Prima - Alta Hensley Page 0,16

me looking around to discover that where there had been several others milling about, I was now alone. Taking a deep breath, I stood up and slid the strap of my bag onto my shoulder.

The hell with the others, and fuck indecision. I intended to grasp onto this new opportunity with both fists. The chance to get on the stage again was too amazing to turn down. It was what my grandmother wanted for me too. Over the last couple of days, we’d had long conversations about it, and she’d told me over and over again she was happy to get the help of nurses while I was out on the road. Though I was not sure how I felt about someone else doing what I felt was my job, I knew my babushka would never forgive me if I didn’t give this a true shot. I was pretty positive I’d not forgive myself either if I didn’t agree to take Alek up on the offer. We’d deal with the rest as it came. I had the intense feeling if I didn’t do this right now, it’d be the biggest mistake I’d ever make.

I walked through the theater, anxious to see Alek once more. The situation surrounding me was crazy. It was the most unexpected thing in the entire world, but feelings for Alek were still managing to creep their way in no matter how hard I tried to deny or explain those feelings as something else. I suppose it was because he was giving me the lifeline I so desperately needed. Or maybe it was because he was my prospective boss, which made him taboo and off limits. Lusting after Alek was another way I could mess up this chance, which I really didn’t want to do.

He was gorgeous as anything, probably the most handsome man I’d ever laid eyes on. He might not dance on stage, but he moved with a grace that reminded me of a sleek panther.

A shudder ran through me at the thought of being stalked by such a beast. I could so easily visualize him slipping through the jungle without making a single sound, only to drop down from overhead to pin me beneath him. The shudder turned into a quiver that resided between my thighs as I pictured his head lowering, his mouth opening in preparation to claim me.

A bit shocked at the tingle of desire zinging about in places I’d thought long dead. I reminded myself I’d sworn off men, took a final deep breath and lifted my hand to knock on the door.

6

Alek

“Come in,” I called out, looking up to see the door opening a crack to reveal a face that had me wanting to lift my fist into the air, shake it in victory, and shout, “Fucking A!” Instead I said, “Oh, hey, Clara. Come on in.”

Elegance laced her raw edges.

I really liked what I saw today. She was dressed completely different from the shabby attire she’d been wearing when I’d first seen her at her house. The fact her hair was still a bit wet from her shower and pulled back in a ponytail instead of framing her face should have taken away from her beauty, but did the complete opposite. The wild curls had been tamed with some type of band, and yet the sleek style served to emphasize a flawless complexion. If she wore makeup, it had been applied sparingly, but then again, she didn’t need any. Her cheeks were flushed the perfect shade of pink. Long lashes enhanced eyes the color of jade glittering with gold specks.

The baggy pants and shapeless shirt had been replaced with black leggings paired with a white tank top, both clinging to curves that begged to be explored. My eyes were drawn to the sleek toned muscles of her arms and then danced to the cleavage her top not only revealed, but enhanced. There was the hint of a tattoo on her left breast, the tip of a white wing barely visible yet instantly making me want to pull the top over her head and trace every line of whatever image she’d allowed to grace her perfect body. It could be anything with wings flying across her breast, but it made her look exotic, tough, and feminine all at once. A tattoo was normally forbidden in our world as the dancer was expected to play many different roles, some of them quite timeless. It wouldn’t do to have Sleeping Beauty pausing