Page 9 of Control

“I missed you too, sugarplum. How’s my favorite girl?” his smooth voice asked as he set her back onto her feet, tipping his chin low so his focus was solely on her.

“We’re dancing!” she said, spinning so he could witness her tutu in full force.

After giving them a moment, I approached the pair.

“I can see that” he said, his voice light with adoration. Lifting his head, his eyes locked onto mine.

Fuck.Memories came rushing back. I had seen that face in the midst of orgasm, staring at me the same way he was now.

The playful smile that he had reserved for Meena was replaced by an expression of pure intensity.Yup, he remembers me, too.

We remained that way for I don’t know how long, until Meena broke the tension.

“This is my teacher, Madame Varon. But she always says grownups can call herClaire,” she spit out, mocking my voice with the last part.Thanks for the introduction, kid.

His full lips twisted into a wicked smile. He held out his hand to me. “Nice to meet you…Claire. I’m Jai.” The way he said my name coated my ears like silky caramel—sweet and addictive.

My palms were slippery with sweat by my sides. I hesitated to take his, afraid of being scorched by his touch, or embarrassing myself with my wet hands.

I swiped my hands on my tights, resolved to maintain as much of my dignity as possible in this situation.

Lifting my chin higher, I looked him straight in the eye, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of my discomfort. Grabbing his hand, I gave it a firm shake before releasing it. “Jai,” I repeated his name curtly.

His eyes lit up with amusement as his lips twisted probably trying to bite back a laugh. I had overdone it with the firmness and had instead revealed that he had gotten under my skin.

“Isn’t she pretty, Uncle? I want to be a ballerina just like her when I grow up!” Meena chimed in.

His eyes took in my body, casting goosebumps on my exposed skin as his gaze raked his way across it. “Beautiful,” he hummed in approval.

The adjective stopped my heart for just a second. Defying my now liquid insides, I crossed my arms over my chest and fixed my face into the most uninviting expression I could manage.

“What are you doing here, Jai?” Amelia said as she entered the gym with a huge smile on her face.

He turned to her, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Came to see my family. Why else?”

“Aren’t you supposed to be out of town?” she asked with her hand still on his arm.

He shrugged. “Change of plans. I came back early.” His eyes flashed back to me. I hugged myself tighter as warmth flushed through me.

“Oh, I’m so rude,” Amelia said, looking between Jai and me. “Claire, this is my brother-in-law, Jai. He’s Shyam’s brother.”

“Shyam?” I asked, not placing the name.

“My husband.”Shit! That must have been why her husband looked so familiar.

“We’ve met already.” Jai smirked.OhGod, he was going to tell her about me ogling his threesome.I cringed from the humiliation.

Amelia lifted an eyebrow and studied both of us, as if sensing something was off. “Really? You know each other?” she asked motioning between us with her finger.

I blushed so hard with mortification that my cheeks were about to burst from the blood rushing into them.

He peered down at his niece. “Meena introduced us.”

Air rushed out of my nose and my shoulders relaxed in relief.Thank you, Jesus.

Amelia eyed my reaction as if she didn’t quite believe him. “Oh. I see.”

“Well, I’m going to go now,” I blurted out. “I’ll see you next week.” I needed to get the hell out of there. I hurried, grabbing my belongings, not bothering to change out of my dance shoes. I didn’t fucking care if they ripped in half from the roughness of the concrete outside at this point. I just needed to leave.

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