Perfect Strangers

Kai smirked and turned to look at Casper properly for the first time. He had defined facial features consisting of large brown eyes, a slim nose, and wide shoulders, he could tell he worked out the way his biceps bulged underneath his Tupac t-shirt as his arms sat crossed over his chest. His bare forearms showed a mixture of different tattoos some in color, some in black ink, but it was one in particular that drew Kai’s attention. The one of a name entwined around the stem of a rose, the name was Myla.

Kai envisioned himself slicing it slowly from Casper’s arm with the sharpest knife imaginable and shoveling it down his throat, forcefully. Shit! Am I feeling jealous?

“Well, who are you?” Casper asked again, his tone laced with annoyance. He puffed out his broad chest that little bit further and flexed his biceps.

Be a gentleman Kai, don’t show yourself up. “Forgive me, where are my manners?” He leered with a halfcocked smile. “I’m Rhett, Myla’s fiancé,” he added. He removed his hand from Myla’s chin and held it out towards Rambo.

Casper looked down at Kai’s outstretched hand then he glanced back up at Myla, who had now buried her head in Kai’s chest. He offered a resentful smile before taking Kai’s hand and gripping it tightly. “Casper,” he said giving a firm shake of the hand then dropping it like it was hot coal. “So, fiancé huh? When’s the wedding?”

“We haven’t set a date yet, we are in no rush, she’s mine for life,” Kai replied, sternly.

Casper narrowed his eyes and a look of surprise briefly flashed across his face. Both men stood in a battle of wills, staring each other out, the stench of testosterone hung heavy in the air.

“Casper, darling,” gushed Victoria when she came to a standstill at his side. Throwing herself at him, she slid her arms around his neck, much like a serpent, and he lifted her from her feet spinning her around.

“Victoria, so nice to see you again,” he replied, kissing her cheek.

“I see you have met Rhett,” she said flippantly. She shot a poised look at Kai.

“Yes, unfortunately,” Casper retorted.

“Come, we are learning the dance routine for the wedding,” Victoria said in a low tone. She hooked her arm through Casper’s and lead him away. Kai’s glare followed him.

“Tosser,” he muttered under his breath, he turned to look back at Myla. Her red face had now returned to its normal color with just a faint pink tinge on her cheeks, her eyes had lost its anger and were now sparkling under the intense bright light of the studio, and her twisted mouth was now turned into a smile.

“Are you ready?” She asked. She took a tiny step back from him, held open her frame and raising her head, she waited patiently.

“You want to stay?” Kai asked incredulously, his eyes widened.

“Of course, I’m here to learn this dance for Jack and Grace’s wedding with you. So, are you ready?”

Confusion flashed in his eyes but he took a step forward and took up her frame with his own. “Okay, Juliet, as you wish,” he mumbled.

A loud clapping reverberated around the room bringing a hushed silence over the studio. “And now we learn some Salsa, yes?” Fabio asked loudly with a wide smile.

Moving into a semi-circle, Kai noticed Casper had placed himself opposite Myla and had his eyes trained on her. He raked them, quite brazenly, up and down her figure. Her eyes however, were fixed firmly on Fabio’s feet as she tried to take in the new moves. Feeling somewhat irked, Kai pulled Myla in front of him and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, nuzzling his head in the crook of her neck. She instinctively clamped her hands on to his forearms and attempted to wriggle free.

“Don’t fight me, Juliet. He’s watching you like a hawk.”

With a loud sigh, she stilled, relaxed her back into his chest and laughed loudly as his teeth, tentatively, grazed against her ear.

“Is something funny, Miss?” Fabio asked, as he stopped mid step and fired a look of annoyance their way.

“Apologies, it’s my fault. Please, do carry on,” replied a smiling Kai. He leant in even closer and muttered something unintelligible in her ear. Bringing her hand to her mouth she snorted before laughing again.

“Is there something you wish to share?” Fabio snapped causing Myla to shake her head vigorously, still trying to stifle her laughter.

“Come on, whatever is so funny, share with the rest of the group,” Casper said, authoritative, with a smirk plastered on his face.

The sound of his voice caused Myla to instantly tense in Kai’s arms. “If you must know, Casper, I was just telling Myla what I was going to do to her body when I got her home. Would you like me to elaborate on those details for you?” Kai challenged with a raised eyebrow.

Gasps and tittering broke out around the semi-circle, and a loud clap was given from Stan’s direction, until Victoria pinned him with a death stare that had his clapping wilt and die in midair.

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; “Can we please get on with this, time is of the essence,” shrilled Fabio as he began maneuvering himself around again.

“Great comeback, Romeo. I feel I may have underestimated you in this role of being my fiancé,” said Myla through the side of her mouth. He felt a sense of pride pour over him at her compliment, the first compliment she had graced him with since he had met her. Hmm, maybe she isn’t such a cow after all.