Tiny spasms quaked, growing stronger and stronger.

  Her fingers traced the muscles on his back. Strong, carved shoulder blades, muscular waist, hardness everywhere. He was so much bigger than her, she should’ve been worried or threatened. Instead, she felt protected and revered.

  He picked up the tempo, his movements faster and his body straining. She loved how she could make him feel this way, which made her feel good. Pleasure reciprocity. He slid back and forth, caressing her already-excited clit. His body tightened and went rigid. He shot to the stars.

  The quakes became a full blown earthquake. Clinging to him, she flew right along with him. To the stars and back. Now and forever.

  Forever.

  The word conga-ed in her chest. She wanted forever with Reed. He centered her and brought her home. He was her home. She loved him.

  Truly loved Reed.