Beauty from Ashes: Authors & Dancers Against Cancer Anthology

by Vera Quinn

  She lets out a breath, admitting, “I wouldn’t mind that.”

  Once she gives me the go-ahead, our mouths smash together. Running my tongue along her lips, she opens, letting me in, our tongues tangoing together. I wish she were closer to me. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I pull her tighter against my chest. She slides her arms around my neck as my hands roam down her body to the back of her thighs. Lifting her high, she wraps her legs around my waist, and her hold on my neck becomes tighter. Twisting our bodies around slightly, I lean her against the car. Our mouths continue to dance together. The longer the kiss goes on, the more my heart pounds, and my dick hardens. We need to stop, but her body against mine and the way she kisses me, damn, it feels so fucking good. Suddenly, she pulls away.

  “Shit!” I whisper.

  “Mmhmm.” Her head falls backward, thumping on the car as her chest heaves.

  I chuckle. “Are you okay?”

  “Never better.” She opens her eyes, scanning my face. “I’ve waited for you to do that for a long time, and damn, you didn’t disappoint.” We both release a small laugh. Quickly, her smile disappears from her gorgeous face, and she grumbles, “I think I should probably get going.”

  I question her because I don’t want her to leave. “Why? Where do you have to be? I mean, you could come inside and stay with me.”

  Gabby sucks in her bottom lip, and it makes a popping sound when she releases it. “If I go in there with you, things will happen.” She untangles her legs from around my waist, gently sliding down my body until her feet are on the ground.

  I tug on the loop of her jeans, keeping her close to me. “Maybe things should happen,” I assert, cocking an eyebrow. There’s no doubt in my mind that I want her in my bed. I’ve always wanted her with me.

  “You should go take a shower, mister.” She is already pushing me away from her. Reluctantly, I back off, giving her space, and she touches my face with her palm, patting my cheek. “Another time, Damien.” She reaches for the door handle of the car, and I stand there, holding it open for her. Before she climbs in, Gabby asks, “When are you going back to the studio?”

  Rubbing the back of my neck to relieve the tension, I groan, “I don’t know. Maybe next week.”

  She nods and gets in the car, then I shut the door, tapping the roof with my hand. Gabby starts the ignition before driving away, leaving me with a hard-on and questions running through my head. After waving goodbye, I spin on my heels and go inside to finish what I have been doing the past three months in my house—cleaning out Pops’ belongings.

  How did Pops have so much stuff? Every time I open a door or turn a corner, the man has more boxes and bags to sort through. I don’t know if his passing has really hit me yet. Robotic, that’s what I’ve become. What needed to be done, how it needed to be done…those were the things sifting through my head since he died. Then today, reading that letter, it made a bunch of different emotions bubble up inside me. I wanted to be sad, to be angry, but through it all, Gabby was here, calming me. She never faltered in the care department. With a deep sigh, I place the last item for the day in the donation box and shut the lid.

  “Shit. I’m going to take a shower and get some sleep,” I grouse aloud. All alone in an empty house, I continue to hold onto my pain.

  The shower helps me to relax a bit, but as I’m climbing into bed, there’s a knock on the front door. I peek out the window beside the door to see who would be dropping by at this hour. Hopefully, it’s not one of the elderly ladies who have been so nice to me since Pops passed. They all loved him.

  To my surprise, Gabby is standing on the porch. I didn’t expect her to come back any time soon. Quickly, I open the door, my heart racing.

  “Oh my,” she whispers. I tilt my head to the side in confusion, trying to understand her response, only to realize I answered the door half-naked. “You’re hot.” She slaps her hand over her mouth in embarrassment, her cheeks turning a bright rosy color. She mumbles, her words muffled, “I’m sorry. That was not supposed to be out loud.”

  “No worries.” I grin, guiding her inside and closing the door behind her. “So…what brings you back by tonight?”

  Gabby slowly shuffles toward me. I stand still, my gaze traveling up and down her body with each step she takes. “You,” she simply states. When she’s right in front of me, she places her hands on my bare chest. “I thought about it.”

