Page 36 of Dirty Dancer

“What?”

“Dirty Dancing,” he repeated. “You know, the movie?”

I raised my eyebrows. “I don’t think I’ve seen it. I mean, I know it came out a few years ago…”

“No,” Freddie said with a groan. “The older one. Look…” He let go and held his arms up as though he were dancing with me and did a lovely box step backwards before he used his hand to swirl the air in front of him. “This is my dance space. That is your dance space. I stay in my space, and you stay in yours.”

“Yes. I mean, I wouldn’t have phrased it that way, but that’s pretty much how it works with a basic waltz.”

His smile was brilliant and he returned without any coaxing. This time, we followed the steps until he had it down. Then I moved him through a left foot change and a right. “Most of this is just the simple mechanics of it. There’s a formality to waltzing—it’s kind of like flirting, only in movement.”

“I like flirting.”

The ease in his voice relaxed the tension in me. The knot in my core eased and then we were just dancing around the room, in big sweeping motions. I almost wished I’d brought a skirt so it would swish. When he pivoted and released my waist while extending his arm, I followed the motion and did a little spin before he pulled me back.

Four more songs and then we took a quick break for water. Freddie unscrewed the cap and shook his head. “Don’t tell the guys I’m learning to waltz?”

“Your secrets are all safe with me. But the waltz is just the start.” Then, because I wanted him to maintain all the control, “How are you doing? Would you like to continue or call it here?”

He blinked. “I’m good. Are you tired? I mean, we’re on your break.”

“I’m more than good.” Elation bubbled through me. “I don’t want to push too much.”

A wider grin pulled at his mouth when he ducked his head and for just a moment, there was a flush of crimson on his cheeks. “I want you to push.”

“You’re sure?” I waited for him to lift his head and for his gaze to lock onto mine.

“I’m sure.”

I retreated to the stereo and swapped out the CDs. I had one that mixed slower songs with faster ones. Still no full lyrics. Not yet. The jazz feeling and the instrumentals would be enough.

When I walked to him, he was ready and his touch was light but perfect. Every step seemed to bring us closer. He didn’t tense up when I had a hand on his shoulder. We moved through a promenade and then a progressive change. Eventually, we were swapping leads like we were going to some charity ball.

After our next break, I changed it up. He’d mastered the waltz. I loved his dedication and focus. It let us touch and move, but now I wanted to do something a little different. But first… “Pushing is still good?”

He emptied the rest of his water bottle before he nodded. “Pushing is still good.”

It was warm in here, and the constant motion added a thin layer of humidity around us from the sweat. When he came toward me, I faced away from him. Meeting his gaze in the mirror, I curled a beckoning finger to him.

Again, he hesitated, but the smirk that took over his expression gave me a boost. “You want me to grind against your ass, Boo-Boo? Cause it’s a really nice ass.”

“You can grind if you want, but right now, you’re going to shadow me and we’re going to dance to the music.”

I grabbed the remote control and turned on the music. It was a latin beat. One I liked because it made you move and it had a lot of hip swaying. Tilting my head back, I met Freddie’s gaze again.

“Hands on my hips,” I told him, “and follow me.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

CHAPTER 15

EMERSYN

Our first dance lesson was an unparalleled success. We danced on and off for a couple of hours. We moved together until we were both dripping with sweat. For nearly all of it, Freddie kept his hands on me. He gripped my hips, he moved with me, his chest “near” but not against my back.

When I switched so we were almost chest to chest, he didn’t back off. If anything, he seemed to lean into the dance more. We cycled through so many songs until we were just dancing, no form, no discipline, and no expectations. We danced and had fun.

After, Freddie needed a break. Overstimulation was a thing. It had happened to me before. We’d done a lot of touching. While I let him control the majority of it, there were still moments where I’d taken over and guided his hands on me or I’d put mine on his. The best part was he followed me up the stairsand dropped a kiss on my lips before he ducked into his room to shower.

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