Page 29 of In Step

“Come on, let’s give it a try.” I caught his eye and waited.

One more glance to the door and then he sighed. “All right.”

I couldn’t stop my grin. I stood back, raised a questioning brow, and nodded.

He snorted in amusement and then straightened his back and returned the nod.

“Good.” I created a frame with my arms and flicked my fingers to invite him closer. “The embrace can be flexible in casual dancing. It can open and close as the dance dictates, bringing us closer or creating more separation. It’s less like a rudder and more like a communication device.” I slid my right hand around his back. “Now put your left hand on my shoulder to start with. We can work on the complexities down the track.”

Kane slid his hand into place, and I held back a shiver, the vanilla scent of whatever shampoo he used messing with my concentration.

“I’m going to suggest we place our palms flat against each other to start, rather than clasping them. It helps when you’re learning. You’ll know instantly when you’ve lost connection or moved differently to my direction because our hands will fall apart.” He lifted his palm to mine and I smiled. “Perfect.”

Our faces were barely inches apart. I only had to lean forward and...

“There are a few different head positions,” I continued, as steadily as I could with his closeness completely fucking with my composure. “But the two I like the most are a simple cheek to cheek, or with your nose to my cheek and our foreheads touching. The latter is a more intimate style.”

Kane’s eyes narrowed.

“But for now,” I reassured him, “I think we should keep it simple and focus on feet and movement before we add anything else. So just whatever you find easiest. Okay?”

He swallowed. “This is fucking crazy.”

I hesitated, feeling suddenly guilty. I wanted to dance with him. Of course I bloody did, and I may have manipulated the whole practice thing just to get that chance, but I wasn’t a dick. Well, not totally.

I stepped back. “We can stop right now. I don’t want to make this awkward for you.”

He stared at me for a long second, his jaw working hard. “No. It’s okay. It’s just...” He flushed. “Just don’t expect too much from me.”

I gave him a warm smile. “You’ve surpassed anything I expected just agreeing to do this for me.”

His brows drew down in a frown. “It’s no big deal. I don’t know why it’s freaking me out.”

But it was a big deal, and I suspected he knew exactly why it was freaking him out.

I grabbed the remote for the sound system and set it going, then returned to Kane. “Basically, I’ll move you around the floor in a few simple steps. The more relaxed you are, the easier it is. Don’t fight my directions. Don’t anticipate what I’m going to do. Just let my body tell yours where to go.”

His gaze shot to mine, our palms lying hot against each other, and holy fuck, you could’ve cut the air between us with a knife.

“Okay, now breathe.” I sank into the rich blue of his eyes and stayed there. He took a deep breath and I followed suit. “And twice more.”

He did as I asked, visibly relaxing.

“Good. Now, don’t look down. And keep to the balls of your feet if you can. It’s a bit like walking like a cat—slow and deliberate. For now, we’re just gonna try and hit the major beats with our feet, nothing fancy. It’s a slow, slow, quick, quick, slow rhythm, but all you have to do at this stage is try and let me lead you. Your right foot will be the first to move, and we try and separate each step rather than running them together like in a waltz.”

“If you say so. You lost me back at the embrace, just so you know.”

I chuckled and adjusted his arms a little, told him to relax his shoulders and straighten his back. “Ready?”

“No.”

I smiled and waited for the right spot in the music and then led him into the first step... and then another... and another, his body rigid and unyielding, stuck in that to-and-fro fight for control all newcomers struggled with.

“Shit, I’m sorry.” He broke the hold after standing on my foot and jumped back, shaking his head. “I told you, I’m hopeless. I’m not gonna be any help—”

“How about we keep going and not expectDancing with The Starsin under a minute?” I smiled and lifted my arms back into the frame. “Come on.”

He studied me nervously, then sighed and returned to the hold. “Wouldn’t have picked you for a masochist,” he muttered.

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