“We’ll see how much of a Team Edward fan you are the next time you want your feet warmed or are desperate to be stretched and quaking around my knot.”
Well, damn.
I swallow hard, thinking far too much about Jax and his very special anatomy. How much I really do want to be quaking around him.
“Tempest…”His growl shakes through me.“I need to get winter started before I get started with you. Otherwise, I won’t get anything done.”
It’s a sensual warning I have no intention of heeding. Once I’m done with rehearsals, that is.“How much longer?”
He groans and, god, I missed that sound. I can’t wait to hear it up close, rasped against my skin.“What time are you done with rehearsals?”
“Four.”
“I’ll walk you home.”
“I’ll be counting down the minutes.”
“Same, Tempest. See you then.”
I jump out of bed and get ready at lightning speed. The fact that I’m running late to class is the only thing distracting me from freaking out over seeing Jax later. I’ll be able to kiss him, hold him through the night. We got our wish to have him back on the East Coast. As much as I wanted to torment him into coming to me right away, I don’t want to do anything that will have him sent elsewhere. This will be our first full season together.
Besides, I still have classes to attend.
When I get to the studio, I have about five minutes to warm up before company class hits the barre for pliés. Mistress Maral decides to mix things up, changing the combinations—which she does annually. It’s nice to be learning them alongside everyone this time, not having to catch up. We’re all a little lost together, but we get through the new changes with a shorter center and across the floor section of class. We’re between performances, so after a short break we work on conditioning, followed by pas de deux technique where we practice different lifts. It makes the time go by swiftly, which I’m grateful for.
I’m lifted over Vincent’s head, leg extended and back arched. We set the position, and once he feels steady, he walks in a circle around himself. My gaze passes the window, and I catch a white furry snout and captivating eyes peeking from an all-too-familiar spot.
“Focus, Tempest,”Jax tuts.“If he drops what’s most precious to me, I’ll have to get some icy retribution on my mate’s behalf.”
I drag my attention back to the lift. Vincent sets me down before we continue the rest of the class. When everyone hits the ice baths and recovery room, I do a quick stretch and then grab my things, heading out the door. Thank goodness today wasn’t one of my PT days. I’m pretty sure I’d end up ditching poor Heather.
When I get outside, Jax is waiting for me, no longer in his earthside form. He puts his arm around me and we head to the metro. Though he seems a little unnerved sitting with me for the ride, he does.
“You know, you could just zip back to my place and meet me there.”
“And miss another minute with you?”He crosses his arms.“I don’t think so.”
I rest my forehead on his shoulder, not caring if it looks a little odd. Everyone else is focused on the hustle and bustle of their own lives, I’m going to enjoy every moment of mine.
The entire walk back to the apartment, we talk while Jax continues to spread winter around DC. He sprinkles frost over the grass, wrangles the breeze with a blow of air from his lips and a swish of his arms. As we ascend each stair up to my floor, he draws ice along the rail and pulls down icicles from the awnings. It’s so effortless and second nature. Little details I easily overlooked before.
Then we’re in front of my door, my breaths painting the air white when his arms wrap around me. His bulge presses into my back. When I open the door, I have half a mind to jump him, but instead I’m met by Delilah’s loud cheers. “Get over here, the game’s about to start!”
“Umm… I know I said I’d watch tonight, but I actually really need a shower.” Lark’s got anotherNutcrackerperformance tonight. In a few days, the show is closing for the season. Delilah and I have become a steady source of company for each other. It’s been nice, but of course my mind is wandering to the things I’d like to be doing with Jax alone in my bedroom right now.
“Oh, okay. If you get done in time, come check out the rest!”
“Sounds good,” I say, leading Jax toward the bedroom.
Delilah continues to cheer in the background. “Let’s go Redhots!”
When I get to the door, I realize he has stopped, attention pinned to the screen Delilah’s currently bouncing around in front of, clapping her hands.
I backtrack and nudge him with my elbow. “Want to stay and watch?”
“No, that’s okay…” But there’s something cracked in his tone.
“Actually, Delilah, I need to cool off before I shower.”
