Page 19 of Secret Love (The Single Dad Playbook #2)
CHAPTER NINETEEN
SIMPLE THINGS
HENLEY
It's been a lot of fun talking to Tru over the past week. I'm getting to know her, and even though I’d love nothing more than to spend one-on-one time with her, I'm enjoying this process too. I haven't actually done a lot of dating in my life besides Bree all those years ago. And I have to say, even though we’re not technically going out, this feels more exciting than I could have imagined. The simple things, looking forward to hearing Tru’s voice, waiting to get texts from her, and the conversations we have…I’ve never had more fun.
It’s Thursday night, and like I told Tru last night, these days when I don’t see her drag. I feel deprived of her sunshine.
It’s been a busy day though. I drop the girls off and head to the grocery store. I need to pick up a few things before tomorrow. After I'm done at the store, I notice Tru's car parked outside Wiggles & Whimsy. On a whim, I stop and park around the back and walk around to the sidewalk, pausing to say hi to a few people in front of Serendipity. I don't see Tru when I reach the studio window, but when I try the door, it's unlocked, and I walk in.
“Hello?” I call.
I hear music in the other room and follow it, going through the main studio and to the back. I didn't even realize there was another studio back here.
She's dancing.
At first, I’m concerned that I was able to just walk in without her noticing. I don't want to alarm her and I want to remind her to lock the door.
But fuck me , what a sight to behold.
She's in a black sports bra and leggings, her body perfection as she leaps through the air and twirls with precision.
I don't know how this woman ever thought she wasn't athletic because I’ve never seen anything more controlled or more powerful than the way she dances. It's breathtaking and awe-inspiring.
I watch for a few minutes, and when the song is over and she seems to come back to earth, both feet on the ground, I clear my throat.
“Hello?”
Her eyes meet mine in the mirror and then she turns to face me. I hold up my hand.
“I’m so sorry if I startled you. I felt terrible about interrupting, and yet I couldn’t stop watching. I didn't want to scare you.”
She smiles. “Hey, you. What are you doing here?”
“I saw your car out front and I wanted to say hi. It was unlocked. You should really keep that door up front locked, even though Silver Hills is completely safe…you just never know.”
She smirks. “Why? So hot, sexy football players can't sneak in and watch me dance?”
I put my hands in my pockets and grin. “Hot and sexy, huh? I guess you can keep it unlocked as much as you want if that’s the praise I’ll get.”
Her lips pucker out as she looks me over with approval. “I did mean to lock it, but this is a nice surprise.”
My adrenaline is pumping. “I’m really glad I got to see you dance. You are something else, Tru. I don't think you can get more athletic than ballet. And you make it look so easy.”
“Really? I mean, I think it takes a lot, but I'm surprised to hear you say that, with these muscles and all.” She reaches out to squeeze my bicep.
“Dang, do it again. I wasn't even flexing. Give me another second.”
She cracks up. “You don't need to flex for me to feel that definition.”
I reach out and put my hands around her waist, drawing her close.
“How are you today?” I ask. “I missed you.”
Her head tilts. “I missed you too. It's crazy, seeing you. I'm talking to you all the time and when we’re around each other, we’re so careful. But this afternoon, I felt like I was so deprived.”
I lean my forehead on hers.
“And now you’re here, touching me,” she whispers.
“This okay?” I ask.
She nods, her eyes intense as she looks up at me. And then her smirk is back and she moves around me, picking up the remote and turning on a song that pulses through the room. It’s not the classical music she was dancing to when I walked in, but something far more carnal. The surge of lust I feel as she walks toward me is instant.
She holds out her hand. “Dance with me?”
I take her hand and she twirls until she’s against my chest. I tug her body flush against mine and we start to move. The thump of the bass is fast and electrifying, but our bodies are languid as we sway against each other. Unlike the night at the club, our hands don’t hold back as they explore, our bodies grinding. She slides her leg around my thigh and I grip it there, as her head falls back, her hair dipping to the floor. When I lift her back up, I keep her leg in place, her core against the erection I can’t hide, and she pulls my head down to kiss her.
We never step out of the beat for a second, our bodies completely in sync. I move her back into the mirror, our mouths chasing each other hungrily. Her hands slide into my hair, gripping it hard. I lift her to the barre and her legs wrap around my waist. I lower just enough to grind against her warm center and she whimpers into my mouth, letting me know it’s hitting her just right, so I do it again and again, until her kisses become erratic and frenzied.
