Page 7 of Off Balance

Then again, I could also tell he wanted me. And a man like that probably wanted more of a chase. With his good looks and obvious wealth, he probably had men and women alike throwing themselves at him left and right.

Not wanting him to sense my weakness, I shrugged casually and pulled on a pair of bike shorts and a cropped t-shirt. "Your loss, sweetheart." I managed to hold back my self-satisfied grin when he grabbed my arm as I walked past.

"Are you always this forward?" he asked, looking me up and down.

"Pretty much."

"Does it make you feel good about yourself?"

Not really.But I wasn't about to tell him that. He was getting a little high and mighty for my taste. I didn't mind being treated like a sex doll on occasion, but I never allowed anyone to disrespect me.

"I know exactly how to make myself feel good," I said in a suggestive tone. "Don't you worry about that."

He followed me out to the bar, where I was automatically handed my drink of choice.I winked at Mike in thanks and turned towards the stage to watch another dancer climbing a pole. Purposefully ignoring Emile watching me, I focused on my coworker’s performance and drained my drink. He ordered me a second round, plus one for himself. His eyes flashed in confusion when he took a sip.

"This is just club soda," he said flatly.

"Yeah? And?" Mike and Alex, the club bartenders, were probably the only people that realized I rarely drank.There was a good reason for it, but that was none of his business.

I released an exasperated huff when he didn't say anything, simply staring back at me like I was a puzzle he was trying to figure out.

"You might look at me and see nothing but a low rent, talentless twink shaking his ass to pay the bills, but I have a life outside of this. You shouldn't judge a book by its cover."

"You have formal training," he said. My hackles already up, it took me a moment to realize that it was a statement, and not an expression of surprise.

"Yes," I said, a little haughtily. I was getting bored with the game and it felt good to have the upper hand for a moment. Not that the moment lasted long.

"Why workhere? Why act the way you do?"

I snorted and pointed to my cropped t-shirt that said "Daddy Issues." He looked unimpressed.

Rolling my eyes, I set down my drink and waved goodnight to Mike. "I work hard. I play hard. And it’s none of your goddamn business. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a date."

"A date?"

"Well, I’m not really into the judgmental type, and the night is young." I pulled out my phone, making sure he could see me opening the hookup app and scrolling through my messages.I wasn’t hurting for options.

"What are you doing tomorrow?"

I nearly laughed out loud. "You're not seriously asking me on a date, are you?” Lowering my phone, I gave him a pointed glare. “I don't have time for dating, or games, or people that want to put me down to make themselves feel superior. All I’m looking for is a quick fuck and a good night's sleep so I can wake up at five a.m. to rehearse before my first job. Rinse and repeat, until I catch my break."

"You're not my type," he sneered.

His tone made my insides churn with anger. What the actual fuck was his problem?

"Excuse me?"

He ignored my indignant stare and slipped an embossed card over my phone screen.

"If you're not too busy being a low rent, talentless twink, I'll see you at nine A.M. sharp."

Emile Dupree Alistar

De Pointe Elite Dance Company

The bottom of my stomach dropped out, and my heart rate rapidly accelerated.

"You're serious?"

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