The Dancer

by Jordan Silver

  I pulled her down on my lap in the easy chair when she went to sit on the couch after losing the little scuffle. She tried escaping my reach but I held on with my arms around her hips. She threw a look over at her brother, but the kid was already busy surfing channels.

  He didn’t find what he was looking for but he found something else that seemed to please him and we settled down to watch. It took her a minute to relax in my lap and in the end I had the kid to thank for that.

  He’d found some shit that was sure to scare the crap out of her which she complained about. I could’ve mentioned the fact that there were TVs in other rooms, especially her bedroom, but why bother?

  Just as I thought, she hid her face in my neck each time a gory scene came on making me laugh, which got me an elbow to the gut. I kissed her in response and she gave me one of her cute blushes. All that was missing was a bowl of popcorn.

  I stole more than a few kisses and even copped a feel or two in the darkened room. Travis had turned off the lights ten minutes into the show because as everyone knows, scary shit is best watched in the dark.

  By the time she fell asleep on my lap my dick was hard enough to break ice. There’s no way she hadn’t felt that shit poking into her ass, but she never said a word. Progress! I think.

  I sat there a while longer, replaying the day in my head and finally allowed myself to breathe a little bit easier. I’d won this time, she was here, safe with me. No way am I letting her go back there, ever.

  I kissed her temple and drew in her scent. Now that she was out cold I could enjoy our closeness without having to deal with any of her shit.

  Her brother looked over at us once or twice with a smile before turning back to the screen and I took that as his nod of approval.

  If anyone had told me a few months ago that my life would become this scene of fucked up domesticity I would’ve laughed their ass to scorn.

  I have to rethink my past disdain for anyone who claimed to know their life mate at first sight or any of the other shit I once dismissed as total bullshit.

  Sure as fuck my chickens had come home to roost. With my luck I’ll end up being the biggest sap of all. I know for a fact that she was going to run circles around my ass. Hadn’t I already started changing who I am to fit in with her fuckery?

  I would’ve been satisfied to sit there for the rest of the night with her in my arms, but I knew she must be tired. Damn girl literally goes until she drops.

  I know only too well what danger there is in that. I’d seen mom hit the wall more than once. If this one thinks I’m going to watch her do that shit to herself then she’s in for a rude awakening. Damn, this being honest with yourself shit is liberating as fuck.

  Yep, I’ll give her the time she needs sure, but I’m not going to be twiddling my thumbs in the meantime. While she’s putting me through my paces I’m going to be working on her ass as well.

  No way am I jumping off that cliff by myself. I’m dragging her ass kicking and screaming right along with me. I looked down at her sleeping angelic face, what a con.

  She looked like the sweetest little thing when those fire orbs were closed. Heaven knows what hell she’s going to put me through come tomorrow. I smiled when I realized I couldn’t wait. Knowing her it won’t be anything near normal.

  “I’m putting your sister to bed, she’s beat.” I lifted her in my arms and took her to her room. I had a hard time letting her go, even gave serious thought to taking her to my bed to sleep.

  In the end I put her beneath the covers before stepping back to look down at her. I felt more at ease than I had since she first walked through the doors of the club. When she first zapped me.

  My heart squeezed at the thought of all she’d been through, my poor baby. At least tonight I knew that she was safe. And I plan to make sure that she stays that way no matter what.

  I brushed my fingers through her hair and wondered how long it would be before my heart stopped doing that little jig in my chest whenever I touch her.

  I couldn’t resist planting one last soft kiss on her pretty lips before turning for the door. The kid was standing there watching us. Silent creeper!

  I felt a little uncomfortable by his presence until he nodded his head and left the doorway, heading for his room down the hall. I had to respect his dedication to his sister.

  I closed down everything and made sure the security system was engaged even though I didn’t expect trouble to find us in my home. But because she was here I went the extra mile just to be on the safe side.

  I went to bed not long after and sat up for the longest time just thinking, planning; plotting. I had a lot going on in my mind, a lot I needed to take care of.

  I have to see about getting the kid in school as soon as possible, so that she didn’t worry herself to death. But I also need to find a way to ease up her workload. I won’t watch her work herself into the ground.

  I also worried about the story the kid had told me, especially what had happened with their mother. Had she dealt with it or had she pushed it aside to deal with everything else? I’m more inclined to believe the latter. She was just that type.

  I’m not good with emotion, in fact I haven’t the foggiest idea how to deal with a woman for anything more than sex. As a teen I’d been too preoccupied with football and the burning need to escape poverty.

  Whatever flings I had were usually short lived once the female in question realized she wasn’t my number one priority. I can’t blame it all on the game, it so happens I had roving eyes even then.

  Other than a son’s love for his mother, I’ve never felt for a female in my life. This would be so much easier if I could deal with her the way I do everything else. Just take charge and make her do everything my way, but I’m sure the pain in the ass won’t let me.

  At least I’d jumped one hurdle today, thanks to the kid showing up. If not for him who knows how long it would’ve taken me to talk her around. It gave me comfort to know that even with that, had she not really wanted to be here, she wouldn’t be. Her hardheaded ass!

