Page 35 of Dancing on Air

“Do you have class in the morning?” he asked.

“Always. Every morning,” she said with a smile. “Which is why I should be heading back to my place.”

“Right,” he said, moving his hand lower.

He felt her melt against him. She trailed her mouth over his neck and purred next to his ear. He shifted her under him again. “After. I did promise you that the second time would be better. Let me prove it to you.”

He woke alone in his bed shortly before noon. For so many years, he had been up long before sunrise, attending dance classes or doing military drills. Now his body was on its own schedule. One that suited him better. Normally he’d be up long before now, but then again, he didn’t normally spend an entire night pleasing someone and being pleased in return.

She had left a note on the pillow next to him, and he smiled as he read her words.

“See you later. Thanks for last night. Let’s do it again, soon. –Cora”

How did Cora manage it all? Not once had he seen her looking worn out, or even tired.

As he sipped his coffee, he remembered being the same during his years of training. Eating little. Having an abundance of energy.

When he did sleep, it was the sleep of the dead. Dreamless.

God, he wished for those nights again. Now, the nightmares returned about twice a week, sometimes more depending on the stress he was under.

When his phone rang, he smiled as he answered his sister’s call.

“I like her,” Missy said immediately.

“Yeah, I figured you would.” He took another sip of his coffee.

“Is this the real deal?” Missy asked.

He took a deep breath and thought for a moment. “Maybe.”

“What do the folks think of Cora?” Missy asked. As a response, he groaned. “They don’t know?”

“Dad gave her the lead in R and J.” He dumped the rest of his coffee out. It wouldn’t do to be too hyped today. He had a meeting with his parents before practice started.

“Well, that’s something. Has he tried to sleep with her yet?” Missy asked.

“Jesus.” He almost coughed.

“It’s what he does. Remember my friend Lilith? When she got the lead one summer, Dad was on her like flies on fly paper.”

“Missy,” he warned.

“You’re not still under the assumption our parents are loyal to one another, are you?” Missy asked.

“I was,” he said truthfully.

“You’ve been gone too long. Then again, you’ve been back for two years. Surely, you’ve seen it firsthand.”

“I’ve avoided being around them.”

“Well, you’ll see it for yourself soon enough. Oh, they still act polite in mixed company. After all, one must put on airs.” She added the last in an exact imitation of their mother’s voice.

“Shit, you sound just like her,” he said, causing Missy to chuckle.

“She’s got her own string of men. Most of them are partners she chooses to dance with. Although, she hasn’t done anything herself in a while. Not since her foot injury last year. Still, I think she has one guy she’s been seeing.”

“How do you know this?” he asked.