Page 50 of It Takes Three To Tango

“Please.”

We dance another song before taking a break. I sink into one of the comfortable chairs that have been arranged around low tables at one end of the ballroom, near the grand piano. Estrella is already ensconced in one, and Constantin leaves the piano, claiming the other one. Señor and Señora Bernat sit across from us. Florencio has disappeared, saying he’ll be right back.

Florencio reappears after a few minutes with Sofia andJuana. He’s carrying a tray of coffee cups and a cafetière. Juana goes to a cupboard in the corner and brings out some bottles of spirits and liqueurs, as well as some glasses, in case people want to try them outside of their coffee. I try a shot of whisky in mine. After the wine at dinner, the hit of alcohol with the caffeine shot makes me a little lightheaded, in a good way, where everything seems to be in slightly sharper focus.

Florencio asks Dominica to dance, and I watch them, becoming mesmerised by their movements. He looks in his element, and I feel a pang of guilt that he’s so talented and the only person he’s had to dance with for the last few weeks is a slow beginner like me. It’s good to see him really enjoying dancing. Señor Berat asks Sophia to dance, and she readily accepts.

Florencio and Dominica stop, and he offers a dance to Juana. She protests at first, but between his persuasion and Estrella’s encouragement, she relents, though she is hesitant at first. I watch Florencio put her at ease, and I’m reminded that he’s a natural teacher. She’s soon enjoying herself.

“Do you want to dance?” My attention is broken away from watching the dancers by Constantin’s deep voice. I glance at the piano and Dominica has taken his place.

He offers his hand and I take it, letting him pull me up, out of the chair and onto the dance floor.

“I didn’t know you danced,” I say when he pulls me into a close hold.

“What kind of person would I be if I ran a tango bar and didn’t know how to dance myself? But I rarely get the opportunity, or find someone I want to dance with.” He says the last part with a small smile on his lips and a promise in his eyes.

With one large warm hand pressed into my back and the other clasping my hand, we dance. He is larger and moresolid than Florencio, and it takes me a few minutes to adjust to that, but I don’t stumble as we glide around the room.

I look up at one point and am pleased to see Estrella dancing—slowly—with Señor Bernat. She looks so happy, and I’m pleased we’ve been able to give her this evening.

Then a hand grips my hip, and another holds my shoulder. Florencio. We don’t stop dancing, and he moves with us.

“I think you’ve stolen my dance partner,” he says, his voice low.

“I rather thought he wasours,” Constantin replies with a deep rumble.

We get to a pivot step, and Florencio catches me, keeping me facing him, so I’m now in his arms and he is taking the lead.

“I thought you just wanted to watch?” he says casually.

“Watching is part of it. Sometimes it’s more pleasurable to join in.” Constantin runs a hand down the centre of my back, blazing a trail of heat that makes me catch my breath.

Florencio blocks my foot, and I step over his, turning to Constantin, his look of longing making me swallow before I step back into Florencio’s arms and we move again. Step, back, back, cross, pivot. Constantin claims me this time, and I hear Florencio chuckle slightly, almost as if he conceded and allowed it. The sequence is the same—step, back, back, pivot—but this time, as I turn between them, I see they have their eyes locked onto each other.

Then I’m in Constantin’s arms as we turn as one.

“There is room for all of us, don’t you think?” Constantin asks.

“Yes, there is,” Florencio says softly, his fingers playing over my hip, leaving a small tingle with each fingertip. The song finishes and I’m caught between them both. The air sizzles between us and I see Constantin swallow before hesteps away and goes over to where Dominica is rising from the piano.

“What just happened?” I whisper, as Florencio’s arm encircles my waist and I become aware of the heat of him behind me. He murmurs close in my ear in a voice that turns my skin electric.

“You’re about to find out.”

“Have I told you how beautiful you are?” Constantin says, pushing a stray curl off my forehead.

I rest against my bedroom door as he supports himself against the door frame, leaning in close.

“No one has,” I whisper, and he gently touches his lips to my jaw.

“That’s a surprise, because you’re one of the most beautiful men I’ve ever seen.” He kisses the other side of my face before brushing across my lips. My stomach bottoms out and my blood drains south.

I can’t think straight, anticipation and arousal are sending my senses into overdrive. I take a breath, trying not to let my knees give way. This is going to lead somewhere and I still have enough presence of mind to remember our promise to each other.

“Where’s Flo?”

“He said he’d just be a couple of minutes,” Constantinreplies and kisses me. My legs are not going to hold me up much longer. I reach for the door handle behind me, stumbling a little as the door opens and I lose its support.

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