Page 68 of Heir of Fire
Gianna took a deep breath. “I’ll be okay. Start the music.”
She got into her starting position, locking eyes with him as he clicked play on the music. The orchestral sound filled the room. The number began slowly, with her on pointe moving her arms rhythmically around her. She did severalchainesturns as she moved across the floor, keeping her gaze locked on Finn’s. His eyes didn’t sway once.
Gianna bent over, allowing her arms to travel down her leg like a waterfall before she lifted her back leg, stretching it upbehind her. She then let it drop, matching the crescendo of the music. The choreography called for quickchangements, where she jumped in place, switching her legs and crisscrossing them each time. She kept her arms at fifthen avantbefore moving them out toà la seconde. As the tension in the music built, the moves became more frequent and dramatic.
She got into fourtharabesque, spinning quickly and using Finn’s brown eyes as her spot with every turn. She stopped, landing in fifth position. Her legs were on fire, but the cellos and the violins in the music played more rapidly now. It was almost the end of the dance. Her thighs and feet were exhausted and aching, but she had to finish strong.
Gianna did thepas de chatuntil she was almost at the center of the floor now, transitioning into aglissade. This was the big moment. The one that she always choked on. The one she was never able to land.
Her arms stayed out beside her as she pushed off to leap into the air. With both legs extended on either side of her, she made sure to keep them taunt before she was back to landing on the ground. She dropped on her front leg first, never letting the one behind her touch the ground because she had another series of turns immediately after.
When the last one finished, she slowed down with the music, hearing the last of the violin with her as she did one lastglissade. She dropped to the floor slowly, letting the music consume her as she did. Her legs burned, her heart beat rapidly.
And then the music stopped.
Finn clapped slowly, and when Gianna looked at him, he looked like he was in awe. She couldn’t help the blush that settled on her face.
“That was fucking amazing,” he said, standing up. “I swear I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything more beautiful in my life.”
She shook her head. “I messed up the jump. I always do.”
“Princess, you nailed the jump and every turn after it. You didn’t fall out of it today.”
Her eyes widened as she thought about what he said. Gianna landed the move. She was so consumed with dancing and his presence that she hadn’t even realized that she didn’t fall or even tip over. She landed every single move.
She beamed as she jumped up, landing in his arms. “I landed it!”
“You did. You did so fucking amazing. I’m so proud of you.” He pressed a kiss to her lips, one that she gladly deepened, feeling ready to celebrate in any way that she could.
“You might be my good luck charm.”
“I don’t mind coming and watching you practice,” Finn said. “Hell, I’ll be here every day.”
She shook her head. “I hope you’ll come to my show.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” He leaned down, pressing his forehead against hers.
“What do you say to getting something to eat? I’m starving,” Gianna said.
“Let’s go. I know a great burger place not too far from here,” Finn said.
“I have to change first.”
“You know how I feel about the ballet uniform.”
She rolled her eyes. “I know you would love for me to keep it on, but unfortunately this isn’t for everyone’s eyes.”
“I can agree with that,” he said.
She pulled away from him, pulling off the wrap skirt and top and replacing it with sweatpants and a T-shirt from her dance bag instead. She sat down on the floor, beginning to take off her pointe shoes.
“Fuck, Gianna, that looks painful,” he said, kneeling in front of her. “Do your feet usually get all bloody like this?”
She shrugged. “It depends. I had a blister though, so the shoe was rubbing against it while I was dancing. It’s not as bad as it looks.”
He shook his head. “You need to take it easier on yourself.” He pulled the gauze from her hands, helping with cleaning up the blood and locating the blister on the side of her pinkie toe.
“Once the show is done, I’ll be able to. For now, I have to be strict with myself. Especially since this was the first time I finally nailed the jump. I have to start perfecting it.” She handed him the antibiotic ointment she usually used, watching as he applied it to the blister on her foot. His movements were so gentle, so much so she could hardly feel him doing it at all.
