Third Position Read online

  This time, they’re all smiles. Clearly, the audition went well.

  “Fifty-six?” The guy with the clipboard looks around. I leap up.

  “My partner is just, umm, in the bathroom!” I babble. “I’ll go get him. We’ll be right back!”

  The guy shrugs, “Sure, but I can only hold your spot a moment. We’ve got a lot of dancers to see.” He checks his board. “Fifty-seven? Fifty-seven, you’re up!”

  I race down the hall, checking everywhere for Raphael. He’s not by the soda machine, or outside the exit. I catch my breath, growing more desperate by the second. Where the hell is he? This is his big moment, not mine, and I never dreamed for a moment he’d be the one to crack under pressure.

  I’m just about to head back inside when I catch sight of his familiar figure, pacing restlessly back and forth under a small copse of trees, smoking a cigarette.

  I hurry towards him. “Raphael? We’re up. They called our number.”

  Raphael turns toward me. I catch my breath. Fear is painted in harsh strokes on his face, a panic I’ve never seen from him before.

  “I can’t do it,” he says shortly, stubbing out his cigarette. “Let’s go.”

  He grabs my arm and makes to leave, but I pull back. “Hey, stop! What’s going on?” I reach up to touch his face, but he flinches away. “Talk to me,” I urge him gently. “You were fine just a minute ago.”

  “I wasn’t thinking straight.” Raphael’s full lips are set in a heartbreaking scowl. “And now I am. I can’t do it, and I can’t believe I ever thought I could.”

  “Where is this coming from?” I try to keep my voice soothing, running my hand down his arm. Pre-audition nerves are common in dancers, but I never thought Raphael would want to walk away, not after everything we’ve been through to make it to this point. “You’re ready, more than ready. I know it.”

  “You don’t know anything!” Raphael yanks back. “Those dancers in there, they’re the best!” he yells. “Not just in Rome, but from all over Italy. All over Europe! I was stupid to even think I could compete. My father was right,” he adds, in a hollow voice. “I’m making a fool of myself.”

  The insecurity on his face breaks my heart, and right now, I swear, I could strike his father down for making him feel this way. I can’t imagine how Raphael ever made it out, struggling to pursue his dream in the same house as someone determined to cut it down. He’s worked so hard, been so brave, and now, when that dream is closer than ever, the past is still holding him back. Haunting him.

  I won’t let him give up. He deserves this chance.

  “I’ve seen you dance,” I tell him fiercely. “There’s nobody like you. Nobody!”

  Raphael looks away, avoiding my gaze, so I drag him back, trying to make him listen, trying to make him understand just how special he is. “I’m not saying this because I’m your partner, or because I love you. I’m saying it because it’s true!”

  I stop, my hand flying to my mouth. What have I just said?

  My words hang between us, but I can’t take them back.

  Slowly, Raphael’s expression changes. He takes a step towards me, eyes shining with a dark intensity. “What did you say?” he asks, quiet.

  I feel my stomach lurch. Oh God. “I ... I ...” I look away, wishing the ground would swallow me up. What the hell were you thinking, Annalise? I scold myself, blushing furiously. It’s way too soon to even think about saying the L-word, let alone right now, when our relationship is the last thing on his mind.

  “I’m sorry,” I mumble, still not looking at him. “I shouldn’t have—I mean, just ignore it. Please. Pretend like I never said a word.”

  “But what you just said...do you mean it?”

  I gulp. I gather all my courage and look up, into those dark eyes that seem to strip away all my fears and make me bold. Make me brave. My heart races, and my words fade in my throat.

  I nod.

  Raphael reaches out, gently taking my face in his hands. His eyes search mine, full of wonder and disbelief. “Annalise ...” he whispers, and then his lips find mine in a searing, passionate kiss.

  I melt into him, overwhelmed with relief and joy. He didn’t run, he didn’t back away. I was so scared my confession would open a chasm between us, but instead, it’s formed a bridge—through his pain and fear, from his heart to mine.

  Because it’s true.