When her head falls back, she cries out my name and arches against me. It unleashes something primal in me. I slide my hand down her stomach and dip below her leggings until my fingers glide down into her wetness. Her eyes flare and glaze over as she stares at me, and I take her plump lower lip between my teeth and tease it as I also tease the little bud between her legs. She gasps and when I dip my fingers inside of her, she clamps down around me, her flutters against my fingers the greatest reward.
I watch her fall over the edge, and it’s a fucking beautiful sight. There’s a sheen of sweat on her forehead and the sound of her whimpers are so erotic I can’t think straight. When her breathing slows, I slow my fingers too, gently drawing them out of her and trailing a line of her arousal up her skin like paint on a canvas. She tugs on my hair, bringing my mouth back to hers and I kiss her long and hard. When we come up for air, I smile against her lips.
“Even your pussy dances in perfect time,” I say.
Her teeth press against her lower lip as she laughs.
“You are lethal,” she says, smiling up at me.
Her cheeks are flush and she looks blindingly beautiful. She shakes her head and laughs again.
“I can’t believe that just happened,” she says and she makes a face that doesn’t look like regret exactly, more like embarrassment.
I lift her off of the barre and slide her down my body. Her breath hitches when she feels how hard I still am and it takes serious restraint to not strip her bare and have my way with her right here and now. But it’s not the time or place.
I bring her hand to mine and kiss her knuckles.
“I’m really glad that just happened,” I tell her.
Her cheeks flush brighter. “You are?”
“An emphatic yes.”
“Me too.” Her gaze lowers and her eyes widen. “That looks uncomfortable though.” She steps closer to me, her stomach pressed against my dick and I try to stand perfectly still.
“I’m fine, trust me.” I smile and brush her hair away from her face.
She stands on her tiptoes and swivels her hips against me and I groan, putting my hands on her waist to still her when she does it again.
“Despite sticking my hand down your pants, I’m trying to be a gentleman here,” I say, laughing.
With my hands on her waist, I lift her and place her a foot away from me.
Her eyes are dancing with mischief, and I’m relieved to see more than a little lust in them too.
“It just doesn’t seem fair that I feel so good right now and you’re left…hanging,” she says.
I lift a shoulder. “Life isn’t fair,” I say.
Her head falls back with her laugh and I take her in. God, she’s beautiful. We stare at each other for a long time, the air thick with desire.
“I interrupted you and it’s getting late,” I finally say.
“I’m glad you said…hello.” She laughs again. “I’m done for the night and need to check on Earl. He’s in the office.”
“I can walk out with you if you want.”
“Sure. That would be nice.”
We walk back to the office and Earl is sleeping on top of a cardboard box.
“I bought him that cute little bed,” she points at the fluffy bed in the corner, “and he keeps going for the boxes instead.”
She’s smiling as she grabs her bag and puts on my hoodie, shooting me a sheepish look. Fucking adorable. She bends down to pick up Earl. He blinks up sleepily at her and is so damn cute. I pet behind his ears and he leans into my hand.
“He really likes you,” she says. “I mean, who doesn’t?”
I want to kiss her again, but I keep my distance or we’ll never get out of here.
“All right, I think I’m ready.” She leads the way down the hall, and I watch the swish of her hair as she walks.
Everything about her mesmerizes me, and I’m not altogether sure what to do about it. I’m not used to being so consumed by a woman.
My girls and football, yes.
Part of me feels bad that I never felt this way about Bree. But it’s making more sense every time I talk to Tru and with every interaction we have with one another, that this is something altogether different. This is how falling in love is supposed to feel. It helps lessen the guilt, knowing that Bree has had the same realization about me.
When we open the door, the air is chillier than it was and Tru shivers. I run my hands down her shoulders to warm her up as she locks the door and then she leans her back against my chest. We stand for a few seconds this way and then I lean in to kiss the side of her head.
“Come on, let’s get you out of this cold night air.” I step back and we walk to her car.
When she clicks the lock, I open the door for her and once she’s in the driver’s seat, I grin and say, “Good night, tiny dancer. I know who I’ll be dreaming about tonight.”
I shut her car door and she lifts her fingers to her lips and kisses them before holding them out my way. I smile and watch as she drives away.
Damn. What kind of magic has this woman cast on me?