Lead and Follow(27)

If Dima said anything, he’d get dishes thrown at his head, but mad looked good on her. Her cheeks flushed red. Her low-cut dress displayed cleavage that bounced with a huff of annoyance.

“Your first hard-on?”

Paul’s mouth quirked. He hopped backwards to sit on the counter. “I am definitely staying out of this one.”

Dima carefully put down the spoon and took her by the shoulders. The bright blue dress skimmed down from her breasts, hugged her trim waist and ended high on her thighs. The kiss he placed on her forehead was slow and soft. “You look beautiful, little one.”

“Dima, darling?”

“Yes?”

“You’ve lost your mind if you think you’re getting off that easily.”

Smiling would be a terribly bad idea, but looking at Paul increased the temptation to a ball-clenching degree. The Texan hitched backwards on his palms. He wasn’t making any attempt to hide his amusement.

Dima lifted an eyebrow. “It was a valiant attempt, was it not?”

She snuck her fingers through his belt loops and tugged him near. Not nearly as close as he wanted. Not even as close as they’d been in the rehearsal room. Pressed together. Sweating. Dancing.

Holy fuck, dancing together once again.

If he wrapped his arms around her back, he’d only need to turn her slightly before she’d be sandwiched between him and Paul. From there, anything would be an option.

She pursed her full mouth into a bud of disapproval. “Details.”

Dima knew her well enough to see the humor lurking in the depths of her eyes. “I was fourteen. You bent over in front of me wearing that gauzy pink practice skirt. I liked what I saw, but my reaction wasn’t, ah, sizeable.” He held up two fingers pinched together. “Not a big deal at all.”

Pure devilishness took over his mind, to go with his gathering good humor. This was…easy. Nice. Having the three of them all together worked in some way that soothed his soul—a quiet playfulness he hadn’t enjoyed since well before Lizzie’s injury. Laughing with her at Devant had been a start. This was sexier, more effervescent and all the more tempting.

He leaned forward until his lips brushed the soft shell of her ear. Paul studied them avidly. Dima dropped his voice to an imitation of a whisper. Really, he didn’t want anyone to miss a word. “Not now, though. Now it’s most certainly a big deal.”

More red flushed across her cheeks. This round was all blushing. No huffing mock-anger. Just arousal. She burned hot beneath the fingertip he traced along her skin.

He couldn’t resist the impulse to push even further. “As you well know, little one.”

He glanced toward Paul. The man leaned forward, smiling, with his chin down. This one twanged with unmistakably filthy intent. He looped his fingers around Lizzie’s wrist and tugged her between his knees. “Is that right?”

She bit her bottom lip and looked up at Dima from under her lashes in a move he knew well. She was about to tease him.

He didn’t mind in the least. Not that night. Not like when she’d been manic in her attempts to attract his attention after her injury. Silly little one. She didn’t need to try so hard.

She nestled back against Paul’s chest. “Dima’s prick and I became…reacquainted, shall we say? Last night.”

Paul’s blue eyes burned bright. Although his salacious smile widened, he tightened his hands on Lizzie’s shoulders. White, tense tendons on the darkly tanned hands gave him away. “And? Is it big?”

Though Dima usually planned every move, sometimes unmistakable opportunities popped up. Irresistible, even. He stepped closer to Lizzie. His hips tucked against hers. He wanted her to feel the hefty weight of the cock in question. This had nothing to do with choreography. Only need.

Only sex? Holy mother, he wished he knew.

On his way to hold her waist, he brushed Paul’s denim-covered thighs with his knuckles. He kissed Lizzie first. Her lips opened under his. She tasted unbearably sweet. Yet the touch was swift. He pulled back, only to lean past her and graze his mouth over Paul’s smile.

Kissing him was much like kissing summer. Dima could feel Paul’s breath falter, feel Lizzie subtly jump between them. Paul’s lips loosened before he kissed back. That was everything. A little firmer, a little more insistent. So much curiosity.

The contrast between their mouths was delectable. Lizzie’s softness. Paul’s strength.

“Big? Lizzie seemed to think so. You’re welcome to find out for yourself.”





Chapter Nine

Lizzie held her breath and looked up. Dima’s gaze remained fixed on Paul, whose face she couldn’t see. Caught, fearing any move would send them both running, she could only wait. The silent challenge arcing between the two men would determine the shape of the evening.