Page 3 of Dance With Me
Shit. He had absolutely no idea who’d sent this message, and it wasn’t the first time he’d received one, either. He’d found a few notes under the wipers on his car as well. At first, they’d seemed harmless, but they’d got progressively more worrying. He knew he should probably go to the police with this, but what could he say? It wasn’t like they’d threatened his life. Just someone with a crush—or infatuation, more like. But there was no doubt they were meant for him.
Nothing he could do about it now, though, and he put his phone down with a sigh. He packed up his bag and locked up the studio he co-owned, happy to go home to Rocco, his dog. As he walked to his car, the hair on his neck prickled, and he had the oddest sensation he was being watched. He stopped to gaze around, peering into the semi-darkness.
He thought he saw a shadow at the end of the building next to The Coffee Mill, but when he looked closer, there was nothing there. Just a trick of the light, maybe? He shook it off and made his way to his car, locking the doors when he got inside.
Driving home, his thoughts turned to that evening’s lesson. Clare had done well with the choreography, but Joe clearly had no experience with dancing. He’d need to focus on his rhythm and his footwork, but that was all stuff Seb could help him with. He wanted to make this the best first dance ever for Clare and Joe.
Thinking of Joe.... He was all man, with deep blue eyes, dark blond hair and the merest hint of stubble on his sexy as fuck jaw. He could imagine scraping his teeth over that! He seemed to be a little older than his own twenty-eight years, but age was only a number, and Seb quite liked an older man.
Joe was taller than Seb, easily over six feet, and Seb hadn’t failed to notice the way his jeans clung to his muscular thighs and tight arse. Broad shoulders and a trim waist completed the look. He wouldn’t mind taking a look to see what he was hiding under his tight blue sweater.
He also hadn’t missed the way Joe looked at him while he was going over the music with Clare. Seb had glanced his way once or twice to see Joe’s eyes devouring Seb’s body, definitely checking him out. If he didn’t know better, he’d say the guy was interested.
Fuck my life, he thought. The only man to even ignite a spark in him since his ex-partner, Daniel, and he was getting married and more than likely straight. The looks Joe’d been sneaking, though, gave him cause to think otherwise.
But sometimes, life just liked to kick you in the balls and then stomp on them for good measure. He needed to forget about Joe and think about getting his own man to love. He was tired of being lonely. No, not lonely, just alone.
As he pulled into the parking space outside his apartment, he sat in his car for a while, thinking. He couldn’t remember if his roommate, Natalia, would be home or not. He knew when she saw him she’d know something was wrong, and he didn’t have the strength to dodge her questions tonight. Not just about the messages, but about Joe, too. Sometimes he was just too easy to read.
He sighed, got out of the car and walked towards their ground-floor apartment. His landlord had agreed to let him have this unit so he could have access to the small garden at the rear. As he put his key in the lock, the familiar click of nails on the hard floor met his ears, and as he closed the door behind him, a wet tongue licked his hand.
There was Rocco with his favourite teddy, waiting for him. Seb dropped to his knees, and the Rottweiler showered him with kisses. He’d had him from a puppy and loved him to death. Seb fussed over him, scratching the soft fur behind his ears.
“How you doing, buddy? Have you been a good boy?”
Rocco rolled onto his back, his front paws in the air, waiting for a belly rub. Seb dutifully rubbed his tummy.
“Who’s a good boy then? You’re daddy’s good boy.” He scratched Rocco’s ears again, moving his hands lazily through his fur.
Eventually, Seb stood and walked to the table in the hallway, where he found a note from Natalia. She was staying with Louis again tonight. He was her boyfriend and dance partner, and they had an early audition tomorrow in Manchester for a new show. It was easier for her to stay there.
Natalia was not only his roommate; she also co-owned Nava Studios with him. They’d owned it for a few years now, and their student base had grown steadily. They both taught there, but if Natalia’s audition was successful, they’d need to take on a new tutor.
Rocco had gone back to his bed in the lounge, and Seb walked into his bedroom, stripping off his clothes as he went. He wandered into the bathroom to take a quick shower. He stood with his back to the hot spray, easing the tension in his neck and shoulders. He felt exhausted tonight, the combination of the long day and the annoying text message playing on his mind.
As he washed the sweat of the day away, his hand moved down to his cock and lingered there. He stroked himself lazily, his head falling back against the tiled wall, but he just didn’t have the energy tonight. With a sigh, he continued to wash his body and hair. After he’d turned off the shower and dried himself, he put his boxers on and went to the kitchen to find some food.
“Nothing in the fridge, Rocco. What are we going to eat tonight?” He pulled up the menu for the local Chinese delivery on his phone and placed an order for his usual?chicken with broccoli and noodles. He let Rocco out the back to do his business and sat for a while with his eyes closed, the silence of the apartment welcome after his busy day.
A scratch at the rear door told him Rocco wanted back in and, while he waited for the food, Seb started to think about the dance moves he could put together for Clare and Joe, humming and walking them through in his head.
Honestly, they’d have been better off with a simple waltz with a few fancy moves thrown in, but Clare had insisted on a tango. After the earlier lesson, he wasn’t sure Joe was up to it, but who was he to disagree with paying clients. At least he had three months to try to get them up to scratch. Ample time—he hoped!
He realised he’d lost himself in the music again when a sharp knock on the door reminded him of his ordered food. He opened up and took the bag from the delivery guy.
“Someone’s got an admirer,” the man said, pointing to a single white rose on the doorstep. There was a small envelope attached. Seb laughed, saying nothing, and picked up the rose. His heart thumped in his chest. He feared he knew exactly who this was from. He thanked the guy and closed the front door, then took the food into the kitchen. He really didn’t want to open the envelope, but he needed to know what it said.
Always in my thoughts
Oh my fucking God. Whoever it was knew where he lived. He dropped the note, and a shiver ran down his spine. He stood for a while, his breaths becoming quick and shallow, and he steadied himself as he became dizzy. He finally managed to move and ran around the apartment to check the doors and windows. He made sure they were locked and closed, the curtains and blinds too. When Rocco wandered over to him, he bent down and slowly moved his hands through his fur, taking comfort in him. What the fuck was he going to do?
His appetite gone, he left the food in the kitchen and opened a bottle of beer, drinking it as he stared off into the distance. What should he do? Should he call someone? He didn’t want to bother Natalia; she’d be stressed over the audition tomorrow, and he really didn’t want to trouble his parents with this just yet. He supposed he could call Dominic, but although they were the best of friends, he didn’t feel comfortable discussing this with him just yet.
He slammed the bottle down in frustration. Fucking hell. Why was this happening? He didn’t know that many people and couldn’t think who would do this to him.
He put the food he’d ordered in the fridge and went to his bedroom, done for the night. Rocco followed him and jumped up on his double bed as Seb turned on his TV and lay down next to him. This could be a problem. He really didn’t want to leave. His life was here now, his home, friends, and business. He couldn’t afford to move away, and who was to say they wouldn’t find him again.
“I don’t know what to do about this, Rocco,” he said, stroking the dog gently. “Should I go to the police? Is it bad enough for that yet?” He rolled over onto his back and looked up at the ceiling. “Let’s sleep on it, and maybe I’ll speak to Natalia about it tomorrow, see what she thinks.”
