This time, their kiss was long, passionate, and exploratory, wrapped around one another with longing.
“Why, mister director,” said Jago when their kiss finally broke. “Do you know how much fondness and admiration I have for you?”
Alex didn’t know what to say, squinting as a car’s headlights swept over them.
Jago put his hands on Alex’s cheeks, drew him close and kissed him again. “I’ll not rush you into feeling the same. Justunderstand that I don’t lightly share what I shared with you. I know how I feel. That is enough for now.”
Alex took Jago’s wrists and lowered them gently, unable to disguise the worry lining his face. “But if recreating what happened tonight is going to exhaust you,everynight? Jago, we can’t do that.”
“That’s sweet of you to say, but remember, it might not be my power you’re drawing from. If you are a fledgling witch, it could well be your own, meaning I’m more worried about how it’s going to affect you. Two weeks of rehearsal, then a two-week run? That wouldn’t be easy for either of us, to put it mildly. How many performances a week are you planning to have?”
Alex considered this as Jago stroked his jaw. It was a silly, almost condescending touch, but it carried such tenderness. “Is this the real reason you only wanted one night?”
“I am worried the novelty may wear off, and I do think remaining elusive has its benefits. But yes, you must also consider our durability as conduits. Frankly, Alex, I wouldn’t do thisto you.”
If Jago had appealed to the temple’s stones for an idea, it was Alex who received their revelation. The temple might still have creeped him out, still haunted him with conjured images of Si-Man’s body face down in its waters, but his heart raced too quickly to be slowed by such doubts. Not anymore. “Then… no more rehearsals.”
“Pardon me?”
“You said it yourself, it’s better to have one glorious opening night than polished repetition. I can’t speak for you, but what we just saw came from the most spontaneous energy I’ve ever felt in a theatre. So, that’s what we do every night. No rehearsals, justlive inspiration. Every night will be its own opening, and once people start to talk about it… Oh, Jago, can you imagine?”
“Alex, I’m not sure this is—”
“People will come back night after night after hearing what their friends experienced, until they realise no two performances are anything alike. Who else can truly offer that? An improv group? I’d rather gouge my eyes out.”
“Alex, you’re quite literally tempting fate into our shared minds for the sake of nightly dance. Are you ready for what that might do to Joanna and Vicente, never mind us?”
Alex caught himself pacing. Jago had a point, and Alex would be damned if he put Joanna and Vis at risk for a bloody show. “Okay, how’s this? Three nights, Thursday through Saturday, six shows over two weeks. One performance each night, no encores, no matinees, no exceptions. Can we do it?”
Jago gave a slow, cautious nod. “I’d still feel more comfortable if I knew if it was my magick or yours powering the performance.”
“Jago, we need at least that to break even.”
“Let me take care of breaking even.”
“What? No.”
“Alex, let me share something I’ve learned from the greats. Artistic integrity doesnotallow room for pride when it comes to money.”
“Seriously, it’s too much. We’ll manage.”
“It’s not too much. I’ll wire it to you in the morning. Nobody else needs to know. See if you can bargain Maria down. She likes you, and you can pay your friends with what’s left over.”
Alex shook his head, at once floored by Jago’s kindness, in awe of the strange powers they’d barely begun to explore, and disgusted at the way in which he’d thought those powers had been used. “Why?”
Jago took his hands once more and kissed him. “Let me walk you home.”
Alex knew when his eyes were lighting up.
“Not…” Jago laughed. “I mean, yes, I’d like that too, but I have an early train in the morning.”
“A train?”
“To San Sebastián… or Donostia, as the Basques call it. Some business I need to take care of.”
“Here I thought you were going to gorge yourself on pinxtos and cava and laze by the sea.”
Jago grinned, kissing his cheek again. “That would be an experience better shared, no?”
