BREAKAWAY (The Dartmouth Cobras) (21 page)

She swallowed audibly, gasping into his mouth. "More?"

"Yes, but not today. Today I hope to teach you something else." He stood, drawing her to her feet. This could be a mistake, but he didn't think so. "If you are willing to learn."

"Sure." She shrugged, fiddling with the hem of his shirt. "I did tell you I was ready."

Ready?
Ah, she thought he meant to teach her to submit. He shook his head and tucked her hair behind her ears. "Not that kind of lesson."

Placing his hand on the small of her back, he guided her to the other side of the room where a small, gilded cage sat on a metal stand. The baby bird within, whose coloring matched his father's, bounced on his perch and sang softly.

"He's almost four months old. He had two siblings who are now with my neighbor. Most people believe lovebirds must be in pairs, which simply isn't true. They need to be socialized. Need attention every day. I have a housekeeper who comes in every day when I'm on the road to care for Pit and Cherry." He left Jami with the baby bird and went to put Cherry and Pit back in their cage. "She cares for him as well, but he needs a home of his own. A person he can bond with."

Jami cooed to the bird, then looked over at Sebastian as he returned to her side. "Me? You'd let me have him?"

"If you want him, he's yours." Sebastian chuckled as she squealed and jumped up to hug him. "I will show you how to train him, how to handle him once he matures, but you must be sure you have the time for him. Unless you pair him with another lovebird he will become very attached to you."

"I'll make the time." She bit her bottom lip as he took the baby bird out and cupped her hands to hold him. "What's his name?"

"I've been calling him Peanut."

"Hello, Peanut." She whistled as Sebastian had to Cherry and Pit and laughed, delighted, when Peanut chattered back to her. "You are the sweetest thing."

Sebastian watched her nuzzle the little bird to her cheek and felt a tightness in his throat as he remembered his mother doing the same when he'd brought her Cherry and Pit. In the end, she'd taken better care of the birds than of herself. But for the first time in his life he'd seen her truly happy. Which made the birds precious to him.

Jami leaned against his chest, still cuddling Peanut. "I think I'm in love."

He kissed her hair and closed his eyes.
So do I.

* * * *

Luke lowered into a half pushup stretch on the mat in the workout room which the Ice Girls were using for practice—empty now since at 6pm on a Saturday night even the most dedicated girls were done for the day. Except for Jami and her friend, Akira. Jami didn't know the routine well enough to practice with him alone, and Akira was just as determined as him to get Jami through to the next round. Only, as soon as she saw him, she balked and made a dozen excuses to leave. Apparently she had appendicitis. Or was about to start her period.

He
really
hadn't
needed to hear that.

Right outside the door in the hall, he could hear Jami trying to convince Akira to help her with the routine. He shoved up to his feet and approached the doorway. The poor little Asian girl looked damn scared. And catching sight of him made her chalk-white.

"Hey, everything cool?" He leaned on the doorframe so he didn't loom over them.

"Yeah, Akira's just . . . ."

"I don't deal well with men." Akira hugged herself and took a step back. "I'm sorry."

"All men, or just men who might come on to you?" He took a deep breath and told himself he had to do whatever it took to get Akira to help out. Jami needed to be an Ice Girl, if for no other reason than to prove she could do what she'd set out to do. So he looked at Akira, straight-faced, and told her what he'd deny being to anyone else no matter what he and Seb did. "I'm gay, so you've got nothing to worry about."

Akira's eyes widened. She swept her slick black hair away from her face. "You are?"

"Yep. Jami didn't tell you about last night?"

She shook her head.

"Well, I don't fuck and tell, but I had fun. And not with her." He gave her his patented I'm-harmless smile. "How many straight guys do you know who can dance? Watch me move, then you can decide."

"Okay." Akira inched into the room, keeping a distance, but not looking scared anymore. She smoothed her hands over the sides of her leotard and pursed her lips at Jami's skirt and black silk button up shirt—one of Seb's. "You didn’t even stop to get a change of clothes after spending the night with that guy, did you? Ugh." She swung a small, black canvas bag off her shoulder. "Good thing I came prepared."