  It wasn’t long before my mind turned to other things. I hadn’t given much thought to what having her right next door in bed, in my home, would do to me.

  I thought since I slept next to her once without incident this shit would be a cakewalk. Hah! I was hard as a rock half the damn night. I fought the urge to go check on her I don’t know how many times before finally taking my horny ass to sleep.

  I dreamt of her and woke up with a raging hard on that hurt like a son of a bitch. My hiatus was over, fuck me how much time did I say I was willing to give her?

  Counting back it was going on two and a half months since I let my boy out the gate. Now that he was in the game there is no telling how his misbehaving ass was gonna act. He’s never heard no in his life and like me he has zero patience.

  I took what must be the coldest shower in history and left the bathroom with a smile on my face when I remembered the feel of her lips under mine and all she’d let me do to her the night before. I hurried and got dressed, suddenly ravenous for the sight of her.

  After last night I was expecting to share some of those cute secret smiles that people who’d lost their damn minds always seem to have on their faces around each other. I should’ve known better. Fucking nut!

  Travis met me outside my bedroom door as soon as it opened like he’d been staking out the shit. “Dude, you better wear a protective cup.” He actually covered himself with his hands.

  He kept going, heading back towards the kitchen after that confusing statement. I heard the pots and pans being slammed against the counter all the way down the hall before I made it into the kitchen.

  What the hell? I stood in the doorway and raised my brow at Travis who had taken a seat at the island to watch her. The kid just shook his head and went back to watching with his chin in his hand.

  She was mumbling some shit under her breath and I’m pretty sure she was imagining my head each time she slammed something against
the marble top.

  What happened to the sweet amiable girl who’d fallen asleep on my lap the night before? I walked slowly into the room and just for kicks, walked up behind her and wrapped my arms around her.

  “Good morning sweetheart.” I nipped her ear and tried not to laugh when she kicked backward at my leg. “Got up on the wrong side of the bed huh.” I squeezed her around her middle for good measure.

  “Get off me you idiot.” She was holding a bowl with eggs in one hand and a stick of butter in the other. “Not before I get my morning kiss.” She looked over at her brother who was grinning like a loon.

  “Max…” She hissed out my name and I realized it was the first time she’d used it. If not for the kill lights in her eyes I would’ve said the scene was pretty damn domestic.

  I moved in for a taste of her and she bit me. Not hard enough to draw blood, but enough to get my attention. I decided to leave well enough alone and moved on to the coffee pot before taking the stool next to her brother.

  “What’s eating her?” We both watched her as she cooked and fumed for no good damn reason that I

  could see. Her ornery ass was in fine form this morning.

  “She’s a brooder. She always does this. She’d go to bed one way and wake up another. It’s like she works stuff out in her sleep.” He kept a wary eye on her as he spoke.

  “Whatever ground you gained last night is as good as gone. I hope you have something else planned otherwise she’ll have me on the first bus back to Ohio and you won’t even know when she moves back to that hell scape.”

  He said all of this under his breath as misery moved around the kitchen cooking and muttering to herself. She slammed two plates down in front of us and walked off.

  “Get your own toast when it pops up. I have to get ready to leave.” My eyes were glued to her ass as she left. Even her pique was adorable. I’d lost my damn mind.

  “Are these safe?” I looked down at the perfect eggs and potatoes with a half rasher of turkey bacon. She’d even decorated the plate with fruit. His looked pretty much the same as mine and since he was already digging in I answered my own question.

  “I guess she wouldn’t off you so…” I dug in and hummed with appreciation. “Wow!”

  “I know right. She cooks best when she’s pissed.” He shoveled eggs into his mouth like it was his last meal.

  Her displeasure could be heard from all the way down the hall. What with the slamming doors and loud mutters that were nothing more than whispers by the time they reached our ears. What a brat.

  I polished off my food and grabbed a second cup of coffee before I felt human. So much for her morning disposition being better. I wonder what the hell set her off this time.

  “Did you two get into it this morning?”

  “Nope, I woke up to that. She’s annoyed because we ganged up on her. Her words. I knew it was too easy.” He shook his head and finished off his plate.

  “She never used to be like that, not really. When she gets pissed you’d know, but it was rare for that to happen. Ever since mom died she’s been on autopilot. It’s like there’s no room for mistakes, everything has to be perfect. If I even catch a cold she freaks.”

  I listened to him describe all the ways she’d changed in the last year or so and started putting the pieces together. It wasn’t that hard to see what was going on with her, but if she kept pushing herself like that she’d burn out. I won’t let that happen.

  “Can I ask you a question?” I stood at the counter facing him as he drank down about a gallon of orange juice.

  “Shoot!”

  “Has your sister dealt with your mother’s death?”

  He gave it some thought before he answered. “No, she never let herself cry, not even at the funeral. She’s bottled it all up. From dad’s leaving and the way he treated us, to having to give up her dream.” That’s what I thought. I was coming to know her very well.

