Her gaze returned to me as perfume slightly drifted off her skin. Lifting her eyes in embarrassment, she placed her palm up against her forehead. “The beta blockers help, but don’t cancel everything out.”
Her scent was so intoxicating and inspiring. My mind raced again with more possibilities for her. “Come on, let’s head upstairs.”
Back in Dem’s office, I walked Ivy over to Preston. “Preston, she hasn’t eaten. Feed her, please.”
“Of course,” Preston’s expression lit up as he reached into his bag for more food. “Do you like spring rolls?”
Ivy nodded quietly, sitting next to him. I could see her almost instantly relax as her shoulder gently bumped against Preston's.
“Isaac, schedule a meeting for the last ten minutes of the day for the company and me. I need to address what’s going on here,” Dem asked me. “We also need to rethink the casting for the first production.”
“Take me out of the lead spot. Give me a duet with Ivy, that short piece in Act One,” Preston said as he fed her a bite of his spring roll.
So cute, it was fun to watch her eat, even if it wasn’t me feeding her. My instincts were already screaming to feast off her—thank god for restraint.
“I can take you out of the lead spot, but I can’t shift you to that duet.” Dem sighed, rubbing his forehead as he thought.
“Just move everyone up, nobody loses, and it’ll give us something to do at the moment,” Preston replied, pulling out some carrots for Ivy.
“Possibly, but you’ll need to be there for the first rehearsal today until I can recast everyone,” Dem said as he pulled up the casting documents on his computer. “Ivy, I’d like you to eat lunch with me from now on in this office.”
She agreed through a mouthful of carrots, her eyes growing a bit wide from the request. I chuckled at her with a smile on my face. She was sweet and talented. And those lips of hers…looks like I’d also be eating in Dem’s office.
The printer on the bookcase fired up, spitting out two documents. I reached for them, handing them to Dem.
“Alright, don’t take too long to eat, you two.” I gestured to Preston and Ivy, who were both giggling at her almost biting his finger. “Rehearsal’s in fifteen minutes.”
***
Ivy
I stretched my back as the last part of the day dragged on. The full company was in the main studio, setting a scene that involved most of the roles. I’d spent the last two hours running through the corps part and now my feet were screaming to be finished.
Susan, along with her pack of friends and most of the soloists and principals were snickering back and forth, shooting dirty looks at me from across the room. I toldmyself to ignore it, trying not to let it affect me, but I could feel more fatigue setting in.
Surprisingly, I seemed to have gained some admirers in the company, too. A handful of dancers, including Millie, watched Preston and me dance earlier and seemed excited about the prospect of working with the next omega couple.
Millie discreetly came over to me while a few of the principal dancers were working. “So…you and Preston earlier…that was incredible to watch. Was it your first time dancing together?”
“Yes,” I whispered back.
“How did it feel, dancing with your scent-match?” She looked toward Preston, who was listening to Steven give corrections.
I shot Millie a large smile. “Absolutely incredible…and very arousing. I’m still on beta blockers too, so I don’t know what it’ll be like when I stop.”
“Wow, I wonder what the bond will do to your dancing,” she said.
My eyes caught Preston as he started to dance the choreography full out, moving flawlessly through the space with his high jumps. He was so elegant and light on his feet, yet held that undeniable masculine edge to his dancing. I still felt very intimidated with the thought of performing alongside him.
After the lead male’s section finished, Preston rested on the side while Steven worked with the lead female, Adrienne. Preston’s intense eyes locked on mine as he smiled at me from across the room. It was such a thrilling sensation, and in a small way, I was grateful the company had learned of my omega status. I didn’t have to hide anymore.
One of the corps girls standing next to me sighed loudly. “Why doesn’t he stare harder? I can practically see them making out.” A few girls snickered around us.
“Leave them alone,” Millie snapped, keeping her voice low. “This is rough for Ivy.”
Eyes rolled, and I continued to want to hide under a blanket.
Just keep breathing.
