“You can go pantiless for the rest of your life as far as I’m concerned,” I shot back, demonstrating how little I cared about underwear as I pulled on my pants without first stepping into boxers or briefs.
Her eyes widened and then she shrugged. “If you say so,” she said, skipping down the stage steps before turning around and bending over, which resulted in the hem of her dress rising and giving me a full view of her ass.
“Did you just moon me?” I asked in disbelief from where I stood above her.
“Just picking up my shoes,” she said innocently, lifting one to prove her point.
“Fine, you win,” I said, jumping down from the stage to join her. “I’d hate for you to catch pneumonia from going bare.”
“So sweet of you to be concerned for my health,” she said, batting her lashes as she bent to pick up her remaining shoe.
I slapped her ass because what else would a man do when the target was so beautifully offered? She squealed and I chuckled. Usually, I hated the getting dressed part. I found it awkward and was unsure of what to say or do, but now, with Clara, it actually felt right.
“I’m not sure how I’m going to be able to concentrate on rehearsals tomorrow after what happened here tonight,” she said.
I smiled, pulling her close. “You’re a consummate pro, Clara. I’m sure you’ll be able to figure out how to do so. If not, well, I’m sure I can find a way to remind you to behave,” I said, giving her another kiss. “Though I grant you rehearsal can’t hold a candle to the exquisite performance you allowed me to witness tonight,” I added. Taking her hand, I led her out of a theater that would never feel exactly the same as it had before.13AlekOver the next few weeks, I was far too busy with the theater and dealing with all the promoters who now wanted a part of the Volkov Ballet to spend any alone time with Clara. After that magical, unexpected night on the stage, we really left things hanging in the air. On one hand, I was especially glad of the fact Yuri seemed content, most likely thinking his warning had nipped a growing connection in the bud, but now that enough time had passed, I was feeling as if my head were spinning.
I still felt like this was something more than a one-night hookup, because, every time we looked at one another, there was a spark and a secret smile there. Clara constantly had my fingers itching to touch her, to stroke her, to swat that glorious ass beneath that form-fitting leotard. Every time she leapt, her legs spreading impossibly wide, my cock surged with the memory of sinking balls deep between those amazing limbs. But memories were all there would be for the time being. At least until we got some time alone, which, between my meetings and her intense rehearsal schedule, I didn’t see happening any time soon.
Clara’s life was even more insane than mine. On top of her training, the PR team we’d hired had her doing constant interviews and promotional opportunities to try her best to rebuild her reputation. I knew she’d made a great start the night of the opening performance, but with every appearance, she polished her image even more, wiping away the stains of her past. I knew this was very important to her, but I was also finding it to be a massive pain in my ass.
It was good for Volkov Ballet as well. The attention Clara brought to the theater had the money rolling in. More people were signing up for seasonal tickets, and every box had already sold at a premium. According to the staff responsible for our image, the advertisers were desperate to be a part of what we currently were rebuilding in Clara. The number of requests for interviews grew daily, though I had to occasionally listen to Yuri bitch and moan as some of those interviewers seemed determined to remind everyone his current star pupil had fallen from the heavens a few seasons earlier and had landed hard.
The entire theater world might be divided in their opinion of Clara, and what sort of person she was, but it was attention. I reminded him of the saying that all publicity was good publicity.
I was certain Clara wouldn’t betray us like people were suggesting. My gut told me she was not only innocent of the crime she’d been accused of, but she’d rather throw herself under a bus than hurt a single hair on another dancer’s head. I knew she wouldn’t screw over the Volkov Ballet or anyone on the team we’d built to support her, no matter what anyone said. I didn’t know the full extent of the past yet, not from Clara’s point of view anyway, but I got the impression whatever had driven her to make mistakes was gone. She was a different woman now. Maybe I was being naïve. Maybe I was seeing what I wanted to see, but my instincts were telling me I was right, and I’d always trusted my gut. I trusted it now with the feeling everything was going to be fine.