Chapter 14
FOURTEEN
Mateo
“Are you hungry?” Vaeda breaks the silence as she points across the street at the diner. It’s a popular place for the dancers. Yvonne has praised their sandwiches many times.
“I can eat.” I would do just about anything to stay with her a bit longer.
Vaeda walks alongside me, quietly twisting a lock of her hair around a slender finger as we cross the street to the small restaurant. The diner sign flickers above the doorway, emanating an inviting glow.
Inside is quiet, caught in the lull between the lunch and dinner rushes. The waitress greets us warmly, guiding us toward a secluded booth tucked into the back corner. It feels like a private sanctuary, removed from the rest of the world, exactly the kind of intimacy that makes my pulse quicken.
Vaeda slides gracefully onto the vinyl bench across from me, and I settle opposite her, our knees barely brushing beneath the table.
A rush of heat floods me at even that minimal contact, but neither of us pulls away.
Instead, our eyes meet briefly, a silent acknowledgment of the energy we both feel.
The waitress sets down two menus and a couple of water glasses, her friendly chatter a gentle backdrop to our charged silence. When she’s gone, Vaeda’s gaze meets mine again, eyes bright but cautious.
“You danced well,” she says softly, interrupting my thoughts.
“I have a good teacher,” I respond, smiling slightly.
Her lips curve into a small smile, her eyes softening as she sips from her water glass. “You don’t need much teaching. It’s natural for you.”
“Feels different with you,” I confess quietly, holding her gaze. The words slip out before I can stop them, honest and vulnerable.
She hesitates, her eyes flickering with uncertainty before she replies carefully, “Different isn’t always good, Mateo.”
“It isn’t always bad either,” I counter gently.
Her cheeks flush faintly, and she glances away, fingers tracing idle patterns on the tabletop. Silence settles between us again, comfortable yet charged, each heartbeat echoing the tension that continues to build relentlessly.
The bell over the diner door jingles softly, interrupting the quiet moment, and my eyes flick instinctively toward the sound. My heart sinks slightly when I see Yvonne stepping inside, her eyes scanning the diner briefly before quickly finding us tucked in our quiet corner.
Her expression shifts immediately, a mixture of surprise and something darker. Jealousy. It hits me abruptly, realization sinking in heavily. I hadn’t noticed it before, but the way her eyes linger, narrowing at Vaeda before settling on me, makes her feelings unmistakably clear.
Yvonne strides over, a forced smile on her face. “Hey,” she greets, her tone deceptively cheerful. “I wasn’t expecting to see you two here.”
“We were just grabbing a quick bite,” I reply cautiously, glancing at Vaeda, whose expression is now guarded, her body language tense. “I came by the studio today to grab my shoes. I left them there after the last class.”
“Mind if I join?” Yvonne asks, not bothering to wait for an answer as she slides into the booth next to Vaeda, her eyes fixed solely on me.
“Actually,” Vaeda interjects smoothly, “I was just about to leave. You two go ahead.”
My stomach knots as Vaeda crowds into Yvonne, forcing her to get up and let her out of the booth. She stands gracefully, her eyes avoiding mine. “Vaeda—”
“I’ll see you both tomorrow,” she interrupts gently, her eyes focused ahead as she moves swiftly toward the door before I can respond.
As the bell jingles again, signaling her departure, Yvonne shifts to the spot Vaeda vacated, immediately changing the energy between us.
“Didn’t mean to scare her off,” Yvonne says, a note of smugness in her voice that irritates me instantly.
“What are you doing here, Yvonne?” I ask, my tone cooler than intended.
She shrugs, feigning innocence as she takes a menu in her hands, eyes not meeting mine. “I come here often, remember? I didn’t know you two were that... close.”
“We’re not,” I respond curtly, though it sounds defensive even to my own ears.
Her gaze snaps up sharply, eyes narrowing slightly. “Really? Because that’s not how it looked.”
“It’s not like that,” I insist, a lie that tastes bitter on my tongue. The tension in the air thickens, frustration and confusion battling inside me.
“Mateo…” Yvonne sighs, dropping her pretense. “We’ve been partners for a while now. You must’ve noticed how well we work together.”
“Yeah, we’re good partners,” I concede warily, sensing where this conversation is heading.
She leans forward slightly, lowering her voice. “It could be more than that. We could be amazing together, both on and off the dance floor.”
I sit back, taken aback by her bluntness. “Yvonne, I don’t think—”
“Think about it,” she presses gently, reaching across the table to rest her fingers lightly over mine. “We have chemistry, Mateo. Real chemistry. Not something forbidden and needing to be hidden away.”
Her words sting, a direct jab at my complicated feelings for Vaeda. I withdraw my hand gently but firmly, shaking my head. “I value our partnership, Yvonne, but I don’t see us that way,” I say quietly, hoping to soften the rejection.
She withdraws her hand slowly, disappointment and hurt flashing briefly across her face before she masks it behind a neutral expression. “Alright,” she murmurs, leaning back. “I just thought you should know how I feel.”
