“It’s bloody hard,” Susan grumbled, saying out loud what everyone was no doubt thinking.
“Sorry, honey.” Melanie gave her an apologetic shrug.
Susan put her arm around her wife’s shoulders, planting a kiss on her temple. “All we can do is try.”
From the corner of his eye, Evan saw one of the cameras pan in closer to capture the couple. He looked to Amber. Was he being sympathetic enough? Maybe she needed a hug too, instead of him joking around and making light of their dancing efforts? He reached out to pull her into a hug. She rolled her eyes and shook her head, biting back a laugh.Thank God.He loved that Amber, although she’d like to dance better, didn’t take herself or the competition too seriously.
“Anyway,” Milo continued, “it looks like, despite our best efforts, some of you need a little more help than others. Jules and I are doing our best, but with five couples, we’re spread a bit thin. So, we’re going to mix things up a bit.”
Jules started across the dance floor; even her walk was a graceful glide. She approached Harry and John and whispered a few words to them. “Okay,” she said, her voice now louder, “we’ll be splitting a couple of you up so you can dance with someone with more experience. Hopefully that will give you a chance to improve before rejoining your partner.” As she spoke, she took Harry and John by the hands, pulling them towards him and Amber. “Harry and John will be dancing with you two.”
“Oh, goodie!” Amber rubbed her hands together. “I can finally dance with someone who knows what they’re doing.”
“Hey! I could say the same thing,” Evan said, pouting in mock indignation.
“Yes, you could.” She laughed before turning expectantly towards Harry and John.
Evan faced them too, John reaching for his hand, but Amber intercepted the motion. John’s eyes widened, and his mouth opened, but he wisely said nothing and didn’t pull away from her. In the two seconds it took for John’s scowl to change to a smile, albeit a forced one, Evan had grabbed Harry’s hand.No going back now!
“So, let’s take it from the top,” Milo said. “Music, please!”
The cha-cha music started from the beginning, and where previously the same song was starting to grate on his nerves, now it became a familiar accompaniment to the best thing that happened to him all day—he had an excuse to have his hands on Harry. He pulled Harry to him, gripping both his hands firmly.
Harry stepped up into his space. “Easy, tiger,” he whispered.
Shit!He was probably supposed to look uncomfortable being partnered up with a guy, not like all his Christmases had come at once. He stepped back a bit but didn’t drop Harry’s hands. “I’ve got this, babe,” he called in Amber’s direction. “I promise I’ll get the hang of this and make you proud.”
“Oh, if only that were true.” Harry chuckled.
Evan mock-scowled. “Bastard.”
Harry grinned at the insult. “Let’s cha-cha.”
The next thirty minutes turned into the ultimate torture. Harry’s hand on his hips, occasionally brushing his arse, all in the name of directing his movements, of course.Yeah, right!Every brush of his fingers, every thrust of Harry’s hips—it was tantalising and a lesson in control. He tried repeating the mantra in his head—One, two, cha-cha-cha. One, two, cha-cha-cha—but he couldn’t get the image of the last time he’d danced with Harry from his mind. The evening on the deck with Harry “helping” him master the movements had been a perfect moment, one that had got his blood boiling and led to the most amazing kiss. He groaned and squeezed his eyes shut—anything to rid himself of the problem that was starting to make itself obvious as his cock took interest.
The powers that be must have been listening, because the music stopped. “That’s enough for today, folks.”
“Thank fuck.”
Harry frowned. “I didn’t think dancing with me was that horrible.”
Evan lowered his brows and hissed, “You know exactly what you were doing.”
“Me?” Harry asked, looking like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. “I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.”
“Hmmm.” Evan put his hands on his hips.
“Hey, guys. How did you go?” Amber asked as she approached. “You look liked you were dancing really well together. A great partnership.Heapsbetter than when you’re with me, Evan.” Amber gave a teasing grin.
The little minx.“Yeah, I’m starting to get the hang of it. Things were finally starting to fall into place. It feltnatural, you know?” he said, getting on board with the innuendo.
“Yeah, it’s amazing what a difference the right person can make.”
“What’s that?” John asked, approaching with a water bottle in hand.
“I was just saying how having the right partner can make all the difference.”
“Oh, I couldn’t agree more. Hey, there’s cold water bottles over there if you want one,” John said, indicating the tub filled with ice and plastic bottles not too far away. “Maybe we can go to the top deck bar and get a real drink? You said you wanted to hear more about my holiday to Italy, Amber,” he said, but his gaze was fixed on Evan.
