Chapter 24
Twenty-Four
Tour en l’air: a jumping turn in the air, usually a double turn referred to as a Double Tour.
Rudy
The second I shut the stairwell door behind us, Alexander crowded in for a kiss.
Our bags bumped and jostled, but he seemed far more intent on staking a claim than on what might become of the leftover cheese.
A jealous Alexander might be my personal favorite.
The game-night party had been a roaring success.
Great food. New sea glass-looking dice for my collection from the gift exchange.
A win against Troy, which was always nice.
And Alexander bristled like a mad porcupine every time Chris Davis looked my direction.
The attention from the teacher was flattering, but I wasn’t seriously interested.
Any romantic inclinations I had were solely focused on Alexander, and I didn’t want to think about life after this fling.
He’d be a tough act to follow. Right now, though, the only place I wanted to follow him was to my bedroom.
I broke the kiss long enough to push him toward the stairs, but he stopped at each landing for another kiss before I finally let us into my apartment.
We dumped the bags on my small table in between more kisses that melted my brain and fogged my glasses until I’d almost forgotten about the plans I’d had all day. I backed Alexander against my fridge, but he held up a hand.
“I believe you had a request from that wish list of yours.” He arched his eyebrows, expression benevolent, a king who wanted nothing more than to grant my wish.
“Yes. I really want…” I paused, fumbling with how to word this.
Fuck seemed far too crude for the sweetness that flowed between us with every touch.
Sex wasn’t accurate because we’d been trading orgasms for nearly a week now, although our explorations were largely limited to hands and mouths.
I discarded a few other clinical terms before settling on, “I want to bottom. Going slow has been wonderful, but I want that experience to be with you.”
I was fully aware that virginity was a construct.
I’d shared orgasms with another person. Therefore, to my mind, I was no longer a virgin.
Penetrative sex wasn’t a requirement for that or any other purpose, but ever since Alexander had said he preferred to top, my longing to share this with him had only grown stronger with each passing day.
“If you’re sure.” Alexander gave a sharp nod, his face far more serious now.
A muscle jumped in his jaw. “Word of caution, though, it can be rather uncomfortable the first time.” Eyes going distant, his nose wrinkled as if an unpleasant memory had surfaced.
“Not everyone likes bottoming either, and even among those that do, not all find it orgasmic.”
“I’m aware.” I gave a playful laugh to counter his warning. “I’ve done research.”
“Of course you have.” His tone lightened a bit, but the fine lines around his eyes and mouth remained.
“And if solo play is any indicator, I’ll like it plenty.” I made my tone flirty, hoping to convey confidence despite my jangling nerves.
“Solo play, you say?” Alexander’s expression darkened, the first flare of passion since I’d made the request. “That’s a rather hot image. And you liked it?”
“Mm-hmm.” I hummed my agreement, cheeks heating. “A lot.”
“In that case, show me to your bedroom.” He took a step away from my tiny kitchen only to stop partway to the short hall that led to my bedroom and bathroom.
“Wait. Would you like a shower first? It’s not a requirement, but I’m happy to amuse myself with my phone for a few minutes if that would help you feel more comfortable. ”
Naturally, Alexander, who carried no less than five clean T-shirts at any given time in his dance bag, would think of my physical comfort beyond the obvious. It had been a long day, and while I’d planned on asking to try this, the idea of a shower was rather tempting.
“I like that plan.” I glanced toward the bathroom, which had last seen renovation during the eighties, as evidenced by salmon-colored Formica counters and aging fixtures.
Unlike Alexander’s marvelous pool house bathroom, the tub-shower combo was smaller than most budget motel offerings, with a frosted sliding door that made an already tight space that much more confined. “I’d offer to share, but—”
“I’ve seen how tiny that shower is.” Alexander chuckled. He’d spent enough time around here this week to get to know my apartment’s layout. “Sharing might require contortions beyond my dancer’s flexibility. Go.”
I took a quick but thorough shower. I spent far too long debating whether my robe or a towel made more sense, settling on wrapping one towel around my waist and letting the smaller one I’d used on my hair drape around my shoulders like a cape.
I emerged to find my couch empty. Alexander had apparently found the bedroom on his own, and I padded my way there to discover he’d been busy.