"You’re a doll. But hey—" Jami took the black leotard Akira handed her and headed out the door, tossing back. "Don't seduce my
gay
friend. '
kay
?"

Luke frowned. Hell, so much for being nice. She had to put it that way? If he wasn't sporting a
stiffy
half the time at just the thought of getting to fuck her, he might’ve made a play for her friend. He adjusted his shorts and turned away from Akira, sliding into another stretch so she couldn't see his semi, barely hidden by his blue and white Bermuda shorts and white wife-beater.

"So . . . ." Akira skirted around him and went to stand by the weight set pushed against the wall. "This guy, Sebastian . . . was he good to Jami?"

Besides calling her a slut in Spanish and ramming her like an animal?
Luke shrugged, hopped to his feet, then laced his fingers together, turning them so his palms faced the ceiling and raising his arms under he felt a nice pull between his shoulder blades. "Seb's a great guy. Yeah, I'd say he was good to her."

"And you and him are . . . ." Akira's porcelain cheeks went bright pink. She ducked her head. "Lovers?"

Luke felt heat spread over his own cheeks. "Hey, don't start telling people that."

"Oh, I won't! I just want to make sure—I mean, Jami's been hurt before. Not that she'll really admit it, but her ex made her feel bad about herself. If Sebastian is with you—I mean . . . you aren't jealous?"

Aww
fuck. I should have told her I was becoming a priest. Taking vows and all.
He tugged on his collar even though it wasn't tight enough to account for the strangling sensation. "I'm not the jealous type. Me and Seb do our own thing. It's all good."

"You see other men?"

Someone please shoot me.
"Ah . . . if you don't mind, I'd rather not talk about my sex life."

"I'm sorry!" Akira pressed her hands over her mouth. "This is really none of my business."

"It's okay."
Not.
"It's cool that you're looking out for your friend. You two known each other long?"

"Not really. We met during one of the prep classes. Just last week. But it's like we've been friends forever."

"Meaning you're close?" He lowered his voice and glanced towards the door. Gay guys got some perks, right? Like all the juicy details from their female friends? He might as well have some fun with it. And if they let him watch, this would all be worth it. "You have sleepovers and stuff?"

Akira smiled. "Yes. I've spent every night except last night at her place."

"Do you share a bed? Help each other . . .
relax
after a rough day? You can tell me, since—"

"Luke!" Jami swung the door open and stomped up to him. She gave him a sharp shove and waved her finger in his face. "You are such a
perv
."

"Who me?" Luke made his eyes big and spread his arms wide. "It's just a bit of girl talk. Harmless since I don't like girls that way."

"Jerk." Jami mumbled, fiddling with her black leotard, first the straps, then discretely stretching the part covering her ass. She let out a little growl when he wiggled his eyebrows and moved to help. "You're supposed to be teaching me. Behave yourself."

Poor little Akira looked so confused. "Am I missing something?"

"No. Let's just get this over with." Jami pulled a bright yellow elastic from her wrist and swiftly twisted her blue hair into a tight bun. "I'm telling you both now, I'm hopeless."

Over an hour later, Luke had to agree with her. He already had the simple routine down pat and Jami was still going through the motions with all the grace of the Tin Man from the
Wizard of Oz.
Before his rusty joints were greased up. Every move she made was stiff, jerky, and she spent more time watching their reactions to her movements than focusing on doing them. She collided with everything in the room at least once when turns had her tripping over her own feet.

He had to stop himself from asking her how she managed to walk without hurting herself. No one could be
this
bad of a dancer. And apparently she could skate?

"I give up." He picked up a towel from the supply table and draped it over his face. "This isn't working."

"Thank god!" Jami grunted and he flipped the towel over his shoulder to watch her drop hard on the mat. She smiled at him, but her eyes shimmered with tears. "I'd prefer honesty from you two, rather than the judges. I suck. Just say it."

"Oh, you're not getting off the hook that easy, boo." He grinned at her open mouthed stare. "That's right. You're still learning the routine. Just not like this."