  I didn’t realize until this very minute, but everything I told him comes straight from my soul. While I was busy focused on the dancing, reveling in our connection—the passionate nights, and the easy, laughing days—I’ve fallen in love for the first time. Completely. Totally.

  And I am his.

  “I believe in you,” I whisper, holding onto him tightly. “I promise, you can do this. We can do this. Together.”

  I could stay here forever, just holding him, but I know our time is running out. “Are you ready?” I pull away, looking up at him. “If we’re going to do this, we need to do it now.”

  Raphael takes a deep breath, then nods. “I think so.”

  “Not good enough.” I give him a soft, teasing smile.

  He manages a grin. “I know so.”

  “Better.” I lean up to kiss him again. “Now, let’s go in there and show them why they can’t live without you.”

  6.

  There are moments of perfection that come along only once or twice in a dancer’s whole career. The times when the stars align, and their performance somehow becomes more than just the sum of its parts: more than a graceful body and perfect footwork, more than fluid rhythm and effortless lifts. We become weightless, formless, no longer bound by our bodies or the reality of the world; we’re merely vessels for movement, the canvas on which an epic story is painted.

  Today is that day for me.

  Dancing with Raphael in front of that panel, I lose myself completely. Every line, every movement is performed just for him, our own private conversation of passion and limitless joy. It’s as if admitting my feelings for him unlocked something deep inside of me, the last cage of self-control that’s been holding me back. Now my heart is naked, totally open to him, and there’s nothing left between us to stop me communicating how I feel, pouring my soul into every step, wild and free and utterly surrendered to this dance.

  Surrendered to him.

  And Raphael...he’s right there with me. Answering my call, pushing me on, demanding more from me with his skill and grace. My awareness of him is absolute, feeling every step before he takes it, intuitively moving to his will.

  He is magnificent, a fallen angel sent to seduce and bewitch, dancing like I’ve never seen before.

  Time doesn’t exist; the four walls of the room mean nothing. All that matters is the two of us, dancing together as one. One heartbeat, one will, one soul. It’s perfection, a dream, to share my passion like this—to make it something greater with him than I ever felt dancing alone.

  I dance with him like I’ve only ever dreamed of dancing. And I know I’ll never be the same again.

  7.

  Raphael

  We stumble from the building and down the street, drunk on each other, on the performance we just gave.

  We were perfection. Every move, every touch, I’ve never felt so in tune with another person. It was as if the world melted away, and it was only the two of us, a raw energy that couldn’t be denied.

  “I can’t believe it,” Annalise laughs, looking as euphoric as I feel. “That was...incredible! Amazing! I don’t even have the words!”

  I grab her waist and lift her, spinning us around until the world is just a blur. She shrieks with laughter, clutching at me.

  “You were amazing,” she says, as I set her down.

  “No, you were.” I cradle her face in my hands. How does she do this to me? How does she unleash such passion? “God, watching you...it was like I wasn’t a separate person anymore. I was with you. Inside you.”

  Annalise’s eyes widen. Lust strikes through me, but before I can
take another step, she’s pressing her perfect body against me, reaching up to kiss me hungrily.

  I groan at the press of her soft, wet lips, the slide of her tongue against mine. Fuck, she’s incredible. I kiss her hard and fast, pushing her back off the main sidewalk and into the shelter of an alleyway. My hands rove, my mouth demands.

  More.

  Annalise lets out a breathy sigh, swaying against me. It’s not enough. I shove her up against the wall, and then cover her body again, pressing her soft frame into the brick, molding every inch to me as I slide my tongue deeper and savor every taste of her.

  She clutches at my shoulders, whimpering as I slide my hands under her jacket. I find her breasts, the perfect swells of flesh, and drag my thumbs across her tight nipples, teasing and rolling the stiff peaks until Annalise shudders and mewls under my touch.

  She writhes against me, mindless. God, she’s so beautiful, the hunger in her eyes mirroring the fierce heat surging through my body. I don’t care that we’re just steps away from the street, I need more. I need to watch her come undone.

