by J Q Anderson
“Sebastián.” It came out as a plea. Way too eager for my own good. His presence was overwhelming, his warmth consuming.
He closed his eyes as if the way I said his name called at a place deep inside him. He let out a low, soft growl, and his hands clasped my face, his thumbs stroking my cheeks as his eyes opened and that intense gaze burned on mine. I held my breath, fighting the frenzy he was causing. Desire throbbed in my veins as the invisible tether I had felt that day at the river pulled us closer. He pressed a kiss to my forehead with a longing that mirrored my own. Unable to restrain the chaos inside me, I placed my hands over his, squeezing my fingers as my lips reached up to meet his. His mouth welcomed me, a desperate sound rumbling from his throat as his hands brought me closer. He pressed me against the brick wall, every part of him hard. My blood sang, pulsing with a need I had never felt before for anyone, not even Marcos. A need so voracious and raw that it scared me. I gripped his biceps, afraid my legs would give while his mouth devoured me.
The sound of keys in the foyer door broke the spell, and he pulled away, panting, his eyes wide with a mix of awe and shock. He traced my bottom lip with his thumb, catching his breath.
“Beautiful. Stunning,” he said, his voice gruff. The hint of a smile curved up a corner of his mouth as he turned to Mrs. Garibaldi, who was watching us with a conspiratorial grin.
I stood, frozen and bereft as Sebastián exchanged a few pleasantries with my neighbor before turning back to me.
“You have my number…and all the power,” he said with a shy smile. “Good night, princess. Take care of yourself, okay?” His tone was sincere, and that same longing from before settled in his expression. I smiled weakly at him, still caught in the tornado whirling inside me, the words strangled in my throat as I watched him walk back to his car and speed off into the midnight traffic, and away from me.
“Okay, let’s run through the first variation again,” Madame said. The corps girls quickly lined up and we waited for the music.
Outside the giant windows of the studio, weightless rain dusted the city. Flashbacks of my dinner with Sebastián a few nights ago taunted my concentration as I went through classes and rehearsals. I pushed them away.
I hadn’t called him. I wanted to, more than I was willing to admit, but I was terrified of the way he made me feel. Keeping the possibility at a reachable distance gave me a sense of control and safety.
On the flip side, seeing Marcos with other girls salted the wound of being unwanted. Nata had been spending most of her free time with Teo lately, and even though I had my priorities where I wanted them, loneliness was starting to get to me. Both Nata and Marcos were able to handle a social life outside of ballet. Why couldn’t I?
I was going out for a quick lunch when I caught a glimpse of Marcos and Carla tucked behind a column, making out. I paused, knowing they couldn’t see me, and watched them in a masochistic trance. His hands traveled down her back, then grabbed her ass and lifted her so she hugged him with her legs. It was hot, indecent, and sensual as fuck. My heart constricted with pain. Fighting the knot in my throat, I ran outside for air. Hurt, loneliness, and that old anguish of feeling unwanted sliced through me. The ache in my throat swelled with the tears that wanted to break free. How long was I going to put myself through this? How many times? I pulled out my phone, clutching it hard. There was only one person that could take this pain away. My fingers flew across the screen as I tapped a new text message:
I want to see you.
Chapter 10
It was late afternoon, and Madame wasn’t happy with the Wilis choreography. We had to stay late, and by the time we were done, the sky was dark. Outside, I shivered in the damp evening air. The sky had cleared, and scattered puddles of rain stained the sidewalk.
Beside me, Nata stood bundled inside a scarf and a long coat. I tightened my parka around me while we waited for Marcos. Alexei and Viktor fidgeted impatiently. After a brief exchange in Russian, Nata told them to give Marcos five more minutes. Alexei protested, and she waved him off in irritation. I was used to making out their conversations in Russian from their tones and gestures. After a day of back-to-back rehearsals, we were all irritable and short-tempered.
“What the hell is Marcos still doing in there?” Nata snapped.
I shrugged. “I saw him talking to Carla. I think she’s the new catch.”
