Page 17 of Surge

"I watched some videos and then had my first lesson yesterday." He stepped forward and his hand slipped under my arm and splayed across my shoulder blade. He put his lips next to my ear and a tingle went down my spine. "Foxtrot."

At least he knew where to put his hand.

"Great." I shut my eyes and breathed in deeply before giving him my right hand to hold in dance position. "Let's just get this over with so I can dance with a real dancer."

He pulled me flush against his body into closed hold, keeping his mouth against my ear. "You aren't a Back-Lead Betty, are you? I like to be in charge." He meant more than just in dance.

"Only when the lead doesn't know what he's doing." I took a step backward, pulling him with me.

We moved in time to the music and he took over. He knew how to dance as if he'd been dancing since he was out of diapers. His lead was strong, and I relaxed as we flew around the dance floor.

The music cut off and Bernardo clapped. "Oh my Gucci! That was like butter. I can't wait to see Latin." He put his fist against his mouth and bit it. "And my boyvaries are already tingling at the thought of tango with you two."

Morgan being in my safe haven still made me feel queasy, but he could move. When dancing, that was the only thing on my mind.

The hour flew by, and when the lesson was done, Bernardo took us into one of the offices to chat. I was impressed with Morgan and his ability on the dance floor, but I didn't know what his angle was.

"From my vantage point, this is a match made in dance heaven." Bernardo pulled out a binder that had pricing in it. "The next competition for your age group and ability level is in three months in Hawaii. The question is, how much time do you want to devote?"

"I'm willing to devote whatever it takes." Morgan was relaxed in the chair next to me and took my hand.

I couldn't pull away, not when we had just been dancing so intimately together. I looked down at his hand clasping mine and sighed.

"How much is it going to cost?" I didn't usually bat an eye at how much dancing and events cost, but I was wondering how I was going to buy food for the next week without asking Ivy.

Maybe I could sell some of my clothes or the ones my mom had left in her closet. The knife would probably fetch a nice amount at a pawn shop.

"The trip to Hawaii with hotel, flight, and all of your entrance fees will be around three thousand each." He pulled a calculator out of a drawer. "And with you two being a new partnership, I would recommend three lessons a week. That will be about twenty-five hundred a piece."

My eyes widened and I pulled my hand from Morgan's. I stood and backed toward the door. "I forgot I have somewhere to be. I'll call you later."

I rushed out and to the bathroom to grab my belongings. This was the reality check I needed. I was going to go straight to the police station and file a missing person's report.

I managed to make it into the parking lot when a hand took me by the elbow and spun me around. On instinct, I swung my hand to slap him, but he grabbed my wrist just before it was about to make contact.

"Aren't we feisty?" Morgan let my wrist go. "Why are you crying?"

I swiped at my cheeks and glanced at my car. "It's nothing." I tried to step past him and he blocked my path. "Move out of my way."

There were enough people around. All it would take was a scream to have them coming to my rescue. Hopefully.

He crossed his arms over his chest. "Not until you tell me what's wrong."

"What’s wrong?" My voice came out with a squeak. "You assholes are stalking me, kissing and touching me without my permission, and threatening me!"

"I've never kissed you or threatened you." He shook his head. "Wait, who the fuck kissed you?"

I found it hard to believe that Jax didn't tell him about the two kisses he'd laid on me. One of which I could still feel. I didn't even know why I allowed it to happen or why I didn't kick him in the nuts.

I should have kicked him in the nuts. Next time I would. I shook my head at the image of him pressing against me, his lips covering mine as his hands roamed my body.

"I've done nothing to you three." I darted around him and jumped in my car.

Before I managed to shut the door, he stopped it with his hand and leaned down to look me in the eye. "One of my favorite games is hide-and-seek."

"Is that supposed to scare me?" Because it did, but it also excited me in a sick and twisted way.

He laughed. "There's only one way to get me to leave you alone." He shut my door, giving me a little finger wave before going back into the dance studio.

What the hell was I going to do and what the fuck was wrong with me?

---