Surge - Maya Nicole Page 0,65

it's across the hall. Unless you want to wear my skirt."

He hooked his fingers in my belt loops and pulled me against him. "I haven't seen you in a few days. I missed you."

"What are you even doing here?" I backed away from him and stepped into my skirt, taking my jeans off under it. "Shouldn't you be brushing your mermaid hair with a fork?"

I turned to put my pants in my bag, but he pushed me against the wall, his mouth coming to my ear. "Do I need to tell you not to say shit like that out loud?"

"Let me go."

"Not until you tell me you understand." His lips were right against the shell of my ear, and I shuddered. "Does this excite you? Me pressed up against you like this?"

I couldn't find my voice as he moved his hips closer and I felt his excitement against my ass. He let out a confused laugh when I didn't respond. "I guess I'll go find those clothes to change into."

I had to sit down on the bench for a few minutes before going back into the studio. I hadn't wanted to believe that I was a siren, but damn it if I didn't feel like doing stupid shit when they were near.

It didn't explain why it was only around them, but I also had a knife that could cut through metal and marble without much effort on my part. Maybe I was dreaming and would wake up.

I splashed water on my face and looked in the mirror. My face was splotchy from crying and there were circles under my eyes. I needed a weekend where I didn't have to worry about where my mom was or what I was going to do when the money ran out.

I needed to get a job.

The reality of it set in again, and I closed my eyes. I could handle this. I was practically eighteen and was going to be away at college next year anyway. Growing up was just coming a little sooner than expected.

There was a knock on the door. "We're waiting!" Bernardo couldn't hide the excitement in his voice.

I took a deep breath and walked into the studio.

I hadn't wanted to be rude when my last lesson was spent practicing the waltz with Morgan, so I let my annoyance fester inside. He had distracted my focus to the point where I could hardly move without messing up a step.

He had changed into sweatpants that were way too tight on him, but were better than the leather he had been sporting. I even caught Bernardo checking out his ass a few times in the mirror as we moved across the floor.

Morgan was a natural at dance, but I couldn't figure out how he learned the steps and how to move correctly so quickly. It usually took me an entire lesson to get a new step learned and integrated to be fluid, and he could do it after seeing Bernardo model it once.

The end of the lesson came too soon, and Bernardo took my arm and led me and Morgan to the office and shut the door. He slid a box of tissue over to me as we sat since tears were already silently falling down my cheeks.

I was going to set a world record for crying in one day at the rate I was going.

Morgan sat hunched over with his forearms on his knees and watched me as I tried to pull myself together.

"I know today was officially supposed to be our last lesson, but Morgan came by earlier and talked with me." Bernardo gave Morgan a look of endearment. "He has offered to pay for lessons for the both of you as partners."

I looked at Morgan, who was smiling at me. "Why?"

He rolled his eyes and sat back in his chair, propping his ankle onto his knee. "Can't I just do something nice for you?"

"No." I stood. "This last lesson was supposed to be special and you completely took it over!"

Bernardo looked taken aback and looked between Morgan and me. "Riley, he's just trying to help."

"I don't need his help. He probably just wants sex." I crossed my arms and glared down at Morgan. "Or to ruin the only good thing I had left."

He threw his hands up in surrender before lacing them together on his stomach. "So you'd rather not dance than accept my offer?"

I worked my bottom lip between my teeth. Would it really be so bad to take