“Dammit, Marcos. Alexei, Viktor, go get the car. We’re out of here.” She turned to me. “Do you have your keys? I left mine at home this morning.”
“I think…” I fished in my bag, digging through a jumble of pointe shoes and ribbons and things. Bingo. As I whooshed them out, they slipped out of my hand and landed a couple of feet ahead. I bent forward in a mock arabesque, but the fatigue of the day kicked in, and I lost my balance and ended up on all fours on the wet sidewalk. “Fuckdammit.”
Nata giggled. “What are you doing?”
I growled but froze when a pair of fine suede shoes the shade of tobacco stopped beside me.
Expensive shoes.
“Can I…help?” the familiar velvety voice said.
Shit. I snapped my head up and drew in a sharp breath. Sebastián’s bright eyes watched me, amused. He leaned down, his mouth curved into that patented dignity-crushing smile.
“Here,” he said, picking up and handing me the keys. He offered his hand and helped me up. The heat on my face could have smoldered an entire village.
“Thanks,” I said, suddenly aware of my ruffled appearance. I normally didn’t see anyone but dancers after work, and they were as sweaty and sticky as I was.
“Hi.” His mouth repressed smug amusement.
“Hi.” Shit. I had texted him earlier, but did he have to show up right then? I hadn’t even changed. Discreetly, I lowered my chin to my shoulder and sniffed. How bad did I stink? I bet he was already questioning his decision to come. I was a total mess. In contrast, he was impeccably dressed in a white crisp shirt, a gray cashmere sweater, and a long wool overcoat. I adjusted my bag on my shoulder. He smiled again in that way that stopped my brain from performing basic functions.
A hand squeezed my shoulder from behind. Shoot. Nata. I had forgotten she was even there. I turned around, and she was frowning, her cerulean eyes puzzled.
“Cami, who’s your friend?” Her tone was cautious, deceptively sweet. I stared at her blankly while my brain played catch-up.
“Yeah…Yes. Nata, this is…Sebastián. Sebastián, this is Nata.” Crap. She looked annoyed. I hadn’t really told her about Sebastián, and I knew she was shocked that a guy she had never met was stopping by my work at the end of the day.
She glanced at Sebastián, and her face suddenly tightened and paled, as if she had realized she was looking at something dangerous. He appraised her with the same intensity. Her eyes darted to his bodyguard standing a few steps behind. She inhaled sharply and looked back at Sebastián, letting the air out through flared nostrils. I frowned. What was her problem? And why was Sebastián looking at her like that? Not the reaction she usually got from guys…at all.
“How do you know each other?” she asked without unlocking her eyes from him.
Hmmm…Where to begin? I knew this would be a long conversation, and once I started, an avalanche of questions would follow. I gave an innocent shrug.
“We met the day I dropped Anna’s shoe in the middle of the street. I told you, remember? Sebastián kind of…pulled me out of the traffic. He was also the one who helped me that night at the Roxy.”
She frowned. “I see.”
Sebastián intercepted. “I’m sorry to show up like this. I’m actually on my way to the airport, but I wanted to see you before I left.”
“Oh. Um…where…where are you going?”
“Brazil. Short business trip. Can I give you a ride home?”
I rubbed the back of my neck. I was dog-tired, but I didn’t want to stink up his car. Walking would give us more time together, and I could stretch my legs. The intense routine of arabe
sques for Myrta had my quads in knots, and walking would help.
“Do you mind if we walk?” I glanced over his shoulder, and the same bodyguard from the night at the Roxy nodded a brief greeting.
“Camila…” Nata said, but I handed her the keys, locking eyes with her.
“I’ll explain later,” I whispered.
“You’re walking home with him?”
“I am. I’ll see you in a few, okay?” I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and turned away.
Sebastián took my hand and shot Nata a quick look. His lips were pressed into a straight line. The odd interaction between them made me shudder. When I turned my head around, Nata was watching us with her mouth slack, as if she wanted to protest, but the words failed her. A speechless Natascha. That was new.
