First Position (9 page)
Authors: Melody Grace
Way to go, Annalise. Now he thinks you never want to see him
again.
“You’re just up ahead here,” Raphael nods.
“So...” I swallow. “I guess this is goodbye.”
Raphael looks at me evenly. “That’s up to you. I meant
what I said,” he murmurs, moving closer. His hands slide around
my waist, and suddenly, there’s nothing in the world but his
blue eyes, piercing deep past every one of my defenses.
“I can teach your body everything,” Raphael’s voice
drops, husky with desire. His hands slowly drift to my hips, tugging
me closer, until our bodies are pressed together. Intimate.
“I will teach you to move, and dance, the way you never have
before, sweet Annalise.” His words caress me, rolling like
molasses down my spine. “The oldest dance of all. But you have
to decide. Do you want this?”
His eyes search mine. I can feel his muscular thighs through our
clothing, the heat radiating from his body. Every part of me is
screaming a wanton chorus.
Yes.
I gulp, and then, before I can even think about what I’m doing,
I reach up on my tiptoes, and land a kiss on his lips.
Raphael’s whole body stiffens under my touch. I lurch back.
Oh God, what have I done?
I pull away, but then I feel pressure on my waist. Raphael is still
holding me. He yanks me back again his body. “What was that?”
he demands
“I’m sorry,” I babble. “You said… so
I… That was yes. I mean, yes. I want this.”
I pause, collecting my thoughts again, and when I speak, it’s
determined.
“I want you.”
Raphael’s eyes flash dark with possession, and then he’s
pushing me back against the wall and covering my lips with his own.
I melt into him. If the kiss the other night was blazing, and our
moment in the park was teasing, this is dangerously sensual.
Raphael’s lips are cool on mine, slow and bold. His tongue
slides into my mouth, exploring, probing, and all the while his hands
stroke across my back, bringing me closer to the heat of his solid,
muscular body.
I lose track of time, of the world, of my very name. All that matters
is the taste of him, the relentless seduction of his mouth, and the
slow-burn fire snaking through my veins. I kiss him back, hesitant at
first, but then bolder: reaching my hands to run them through his
hair, nibbling gently on his lower lip. Raphael lets out a low groan
at the pressure, then pulls away, leaving a shock of cool air where
his body was pressed against me.
I blink back to reality, breathless and undone.
“I...” I blink, my head spinning. “I really have to
go.” I turn to check the street, the entrance to the dorms just
down the block, and then I freeze.
Mademoiselle. And half the troupe, gathered out front, about to leave
for dinner.
About to catch me in the act.
I reel back, grabbing Raphael’s hand and dragging him around
the corner. My heart pounds with panic. Did anyone see us? What if
somebody looked?
Oh God ...
I picture what I must have looked
like on the corner just now, making out with Raphael like the world
was about to end.
“What is it?” Raphael asks. “What’s wrong?
You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
I peer around the corner, but the group isn’t moving. “My
company,” I explain. “I can’t be seen with you.”
“You aren’t allowed to date?” Raphael stops. “But
you’re an adult, surely they can’t say.”
“No! I mean, yes,” I admit, still panicking. “But
not me, not right now. Look, it’s complicated, I’ll
explain later. I just need to get back inside without anyone seeing
me.”
Raphael doesn’t seem reassured, but he thinks for a moment. “Is
there a back entrance, any way in from the street?”
My mind races. “The balcony!” I exclaim. “We’re
on the first floor, maybe there’s a fire escape.”
“Come on.” Raphael takes my hand, and leads me down the
back alleyway behind the building. I’ve only ever seen it from
above, the view from our room, but now I look up, searching the
windows and small ledges until I find our balcony: Rosalie’s
delicate nightgowns hanging from the railing to dry.
“Up there,” I point. “But there’s no way up.”
“There’s always a way.” Raphael strides forwards
and pulls on the trellis that’s fixed to the wall. Vines and
flowers twist up the side of the building, threading in and out of
the thick wooden frame. “Here, this is solid, it goes right to
your room.”
“I can’t climb that!” I yelp.
Raphael takes my hand, giving me a cocky, devil-may-care grin. “Sure
you can. I’ll give you a leg up.”
