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He shook his head, face-crinkling smile irresistible as always.
“The bed will be cold.”
“Not for long,” he replied, smile gone.
The tumultuous feelings of the day found an outlet as we kissed and kissed, and kissed again. He picked me up, and the doors slid shut.
“This is the best time of the day,” I said a little later, once speaking was possible again.
“Not for you,” he said in disbelief. “Not today.”
“It is.”
“But this is your day of glory. Everyone is speak of you, ask about.”
I made my own noise of disbelief and snuggled closer.
“Okay, so what is second-best part?” he asked.
“Dancing with you.”
“Ah yes, we have such a strong connection, knowing every inch of each other’s bodies as we do. Though you are a wonderful partner, Malphia, needing far less support than many more experienced dancers I have worked with. I wish I could be twenty years younger for you.”
“I meant just now in the hall,” I said, laughing before seeing his solemn expression. “And you don’t need to be any different. You’re perfect. I love you. Now, go to sleep.”
Chapter 27
Themorningwasunexpectedlycold. Aleks sat, leaning back against the headboard. My smile was not reciprocated.
“The shining one awakes.” The world wavered in the harshness of his voice. “I saw you last night,” he said. “Is a different picture, you with all these people. They love you, no?”
I sat up and stared at him, trying to work out what this was.
“And what was I do?” he went on. “Take you away from it all, to keep you here for myself.” His gesture encompassed the bed as if there were something inherently wrong about our being there together.
“Do you mean when you took me away from that Colin person?” I asked. “Because he was horrible, Aleks. I was glad you cut in when you did.”
“You have seen him dance?”
“No.”
“Maybe you should. You will see he is being relevant.”
“Aleks.” I sat closer and rubbed his literally cold shoulder. “I don’t understand.”
He got out of bed and retreated to the windows and stood staring out of them. “Last night,” he said, still in the harsh voice. “Three men are asking me if you are involved with anyone. No one is imagine you would be here.” His laugh was entirely lacking in mirth, the word ‘here’ again derogatory. “I am overhear Simone and Sadie, backstage,” he went on. “They discuss the footage you never saw, that I made sure you didn’t see. ‘Sounds nightmare,’ says Sadie. ‘Lucky escape for me,’ is Simone’s answer, and they are laughing.”
“Simone’s a cow, Aleks.” I pulled on a T-shirt and went over to him. “You have to learn never to listen to anything she says. I have.”
He took hold of my hands and pushed them back, rebuffing the attempted embrace. “No,” he said “You should listen. She is not the first woman to see how it is. You saw Lilian’s blog. You read all these reasons she left me?”
“No.” I’d only ever read that one small bit.
“See, always, you are not thinking. ‘Your career may be over, but mine isn’t.’ This is what she say to me. She has not write that part. But you don’t look to the future, do you, Malphia?”
“Not generally, no.” It was scary and mysterious, like his anger. I looked out the window too, and saw the path to the stone circle, all green and quiet and still.
“A dancer needs to think of herself,” he went on. “What contacts could be useful. But you are all about your friends…” They received the same dismissive gesture as the bed. “Me, your babies…” He flung his hands up and recommenced the window stare.