“What was that between you two?” I said. “The way you were looking at Nata. It was weird.” We stood at the light, waiting to cross.
Sebastián’s eyes focused somewhere ahead. “She’s very protective of you. I was intrigued, that’s all. You look beautiful.”
“Right. You’re a good liar.”
“No. You look beautiful.” He looked down at me with a serious expression, making it hard to concentrate on anything else.
On the way home, the evening was alive, the streets flooded with pedestrians. He held my hand, walking awkwardly around people so he wouldn’t have to let go. The familiar pull was there again. He kissed my hand and my insides fluttered. Somewhere behind us, his bodyguard kept a manageable distance.
“Does he go with you everywhere?”
He frowned. “Who?”
“The huge man that follows you around.”
“Rafa. Yes.” He chuckled. “Pretty much. I forget sometimes. But don’t tell him I said that.” He winked. “He’d be pissed.”
“But you were alone the other night.”
“I gave him the night off. I needed to find you,” he said with a sly smile. We walked in silence for a couple of blocks. It was strange, new, thrilling. Suddenly he tugged on my hand and pulled me to the side of a building, away from people. He enveloped me in his arms, pressing us against the marble façade of a jewelry store. My pulse sprinted.
“Was it okay that I came? I didn’t want you to change your mind. You made me wait.”
I smiled shyly. “It’s good for you. I get the feeling most people don’t make you wait.”
He smiled back, and before I could say anything else, his mouth closed on mine. His right hand was suddenly in my hair while his left pressed the small of my back against him. My mind screamed, Jesus, you need a shower! But the rest of me was hostage to the force that drew me to him. My blood ignited. How had I managed to stay away? I let my arms wrap around him and succumbed to the kiss, hoping my deodorant would be true to the 24-hour stink-block promises on the commercials. When he pulled away, we were both breathless.
“God, you’re bewitching,” he whispered against my lips. I blinked through the daze.
“I…I stink.”
“What?” He wavered between smiling and frowning.
“I…You’re all dressed up and clean, and I need a shower.”
He threw his head back in laughter. “I don’t care at all. It’s kind of sexy, actually.” The pad of his thumb caressed my mouth, and a shiver spread down my back and swirled between my legs. I looked up at those stunning eyes. My brain was in central crash mode. This beautiful man. A corner of his mouth curved down, a hint of suede and fresh soap teasing me as I breathed in. Shit. I felt like the rabbit facing the fox.
His arms tightened around my back, pressing me against him, and he kissed me again. I nearly expired. The heat radiating from his body threatened to dissolve what was left of my resolve. Christ. The roller coaster cart inched uphill, balancing at the drop-off. I closed my eyes, breathless.
“I like you, crazy girl. So much.” He dipped his chin, and once again his mouth found mine. It was soft at first, then he crushed me against him as the kiss intensified. My insides clenched and I suddenly couldn’t keep hold. So I let go, relinquishing all control, succumbing to the fall.
He devoured me, greedily, and blazing need spread through me like fire on dry brush. I surrendered to that expert mouth, my hands clenching his shirt. God, I didn’t know what this was, or why I wanted this man in a way I didn’t know was possible. I kissed him with abandon, lost in a turmoil of foreign sensations. My panties were wet. I pressed myself against his hard cock, and he squeezed me against him, fueling the desire pumping in my veins. His fingers stroked my back, sending tingles along my burning skin. He then withdrew gently and pressed his forehead to mine, our short breaths colliding.
“What are you doing to me, Camila? You are addictive. The closer I get to you, the more I want.”
I blinked through the whiplash, fighting to recover my balance. He had articulated my own thoughts. My mind spun wildly, lost in the aftermath of a nuclear attack to my hormones.
“I think…I want more too.”
“Does this mean you’re giving us another chance?”
“Well…you left me intrigued about your tainted family reputation.” I suppressed a smile.
“A thrill for danger. I’ll have to keep a close eye on you.” His hand snaked around my waist, and he brought me to him, claiming my mouth again. My legs wanted to give. He then let go, took my hand, and set off again, leaving me breathless.
