Page 59 of On Dancer
“You will. I’ll make sure you have great seats.” Trying to soothe his ire, I reached out to pat his hand. “I’m not going to leave Seattle in the lurch for that show, but I’m meeting with Julian Hale while I’m here about options for next season.”
It was a compromise position, less rash and bold than part of me wanted, but there were times when my pragmatic nature was a good thing. I could manage at least one more show, go out on a high note, then explore new possibilities. I was surprisingly excited, but Rudy didn’t look anywhere near as enthusiastic.
“It’s a step backward,” he quoted my own words from the party.
“Not necessarily.” I’d spent all week contemplating who I was as a dancer and what I wanted to achieve with my remainingtime on stage. All last year, I’d run from any thought of life after ballet, but for the first time, I saw a glimmer of who I wanted to be, the life I wanted to lead. “It’s a different sort of opportunity to leave my mark.”
“But it means leaving behind your dreams.” Rudy continued to glare at me. The stairwell light flickered like it too was not pleased.
“Dreams can change.” That sounded trite, so I wasn’t surprised when he made a disbelieving noise. I took a breath before trying again. “Victoria called me recently. I told her to listen to her heart, then realized I needed to do the same thing.”
“What did your heart say?” Some of the frustration left his voice, replaced by a tentative curiosity.
“That I love you. That I miss you, but also Pennsylvania. Ballet is always going to be central to my identity, but I’m finally ready for a life beyond ballet. I want a place to call home.” My voice grew firmer with each sentence. My heart knew exactly what it wanted. All I’d needed to do was listen. “I want to see my family more regularly and to build my own. I want someone to come back to. I might be in the market for a house husband if you know anyone interested in such a position.”
“I might.” A smile tugged at the corners of Rudy’s mouth, dimples threatening to make an appearance. “But I’m willing to wait to assume that role. Or have it be in Seattle. We’ve got options.”
“Yes.” I drew him to me, lifting him and his bag off the step. “The important thing is that I have you.”
“You do.” He gave an unsteady laugh. “You do. Please don’t drop me.”
“I have carried some of the greatest dancers in front of hundreds.” I faked indignation. “I think I can manage a few steps with you.”
“Let’s not test that for three flights of stairs.” Chuckling, he wriggled down my torso and dropped his bag at our feet. “In fact, let’s not tackle the stairs at all.”
His eyes flashed mischievously, my only warning before he sank to his knees in front of me.
“It’s cold,” I gave the feeblest of protests. I needed to insist on more talking, maybe allow for some sedate making out after we worked out more future details, but I also simply needed him, period.
“It is.” Rudy’s agreement didn’t stop him from undoing my belt. “And I’ve missed you terribly, and I kept thinking all week that we never actually did anything in the stairwell despite coming close.”
“Lost opportunity.” I leaned back against the wall. Might as well get comfortable and enjoy what he had planned. Rudy’s glasses fogged up, so I reached down and plucked them off his face. “I’ll hold on to these for you.”
“While I hold on to this.” Laughing, he withdrew my cock, grip almost as familiar as my own. He gave me several long, firm strokes. “I’m feeling a need to make up for lost time.”
“Keep doing that, and it’ll be a short time,” I warned.
“I’m good with quick.” Adjusting his hand to rest on the base of my cock, he pressed a wet, warm kiss to my cockhead. “We can go slower for round two upstairs.”
“Already planning ahead, I see.” I had to joke while I could because as soon as he took me in his mouth, my ability to make sense was going to flee.
“Yep.” He grinned up at me before licking a stripe up my shaft. “That’s me. The planner.”
And then he did swallow me down, and I made an inarticulate noise as he went right for the sort of rhythm I craved, lots of suction while jacking the base.
“Oh God, you are so good at that.” My moans filled the small stairwell.
Rudy paused long enough to beam up at me. “Ipracticedall December.”
“Rehearsed,” I corrected with a groan. He returned to sucking me, doubling down on the friction and speed, quickly reaching that sloppy, frantic place I loved. “Don’t stop.”
And he didn’t, which meant there was no holding off my climax. Not that I was particularly inclined to. As he’d said, we could go again later, and I could showcase my stamina then. At the moment, all I wanted was more. More suction. More heat. More Rudy. Always more Rudy. I couldn’t imagine a time when I wouldn’t want him desperately.
“Gonna come,” I gasped. He flicked his tongue across my cockhead, adding to the sensations as orgasm swept through me like a Nor’easter winter storm, swift and powerful. There was no stopping the blizzard of pleasure that pelted me. I had to press my spine into the wall to stay upright. My legs shook and my breath came in harsh pants. Spent, I pulled him back up next to me, already reaching for his fly. “That was spectacular. What do you want?”
“A heater.” He pushed my hand away. His cheeks and nose were delightfully pink. “And then a shower, my bed, and you in me, in that order.”
“I think that can be arranged.” We had remaining things to work out, and there was the small matter of our mothers, but all that could wait till morning. Tonight was for us.