"Then how?"

"Let's go get something to eat. Then I'll show you."

Her doubtful expression made him even more determined. The girl had braced herself for failure.

He didn't know the meaning of the word.

* * * *

Strobe lights flashed, making it seem like all the people on the dance floor were set on slow-mo. Jami fidgeted with the skirt of her red plaid mini-dress, then traced her fingers over the zipper that ran all the way up to the wide black folded collar. They'd stopped off at each of their places to change after a quick supper at a burger joint, and she'd chosen one of her favorite, funky outfits. If people were going to be staring at her, at least she'd feel like herself.

A drink—or five—might help too.

But before she could ditch Akira and Luke and head to the bar, Luke hooked his finger to the thin black belt riding low on her hips and clucked his tongue.

"Oh no you don't. One dance first. And if you don't move like a constipated robot, you can have a drink. My treat." He propelled her to the dance floor with a hand curved around the nape of her neck. Then paused frown at her clunky red Doc Martins. "You
sure
you can move in those?"

"Yeah, they're more comfortable than those flat shoes we have to dance in."

"All right, babe." He motioned for Akira to follow and dragged her to the center of the crowded dance floor. He chuckled in her ear as she cocked her head and wrinkled her nose at the song.
Till the World Ends by Britney Spears.
"Oh get over it. I’m sure you’d prefer
Avril
Lavigne
, but she doesn’t have many sexy songs."

Jami rolled her eyes. "Oh please.
Avril
? Really? Try Sick Puppies or—"

"Sick Puppies? Are you making that up?"

"Nope."

"Huh." Luke put his hands on her hips. "All right, enough talking. Just move with me. Don't think about anything else."

 
His muscles moved under her hands, and her breath caught as his arms framed her body and took control. She shot a glance at Akira, but she’d already let go, her simple, frilly black skirt flipping off her thighs as she wiggled her hips. She didn't seem to notice the men watching her. Or that there were any men at all. Jami had been a little scared for her, knowing how nervous she got when anyone male was in the vicinity since the crowd she would be dancing and cleaning the ice in front of would be primarily men, but at the moment, it was as though Akira was aware of nothing but the music.

Suddenly, she understood why Luke had brought them here. With the music so loud, the entire atmosphere pulsing with the beat, she didn't have to think about how to move her body the
right
way. She just had to let herself go. Let the rhythm move her.

On the ice, she felt in complete control. Whatever song she chose might change things a little, but it was all about the ice under her skates, about the spins and speed, and she knew she could do it all. Without skates, she felt as though something was missing. She
wasn't
in control. And worse, she had to follow a routine that someone else set out for her. Her body felt like it belonged to someone else.

But not now. Not with Luke's hands on her hips and his hard chest flattening her breasts, making them throb, making her so aware of every hot inch of flesh and muscle and bone. Every part of her became liquid, fluid, part of the rhythm, following it, and him, without any need for her brain to intercede. Even when he eased away from her, she flowed into each movement as easily as she did with each smooth glide on the ice.

"There you go." The warm approval in Luke's tone as he slid behind her and pressed his lips to her throat filled her with confidence, making her bold. She ground back into him, tipping her head to kiss him. His breath was a summer breeze stirring a bonfire and she trembled as his hand stroked low over her belly.

She hardly noticed when the song ended.

"You've earned a drink." He cupped her cheek and jutted his cheek towards Akira, whose eyes narrowed slightly as she watched them. "And I'm thinking we need to come clean with your friend."

Pressing her lips together, keeping her expression as serious as possible, she hooked her arm to his and trailed Akira to the bar. "About what? I think we've been pretty honest."

He smacked her butt hard before lifting her up to an empty stool. "You're horrible. We both know I'm not gay. Are you going to tell her, or should I?"

Pointing out that he was likely bi seemed cruel, since he was clearly still torn about it, but he was right. It was technically a lie, and Akira deserved better from her after the way they'd opened up to one another. She waited until Akira had taken a few sips of her rum and coke, then turned on her stool to face her friend.