Page 71 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2

Either he had dozed off or he was blatantly ignoring my question. I leaned forward to check and the peaceful expression on his handsome face confirmed he’d fallen victim to drunken slumber. Settling back against the upholstery I continued stroking his hair as his breathing evened out. Pregnant. That sucked ass. I guess at their age these things were expected. Thank goodness Matt wasn’t hung up on the alleged biological clock humans were supposed to have. I sure as hell didn’t have one! Pregnant. Poor Bella. If she was planning on a natural birth her vagina would be in for a rude awakening. I shuddered, squidged out at the thought of expanding waistlines and grotesquely spreading noses. I was certain Aunt Cleo had once said that happens during pregnancy. It was during her ‘talk’ with Jen and me, her fearsome warnings about the ills of teenage pregnancy and what would happen if we lost our damned minds and found ourselves in such a situation. The ‘talk’ had instilled such raw fear even now the thought of ever having to say those two words to my aunt ‘I’m pregnant’ made my palms sweaty and my heart-rate quicken. I was a grown woman, but the fear remained. Ha. Not that it mattered. Babies and I didn’t mix, not going to happen. Ballet was my life and there wasn’t room for little people in it. I slowly shook my head, relieved at my life and saddened over my friend’s. Poor, poor Bella.

CHAPTER 8

The doorbell wentand I hurried out my studio to get the door. I smiled a greeting and motioned Raheem in.

“Hey Madi,” He pressed a quick kiss to my cheek as he walked in. “Been ages since we’ve last seen each other.”

“I know.” I closed the door behind him and punched him lightly on the arm.

“Wow. This is where you’re living now?” Raheem’s eyes darted around the foyer before he started heading further down the hallway. “Damn girl. Dante was right, you’re living large.”

“Ha, ha.” I muttered, embarrassed over his obvious awe. “Anyway, the studio is at the back. You want something to drink before we start?”

“Nope. Let’s do this.” he replied, shifting his bag from one shoulder to the next.

I led him to the studio. Again his hazel eyes widened in awe as he rubbed his goatee. Raheem shook his head while I unzipped my hoodie. Knowing what a session with Raheem entailed, I had opted for a cut-off t-shirt and leotard over my tights. When the sweat built up I would ditch the t-shirt.

“So,” I began, sauntering over to thebarreto continue with the stretches I’d been doing before his arrival. “What’s the plan?”

Raheem peered up at the large screen on the wall and the accompanying video and music equipment. “Well, Dante said you wanted to work on the stilted-”

“Wanted?” I scoffed dryly. “Huh. He damned near ordered me to get it done. Said I was as stiff as a board and need to get some booty shaking back into my bones.”

Raheem chuckled. “Yes, that sounds like Dante. When was the last time you did some urban dancing, Madi?”

I had to think about it. It felt like ages, everything had been ballet, ballet, ballet, for the past 7-8 months. “A while, Raheem, but I’ve still got it.”

“Hmm,” he chewed his full lower lip. “We’ll see. I think we should start out slow before getting to the serious stuff.”

“Pfft.” I rolled my eyes, bending at the waist, arms outstretched and one leg resting on the barre. “Dude. You know I got this.”

“Alright, I’ll sort the music then see exactly what you got.” he laughed as he slipped his bag off his shoulder before rifling through it for his iPod. “It’s six now, I bet by 7:30 you’ll be complaining.”

I shook my head and stuck my tongue out. “You’re on.” I would show him my skills.

He rolled his head around his neck and pulled a bandana from his bag then tied it around his head. “Ok. We’ll start hard, I want to see you move like Ciara. You got that?”

It seemed Raheem had forgotten who he was talking to. Intense body shaking session? I could do this with my eyes closed…

“Don’t forget those files in the back, Nathan.” Matt said as he handed Adam a box from the boot of his car. They had a night of going through a mountain of contracts. It could have been done at the office but Matt wanted to get home, at least if he was home Madi couldn’t complain about him always being at the office late. A tired sigh left his lips. Things were strained between them, had been for the past few days, and he didn’t know how to fix it. They were nearing the two months mark of marriage and the golden shine was wearing off quick. Another sigh came from him, one that ended on a grunt. What did she expect from him? To spend all his time lazing about with her? Ridiculous. He was head of a multi-billionaire pound corporation, along with his elder brother. Of course he worked long hours. She did too, but did he complain about that? No, he simply got on with things. Adjusting the box under his arm, he locked his car and mounted the steps towards his front door with Adam and Nathan right behind him.

“We can put these in the office.” he told Adam. “Let me just find Madi and let her know I’m home.”

They walked through the house and a few metres before his office door Matt drew to a standstill as his gaze rested on his wife on the floor with some unknown black man in her studio.

“What in the bloody hell?” he gasped, mouth hanging open. He wasn’t sure what the man was doing. It looked like he was helping Madi out with stretches - bollocks to that! The chap’s hands were all over his wife’s thighs.

Adam made an uncomfortable sound, his eyebrows raised high ashe too took in the scene. “Matty, ah, who is that on top of your wife?”

“Oh my.” Nathan muttered, shocked into stillness.

Matt ignored them both, instead unceremoniously dumping the box he held on top of the one in Adam’s arms. His eyes widened into something resembling alarm but was actually jealous anger. One of Madi’s leg was now resting flush against the man’s chest as he leaned into her. From what he could see the space between their lower bodies appeared non-existent. Someone was having a bloody laugh at his expense. The position they were both in was eerily similar to a favourite shagging pose…Matt had seen enough. In long strides he closed the distance between him and the studio, pushing the partially door fully open with a force that almost broke the glass.

The cramps in my thighs were getting better as Raheem pressed his body weight against my leg.

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