Break

Instead of talking or mingling, Dash wraps a confident arm around my back and leads. We do what we both know best. We dance and forget to speak.

Chapter Fifteen

Dashiell

I could dance with her all night and never get tired, but I need to play it cool to get under Katerina’s skin. If she thinks she can use my hard-earned status to sell her daughter, she’s got another thing coming. I busted my ass to get where I am and refuse to be anyone’s silver platter. Katerina felt no qualms about throwing a homeless kid and his mom under the bus a few years ago, so I shouldn’t feel any as I tear down an empire built on spite and absolute control.

Katerina thinks her daughter is perfect, and I’m preparing to show her that under the façade of perfection, the flesh is weak.

I just wish Sam didn’t feel so good in my arms, that she didn’t taste so intoxicating on my tongue or make me feel so protective that I was ready to castrate Lance for ever looking in her direction.

She’s a million fucking miles away as I lead her around the room, her eyes darting in the direction of her mother, waiting for the shoe to drop, for the fist to come down.

“Why do you let her manipulate you like that, Sam?”

“What?” Tayla shakes her head like she’s only just realized she’s dancing with me.

“Cut her off. What have you got to lose?” I challenge.

“Katerina? Believe me, I’ve been trying to cut her off for the last five years. She doesn’t give up without a fight. At least I got away this year. It’s my biggest step so far.”

“But you’re still living under her thumb. Look how terrified you are.”

Her silky dress with the cold metal detail makes me want to slip it off her body and taste her again. Shove her up against a wall in some coat closet and tear it right off her.

“Me? I’m not scared of her.”

“Good, then you won’t have any issue telling her it’s over with Lance and that I’m taking back what’s mine.”

She drops my hand suddenly and walks away, as cold as ice. The Russian ballerina ice princess, back in full effect.

I rush after her and grab her shoulder. “Sam, stop. We didn’t finish the dance.”

“Who the fuck do you think you are?”

It’s Lance, the douchebot extraordinaire. Katerina wouldn’t let him leave so he stepped away to snort some coke, judging by the white powder adhered to his nostrils. He’s been waiting for a weak spot all night, trying to jump to her rescue and score brownie points with the queen bitch, Katerina.

Sam shrugs him off. I should leave, but for some reason, I can’t let it go.

Crossing my arms, I smile at pretty boy Lancelot. “I’m the guy she wants.”

Sam raises her eyebrows halfway to her hairline and coughs out a laugh of disbelief.

“That’s funny, considering I’m her boyfriend,” Lance digs.

This fucker.

“Maybe you should tell her that. She might need a reminder.”

Lance looks at Sam, his eyes round with hurt. My innuendo is clear. Our clothes didn’t get rumpled from the dance.

“We’re not boyfriend and girlfriend, Lance. Get over it,” Taye sighs. She turns to me, “What do you want, Dash?”

“To get a BA in dance from Crestview and kick ass in the Ballet Arts Studio Company this season,” I tell them both.

Katerina is circling like a shark, and I don’t allow her to stray from the corner of my eye. Keep your enemies close, they say.

Tayla’s eyes flash with frustration and she points her index finger at her chest. I can’t help but notice how her nipples are still puckered and strain through the fabric of her dress. “From me, Dash. What do you want from me?”

Lance looks all too pleased with himself. He thinks he’s a threat. It’s kind of cute. It’s lost on him that Katerina would sooner fuck him than Tayla would.

Sam has taken another Champagne from a passing server. She needs to lay off the drink.

I smirk at the little fucker before I help myself to Tayla’s drink. I rotate the glass so that my lips touch exactly where hers did as I down it. Lance's eyes practically bug out of his head. He can’t believe he’s being shown up by a lowly street dancer in the castle of his kingdom, no less.

“What the fuck are you doing?” he demands.

“From the looks of it, you aren’t too keen on the idea of Sam sharing with me, Lance. But Tayla doesn’t mind.” I ignore the fucker, pretend he isn’t even there as I move my eyes to Tayla. “Do you, Sam?

Tayla goes to open her mouth and then closes it. Caught between a rock and a hard place.

I take another drink and smirk. “Remember when all you wanted was to eat from my fingertips, Sam? I still remember how you looked like you were going to come from eating a sandwich.” I wink at her as she goes a deep red. Lance gapes like a fish out of water. I drop the now empty coupe onto a plate and dust my hands. “You’ve never fed her, have you, Lance? That’s a shame. A great opportunity missed.”