by Karen Deen
“Well, hello there, Samuel! Now just remember a lady never runs, so Sophia probably let you win.” Sophia’s cute little grin comes through the door and she skips over to me.
“Hello, Miss Zara. Are you stretching for our class? Can I stretch with you, please?”
“Of course, you can. I’m just waiting for all the class to arrive. You can never stretch enough to get your body warmed up. Where is Daddy? Is he still walking up the stairs?” I hear footsteps.
“No, he’s at the hospital with Mommy and baby Thomas.”
“Well, who’s with you then?” I ask as I look towards the door. My body, mind and heart freeze.
Grant.
Holy shit, that man looks good in a suit but the vision in front of me… wow… just wow.
Jeans and a tight black shirt hug his entire body. Ripped muscles tantalize and I realize, being that hot should be a crime. I feel aroused already. He’s been here all of five seconds and I’m already turned on. My nipples harden and become visible through my leotard. Our eyes meet. He has that cocky grin on his face. He knows what he’s doing to me and he likes it, he likes it a lot. I hear the kids talking to me, but I can’t make out what they’re saying. My whole world is stuck on the man standing in front of me.
“Hello again, Zara. Nice to see you.” His deep voice rumbles over me as he strides confidently across the room. I feel my body heat rising the closer he gets. Snap out of it, Zara, get your voice to function. It feels like a major achievement to even answer him. Why does he have this instant effect on me every time?
“Grant, I wasn’t expecting you today. Shouldn’t you be at work?” Far out, Zara, you didn’t even bother to say hello. Good one, idiot.
Grant smiles knowing he’s flustered me. “Well, it’s a lucky surprise then, isn’t it? I left work early, so I could spend the afternoon with the twins and help out Zach.” He leans closer and whispers in my ear. “It’s also so I have an excuse to see you again.”
My heart beats fast, the hairs on my neck standing on end as his breath tickles my ear. For the love of God, I’m going to need to change my pants before the class starts.
“What’s wrong, Zara? Aren’t you happy to see me?” He smiles that cheeky grin at me.
“Um…no…I mean, yes. Yes, it’s nice to see you.” He knows exactly what he’s doing to me.
You can always count on kids to break the moment. “Miss Zara, Uncle Grant is taking us to dinner before we go and visit Thomas at the hospital. Can you come with us to see Thomas? He is so cute, isn’t he, Uncle Grant?” Sammy pipes up with excitement. I don’t know where to look or what to say. I look down to their pleading eyes. I can’t look at Grant, I’m too embarrassed. I hear Grant laughing, chuckling at Sammy for being so bold.
“That sounds like a great idea, little man. What do you think of that idea, Princess?”
“I don’t know what to say, Grant. You don’t need to worry about me, Sammy’s just excited, that’s all. I know you don’t want me to be there, so it’s fine, you just go with the kids. I have to rehearse my dance anyway.” I have become totally flustered.
I feel his fingers under my chin, gently lifting my head until our eyes meet. The whole world slips away and there’s just him standing before me.
“I was actually talking to Sophia.”
Shit!
I nearly die on the spot.
Of course, he was, how could I be so stupid? Grant leans forward and whispers in my ear.
“Zara, you are too fucking sexy to be called my princess. I think you would be more my sexy…dirty…naughty…teacher.” His breath tickles me all over.
Grant backs away, leaving me swooning, and my body on fire. Holy shit. No one had ever said anything like that to me before. It’s so hot and sexy. He’s lucky the kids are in the room, otherwise I would throw myself at him in an instant.
Shit, the kids!
This breaks me from my dirty thoughts of Grant.
“Sorry,” I stumble. “Of course, you were.” Come on, Zara, you need to get some control back. This is not like you to be rocked so far off balance. Find your inner bitch.
“Sophia is certainly your princess. Pity you’ll never know if I am as described. That secret remains with me and in my bedroom.”
To put some distance between us, I walk to the other side of the studio. I hear him exhale in frustration, or desire?
Payback, Grant. I hope you’re straining in your jeans.
