Evie had danced at Varro’s estate, but that was different. It was for him alone or for him and a few guests. And always withthat damned classical music in the background, like that would somehow make assaulting her more dignified. The thought of dancing under the club lights again, with the smell of sweat and alcohol in the air, filled Evie with a strange, nostalgic joy.
Maybe Lily and Blake could come with her and cheer her on.
Evie beamed at Natalya. “Yes, please. I would really like that.”
“Then I’ll have it arranged.” Natalya started to go back towards the door. “I’ll leave you to it.”
Watching Natalya walk away, Evie felt guilty. Natalya couldn’t help that she felt Evie’s emotions. Eviehadbeen scared before. Without context, and with what had happened last time Natalya sensed Evie’s fear, it made sense she’d come. And then Evie had just snapped at her. That wasn’t fair.
Shehadn’t been fair. She’d distanced herself from Natalya for days, ever since the morning after they’d been together. She’d even lined salt at the bedroom door so Natalya couldn’t enter. All because Natalya asked questions she needed to ask, and Evie didn’t want to think about.
Evie wasn’t good at apologizing when it came to stuff like this, but she should at least try. Even if she wasn’t sure how to say the words, she wanted to dosomething.
There was also another reason for what Evie was feeling. A simpler one. She just didn’t want Natalya to leave.
“Wait!”
Natalya stopped and turned. Her long curls bounced slightly as she did.
She really was unbelievably beautiful. Radiant and strong, and then those slitted, violet eyes that made her look otherworldly.
“Yes?” Natalya smiled, and it pulled at something deep inside of Evie, making her sigh. She fidgeted, not knowing how to start and only certain that she wanted Natalya to stay.
“Would you like to see? The routine?”
“You’re offering a private dance?”
Evie crossed her arms, feigning an attitude of disinterest. “I guess you could call it that.”
Natalya regarded her for a moment, looking a little surprised. Then curious. “I would love to.”
Evie switched on the music, beginning the opening steps on the floor. She did turns, stretching out her limbs and pushing up into moves that relied on her arms more than her legs. The routine required strength and flexibility. She had both.
As she moved to the pole, ascending it with ease and confidence, she caught Natalya looking at her. Not just with the attentive gaze of someone impressed by the complex moves but with a deeper enjoyment. A darker one.
Evie skipped a beat of the song seeing it, hanging still for a breath before getting into the routine again. She moved with another energy now. Before, she’d danced as though she was alone, performing for herself in the mirror. This was different. She kept her eyes on Natalya as she spun slowly, holding on to the pole and pulling her legs into a split over her head.
When she’d first seen Natalya, she’d danced for her too. Stolen glances at her. Then it was out of fear. Now it was because of something else.
As Evie descended on the last few notes, she landed so she was leaning against the pole. Strands of hair had fallen into her face, and her breathing was heavy. Natalya looked at her in silence.
“What do you think?” Evie asked when Natalya stayed quiet.
Rather than answer, Natalya walked towards her, ending at the pole she had just been using. Natalya grabbed it, holding onto it so her hand was just above Evie’s.
“I think it was wonderful.” Her voice was low and sensual.Wanting. Evie’s breath caught in her throat. “I didn’t know you could dance like that.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.” Evie sounded nothing like Natalya. Natalya’s voice was firm and confident.Hers was a panting mess, and it was only partly due to her dancing just before.
“Really?” Natalya’s eyes shined briefly. “Such as?”
Evie had no answer. How was she supposed to come up with anything clever when Natalya was looking at her like that? With such obvious desire? Desire that wasn’t there a moment before, and which had been produced because of her.
It should scare her. It did, a little. But fresh in her mind was the memory of Natalya’s kiss creating passionate electricity against her lips. Of her warm touch and then her holding Evie as she slept. Of Evie moaning against her mouth.
That she could make Natalya—gorgeous, powerful, remarkableNatalya—look at her with so much want made it feel like Evie’s heart was suddenly attached to a jackhammer.
Natalya raised her hand, moving it over Evie’s lips, then her chin and throat. Not quite touching.
