She has us watch our movements in the mirror, and as much as I know I should focus on what I’m doing so we don’t getGroundhog Day-ed, my eyes still stray to Luke regularly,to the movement of his hips and the way the satin pants cling to his muscular thighs… and other parts.
I also catch him watching me, a hungry look in his eyes as my fake-naked dress makes it seem as if I’m about to have a wardrobe malfunction any second now.
This is why we’re getting the whole lesson, because the longer we spend in these costumes, the more we look but don’t touch, the more I want him.
By the time Miss Michelle has us practice the steps together, I’m almost panting to have Luke’s hands on me. I bite my lip to keep from moaning at the feel of his palm on my back, his fingertips flexing against my skin.
He groans when I grip his shoulder, his Adam’s apple bobbing in a visible swallow.
Hoo boy, I was wrong. Touching each other with a chaperone around is even hotter than looking at each other.
The first time we try to move together, I’m so caught by desire I completely flub the steps, moving forward instead of back. I crash into Luke, his tall body a wall of muscle pressing against me in all the right ways. It’s almost worth it as the golden sparkles surround us and take us right back to the start of the lesson.
In those few seconds we have before the book takes control of our words, I whisper, “Sorry!”
“It’s all right,” he rumbles.
But he’s wrong, so very wrong, because it’s even worse to go through the twenty minutes of individual practice the second time around. The tease of watching each other in the mirror has my body humming with tension, and I feel like I’m going to scream if I can’t get Luke’s hands on menow.
Finally, Miss Michelle lets us partner, and I give myself a stern talking to in my head: You have to keep it together, Skye! You won’t survive another round of that.
We dance around the room slowly, the instructor clapping out the beat. My body is intensely aware of his, Luke’s presence a pressure all down my front. Even in this skimpy costume, I feel too warm and constrained and antsy.
Then we find it, the rhythm of moving together as one. It’s hypnotic, my body reacting to every hint his gives me, where we’re going, how our hips are swaying. We become something greater than our parts, a creature of beauty in motion.
Luke spins me across the floor, and I feel like we’re flying, a giddy joy filling me. This is what I always wanted from learning to dance, this intense connection with my partner.
“Beautiful, beautiful!” Miss Michelle calls out.
And we are. I want to hold this moment in my heart, tuck it away and keep it forever.
The most perfect dance with the most perfect man.
“Skye,” Luke rumbles, husky and deep, and I know it’s the real Luke speaking, my Luke. “I—”
The front door to the studio bangs open, and three couples burst inside, laughing and chatting, voices excited and loud.
Miss Michelle comes over to us. “I’m so sorry. This is my next class, andthey’re early.” She raises her voice so it carries across the room in that way teachers have.
“We couldn’t help ourselves, Miss Michelle! We’re just so excited to get started,” one of the men calls out.
The instructor turns back to us. “It’s my wedding danceclass, and all of them just got engaged.” She smiles and gives a happy shrug. “Young love at Valentine’s is a beautiful thing.”
Several more couples enter, and I realize they’re all the ones from the ice cream shop.
Lastly, a young man pulls a woman into the studio. She protests, “But Charles, the sign on the door says this is aweddingdance class. We shouldn’t be here.”
“What if we should?” He drops to one knee, holding up a ring. “Bianca, will you marry me?”
She squeals yes and throws her arms around him.
Another couple comes in, repeating almost exactly the same lines. By the time we’ve seen three new proposals, Luke’s swearing under his breath in an ongoing litany.
“Is this going to keep happening every time we’re in the book?” he leans over to growl in my ear, sending shivers racing through me.
“I guess so.”
“It’s not exactly subtle.”