  “One last question. Are you sure you want to move here? I know you said you’ve already been scouted, which is good, but how far has it gone?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Has anyone approached you personally? Have

  you received a national letter of intent?” I know most people have no idea what it means to be scouted.

  I didn’t want him to fall into that bracket of hopefuls who got their hopes up because of a few throw away words from a scheming coach.

  “Yes to all the above.”

  “That’s good then, which school did you choose?”

  “Didn’t I tell you I’m your biggest fan? Which school do you think I chose?” He had a big stupid grin on his face.

  “Even better, I’ll take care of the school situation you just concentrate on being a kid for the next few months. Once you hit the college scene, if you’re any good, your childhood is over.”

  At least I can be here for you in that respect like no one was for me. How easy was it for me to step into the void without question. All because of her. Usually I offer help from afar.

  If I get too close to the kids I’m trying to help, the whole damn thing turns into a puppet show, which I don’t want. Most of the people I help have no idea that I’m the one lending a helping hand, which is just the way I like it.

  With him, he’s family, it’s as simple as that. He was thanking me profusely and I was about to tell him to knock that shit off when I heard her footsteps heading for the door at a fast clip. I barely made it in time to stop her.

  “Where do you think you’re going?”

  “Oh for…, what is this my new prison?” I pulled my phone with one hand while holding her in place with the other.

  “Tony are you downstairs yet?” We’d planned for him to come earlier than usual.

  “Just got here. Bring me coffee, I didn’t have time to stop since you made me get here at the ass crack of dawn.” Complaining fuck!

  I hung up trying to remember where the Go cups were as I dragged her along behind me back to the kitchen. “Would you stop dragging me around like a rag doll?”

  I let her go long enough to search the cupboards, but not before telling her brother to keep an eye on her. I found what I was looking for and filled it with coffee cream and sugar the way he likes it before turning my attention back to her.

  “Why are you still wearing that? Where’s the coat I bought you?” She turned up her nose at me.

  “Probably still in the bag on the floor. Let’s go I’m going to be late.” Ungrateful twit.

  We followed her out the door and down to the waiting car. Tony looked us over before shaking his head and turning the car on.

  From the secret grin on his lips I’m sure he’d read the situation well. Who wouldn’t with her face set up like a storm cloud?

  I dragged her across the seat from where she was hugging the door to avoid me, ignoring the scathing look she gave me. The ride wasn’t that long and we were there before I was ready to let her go.

  I started to stress about her disappearing until I remembered that I had her brother. She wouldn’t go anywhere without him.

  I got out with her when we pulled up outside the Internet café in midtown. “What time should I pick you up?” I brushed at her hair which was all I could do here without her spazzing the fuck out.

  “You’re not. I have something else to do today, I’ll find my way back to your place when I’m done.” That’s what she thinks.

  She turned to her brother who’d also exited the car and warned him to behave while she was gone. It was funny to watch the two of them. Her lecturing as he towered over her by almost a foot. That’s probably how the two of us look together as well, come to think of it.

  Chapter 21

  “Where to?” Tony asked as Travis and I climbed back into the car.

  “Let’s take the kid to the square. That way we won’t have to drive back down this way in a couple hours.”

  “Didn’t she just say she didn’t want a ride?” I just gave him a look in the mirror.
>
  “You’re already in enough shit as it is; don’t start.”

  “What did I do?”

  “You called fucking mom, now she’s coming home tomorrow night instead of three weeks from now.”

  And I can’t thank you enough for doing that shit. The more I think about it, the better it is all around for mom to come and do her thing. I had no doubt that she could handle Annabelle and her shit with both eyes closed.

  The jackass just grinned as we pulled into a short term parking garage. Travis was jumpy as was to be expected of a teenage boy his first time in the hustle and bustle of Times Square.

  It was too early for the bright lights, but the place

  still packed a punch for anyone seeing it for the first time. The gloss had long worn off for Tony and I, who used to run these streets every weekend back in the day, but it was fun seeing the excitement in the kid’s eyes.

  We grabbed a quick lunch after walking around since I figured she’d eat in the café, before heading back to where we’d left her. “How do we know she’s still here?” Travis looked back at me.

  “Tony!” He got out his phone and called inside. The story was that he was looking for his daughter who was there with her study group. It only took describing her ugly ass jacket for the person to come back and tell him she was still there.

  We sat on the place for the next fifteen minutes before a group of college kids came through the door. My heart smiled when I saw her, like I hadn’t just seen her a few short hours ago.

  There were five of them, four girls one guy. Of course I peeped him to see if there was any interest and felt like an ass when he put his arm around one of the other females before the two of them walked away.

  She said her goodbyes and headed off down the sidewalk, her shoulders hunched from the cold. Damn girl, I bought her a nice three quarter shearling with fur around the collar, but she preferred that thrift store reject. We’ll just see about that shit.

  She headed for the bus stop and we had to go around the block twice before it came. It was a miracle that she didn’t see us, but there was too much traffic and I doubt she could even pick the car out in a lineup.