“Tylar would take offence at being called a prick.”
He leans his elbows on the top of the stepladder. “Then she’s the biggest prick of all pricks. And you make sure to tell her that.”
He looks at the entrance and lowers his voice. “She’s not in tonight, is she?”
They obviously aren’t in contact right now.
“No, she’s still in Rome.”
Dez nods, and I can tell he wants to talk about her more, but he taps the metal of the ladders and gets back to work, burying his head in the ceiling.
I quickly pull off my tracksuit and yank my tights on, button my bodysuit at the crotch, then tie my knee-high Pleaser boots. They’re new, and the leather squeaks a little when I move my ankles.
Kade comes in as I connect my phone to the speakers, and I can feel his eyes on my back. It’s distracting me from searching through the notes for my routine. As I glance up at the floor-to-ceiling mirrors that span one side of the hall, I can see him staring at me. More specifically, he’s looking at my legs, dragging his gaze upwards.
He might as well have dragged his tongue over my skin with how hot it makes me.
“Pass the flathead screwdriver,” Dez says, causing Kade to break away from eye-fucking me. “This won’t tighten, piece of shit wiring.”
“Let me try,” he replies in a deep voice, and I try to focus on finding the notes I’ve saved on my phone outlining each move.
The hall is big enough that they shouldn’t cause a distraction, even with the corner of the ceiling hanging down.
I sit down in front of the mirrors, playing “Party Monster” by The Weeknd, and quickly swipe through my notes, then I sink into the splits, each leg straight out with blocks beneath my ankles. Usually, I’d do this without heels, but Kade being here has completely thrown me off what I usually do to prepare for classes.
Flexibility has always been a positive for me. I bend in all ways, which makes it easier to dance, work out and…
Yeah.
I roll my hips forward to deepen the split, leaning down so my elbows rest on the grey wooden flooring.
“Ah, shit,” Dez blurts out, the metal creaking as he jumps down from the ladders. “I need to head, man. Are you good to finish this up?”
Kade must nod or something, because I don’t hear a reply.
I smile at Dez as he gathers his things then says goodbye to us both. Annoyingly, I can hear the joke in his tone as he says, “You two have fun. ”
We most definitely will not.
My bodysuit is like a thong and does nothing to hide my ass in this position. My netted tights make me appear more sexual, and my boots are nine inches of red leather that go to just above my knees. Of all the times to be left alone with Kade! I mentally pat myself.
“How long are you going to be?” I ask, keeping my gaze fixed on my phone screen. “Will you still be here when my class begins? I’ll need to turn the lights out and the LEDs on.”
When he doesn’t respond right away, I glance up. He’s walking to the mirrors in front of me to go through his tool bag. He flips a hammer in his palm then checks his phone, staring at the screen before tossing it down.
“I’ll leave before your class starts. You can put the LEDs on now though. I’ll use a head torch.”
Seeing Kade working does things to me. Ewan has been trying to get him to work with his company for years, but he only does the odd job here and there.
University was his plan.
That’s where he’d vanished to, only coming back every now and again and ignoring me in the process. I’ve no idea why he’s home now.
Maybe he quit?
Once the lights are out, and a soft red glow takes over the room, I scroll through Spotify, finding “Skin” by Rihanna. Before pressing play, I finish my stretches and turn to Kade, who’s at the top of the ladder with his head in the ceiling.
“Are you sure you want to stay? This is like… a really slow dance routine.”
I feel my nerve endings catching fire as he lowers his head from the ceiling, his eyes lingering on me for a split second before he goes back to work.
The lyrics are about rough fucking, for crying out loud.
With my ex right here.
I could scream.
I mentally say a prayer for myself as I get into position. It’s not that I’m embarrassed; my classes aren’t for someone else’s pleasure. They’re for body positivity and feeling good about yourself, taking an hour away from real life and escaping reality.
But dancing the way I’m about to in front of him, especially with the way I get into the zone of things, I must say I’m a little nervous.
He’s seen me dancing, but not for a long time.
Hopefully he keeps his head in the ceiling.
The vocals start, and I lie back, raising one knee so my heel drags on the laminate, then the other, alternating for the introduction as my back arches off the floor. I flip onto my front, flicking my hair and leisurely, sultrily sliding up to sit on my haunches while my hands roam my body, my hips moving all the while.
Kade stays in the ceiling while I keep going, working up a sweat by the time I get to my feet. I slowly walk around the pole, then pivot around it twice, one hand exploring myself as the other grips the cold metal. My eyes lift to the mirrors, and I nearly stop moving.
He’s no longer in the ceiling – Kade’s leaning his elbows on top of the ladder, watching me as I slide my back down the pole to squat, twirling my hips as I descend.
I wrap my long ponytail around my fist. “Stop looking at me.”
He shakes his head.
I roll my eyes and keep going, trying to focus on my routine. But I can’t. He’s staring at the way my body moves to the beat, the rhythm of how I sway into each word she sings.
I abruptly stop and put my hands on my hips, facing him with a scowl. “You’re distracting me.”
Both his brows raise as he points at his chest. “Me? You’re the fucking distraction here.”
“I told you it was a slow song. If you don’t like it, then leave or pay attention to your work.”
I ignore whatever he mutters under his breath, stopping the song and putting it back to the beginning before I get back into my starting position on the floor. I’m far too hot, and I’m desperate to remove my tights.
The music takes hold of me, and this time he keeps himself busy while I do the entire routine, then a second time. On the third, I hear him huff and fold away his ladder. I don’t stop as he tidies up the corner, and I don’t look at him while I’m air walking on the pole as he walks right past to pack up his things in front of the mirror.
Rihanna stops, The Hills starts automatically, and I’m a panting mess on the floor, star-fishing while I attempt to cool down. Kade, in his navy-blue top and shorts, stops at my feet. His dark hair is messy, hanging over his forehead; a tattoo curls up from his collarbone, and his arms look stronger than before.
Kade’s blue eyes are burning into me.
“What?” I snap, still panting as The Hills get into the chorus.
“Base is going to message you.”
I sit up, perching on my elbows and crossing my legs at the knee. “And?”
Kade’s gaze drags up and down my body before his Adam’s apple works in his throat.
Hm, I’ve licked that throat.