Silence hangs heavily between us, interrupted only by the quiet clatter of dishes from the kitchen. My appetite gone, I find myself searching for an excuse to leave.
“Look,” I finally say, breaking the uncomfortable silence. “I appreciate your honesty, Yvonne, I really do, but I think it’s best if we just stay partners, okay?”
She nods as a faint, resigned smile touches her lips. “Understood.”
I rise, forcing a smile, unable to shake the lingering discomfort from the conversation. “I’ll see you at rehearsal.”
“Sure,” she mutters softly, watching me carefully as I move toward the exit.
Stepping into the cool afternoon, I exhale heavily, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on my shoulders. My mind races with confusion, guilt, and desire. Yvonne’s revelation complicates things even further, yet all I can think about is the pain in Vaeda’s eyes as she left.
My feet carry me down the quiet street, but my mind stays tangled in the messy web of emotions.
The truth is clear, painful, and unavoidable.
My feelings for Vaeda aren’t fading; they’re deepening with every shared moment, every stolen glance, and every charged touch.
And no matter how dangerous or impossible it may be, I’m starting to realize there’s no turning back.
VAEDA
The pavement beneath my feet feels unrelenting, harder than usual, as I cross the street back toward Fusion Core.
My pulse pounds, frustration simmering beneath my skin.
I’m furious, mostly with myself. How could I have been so careless and reckless as to let Mateo draw me in like that?
I should have known better, especially with Yvonne’s obvious interest in him.
The image of her eyes, bright with jealousy and desire, burns vividly in my mind.
The studio door slams shut behind me, echoing harshly in the quiet space.
I move quickly, needing privacy and space.
Pulling off and dropping my sweater carelessly onto the bench, I head straight to the sound system, my fingers shaking slightly as I flip through songs until I find a driving, relentless Rumba rhythm.
The beat immediately fills the room, powerful and consuming.
I step onto the polished floor, the ache in my ankle barely noticeable beneath the fury propelling me forward.
My body responds instantly, years of practice guiding my movements as I channel my anger and confusion into every sharp, decisive step.
The music builds, wrapping around me like a storm, pulling me deeper into its fierce embrace.
My hips twist sharply, arms sweeping in controlled arcs, each movement punctuated by the rhythmic pulse driving through the speakers. I spin, losing myself completely, the world fading until there’s only the dance, only the raw intensity of emotion bleeding from me with every move.
Suddenly, I feel a presence behind me, solid and warm, then Mateo’s familiar scent wraps around me as his hands settle confidently on my hips, matching my rhythm effortlessly.
My breath catches, heart pounding harder than ever.
I tense initially, instinctively preparing to pull away, but his touch and his closeness dissolves my resolve.
He moves with me fluidly, our bodies finding a natural harmony.
His chest brushes against my back, his breath hot against the side of my neck, sending goose bumps cascading over my skin.
The dance between us shifts from frustration to something deeper, more dangerous, as the lines of professionalism blur into raw, undeniable attraction.
I lean into him slightly, a silent surrender to the inevitable pull between us.
Mateo’s grip tightens fractionally, possessively, sending an electrifying thrill through my body.
His fingers trace along the curve of my waist, teasing at the hem of my crop top, sending fire streaking through every nerve ending.
The rhythm guides us, our movements becoming slower, deliberately seductive, each sway and twist filled with unspoken promises.
His lips brush the spot behind my ear, warm breath washing over my skin. I shiver, a soft gasp escaping my lips as he murmurs, “I’ve wanted to dance with you like this from the first day I saw you.”
My head tilts back involuntarily, exposing more of my neck to him.
Mateo accepts the silent invitation, pressing gentle, tantalizing kisses along the sensitive skin.
The sensation crashes over my senses, leaving me breathless and trembling with need.
His hands travel boldly along my sides, pulling me even tighter against him until every inch of our bodies is perfectly aligned.
I reach back, my fingers tangling into his dark hair, urging him closer, deeper into the moment we’ve both resisted for far too long.
The Rumba rhythm intensifies, matching the wild tempo of our heartbeats.
We’re dangerously lost in each other’s embrace, boundaries disappearing beneath the overwhelming force of desire.
Mateo spins me suddenly, bringing me face-to-face with him, his eyes dark and filled with unmistakable hunger, then he presses me against his chest, our bodies still moving sensually in perfect unison. I feel the powerful thrum of his heart through his shirt, mirroring the frantic pace of mine.
His gaze drops to my lips, lingering and filled with intention, and I tilt my head, offering him everything in that single vulnerable gesture. Mateo’s eyes meet mine again, searching for permission. My heart pounding wildly, I give the faintest nod before he slowly lowers his mouth toward mine.
Our lips meet in a searing, all-consuming kiss, igniting every inch of my being with raw passion. His tongue sweeps across my lower lip, coaxing my mouth open, and heat floods through me, melting away the last remnants of resistance as our bodies cling desperately together.