We walked in silence. A thought barged into my head, and I frowned. “About that…”
“What?” He pulled me closer to let a group of teens pass us.
“The other night…Was it you parked across the street from my apartment?”
His expression tightened, then a small shrug. “I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
I stopped mid-street. “At two in the morning?”
The light had changed, and he clasped my hand, tugging me across.
“One of my men saw you leave a bar and get in a cab with some guy. I was on my way home, not far from your apartment. I wanted to make sure you made it home safe.”
This time I fully stopped. I let go of his hand and stared up at him. People walked past us, dodging us awkwardly.
“What’s wrong?” His forehead creased.
“Do you have any idea how creepy that sounds? You had me followed?”
“I only kept a few tabs on you to make sure you were safe. Given that you were nearly killed the first time we met, and stalked by that shithead on the second, I was worried about you. I’m protective of whom I care about.” His tone was firm, unapologetic. I didn’t know if I was freaked out or turned on. Or both.
I shook my head. “That’s…crazy.”
“Your safety is very important to me.” His hand circled the small of my back, bringing me closer. “Incidentally, the guy you took home with you. Is he someone you care about?”
“Who? Marcos? Uh, no. I mean, yes, I care. We’re good friends and we work together, but that’s all. He sleeps on our couch sometimes if he’s too drunk to go home.” I ignored the heat rising to my face.
“I see.” His arm tightened around my waist and lifted me into an embrace. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I just have this compelling urge to protect you.”
“I don’t need protection,” I growled. “I’m a big girl.”
He crushed me into a kiss, and the last of my armor dropped. His mouth was possessive and tender at the same time.
On the last few blocks, the conversation was lighter. He asked me about my day at the theater, and I blabbed about Madame being in a foul mood. People sidestepped us, mumbling curses at our slow pace. He seemed interested in every detail of my monotonous life. It was weird to talk ballet with someone who wasn’t a dancer. Pretty much everyone I knew had a routine like mine.
At my building door, he cradled my face in his hands. “I came to see you tonight because I want to ask you out. On a real date.”
My heart did a little pirouette. “Is it safe? I mean…will I need my own bodyguard to go out with you?”<
br />
He pulled me into his arms. “I’ll keep you safe.”
“Okay. Then, yes.”
He watched me as if he were looking at something beautiful, even though I was sweaty, sticky, and had no makeup. Picking up a loose strand of my hair, he tucked it gently behind my ear. I leaned into his touch as the back of his hand caressed my cheek. He cupped my face, bringing me closer. Rolling to the tips of my toes, I brushed my lips against his. He covered my mouth with his. The kiss was soft and tender. I slipped my hands under his coat and clutched his shirt at the back. He smelled heavenly. Tasted forbidden. It was sinful, hot.
The guy from the third floor harrumphed behind us. Without taking his eyes off mine, Sebastián pressed me against him to let him by. My face was impossibly hot. The man closed the door behind him, shaking his head but smiling.
“I have to get going,” he said. “My flight leaves soon. But I’ll pick you up tomorrow night, and we can have dinner at my house?”
His house? Holy shit. “Okay.”
He tipped his head down and gave me one last, slow, panty-scorching kiss.
Still tipsy, I stepped into the apartment and dropped my bag by the door. Nata stood behind the kitchen bar, her face tight as she tossed arugula in a bowl.
“Hey,” I said.
“Whatever.”
“Nata—”
“You’ve kept me totally in the dark! How long have you known him?” Her high pitch made me wince. She shot me a disapproving look, then went back to the salad. I slid onto a barstool across from her and leaned onto the counter.
“I’m sorry. You’re right. What do you want to know?”
She placed both palms flat on the counter and looked up. “Camila, do you have any idea who that guy is?”
I frowned. “Do you?”
“Of course. And so does the rest of the city.”
“What? What do you know about him?”
“Oh…where to start,” she said in a sarcastic tone. “Let’s see, he belongs to one of the biggest, most dangerous and corrupt families in the country. Yep. I think that covers it.”