I’d made my bed and picked up that morning in anticipation of the possibility of a guest. However, Alexander had taken my basic tidying job and added ambiance.
He’d evidently figured out how to connect his phone to my speaker because soft instrumental music filled the space.
He’d also moved my collection of emergency candles from the living room to line the top of the dresser, giving the room a warm glow.
And Alexander himself was a whole vibe, lounging in the center of my queen bed, shirtless, clad only in silky black briefs and propped up by pillows.
“I see you made yourself at home,” I said drily, taking a page from his usual playbook to keep myself from swooning at Alexander’s well-hidden romantic streak.
“I did.” Alexander gave an exaggerated stretch, lean arm and chest muscles rippling.
His skin appeared rosier in the candlelight, and even without the pressure of an imminent performance, his face and chest were smooth as ever.
Not even a freckle dared cross the perfection that was Alexander Dasher unclothed.
Setting aside his phone, he patted the bed next to him. “Come here.”
I wasn’t entirely sure of the protocol, and my uncertainty as I perched next to him on the bed, still in my towel, undoubtedly showed on my face because Alexander stroked a hand down my arm. Tossing the towel around my neck to the floor, he dropped little kisses all across my shoulders.
“Tell me how this plays out in your fantasies.”
“You. Me. You in me.” My voice took on a frustrated edge. I hated that I was nervous. Part of me simply wanted the first time over with because I was sure this was something that got better with practice. “Not sure I have a script beyond that.”
“Very well. I’ll endeavor to improvise the part.” Ever the star, Alexander laughed, and I did as well.
And then we were kissing. As soon as our lips met, my nerves started to calm.
This was Alexander. We were friends. We could laugh together.
Whatever happened would be fine, and we had days left for practice.
I chuckled then because Alexander hated the word practice as ballet dancers rehearsed rather than practiced choreography.
My ability to think of jokes quickly fled as one kiss turned into endless kisses as he tumbled me back against the pillows.
It had barely been a week, but already, his kiss was familiar and comforting.
I lost myself in the embrace. We’d landed on our sides, which was delicious, but I wanted to feel his weight on me.
I tugged at his shoulders. Bracing himself on one arm, Alexander loomed over me, trailing his thumb down my jaw.
I smiled up at him, and his expression softened.
“I do love it when you smile.” He tapped the corners of my mouth. “Dimples. Get me every time.”
Loving my smile was several steps removed from loving me, but I preened nonetheless and pulled him in for another kiss. He was hard against me, and the rolling around had largely dislodged my towel. His silky briefs dragged against my bare skin, and I moaned.
“I’m ready.” Suddenly more impatient than nervous, I reached for the nightstand where I’d stowed the condoms I’d purchased earlier in the week next to my favorite brand of lube.
“I’m not.” Alexander plucked the supplies from my grasp and set them aside before kissing his way from my mouth to my neck to my chest, a meandering trail of warm lips and devilish tongue.
We’d fooled around enough this week that I should have been used to how Alexander could make me shiver from even the lightest touch.
He blew across one nipple, ruffling my light smattering of chest hair.
Goose bumps promptly broke out on both my arms. He chuckled. “Ticklish?”
“Only with you.” I arched up, trying to invite more attention from his mouth. He obliged nicely, licking my nipple, then wickedly nipping at it until I gasped. “More.”
He moved to the other nipple while twiddling the first with his fingers.
My cock pulsed, a bead of clear fluid appearing on the tip as it jutted away from my stomach, even more eager than my nipples for Alexander’s attention.
My body tensed as he licked my sternum, fingers on both nipples as he made his way south.
I had rather impressive stamina for giving him oral and very little at all for anything involving his hand or mouth on me.
The novelty of having someone else touching me had yet to wear off.
Accordingly, I had to plot the color coding of my next fundraising spreadsheet when he licked at the precome, delicate swipes of his pink tongue.
Eyes sparkling merrily, he planted kisses on either side of my cock next, making my hip bones tingle.
He scooted lower, tracing the crease between my hip and thigh, tongue gliding across my balls.
“Oh wow.” I managed another gasp.
“I’ve hardly done anything yet,” he chided.
“I like it all.”