“Please, Miss Zara. Can you come to dinner and see baby Thomas? I want to show you my new brother. Mommy and Daddy will be excited to see you, too. You came to the hospital last time but didn’t see them. Please come with us. Uncle Grant is lots of fun, I promise. He won’t growl at you this time, will you, Uncle Grant? I promise he will be nice. Please?” I turn to see Sophia who’s looking at me with pleading little eyes. I am finding it hard to say no to her.
“Zara, I would love to take you to dinner with the kids and then visit the family. Although my self-appointed wingman, Sammy, beat me to it, I actually came here to ask you’d like to join us. As Sophia said, I will be on my best behavior, I promise. What do you say?”
This time, as I look at him, I see someone different to the confident cocky man who just talked dirty to me. In this very moment, there’s something about him. Something I find intriguing. It’s like he’s actually trying to get me to see past the Grant I’ve seen on the few occasions we’ve met.
The twins jump up and down, begging me in a pleading chorus.
“How can you say no to that?” Grant smiles at me and points to the twins who are smiling so hard, I think their faces might crack. It’s the first relaxed smile I think I’ve seen from him. He always has a seriousness about him, even when he’s smiling. Today’s smile even comes with a small dimple on the right-hand side of his mouth. As much as I like the smart controlling man I’ve seen so far, this sensitive side is also rather appealing.
“Come on, Zara. You won’t regret it.”
Voices filtering up the stairs interrupt my thoughts. More parents are arriving with their eager little ones. I need to make a decision. My mind races. My head’s telling me it’s a bad idea and I should say no, but my heart says otherwise.
Shit.
“This is purely a couple of friends grabbing dinner, okay?” I pin him with my stare. “I am only coming because I want to see Emily, Zach and Thomas, as well as to keep the kids happy. Do I make myself clear?” By now I have my hands on my hips, and Grant quickly returns to the cocky man I’d first met.
“Okay, you keep telling yourself that, Zara, and you might start believing it.”
By now, the students are starting to get in position on the studio floor.
“Meet me back here after Sophia’s class, then I can get changed before we go.” As I walk past Grant towards my students, I whisper to him. “And let’s see if you can get through a dinner without your arrogant attitude pissing me off to the point we’re snapping at each other.”
“Oh, I will piss you off, Zara, and you will love it, that I can guarantee. You also might want to pack a spare pair of underwear, too. The ones you have now, I bet will be a little wet by the time I’m finished with you. That I can also guarantee. See you after class, my naughty, dirty teacher.” He grins and keeps walking, calling to Sammy as he heads for the door.
My feet are frozen, eyes popping out of my head, cheeks flushed, and yes, my pants are saturated. Arrogant man! I hate that he’s so right. Why does he have this power over me? I’m always in control of myself, my mind and my body. But its reaction is too strong. I feel a throbbing between my legs, my sweet spot getting nice and ready.
Ready for what? It is not like I’m going to do anything about it. But it’s not like I don’t want to. I’ve worked too hard to get here. No man is ever going to stand in the way of my dream again. Lesson learnt.
I have to concentrate and stop thinking about the ridiculously hot guy who just walked out of my studio and concentrate on teaching these kids.<
br />
However, right at this moment, I’d rather be fucked by Grant, right here in this studio, just like he promised.
Grant
“Uncle Grant, do you reckon we can have our ice cream now and then have another one after dinner with Sophia. I won’t tell her. Promise. Cause I’ve been such a good boy, haven’t I? Just like you said. Come on, let’s get one to cool us down from feeling so hot.” Sammy turns on those huge puppy eyes again.
He’s spot on, though. It’s hot as hell, especially since leaving Zara in the studio. She was flushed, sweaty, and I bet as wet as I was hard.
She owns me already.
I’m almost certain, however, that Sammy’s suggestion of ice cream isn’t going to cure any fire I have burning inside me.
“Sure, why not. As long as you keep it a secret. That is what uncles are for, isn’t it? To spoil you and let you let you get away with things Mommy and Daddy would never let you get away with. So, let’s go have ice cream before dinner and then again for dessert. What do you say, little man?” Holding out my hand he slaps his low high five.
