“I still don’t know what that means,” Luke growls, his golden eyes spearing into mine.
“It’s a movie where this guy gets caught in a time loop. He repeats the same day over and over. He doesn’t get free until he gets itright,” I whisper. “I think we have to do the same. We have to complete this lesson successfully like the couple in the book.” I don’t know how I know this, but the words feel true. This is the couple’s first dance lesson, and they finally manage to do a few rounds of the most basic waltz by the end, even though the main male character doesn’t want to be here any more than Luke does.
“Explain these characters we’re playing.” The dragon’s golden eyes bore into mine.
“My character is an event planner who agrees to help her neighbor throw the annual fireman’s ball if he’ll partner her for their small town’s Valentine’s Day dance competition. Hehates dancing, but his fire station really needs the funds.”
“Okay, everyone, let’s keep with the beat,” Miss Michelle says. “One, two, three. One, two, three.”
Luke’s eyebrows slam together, forming a solid line. His eyes rake across the room, watching the other couples with burning intensity for several moments. “You can’t be serious. You expect me todance?” He spits the last word like it tastes bad. “I’m one of the premier magical researchers in all the realms. I study and devise new spells. I don’t have time for such frivolity.”
I wince. He’s only stuck in this book because of my magic… and I haven’t even admitted it’s a romance book yet. Although if we finish this scene and break the spell, all the stuff that comes later won’t matter.
Because this book? All the reviews say it’ssuperspicy with age gap and pleasure Dom kink. If Luke’s mad now, he’ll be furious about having to kiss me and… other things. Oh, god, ever since my besties figured out my crush on Luke, there’s been a running series of inside jokes about dragons having two dicks. My cheeks heat, and my heart starts to race again from imagining it.
“I… I don’t have another idea,” I stammer, “other than finishing this dance lesson successfully.”
His mouth compresses into a hard line. Then he gives a sharp nod. “For the sake of research purposes, we will do as you say. Perhaps I’ll be able to write a treatise about our experiences.”
“Okay, good.” The words tumble out of me in a relieved rush. “We seem to have missed the first part of the lesson, where the instructor showed us the steps, but I bet we couldget her to show us again.”
Luke’s scowl dials up to eleven, his eyes flashing.
“What?” I ask.
“I do not like being thought incompetent,” he growls.
Miss Michelle descends upon us. “Luke, Skye, what seems to be the problem?”
“Oh, thank goodness you’re here.” I widen my eyes and gush, “I completely forgot the steps. Could you show them to me again?”
It’s a lie. I’m horrible at lying, but I try to really sell it, anyway. I got us into this mess, so it’s up to me to try to get us out with as little pain for Luke as possible. The whole reason I chose to read a contemporary romance book at all is because of the dance competition plot. I’m obsessed with dancing.
“Of course.” Miss Michelle smiles and assumes a dancer’s position, her arms held out as if to embrace an invisible partner. “We’re doing a box step.”
She counts out the one-two-three beat and moves smoothly through the steps for the follow partner. Uh-oh, my lie isn’t getting me what we need, which is Luke’s part.
“Can you lead me through the steps a few times? I’m more of a kinesthetic learner than a visual learner.” I wince internally at another lie—I’m totally a visual learner—but it’s the only thing I can think of that lets Luke see the lead dancer’s footwork without him needing to admit he doesn’t know it.
Miss Michelle doesn’t seem to notice, but Luke sure does, cocking an eyebrow at me as I step from his arms.
When I take up the waltz position with Miss Michelle,the pressure of her hands tells me we’re about to move, so I glide backward with her first step, and then there’s no more thinking, only dancing.
“Skye! You’re a natural!” She beams at me, then flicks her eyes toward Luke, a look of understanding dawning across her face. “So not knowing the steps isn’t you,” she murmurs as we move across the dance floor. “Fragile male ego?”
Embarrassment heats my cheeks at being caught in a lie. It would be so easy to say yes and laugh it off, but that’s not fair to Luke. “No,” I whisper. “He’s only here because of me, so I want to make it as easy for him as possible.”
She nods and lets go of me to spin toward Luke. Before he can protest, she’s got him in position and practicing the moves. “Step forward with your left foot. No, your other left foot.”
I bite my lower lip to try to stop my giggle, but it’s no use—it escapes.
Luke’s so busy scowling at me that he flubs another step, which only makes me laugh harder.
Miss Michelle takes him through the steps a few more times, then releases him. “I have to check in with the other couples. Keep practicing.”
Luke takes me in his arms, a look of profound concentration on his face as we try again and again, my toes aching at being stepped on, the pointy tips of my hot pink heels smudged with the marks of his boots.
A low rumbling growl comes from deep in his chest, getting louder the more frustrated he gets. It becomes especially noticeable as soon as the music cuts out.