I pause. It’s clear he’s done this a dozen
times—scrambling places he’s not supposed to go, on some
reckless adventure. But me? There’s nothing reckless about my
life.
Then my phone buzzes with a text. Karla.
We’re all waiting. Where r u?
I look up at the trellis again and gulp. “OK.”
Raphael puts his hands together to make a step. I use his shoulders
as leverage and clamber up. He lifts me higher, effortlessly, like I
weigh nothing at all, until I’m gripping hold of the trellis.
“You got it?” Raphael checks.
“Uh huh.” I find a foothold, and cautiously climb higher.
It’s not so far, I see: only a few feet now between me and
safety. I draw level with the balcony, and reach out, stretching with
one hand to grasp a hold of the railing. I feel the solid iron under
my fingertips and relax. Home free.
Suddenly, the trellis gives way, slipping several inches under my
weight. My body lurches down, my foot still trapped in the frame. A
stab of pain shoots up through my ankle, and I let out a cry.
“Annalise?” Raphael calls. “Hold on!”
The pain in my ankle throbs, white-hot. I gasp for air, tears
stinging in my eyes. But there’s no time to recover; I can feel
the trellis already creaking again under my weight. I clench my jaw
and slowly lever my foot free, every movement sending fresh pain
splintering through my ankle.
Oh God. My ankle!
Fear whirls in my mind as I grip tighter to the balcony, using all my
strength to lift myself up again and pull myself over the railing. I
land heavily on the other side, collapsing to the ground with another
sharp burst of pain.
“Annalise?” Raphael calls again, but I barely register
his voice through the panic flooding my system. I carefully ease my
sandal off, sending up a silent prayer.
Don’t let it be serious. Please, don’t let it be
serious.
I slowly take off the shoe and stop, my heart falling. My ankle is
already swelling up, red and bruised. It still hurts like hell, but I
force myself to stand, trying to put weight on it again.
It’s too much. I whimper from the pain, leaning heavily on the
railing to take the pressure off. Disappointment and fear crash
through me. If I can’t even stand, how am I supposed to dance
tomorrow? To leap through the air, and land with ease, to go up on
the tips of my toes and turn a dozen perfect arabesques?
Everything I’ve worked for, ripped away in an instant.
How could you have been so stupid?! And for what—some man?
“Annalise!” Raphael’s voice comes again. “Talk
to me. Are you OK?”
I finally turn to look down at him, waiting in the alleyway below. He
looks gorgeous down there—gorgeous, and tempting, and deadly.
Now I know why my mom warned me to stay away from guys, why she said
they’d only spell disaster for my career. I let myself be
seduced, I thought I could have it all, and now look where that’s
gotten me: twisting my ankle before the biggest audition of my life.
I’ve ruined everything—and it’s all my fault.
“No, I’m not OK!” I cry, sobs coming, hot and
fierce in the back of my throat. “I twisted my ankle. It could
even be broken!”
“Oh God.” He looks stricken. As a dancer too, he must
realize exactly what a tragedy this is. “I’m so sorry.
Does it hurt? Are you in much pain?”
“It doesn’t matter about the pain!” I sob,
clutching onto the balcony railing for support. “What matters
is I can’t dance on it. The audition for solos is tomorrow. I
may as well pack up and go home right now.”
“Wait there.” Raphael moves forward, testing the trellis
for his weight. “I’m coming up.”
“No!” I cry, reeling back. “You’ve done
enough!”
He stops, looking hurt. “Annalise—”
“Just go!” I cry, trying to hold back the tears, but I
can’t. The pain in my ankle sends shards of agony up through me
with every slight pressure, and the terrible realization of what I’ve
done is even worse. “Please, Raphael, go.”
He pauses. “It could be all right,” he urges me. “I’ve
had sprains before. If you bandage it, keep it on ice for a few days
...”
“I don’t have a few days,” I swallow. Now that the
panic is over, I just feel the crushing weight of disappointment.
“The auditions are tomorrow,” I tell him in a dull voice.
“This is it for me, it’s over.”
“Don’t say that.” Raphael’s face is full of
sympathy, and it’s too much for me to take. If it wasn’t
for him, I wouldn’t be in this position; if he hadn’t
been so damn sexy, so utterly seductive.