  I clear my throat, enjoying her touch on me, and her eyes meet mine. “Thought about what?” My voice comes out a little tight.

  “I want things to happen with you. I want you.”

  Without another thought, I grab the nape of her neck, slamming our mouths together. Our tongues fight for control as we kiss each other, and I begin to move her backward. We hit a wall of boxes, which makes us stumble, but luckily the boxes stay put. Breaking from the kiss, I gasp for air and declare, “I want you, too…” I smirk, “if you couldn’t tell.” Pressing my erection against her stomach, I grunt. I lift her in my arms to carry her through the living room, ensuring we won’t hit anything else on our way to my room.

  Gabby kisses my neck as I stumble down the hallway, her mouth gliding toward my ear. Her breath both tickles and stokes the fire as she whispers, “I’m yours, Damien.” Nothing else needs to be said.

  I pick up the pace to my bedroom so I can have the one woman that I’ve always desired in my life, in my bed, and in my whole world.

  Setting her back on her feet, she adds, “I always have been.”

  “Are you ready for this? There’s no turning back once we cross this line,” I explain while running my fingers under the seam of her shirt.

  She doesn’t answer in words. Instead, she lifts her arms above her head, and I slowly lift her top over her head, dropping it to the floor. My hands rove up her back, making her shiver, and I can see the goosebumps forming on her skin. With a quick flick of my wrist, her bra is undone. She steps back slowly, pulling the straps down her shoulders, letting her bra fall to the floor, putting her perky breasts on full display. Swallowing hard, I hook my fingers into the waist of her yoga pants, sliding them down her luscious legs. Running my hands back up her curves, I tuck my fingers under her panties, slowly guiding them down to join the rest of her clothing on the floor.

  “Fucking beautiful,” I murmur as I take in every inch of her. Glancing back up, I’m met with a gaze so full of passion, she makes my dick harder, especially when she sucks in her bottom lip. Standing to my full height, I make sure to caress her skin all the way up. I lift my hands to her face and brush my thumbs over her cheeks. My lips press against hers as I move us closer to the bed and fall onto it.

  Breaking the kiss, I push away to scramble off the bed and remove my boxers. As I gaze upon the beauty in front of me, my thoughts change directions. Shit! Condom!

  She must have noticed the sudden shift in me because her sweet voice fills the room. “What’s wrong?”

  “Condom, I don’t have a condom.” I run my hands through my hair.

  “It’s okay. I’m on the pill, and I’m clean.”

  Thank fuck.

  “I’m clean, too.” I exhale in relief, joining her again on the bed.

  Placing myself between her curvy thighs, I practically moan as she spreads them wider for me. With one forearm situated next to her head, I lean in so our mouths can meet once again. My other hand roams her body, finding one of her breasts and massaging it before tweaking the hardened nipple. I do the same with the other before moving my hand further down her body to find her sweet spot. My fingers rub circles around her clit as her light moans fill my mouth. My lips find their way to her neck, and I move lower down her body to run my tongue along her skin to between her breasts before laving each globe.

  I run my finger up and down her wet slit, sliding my fingers inside her entrance and back to her swollen nub. Her whimpers become more frequent. Without a second thought, I line up my dick with her opening, and she takes me inch by inch, making her gasp as I p
enetrate her.

  “Damn,” I grunt. She feels better than I thought she would wrapped around me. “I need to move, baby.”

  “Please,” she pleads.

  Our rhythm is spot on, meeting each other stroke for stroke. The sound of our heavy breathing, our groans, and our squeals of pleasure echo throughout the room, urging us on more. Her body begins to tighten, and I know she is close.

  “Damien, you feel so good.”

  “So, do you, baby.” I pick up my pace, thrusting in and out. The tingling begins at the base of my spine, and I begin to shake. “Gabby, open your eyes.” She does, and that’s all I need. With a few more strokes, we are both calling out and following each other into orgasmic bliss.

