Page 86 of The Wrong Date Deal

About eight other couples assembled in the room and the instructors stood at the front, looking out over the group. One of them smiled warmly at August.

“You came back,” she said, approaching the two of them.

August laughed a little awkwardly. “I heard Thursday nights were good here.”

“They are indeed.” She grinned at Piper and held out a hand. “I’m Demelza. I’ll be one of your instructors tonight.”

Piper felt herself relax a little. Introductions to new people she could handle. “Piper. I’ve heard great things.”

Demelza laughed. “Let’s see if you can keep up then.”

As she headed back to the front of the class, Piper breathed a laugh. She could see why, despite the bad date, August was happy to come back here. The energy was warm and welcoming, and it was definitely the queerest dance studio Piper had ever seen.

The class started and any relaxation Piper had been feeling dropped from her body when she was told to face August. The memory of their first meeting flooded her mind. It hadn’t been a first date, but maybe she did remember more of the details than she’d allowed herself to admit.

August’s hands found Piper’s body and it felt like she hadn’t bothered with the dress at all, as if August’s hands were pressed straight to her skin.

She could barely breathe as they moved together. The instructions they were given registered but felt a million miles away, as if they were being spoken through a hazy fog that prevented anything from reaching them and breaking whatever was between them.

August looked at her, blushing and radiant. Her eyes danced in the lights of the studio as her hands traced over Piper’s body in the most tantalizing way.

Piper suddenly found she couldn’t question Shea’s theory about dancing and sex. The only other experience she’d ever had that was this erotic and physical was sex. She couldn’t even bring herself to remember the other people in the class.

The entire time, her heart pounded and she felt dizzy in the most wonderful way. She couldn’t get enough of having August so close to her, or of the looks August gave her.

When the direct instruction stopped and they had everyone practicing what they’d learned, Piper felt like the two of them were in their own little bubble that nobody else could penetrate. Not able to resist, she shot August a grin. “So, is this class better than your previous one?”

August bit her lip as she laughed. “Oh, just a little.”

“Huh. Better step up my game if it’s onlya little bitbetter.”

“Piper,” August complained fondly, her tone causing Piper’s insides to twist and turn deliciously. “You know what I mean.”

“I do. But I’ve got to ensure I’m beating Eva, you know? I have heard she’s incredible in bed.”

“I don’t care how good she is in bed. I have no interest in having her there.”

Piper’s entire body flushed at the unspoken implication that, while August might not want Eva in her bed, she did want Piper there. Again, Shea’s theory poked at her mind. As they danced together, Piper could see all of the ways they’d work in bed, all of the ways they’d move together and touch each other—and how much she needed that.

“How are we doing over here?” Demelza asked, checking in on them. Her presence broke some of the sexual tension between Piper and August, but Piper could still feel it thrumming inside of her, flowing across all of the places they touched each other.

“Good, I think,” August said, smiling at her. “Quite a bit better than the last time I was here.”

Demelza shot her a knowing look. “I can see that.”

She talked them through a couple of adjustments before leaving them alone again.

Piper smiled at August. “I’m glad to know I’m not the worst date you’ve had here.”

She laughed. “Not by a long stretch.”

“Might even go so far as to say I’m the best date you’ve had here, huh?”

“I think that’s a safe bet.” She made a concerted effort to hold Piper’s gaze. “I might even be so bold as to say it’s one of the best dates I’ve had anywhere.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes.” She looked down.

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