Page 25 of Dirty Dancer

“But you don’t think that’s the only reason now?” He was drawing circles against my hips while I rested my chin on my forearms. I draped him like his favorite blanket. There was something utterly magnificent about being together like this.

“No, Iknowit’s not. I think he wants to push himself too. And I get the feeling hewantsto perform with me.”

“Good,” Kellan exhaled the word. “He’s been your biggest fan forever. I know he used to watch every single recording, picked up the discs when they were released and more than once, if he got to see you perform, he recorded it himself. He loves to watch you move.”

I knew that. “I love to dance with him too. I’m looking forward to those rehearsals. I just want to make sure it’s not too much, you know?”

“You’ll listen to him,” Kellan said, brushing a stray strand of hair away from my face and tucking it behind my ear. “You’ll look after him the way he looks after you. The two of you have your own language.”

Did we? I frowned.

“It’s like Liam and Rome, the twins always understand each other. I get Rome most of the time and even when I don’t, I’velearned to just accept him as he is. But you hear everything he doesn’t say.”

“I hear you too…” I didn’t want him to think that I didn’t.

“Shh,” Kellan said, pressing his finger to my lips. “You loving Rome, or any of the other guys, takes nothing away from me. It never has and never will. You share a connection with each of them that is unique and vital. Just like what you share with me is about us and not them.”

I blew out a low breath. “You all matter to me.”

“I know we do,” he assured me before leaning up to press a kiss to my lips. “Now tell me what else is worrying you, because you’re dancing around it Sparrow, and I can’t fix it if you don’t tell me what it is.”

I turned that description over in my head. Was I really dancing around it? As soon as he pointed it out, however, I saw the truth in the sentiment. “Freddie asked me to teach him to dance.”

There were things about each of them that they would never confess to the others. The secrets they confided in me, they were to be protected. Even if they already knew them, just as they shielded me the same way. We needed to trust each other.

“Okay,” Kellan said. “That’s good, right?”

“Yes,” I said swiftly and then added, “But I don’t want him to hurt himself. Before you scold me and tell me I need to support him in making his own decisions, I absolutely plan on it… but I want his lessons to start while we’re here on the break. Somewhere he feels safe and secure.”

“Ah,” Kellan said then began to nod. “You want me to buy you time with the guys?”

“I absolutely want time with all of you. We all need it.” Family time was paramount. “I need to spend some time with Theo, but I don’t want anyone to feel neglected if I focus on Freddie for a bit.”

“Particularly because Freddie is on the road with you.” Kellan nodded again. “I get it, Sparrow. I’ll take care of it.”

Relief spilled through me, easing the tension I hadn’t even realized had knotted me up. “You know I adore all of you.”

“Yes,” he said, giving me another kiss. “I do and so does everyone else. We love Freddie too, and if he’s asking you for what he needs, Sparrow and you’re telling me what you need—then we’ll take care of it.”

I had no idea how much I needed that reassurance before he told me and I kissed him. The pressure of my lips to his wasn’t as much about passion or desire as a fierce declaration of the connection between us.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“It’s going to be my pleasure,” he told me, and then he flipped us so I was on the bottom and the sheet slipped away. “And yours.” He nibbled another kiss before he paused to raise his head and study me. “Unless there’s anything else you’d like me to fix?”

“Can we get burgers later?”

His laughter was its own reward. “We can get anything you want.” Then his mouth fused to mine and I wrapped my arms around his neck. I had nowhere else I needed or wanted to be.

CHAPTER 11

JASPER

“Why do I have to talk to this guy?” Drawing himself to his full height, Theo glared at me.

I scratched the side of my nose before I turned to the coffee pot and poured myself a large cup. While I liked an espresso now and then, there was nothing to replace the feeling of pure industrial brew first thing in the morning.

When I turned, coffee cup in hand now, I found Theo still standing there in all his self-righteous fury. His eyes blazed and his mouth compressed. There was just something unimpressive as fuck about a kid with peach fuzz trying to stare me down.

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