Page 22 of Slow Burn
‘Sure,’ he said, laying down on the bed, watching me as I began removing my clothes.
Whatever he’d been feeling when I skipped his offer of his drink seemed to have passed, but I made a mental note to ask him about it. Just not right now.
Letting my jeans fall to the floor, I crawled coquettishly on top of him, trying to ignore the memory of the shouts of ‘Come back, Lira!’ and ‘What are we supposed to have done?!’ ringing in my ears – I hadn’t been able to get out of there quick enough. Clearly, my family had decided what I was and what my life would look like, and as far as they were concerned, it was convenient for them to keep it that way.
‘How can I help you forget about your dinner?’ asked Jack, looking me up and down appreciatively as I straddled him.
‘I’m sure you can think of something,’ I said, leaning forwards and taking my weight on my hands so that my breasts were brushing against his face. I knew he liked it when I did that.
‘Mmm, so good,’ he said, taking one nipple and then the other into his mouth.
And yet, as I closed my eyes, enjoying the sensations coursing through my body, gyrating on top of Jack to indicate how much I wanted him right now, it was Gabriele’s face that popped into my mind’s eye:hisdark wavy hair that I suddenly wanted to feel between my fingers;hiscool, brown eyes I wanted watching me.
I gasped, not in ecstasy like Jack probably imagined, but because I was shocked that I’d gone there, after all this time, after how hard I’d tried not to think of him in that way.
I popped my eyes open again, slid off the remaining underwear I had on and tried my absolute hardest to focus on Jack and only Jack.
CHAPTER NINEGabriele
Press coverage forSlow Burnhad begun to trickle in and every single article mentioned my name and the fact I was the longest serving – and apparently most popular – dancer on an Italian show calledBring the Heat, which had secured the highest number of viewing figures on a Saturday night ten weeks in a row. I knew that the shows we were performing in Venice, Florence, Rome and Milan had sold out already, which brought with it a huge amount of pressure. Which, in turn, probably explained why I currently felt stressed and on edge the entire time.
‘What’s wrong, baby?’ asked Daniella, coming up behind me while I was grabbing some alone time at the back of the studio during a particularly tough rehearsal session, trying to get my head together.
Baby?!
She started massaging my shoulders and, while there was no denying it felt good, I didn’t want to give her the wrong idea. I shifted forward in my seat, hoping she’d get the message.
‘I’m not really a massage guy,’ I mumbled.
She dropped her hands and came to stand in front of me with her hands on her hips.
‘Let me help you.’
‘Let you… help me?’ I said, confused. What could she possibly help me with?
‘I want to relax you,’ she said, crouching down in front of me. ‘Why don’t you come over to mine tonight and I’ll cook? We can have some wine, some fun…’
I tried to give her a genuine smile, but really I just wanted to be left alone. I had specifically come to the back of the studio so that I did not have to speak to anyone. Next time I wanted to be alone, I was going to have to lock myself in the bathroom.
‘I have to rehearse tonight.’
‘Tomorrow night, then?’ she said, looking hopeful.
‘I have to rehearse every night.’
She stood up, seemingly irritated by my answer. ‘Rehearse what?’
‘My duets.’
I glanced involuntarily over at Lira, who was going through some steps with Carlos in another corner of the studio. I was fascinated by her easy-going nature. She hadCarlos doubled over with laughter, and he never laughed; he was serious like me, usually. I had known him for years and I had never heard him roar like that before – what had shesaidto him?
Daniella followed my gaze, landing on Lira.
‘I hope she’s going to take this more seriously once we’re out on tour. As dance captain, I’m going to have to keep a close eye on her.’
Carlos had appointed Daniella dance captain for the show, meaning she would be in charge of ensuring the choreography continued to be carried out exactly as we had rehearsed, and would deal with any problems when Carlos was not there. I was sure she would do an excellent job, but, at the same time, I had a feeling that she was going to be particularly hard on Lira.
‘How long ago was it you knew Lira?’ she asked.