“You rock, Uncle Grant! Come on, let’s go.” He jumps up and down with excitement.
Sammy doesn’t waste any time when ice cream’s on offer. Being dragged across the road, my little wingman looks up at me. “Do you think Miss. Zara would like some ice cream to cool her off?” The sentence comes out of his mouth at lightning speed. Reaching the other side of the road, I stop dead in my tracks. The vision Sammy unwittingly gave me is too much.
What I wouldn’t give to see Zara spread-eagled on my bed. Naked, smooth, and wet. Spoonfuls of ice cream being sucked on by those magical lips. Sliding the spoon in and out of her mouth, nearly bringing me undone. The way her lips part to form the perfect O. Dripping melted ice cream over her hard nipples and licking off the mess before crawling between her legs. Seeing her tits bounce as I take her. I can’t hold back any longer. She’s mine and it’s time to enjoy my dessert.
They say men are ruled by their dicks. Abso-fucking-lutely we are. They hold all the power to bring us pleasure.
“Uncle Grant, are you even listening to me?” Sammy’s loud voice smashes through my fantasy. Shit! I want to go back there, I want it so bad.
Reining in my thoughts, I try to remember that I have a seven-year-old pulling at my shirt trying to get my attention.
“Sorry, buddy, I got a little distracted.” Anyone looking at my jeans will realize I was ‘largely’ distracted. Adjusting my throbbing cock, I turn my attention to my nephew. “What were you saying?”
“Can we just get a tub of ice cream?”
“No!” I say, answering a little too fast. “Just a cone, Sammy.” Sammy flinches at the brashness of my words and I remind myself to pull my head in. He’s not to know my sexual frustration for Zara.
“Sorry, buddy. I was thinking about something else.” Ruffling the top of his head, I bend down to his eye level. “What flavors do you think are the best ones for me to choose?” He’s wide-eyed, staring at the ice cream in all his innocence. Just another reminder that one day I’d love a child of my own. Seeing the world through a child’s eyes reminds you of all the beauty and wonder in the little joys, like eating ice cream before dinner.
Despite Sammy’s enthusiasm, my mind can’t seem to shake Zara. This time, however, it’s a vision of her with a rounded belly, hands resting on her bump, skin glowing, and a twinkle in her eye. She’s content and happy as a gorgeous little girl clutches my hands while standing on my feet. The girl’s hair is dark like her mothers, big, round eyes staring up at me. We’re dancing in circles around Zara.
Is that what real love is about? The love of a wife and child? Unconditional love? Forever love? Hot fucking love between a husband and wife? I want them all. I want them with Zara.
“I’m not sure if it’s going to be easy convincing Sophia and Miss Zara that we weren’t eating ice cream, Sammy. The green leftovers on your chin from your bubble gum flavor and the brown stain down your shirt from the chocolate ice cream could be a good giveaway. You’re such a messy eater!”
Sammy giggles while rubbing his chin and shirt.
“It’s okay, let’s just pretend it is dirt,” Sammy says, bending down and rubbing his hand in the dirt and then all over his shirt.
“Whoa, wait up, buddy! Your mom and dad won’t be very happy with me if you turn up at the hospital all dirty. I might get the sack from babysitting and won’t be allowed to look after you anymore. We don’t want that, do we?” He shakes his head so fast I fear it will fall off.
“Off to the shop. We need a clean shirt. One with no ice cream or dirt stains! Now… where do we go to buy a shirt for you, Sammy?”
“From the shop, the one with the clothes in it. The one Mommy takes us to.” He says it like I should know where his mom takes him.
“A little more information would be great, Sammy. Do you know where the shop is?” The wrinkly forehead and hand on his chin makes me want to burst out laughing. He looks like a little old man in a seven-year-old body, deep in thought.
“It’s near the donut shop and around the corner from where Mommy buys us a frozen Slurpee,” he says, looking up at me as proud as punch. Little does he know his explanation is absolutely no help to me.
