It’s working. She melts into my touch, her eyes going soft. God, I just want her to kiss me, right here, right now, in front of everyone. I want her to claim me as hers, and not just because Ms. Sanchez won’t stop looking at me like she wants to eat me for dessert.
After I spin Lauren around to complete the sequence, she leans into me, pressing us chest to chest as her lips brush against my ear. “I see what you’re doing, and it’s not going to work.”
She presses a soft kiss to my neck before quickly pulling away from me as if nothing ever happened, but now all I can think about is grabbing her and slamming my lips onto hers. Forget the lesson. Forget taunting her. I just want her, now. The game isn’t fun anymore.
“You don’t need to finish this lesson, right?” I give her hand a little tug, tilting my head toward the dark hallway that leads to my office.
“Are you saying I won?” she asks, looking smug.
“I don’t think anyone wins unless we blow this popsicle stand.”
Betsy helps Ms. Sanchez and her partner to our left, so Lauren leans in closer to me. “No, I definitely won. I’m not the one who wants to skip out on the rest of the lesson right now.”
“It’s not about winning or losing.”
“Because you lost.” She laughs, a look of pure glee on her face.
Betsy calls out words of encouragement to Ms. Sanchez and her partner, moving to Lauren and me. “How’s it going over here?”
Lauren straightens, putting her hands behind her back. “Great.”
“Really? It doesn’t look like there’s much dancing happening.”
“I’m trying to get Lauren to let me lead, but she’s refusing. I think we’ll get the hang of it soon,” I say, taking Lauren’s hand and starting the sequence again.
Betsy moves on with a satisfied smile, throwing over her shoulder, “I know it’s hard to give up control, honey, but it’s so much easier when you do.”
Little does she realize how perfect her words are. Still holding tight to Lauren, I lead her two steps to the left.
She picks up our conversation as we reverse the steps. “We can’t just leave. People will wonder where we are.”
“Does it really matter?”
She frowns as I spin her around. Once I pull her back to me, she lowers her voice so I almost can’t hear her. “Thewhole point of keeping this a secret is to not let everyone know about us.”
“How long do we have to keep it a secret for?”
“I don’t know.”
I stop dancing. “Is it something I’ve done wrong?”
“Of course not. You’ve been amazing. I’m just not ready.” She motions for us to start the sequence over again.
“What will it take to make you ready?”
“I don’t know.” She looks upset, causing a hint of fear to settle in my chest.
“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to pressure you. I just want to understand. I want people to know you’re mine and vice versa. The secret-keeping hasn’t been as exciting as I thought it would be.”
“That’s because you’re not even trying to hide it.” She draws back.
“What did I do? Please don’t be upset with me.”
Betrayal flashes in her eyes. I don’t understand!Why is it so terrible that I want people to know we’re together?
Instead of coming from a place of compassion, I can’t restrain my fears anymore. “Are you really that embarrassed to be seen with me?”
Her eyes soften, and a look of confusion settles on her face. “What? No. It’s just—can we finish the lesson?” She holds her hands up, ready to take mine. “We should talk about this later.”
