“I’m sorry, Lark. I’m listening.” I try not to talk to Jax when I’m around other people, otherwise I tend to look crazier than I already feel when I think about being bonded to an immortal that will be bringing us winter in a few months.
“Are you going to be okay for rehearsals today?”
“I have to be. We’re working on the pas de deux choreography forPetite Mort.”
“Ooh la la.” Lark fans herself dramatically.
Petite Mortis a contemporary ballet, choreographed in the 1990s by Jirí Kylián, that plays on the French translation ofla petite mort,which means “the little death,” a euphemism for orgasm. Lark’s been teasing me ever since I told her we were performing it, but honestly, I think she’s a bit jealous because the Institute prefers to only do classical ballets. She would kill to do more contemporary work—which is why I’m slowly trying to woo her to the dark side to join me at Ballet Potomac. “You know…you could always audition and next time you’d be dancing alongside me.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” she replies, blowing me off, though I notice she’s never given the idea an outright rejection. “Anyway… Why don’t you take my extra towel today?” She pulls it out of her bag and tosses it to me as the metro screeches. “I feel bad for your partner. You’re going to be sliding all over them with all that sweat. Who are you partnering again?”
“Vincent Rollins.”
“Ah yes, the adorable, curly-haired ginger.”
“That’s the one.”
The car stops moving and the doorswhooshopen to the platform. Lark stands, resting her hand on the back of my seat.
“What time are you done today?”
“Should be home by five or six, why?”
“Just curious.” She walks out onto the platform, turning around and calling out right before it shuts. “I have a short day today, so text me if you need anything.”
I give her a nod and a wave through the glass while the metro groans to life. Normally, we don’t ride together, but Lark doesn’t have rehearsals until later today, so she’s going shopping before she meets Delilah for lunch.
“Jax? You still there?”
“Always, Tempest.”His voice comforts me, but I wish he were here, that his arms were around me, the chill of his body balancing the heat of mine. Missing him is a constant ache, but since we bonded—since I’ve given in to believing in who he is and what we are—the throb has gotten more manageable.
At least, until today.
Right now, I just want to summon him here, kiss him, and press my body to his…but if I say the words, it’ll only land Jax in trouble. He’s proven to be charmingly persistent when it comes to me. So instead of telling him how badly I’m craving him, I turn the tables.“How are you doing with solstice? Areyougoing to be okay?”
“I’m more worried about you. At least I can hole up at home.”
My mind conjures an image of his hand wrapped around his cock, stroking himself until cum jets from his pierced tip. I clench my thighs together. The metro rumbles beneath me, only making the sensation worse. I may combust if I don’t do something about this soon.
“I’m guessing you still have to dance today?”
“Yep.”I croak out, trying to wrangle my thoughts. The metro screeches and slows to a stop at my destination. Finally.“With opening night less than two months away, every rehearsal counts. It’ll be alright. I’ll just ice bath afterward.”
“Well, if you want some company, you know where to find me.”
“I do.”I get up and head out the sliding doors, then hustle up the stairs to the street. Why did I choose today to wear a pale leotard? I’ll have to wear my warm-up leggings the entire day, even if I sweat my ass off.“And you’ll probably hear from me.”
“If something changes and you need me to get to you, just say the word.”
“Okay.”Though I know I won’t summon him. No matter the circumstance.“I love you.”
“I love you too.”I’ll never tire of those words from his lips.“Looking forward to chatting with you later, Tempest.”
“Same,”I reply, and push open the doors to the studio.
I’m sweating profuselythrough all the combinations, to the point where even Mistress Maral tells me to take a break to get some water. When we finish company class, I use the thirty minutes between to do cold compresses all over my body and change my leotard and tights. Then it’s back to backKingdom of the ShadesandPetite Mortrehearsals. The first goes by quickly, thank goodness, and before I know it, I’m waving goodbye to Evelyn, Veronique, and Sara.
While all the soloists are performingKingdom of the Shades, only three of us have been selected alongside the three principal female ballerinas to performPetite Mort.