  Propping myself up over her, I press small kisses to her neck, finding my way to her mouth. When my lips hover over hers, I whisper, “That was worth the wait.”

  Chapter Four

  Damien

  It’s been one week since Gabby and I finally came together after all those years of only being friends.

  I’m back at the studio and going through some choreography. Since Pops crossed over the rainbow, Gabby has been my lifeline. She inspires me to be a better man has helped me to heal. Pops was right about Gabby all along; she’s my everything.

  The music I have chosen begins to play, and I count off in my head. Five…six…seven…eight… I raise my hands in the air, bringing them down, step out to the side, go into a step ball change, and then a single turn. Another step ball change and a double turn, step ball change, chaîné. I’m off count a bit and grumble, “Fuck it.” I have to start from the top again. Waltzing over to the player, I restart the music.

  Standing in front of the mirror, I wait for the musical cue to count. My eyes are focused on the wooden dance floor when I begin.

  However, during my routine, I’m distracted by a gorgeous lady who decides to interrupt me. Unfortunately, I forget to spot and stumble toward her.

  “Hey there, mister,” Gabby snickers while holding her hands up to stop me from running her over. “You might want to…um…do some spot work.”

  “Maybe I shouldn’t get distracted,” I snap.

  “Yeah, sorry about that,” she apologizes, her voice quiet.

  I realize I may have been a bit harsh, but I can’t get past the chaîné. Grabbing my towel from the shelf, I wipe the sweat from my face and chest before turning around. I notice Gabby’s head is dropped and hanging low. Shit, that’s what I feel like now. “Gabby,” I call her name. She peers up from the floor, and I hold my arms open for her to come to me. “Baby, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have blamed you. I can’t seem to get passed that one part.” She steps into my arms, and I squeeze her tight.

  “It’s okay. I know you didn’t mean it.” She rubs her hands up and down my back. Her touch feels amazing, but all too soon, she is backing away from our embrace and glancing up at me. “Just checking to see how you were doing.”

  “I’m good, baby. I’m good. A little more practice and I’ll get it.”

  She shakes her no. “I meant here. How are you doing here?” She places her hand over my heart.

  Oh, I see what’s she doing—checking on my bottled-up emotions.

  I sigh. “Well…I’m better. One day at a time, right?”

  “Yep. One day at a time.” Gabby pops her p when she responds. “Okay, now that I’ve checked on you, I should go.” What the hell?

  “Why so quick?”

  “You practice. Get all that emotion out. Don’t worry, I’ll see you later.” She winks, turns on her heel, and out the door she goes.

  Okay. Back to this dance. Let the therapy session begin.

  Music. Check. Starting position, let’s go.

  Five…six…seven…eight…

  Chaîné. Fabulous! I’m finally hitting the end of that part. Now, I’m going to add more and run through the routine again.

  Sweat is pouring down my body. I’m hot, I’m thirsty, and before I can stop them, I feel my emotions stirring inside me. There’s no way to hold everything in anymore, and I start screaming. “Why?” Taking a breath, I shout again, “Why did you leave me?” I drop to my knees and let the tears fall, banging my hand against the floor. “I need you here!” My voice is shaking, my breathing labored. “I need you here.” Trying to control myself, I fall to my ass with my head in my hands and inhale deeply, my body shuddering. I miss Pops so fucking much.

  “Damien?” I hear Gabby’s soft voice from across the room, and my head snaps up. I don’t even bother to wipe the tears from my face as she rushes to me and climbs onto my lap. “Let it out. Let it all out,” she encourages me.

  I wrap my arms around her as my body trembles from the overwhelming emotions I have been bottling up inside me.

  Gabby rubs her hands up and down my back to soothe me. “It’s okay, mister.”

  I hadn’t realized until this moment how much I was holding back. After calming down, I lift my head and find two sparkling spheres looking at me. “I love you, Gabby.” She’s mine. Every step of the way, she has been here, and I know without a shadow of a doubt, she is mine and will be by my side forever.

