‘So the ballet—in London?’ he finally prompted—with a distinct lack of enthusiasm.
‘Yeah, the Royal Ballet at Covent Garden. To see one of the classics. Not your thing, huh?’
She felt his laughter again. ‘All those blokes leaping about in tights and no one saying anything? Nah.’
She nudged his thigh with her knee and teased. ‘I knew you were going to comment about the tights. Why do guys always feel so threatened by them? Hell, the rugby players wear almost as little—their shirts are skintight.’
‘Well, it’s not just the men I’m not so keen on. All the girls are bony. They’ve got no shape, no boobs, where’s the attraction in watching them? They’re not exactly sexy.’
Roxie sat up indignantly and twisted to see his face in the moonlight. ‘You don’t like skinny dancers? Then why have you dated so many?’
‘Notthatmany.’ He went on instant defense. ‘And I didn’t date them because they were dancers—it was just that they were who I happened to meet.’
Oh, so it was a circumstantial thing, not that dancer girls were his ‘type’? She was fairly surprised—and surprisingly miffed. ‘So you don’t like the ballerina body?’
He paused, a grin suddenly flaring, and he reached up to pull her back to him. ‘I think you know how I feel about your body, Roxie.’
Yeah, that wasn’t good enough. She resisted his tug closer and waited, fingers tapping on his chest.
‘It’s not just beautiful.’ His grin widened as he unashamedly back-pedaled. ‘It’s the way you move. You know what you’re doing, but it’s like its unconscious at the same time. Total natural grace and not like anyone else I’ve met. Ever.’
‘You need to keep the compliments coming because I’m still feeling insecure about the no-boobs bit.’
He laughed harder; she felt his body harden too. ‘You do great in that department.’
‘With my booster bra.’
‘I like them best with no bra, as well you know.’ He slid a broad, warm palm up over her stomach, towards her ribcage, as if to prove it. ‘In fact, you’d be fantastic at burlesque,’ he teased. ‘You know, with those nipple tassels?’
‘Oh, you would know all about nipple tassels,’ she huffed, twisting away to leave him.
Except he grabbed her so she couldn’t, pulling her back and rolling so he had her pinned, oh, so pleasurably. Admittedly she didn’t put up too much of a fight.
‘You want to dance full time?’ His mouth hovered above where he wanted those damn tassels.
‘When I was a kid I did,’ she answered breathlessly, getting distracted by what his tongue was now doing. ‘Reality is, not many people can make a viable living as a dancer. Even if you can it’s not for long—you’re arthritic at thirty. That’s why scoring the gig with the Blades was such a thrill—even for just a short time I’m a pro.’
‘You shouldn’t settle for only a short time. Why not go the whole hog?’
‘It’s too late for classical,’ she moaned. ‘I’m over the hill already.’
His grunt of laughter was muffled against her breast and his fingers teased further south. ‘There are other forms of dance.’
‘I’m sorry to disappoint you, Gabe,’ she panted. ‘But I don’t think burlesque is for me.’
He flexed, teasing her more exquisitely. ‘You could teach or make up the Blades’ routines or have your own shop—you like retail, right? Why not dance gear?’
She actually quite liked that idea. Having a retail space with a studio above it to teach or something. ‘I used to love going to the ballet shop and looking at the costumes.’
‘You love a costume, Roxie?’
‘You bet I do.’ Yeah, she had a soft spot for sequins and Lycra.
‘Well, I really think you should try the tassels.’ His voice deepened with laughter as she wriggled against him.
She muttered an adjective so colorful he instantly reared up and took her hard.
She had no idea how much later it was when he lifted her back with her head resting on his shoulder. All she knew was that she was utterly relaxed and bone-deep exhausted. She closed her eyes, her own breathing falling into sync with the deep, regular rise and fall of his broad chest. So very vaguely thethought pinched—she reallyoughtto go back to her own place. But she was so tired. And so warm. And she’d never been held like this by anyone... so finding the energy to leave this haven was going to take a few minutes.