  I slip one hand between her thighs and find her clit through the thin fabric of her dress. Annalise’s eyes open, widening with shock—and desire.

  “We can’t,” she gasps weakly, even as her body arches up to press harder against my hand. “People might see...Raphael...”

  I circle slowly with my thumb, gently, and then move my lips to lick down the pale column of her throat as I tease one nipple with my other hand.

  Annalise whimpers, bucking against me. “Oh God,” she moans, “I can’t—”

  “You can,” I murmur. “You will. Just let go, my sweet. Let your body feel it all.”

  Her head falls back. Her hips arch up to meet me. I stroke her clit faster, deepening the pressure, watching the thrilled pleasure on her face.

  “Anyone could find us here,” she gasps, a wild light in her eyes.

  “Yes,” I growl, sliding her dress higher on her thighs. I need more, nothing between us anymore. “Anyone could see you like this. See my hands on you. How much you want it.”

  “Raphael,” she gasps.

  “You do want it, don’t you?” I still my hand, barely stroking, teasing her.

  She makes a noise of complaint.

  “Tell me.” My fingers find the edge of her lace panties. I push them gently aside, brushing her slick, tender nub.

  “Oh God,” she gasps, bucking against me.

  “Tell me,” I order her again, sliding closer, teasing at her damp core. She’s wet, ready for me, her body demanding what her lips cannot express.

  But I want to hear her say it. I need that surrender.

  “I’m waiting…” I whisper, dipping a finger just an inch inside her, then sliding out to circle her clit again. I feel her body shudder, feel the tension gripping in her thighs. I lower my lips, kissing hotly over her neckline, flicking at one pert nipple with my tongue.

  Annalise breaks. “Yes!” she cries, not even trying to keep quiet any longer. “I want it. Please!”

  I sink my finger into her wetness and pulse, hard.

  Annalise collapses against my shoulder, moaning a strangled cry as I slide deeper, surging into her needy channel. Fuck, she feels so good, so tight. I can barely keep it together, but I need to push her over the edge. Nothing else matters but the soft cries of pleasure from her lips, and the way her body trembles against me.

  I press the heel of my palm against her clit, fluttering my finger deeper inside her.

  “Come for me,” I growl into her ear, demanding her release.

  Annalise gasps, and then her whole body goes stiff as she finally shatters, convulsing madly around me with a breathless moan.

  I milk her orgasm until the tremors die away. Then slowly, I pull my hand away, lift my finger to my lips and suck.

  She tastes divine.

  Annalise blinks at me, her cheeks flushed. “I…” she stammers, still catching her breath.

  “God, the look on your face when you’re losing control...” I watch her, her innocence unraveling, the passion showing through. “You’re so fucking beautiful.”

  Her smile slips for a moment, and I wonder if I’ve pushed her too far.

  “Take me home,” she tells me.

  My heart falls. Fuck. “Right, sure. You need to get back.”

  “No,” she stops me, with a secret smile. “Your home.”

  I look at her. There’s only certainty in her eyes now, certainty and pure desire.

  I realize, it’s time. Time for me to fulfill every promise I’ve been making, and show her why her body was really created, all the heights of ecstasy it can provide.

  Tonight, we will dance, and nothing will be the same.

  8.

  Annalise

  We head back to his apartment in silence, the sexual tension between us growing so strong I can barely focus enough to put one foot in front of the other. Every touch from him feels like an avalanche; even the press of his hand against the small of my back, ushering me into the lobby, sends shivers of desire through me.

  I can’t believe what just happened in the alleyway. To be so wild and reckless, where anyone could see…

  But that was part of the thrill, the rebellion. The craving for him took me over, until all that mattered was the rush in my blood, and his mouth on my breast, and the deep slide of his finger taking me to the edge—and beyond.

  And now? Now, every atom of my body is calling out to him, suspended in a shivering state of anticipation for everything to come.