“Ok, here’s what we’re going to do. There’s a shop I buy my clothes that also has a shop next door with clothes for little boys. We’ll go there and pick something out. I’m sure we’ll find something there that will be better than a dirt and ice cream covered t-shirt.”
Chapter Fifteen
Zara
Every tick on the wall seems so loud. I can hear it over the music, the ticking echoing against the thumping of my heart.
Why did I agree to dinner with Grant?
It’s the craziest thing I’ve agreed to.
I tried to tell Grant it was just two friends having dinner but who was I kidding? It’s so much more than that. I’m not prepared at all. The only saving grace is that the kids will be with us. That way Grant has to behave, but the reality is, I already know that I don’t want him to.
Just being around him makes me think things I haven’t thought in a very long time. The way he looks at me makes me shiver. The way he talks to me in that low controlling voice has me weak at the knees.
I need to have dinner with him and afterwards tell him I can’t do this. I can’t get involved with anyone right now.
Love has to wait, it’s as simple as that.
I just have to keep telling myself that, over and over again.
The music comes to an end which means class is wrapping up for the night. My heart starts beating a little faster, but I need to concentrate on the kids before I finish for the night.
“Now, I want you all to go home and practice what we learned tonight. Our concert isn’t very far away, and we want to look our best for our family and friends, don’t we?” All the kids nod and say yes in a beautiful chorus. I love my students so much. They’re all so cute and each individual is special in their own way.
“Excellent, now that’s it for class. Put in lots of practice and I will see all of your gorgeous faces next class. Ballet shoes off and have a good night.”
“Thank you, Miss Zara,” I hear in unison as they start to disperse.
If there’s one thing children learn at dancing besides choreography, it’s respect for their teachers and adults in general. In a time when teachers in school are losing general respect from their students, that certainly isn’t the case being a dance teacher. Our dance studio rules are: you respect yourself, and then your teachers and fellow students. Both are important rules to live by. I have learned over the years that you need to respect and love yourself first, because no matter what happens in life, if you show yourself respect and love, then no one else can take that away from you. I had to learn that the hard way. If I can help my students so that never happens, then that’s what I’ll do.
The chatter of kids and their parents is always deafening at firs
t and then it gradually fades away. As I finish unlacing the ribbons on my ballet shoes and store them in my locker, I look up to see Grant, leaning against the doorframe, looking akin to a model who’s just stepped off the pages of a magazine.
The hard look from earlier has disappeared. In its place is one of pride as he watches little Sophia still dancing across the floor to the beat of her own music. She has both the boys mesmerized. For Sammy to stand still and be quiet, Sophia must have some magical twin power.
Suddenly, she realizes everyone’s watching her, so she stops dead in her tracks, looking shy and unsure towards Grant.
“Do you like my dancing, Uncle Grant? Or did I look silly? I am not very good yet. I am trying hard, but the other girls are better than me.” Her eyes drop to the floor. My heart falls to my stomach, knowing Sophia still feels she isn’t as good as the other girls and desperate to feel just like them. Her pain is real. Little does she know, she’s yards ahead of most the girls in her class. It’s just her self-image that has her feeling like this.
Grant walks slowly over to her and scoops her up into his arms. “Now, Princess, I don’t want to hear any of that silly talk again. Your dancing is just beautiful, and you make a very cute ballerina. I think you’re as good as the other girls in your class. But you now what? Even if you don’t dance as good as those girls, as long as you are trying your hardest, then that’s good enough for me. All that matters in life, Soph, is that you try your hardest at whatever you do and that you enjoy it. So, did you have fun dancing with Miss Zara today?”
She nods and smiles across at me. “Well then, that’s all that matters, isn’t it? Now how about we get those ballet shoes off like Miss Zara is doing so you can get ready for some dinner?”
I sit in awe of Grant and the way he handles Sophia in her time of self-doubt. I love that he takes all the pressure away from what she’s feeling. But more than that, I truly love the message he’s sending her. That it didn’t matter if she is the best or worst dancer. As long as she’s happy.