“Go!” I order him again, my voice harsh.
“I’ll come see you tomorrow,” he promises, but I
shake my head.
“No. I can’t see you again. Please, don’t come
back.” And with a final look at him—at the wounded look
in his dark eyes—I turn away, and limp inside the room.
It’s dark and empty here, no sound but my own ragged sobs. I
fall onto the bed and weep.
Raphael
I walk away, but I know, I won’t stay gone.
She’s scared. She’s hurt. Even a small injury would wreck
her career. I hate myself for risking so much. She’s the most
precious thing in the world to me already, and I’ll do anything
to keep her safe.
Tomorrow, I swear. Tomorrow I will return. And no matter what, I’ll
keep coming back, until she admits the fire that blazes between us;
the passion that is waiting to be unleashed.
I’ve only tasted a moment of her pleasure. Felt the exquisite
ache of her body, seen the daze of lust and wonder in her eyes.
I will uncage the wild beast within her. I will free her – and
tame her body under my command. Every inch of flesh, every moment of
ecstasy. I will show her the world.
I will possess her. Deep and hard. Slow and steady, until she’s
slick and gasping in my arms.
My sweet Annalise…
Our dance has only just begun.
**
TO BE CONTINUED…
What happens next? Annalise and Raphael’s dance of seduction
continues in SECOND POSITION, out 11/12.
SECOND POSITION
Dancing
with the perfect partner is like the most exquisite climax of your
life.
Can
you feel it? The way our bodies rock together. My hands pinning you
down, my mouth sliding over your hot, damp skin. Each hard thrust
driving deep to that place you never dreamed possible. Every
breathless cry hurtling you closer to the edge.
Beyond
words. Beyond thought. Beyond reason.
Free.
I’d
all but given up on perfection like that. Until I met her.
Annalise.
Her
body is pure motion; her spirit, a caged bird just waiting to be set
free.
I
will claim her. I will possess her.
I will teach her the most
passionate dance of all.
*Part
two of the sexy, seductive romance serial*
THE DIRTY DANCING SERIES:
FIRST POSITION
SECOND POSITION
THIRD POSITION -- COMING 12/1
Be the first to find out about my new releases. Sign up to my
newsletter:
http://eepurl.com/G8UwT
Connect with me online:
Also by Melody Grace, discover the Beachwood Bay series.
UNREQUITED
Alicia
isn’t the kind of girl to kiss a total stranger up against the
wall -- no matter how devastatingly sexy he is. But reeling from a
broken heart, she runs straight into the arms of Dex Callahan: rock
star, bad boy, and the most seductive man she’s ever known.
Dex
is looking for distraction, at any price. The innocent redhead is
just what he needs to keep his demons at bay -- but one taste of her
sweetness isn’t enough. He needs to possess her, body and soul.
Two
searching hearts. One night to discover the passion of a lifetime.
Dex is determined to show Alicia the pleasure she’s been
denied, but can she let go of her heartache and take a risk on the
unknown? Find out in the sizzling new novella from New York Times
bestselling author, Melody Grace!
*This book contains adult situations and explicit content. 17+*
THE BEACHWOOD BAY SERIES:
BOOK 1: UNTOUCHED (Emerson & Juliet’s story begins - novella)
BOOK 2: UNBROKEN (Emerson & Juliet’s story continues)
BOOK 3: UNTAMED HEARTS (Brit & Hunter’s story begins - novella)
BOOK 4: UNAFRAID (Brit & Hunter’s story continues)
BOOK 5: UNWRAPPED (Lacey & Daniel’s holiday novella)
BOOK 6: UNCONDITIONAL (Garret & Carina)
BEACHWOOD BAY: THE CALLAHANS
BOOK 7: UNREQUITED (Dex & Alicia begin – novella)
BOOK 8: UNINHIBITED (Dex & Alicia)
BOOK 9: UNSTOPPABLE (Ryland & Tegan)
BOOK 10: UNEXPECTEDLY YOURS (holiday story)
-- DECEMBER 2014
BOOK 11: UNWRITTEN
–- JANUARY 2015
BOOK 12: UNFORGETTABLE
–- MARCH 2015