  Raphael yanks the elevator cage shut and hits the button, then backs into the far corner, putting as much space as possible between us. His eyes burn into mine and he grips the railing that runs around the inside of the elevator like he’s holding himself back from tearing my clothes off, right here, right now.

  Oh God. I feel my nipples harden under my dress. His gaze roams over me, stripping me bare, dark and sweet as molasses. I shiver.

  “Raphael...” I murmur, my heart in my throat. Our eyes lock, and the intensity there takes my breath away. He wants me just as much as I ache for him, and soon—

  The elevator jerks to a halt, and then Raphael’s hand is on my arm, dragging me down the hallway. He doesn’t stop until we’re inside, and the door slams shut behind us.

  Silence.

  I look around the room, nervous now that we’re here. Alone. The bed sits in the corner, full of promise. My nerves kick. I turn back to Raphael, self-conscious. What am I supposed to do now?

  “Come here,” Raphael tells me, his voice deep with lust. He holds out a hand, beckoning me.

  I take a step toward him, my heart pounding.

  Raphael reaches out, and slowly traces a line down my cheek, down the sensitive skin of my throat. I feel myself trembling under his stare, caught in his hypnotic gaze.

  “I’ve wanted you since the first day I saw you,” he murmurs, tracing along my collarbone. “Do you remember? I was dancing, and you stood there in the crowd, looking like an angel. So innocent,” he breathes, gently hooking his thumb under the thin strap of my dress. “So perfect.”

  He lifts the strap aside, sliding it off my shoulder. The bodice peels away from my chest, falling to expose my left breast. Raphael exhales, drinking in the sight of me with hungry eyes. “Now look at you,” he slowly traces lower, over the swell of my flesh, sending shivers like silver cobwebs across my skin. “More beautiful than I could have ever imagined.”

  Raphael dips his head and slowly licks around my nipple. I gasp. His tongue blazes, hot and rough against my skin, teasing me with a new heat that sends liquid pooling between my thighs. “You taste like peaches,” he growls, reaching to unhook my other strap. The dress falls around my waist, baring my chest completely. “God, so sweet.”

  Raphael slowly kisses across to my other breast, his tongue circling the tender flesh in a light caress. Then he closes his lips around my nipple and sucks.

  I cry out in pleasure, the sound echo
ing in the empty loft. But I don’t care. I sway against him, and Raphael braces my body upright. He sucks my nipple again, dragging his tongue against the tight nub, his hand closing around my other breast to lightly squeeze and pinch. My God, the feeling is overwhelming, a rich, sharp ache that has me arching against his mouth, drowning in sensation.

  Raphael lifts his head, his breath coming fast. He swiftly strips down the rest of my dress, lifting me aside to let it crumple on the floor. Now I’m shivering with anticipation, barely able to stand before him, wearing nothing but a pair of lace panties.

  Raphael waits, his eyes glazed, watching me. Then slowly, he sinks to his knees.

  My heart skips a beat as Raphael leans closer, sliding his thumbs up under the fabric of my panties. He tugs them lower, lower, all the way down, and now there’s nothing between us anymore. I can feel his breath on me, hot and slow, and I shudder, dizzy, unable to look away from the sight of his dark head, bent toward me, gently kissing up the inside of my thighs. I sway, heat rising in me, aching for his touch. As if he can hear my silent pleas, Raphael glances up, catching my eyes, and then, not looking away, licks up along my clit in a long, gorgeous swoop.

  Fuck.

  I gasp, clutching onto his head for balance, my legs going weak. Raphael grips my hips harder, holding me steady, and licks again, this time delving his tongue into my slit, sliding over me, circling the tight, aching heart of me with a slow, relentless friction that has me moaning beneath his touch.

  It’s too good. Every nerve in my body alive and screaming out for more. Pleasure rolls through me, thick and sweet, as Raphael’s tongue continues his wicked work. He teases me, never letting me settle into the rhythm, and every time I feel the wave start to rise, he’s gone: probing his tongue inside, swirling across my nub, closing his lips around me to nip and suckle again.