CHAPTER 55
Andie
The next couple of weeks were a flurry of activity spent mostly with Leo.
King Akapa had complimented me on my dancing at the Charonu ball and had convinced Leo and me to perform some Earth dances at the conclusion of the trade talks.
It had been a long time since I’d actually rehearsed for a performance.
Dakleth had found two hand drums similar to a double bongo, and I was impressed with Leo’s skill.
Leo was pleased to be able to take the drums back home to Coromonn.
Working out our material on the piano and guitar took quite a bit of time and effort.
I didn’t actually know that many Latin songs by heart.
Fortunately, Leo did, and he would sing them and play on his bongos to give me an idea of how the songs went.
I could fill in with the piano and then guitar.
He could generally sing inbetween the lyrics, telling me, now the horn section comes in and plays - “Da do da DAaaaa, da do da da daaaaaa,” and I could rough it out from there.
Dakleth took all this in with a bemused air, but I could tell after a while that he found our slow progress a bit boring.
He would come see me at the beginning of the lesson, give me a quick hug or kiss on top of the head, and then leave for his other duties.
Within three weeks we had a set list of four songs - Brujeria, Amor de Conuco, Guantanamera, and El Costo de La Vida.
I didn’t know all the artists’ names. Leo told me, but I forgot.
I recognized Celia Cruz, but that was it.
They were all different styles, which I liked.
Leo and I played through them together. He taught me the words, and I was able to harmonize with him on the choruses.
Leo was a decent singer for the melodies, but not able to harmonize, so we stuck with what we could do in the short timeframe.
We recorded the songs (several times, because we messed up quite a bit), layering the piano and guitar in through separate tracks, and then worked on the dancing.
I loved dancing with Leo. I could follow anyone’s lead, thanks to my dance training, but good male leads in the wild were hard to find.
Leo was a great dancer and a great lead.
The first time I settled my back into his hand, and he held the frame firm, finding the right tension, I knew we would dance well together.
We freestyled to the recordings first, learning each other’s movements.
Leo transitioned smoothly from salsa to merengue and even taught me the bachata.
He smiled and told me it brought back memories of dancing with his sisters and aunts at their backyard parties growing up.
He danced with joy, and I loved every second of it.
After a few practices where we got comfortable dancing together, we developed a routine for each song.
We kept it pretty simple for most of the songs, introducing the steps and turns, but focused on more complicated turns during El Costo de la Vida and a few lifts for Brujeria.
Leo hadn’t done any lifts with his family members, but I was able to show him how to hold and turn me as I straddled his waist and arched my back dramatically as I lowered my head to the floor.
“Damn, girl, that’s sexy,” he said.
“I know. They’ll be so impressed!” I said.
“Well, I’m impressed. Who knew you were so bendy?
” he gave me a sexy smile, and I felt a sensual pull that I had thought was long dead.
My body was very thoroughly enjoying sliding against a male again, and after the dance with Dakleth, it was like my body was on fire.
I shoved down the inappropriate thoughts I was having.
First, Dakleth would kill Leo. Second, even though Leo had made it clear that he was down for whatever I wanted, I couldn’t go through with something physical knowing he was leaving in two weeks.
I could feel that my panties were wet. I needed to wrap this up before I did something I’d regret. I pulled away. “I think we’re ready,” I said, ignoring that my clit was still tingling from when I’d straddled him.
He let me go, even though his gaze lingered on my lips. “Yes, I think so, too. You’re an amazing dancer. And singer. And musician. The whole package,” he said.
“I should be, I’ve been in music and dance lessons pretty much my whole life,” I said. “You’re amazing, too. Natural talent. Were you dreaming of being a musician when you were in high school?”
“Ha! I was a total slut in high school,” he said.
“I couldn’t think about anything but getting laid.
Damn hormones. My Dad was super serious about me going to college, but my grades weren’t there.
My only plan was to keep working at the restaurant, smoking weed behind the dumpsters and sleeping with half the kitchen staff. ”
“Sounds fun,” I said.
“I was a disaster waiting to happen,” he said. “Who knows? I might have ended up a walking STD or overdosing if I went down the path I was on.”
“Or you might have gotten your shit together later on. Most kids don’t have life figured out at seventeen,” I said.
“True, but I guess we’ll never know. Ending up on Coromonn has been good for me overall.”
“Do you miss it?” I asked.
“Yeah, I do,” he said softly. “It’s easier now that Aldrin and Gafand are here.
We’d never been apart this long. My dick was hard as a rock!
” he laughed. “But, I miss my work as a vet and my friends, too. I’m fortunate.
I’ve got a very good life going on. Shame I can’t add you to that on a permanent basis. ”
“Well, you can add me as a permanent friend. Just send me word when you’re ready to come back and visit. I don’t know if Aldrin and Gafand are going to want to come back, though.”
He laughed. “Yeah, honestly, I don’t know. They’re finding the women here very confusing, which I think is great. But Dakleth’s outburst has really shaken Gafand. He’s ready to go back as soon as the ambassador will allow it.”
“And they’re ok with us dancing together?”
“Yeah, despite seeing women act differently here, they still don’t view sex with a woman as cheating. Even though that’s not what we’re doing, they would be fine if we were. That’s still on the table, by the way, if you want it,” he waggled his eyebrows at me and gave me a heart-stopping smile.
“Yeah, it’s still a no from me,” I laughed, “Besides, Dakleth would tear you apart.”
“Yeah, he would,” he said, unfazed. “So are you feeling him yet?”
“A little bit, to be honest. He’s been so kind to me.
Like, I know he would do literally anything for me.
And he’s really thoughtful. He’s been sending me the cutest gifts.
Except he sent a live goat-like animal for M’Pak a few days ago to chase and eat.
I mean, it was gross, and I couldn’t watch, but M’Pak was thrilled. ”
“So considerate,” Leo chuckled.
“I mean, it was, though, right? That he got my pet a gift, even if it grossed me out.” I said.
“And don’t forget he’s hot.”
I sighed. Yes, he was. Just the other day, I’d seen him sparring with Andokar in the Palace courtyard, and I had to admit, the man could move.
He had a lethal grace with a staff, and watching his freshly oiled abs crunch as he jumped to avoid a low blow from the Captain of the Guard had made me flush all over.
I’d started having dreams where I woke up, panting, drenched in sweat.
So close, but not yet at orgasm. I was starting to feel frustrated.
I noticed my eyes drifting to his anytime I was in the Palace. He was almost always nearby, watching, guarding, assessing. His voice made me shiver, and I was finally starting to see him, not as the man who hurt me, but as the man who would do anything in his power to never hurt me again.