  Her eyes glisten with tears, but the drops do not fall. “I love you, too.” She wipes away the wetness from my face and kisses me. Pressing her forehead against mine, she says, “Dance therapy must have worked, huh?”

  I chuckle. “Seems it did.” This is twice that she’s left and returned. Why? “Do you always leave and come back?”

  “I do when I need to think about things. However, this time, it was late, and you never showed up at the house,” she states.

  Looking toward the windows, I notice it’s dark outside. “Damn. How long have I been here?” I glance at the clock on the wall, only to discover I have been here for over six hours. No wonder she came back. “Hop up.” I tap Gabby on her side, and she crawls out of my lap and gets to her feet.

  “I think we need to go home.” She holds out her hand to help me from the floor.

  I jog over to the player to turn off the music and grab my things from the shelf. Finding her, I smile. “Let’s go home.” I swing my arm around her shoulders to leave together, but after she exits the room, I tell her, “Give me a sec.”

  She continues toward the front door as I turn around. Taking a long look around the room, I sigh. “I’ve found my happy place again,” I whisper and flip the light switch.

  Gabby

  When I left him at the studio today, I realized that Damien needed time to work through his feelings. In fact, he has needed the release for a while now. I have been hoping that once he returned to dancing—real dancing and not just going through the motions—, the emotions would bubble over, and they did. I wasn’t upset about his reaction to me earlier, but it made me sad. The loss of Pops has really taken a toll on him, and it hurts to see Damien in so much pain. Even though they say time will help you heal, it’s not that simple. When I look at Damien, I see a great man. A man who put everything aside for his father. If there was an ounce of doubt inside of me about him, I would have walked away after the funeral. However, we reconnected, and I have watched him heal a little more each day. I think he probably feels like an orphan now. His mom wasn’t around when he was growing up, and his pops is now gone. Pops gave cancer one hell of a fight, though. That man was everything to Damien, but I couldn’t let Damien be destroyed by the loss.

  Damien’s mine and I’m his, that’s the only thing to say about it.

  “You ready?” Damien approaches after shutting down the studio.

  “Yes.” I wrap my arm around his waist as we exit the building to go home. “I made dinner, by the way.”

  “Fantastic. Do I get to have dessert too?” He winks.

  “If you’re lucky.”

  “Must be my kind of day. I’m feeling,” he inhales and exhales, “relaxed and lucky.” He must have let a lot go during his time here today.

  When we pull into the driveway, I watch Damien walk over to me after he grab
s his bag out of his car. We interlace our fingers, heading inside where Damien drops his bag at the door. I toss my thumb over my shoulder, pointing to the kitchen. “Dinner should still be warm.”

  “Smells good,” he says, but before I can respond, he yanks my arm, causing me to smack into his hard chest.

  “It can be warmed back up later.” He guides me to his bedroom, informing me, “I’m hungry for something else.” Oh my, yes!

  Chapter Five

  Damien

  Gabby is lying in my arms, and I can’t get enough of this lady. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have had my breakthrough. She knew what I was searching for all along—relief from some of the pain. I’m not healed by any means, but I feel a lot better.

  The song, Even Though I’m Leaving by Luke Combs, keeps running through my head. As I take it in, I can see the choreography coming together. I’m gliding across the floor with ease. I have no cares in the world except the movement and music. Everything has faded into the background. When I get to the ending, I stop. It’s not right. The steps are wrong, and the prop in the vision shouldn’t be there. I hardly ever use props. They can be dangerous to a routine, especially if you’re having an off day. I’ll figure it out as I go, I guess. My thoughts wander back to the beginning of the routine, and it happens again. Suddenly, I feel a light touch on my abdomen and glance down to find Gabby running her fingers across it.

  “Good morning, sunshine.” I kiss her forehead. “Want some breakfast?”

  “I do.” Yawning, she raises up on her elbow. Gabby then scrambles upright and straddles my lap while I remain on my back. She waggles her eyebrows, grinning mischievously as she shifts to pull the covers down, and her fingers wrap around my thickness.