The Dancer: The Ballerina Series Book 3: The Ballerina Series, #3

Chapter One

Dante

My fingers curled into the twisted sheets. I’d been suffocating from sheer terror. I took deep breaths before opening my eyes. It had been a long time since I’d had that vivid a dream. Years in fact, usually my dreams were about feelings of abandonment, loneliness, not quite so dark. So real. These weren’t dreams, but memories. Real nightmares from my past. Now I’ve had them two nights in a row. What the fuck!

Thank God, I didn’t let Christy come home with me tonight. I shouldn’t have let her stay with me last night, but I’d been so damn lonely lately. I tried to make it clear to her there was nothing more between us, other than two people scratching an itch. I didn’t give a shit that she sometimes screwed other cast members, we weren’t dating. Still, I scared the shit out of her when I woke her up in the middle of the night screaming. When she asked what was wrong, I lied of course, and told her just a nightmare, and I couldn’t even remember what it was about. Not hardly. She and I shared the physical, not the emotional.

These nightmares came from a place deep inside of me. Something I shared with no one.

I thought I conquered this fear a long time ago. That and the psychiatrist bills said I had. In truth, I’d conquered it on my own, this memory of the haunted woods and a lost little boy. Well, partially on my own, I had a little help from my dad and a friend who gave me the tools to deal with it. I am a man now, and I had overcome this. I’d done it by learning all about the outdoors. So, I thought I had put this particular terror behind me. Fuck!

Even Ivy didn’t know, before I’d decided to dance professionally, I also thought about being a forest ranger. By the time I turned eighteen, I’d spent weeks backpacking the Appalachian Trail, most of it by myself. I’d become an accomplished hiker. I’d spent almost as much time backpacking as I did dancing. The wilderness no longer held horrors for me, but still, I didn’t fully enjoy living in an urban city like New York alone. Perhaps I just needed another roommate; I’d always had one.

Then again, I also hadn’t been backpacking for a couple of years now, pussy day hikes, but not the serious stuff I’d done before, no time really. Perhaps it’s time for me to get back to nature. A reminder to myself I had control. I was no longer that little lost boy in the woods. But this morning, I had a plane to catch and then tomorrow, a wedding to attend. Maybe afterward.

The phone rang, and I picked it up. Hello.

Your ass had better make it here on time.

Well, hello the fuck to you too. It was Maze, but before he could respond, I heard the sounds of someone whispering to him to be nice. I grinned.

Yeah, just making sure you and Vin will be here on time, Maze’s better half said into the phone.

Ivy. My best friend was getting married tomorrow afternoon to a guy she’d known for years. Lucky bastard. Maze turned out to be all right, but only because of the way he put Ivy first, last, and always. Still, make no mistake, Ivy’s soon to be hubster was a dangerous sonofabitch, the kind you wanted on your side. Didn’t matter, if he ever hurt Ivy, I would find a way to hurt him. Kind of hard though to be pissed at the guy, since in the last few months, we’d become close friends. He even made me one of his groomsmen.

You know I’ll be there, babe.

We’ll send a car for you. That’s why I’m calling, text me the flight info.

We can take a cab, no worries, I told her.

Text her the damn information, otherwise if anything happens, I will not hear the end of it, Maze grumbled.

I laughed and hung up on him. But I dutifully forwarded the flight info to Ivy’s phone.

Time to get this party started.

I swung my legs off the bed and sat up, but my head hurt a little from the His and Her’s bridal shower last night. Me and Vin, a friend Maze had introduced me to, tried to get Maze to put his foot down and say he didn’t need a fucking bridal shower. That was for the bride, but Maze wasn’t interested because it was what Ivy wanted. What a wuss.

If that’s what love reduced you to, I wasn’t interested. Especially, given the video I’m sure Vin put up for anyone with Internet access to see, Maze wearing a hat made of bows from all the gifts they’d gotten. But since Ivy was the one putting it on his head, damned if the dude didn’t wear it with a smile. By the time I checked last night, it had over 10,000 views. I snorted and stood up carefully. My head felt a little better; I knew a shower would help and the thought of Maze in that hat cheered me up.

Although, I might have done the same for Ivy. Water under the bridge and in the end she’d made the right decision. Still, Vin and I teased Maze about being pussy whipped all night. Good times.

Maze’s best man and I planned a bachelor party for tonight that he would not be allowed to get out of, and I know Ivy’s maid of honor, Christy, planned something for her too. I’d helped her set it up. We’d all be in the same club, just different rooms. I couldn’t wait to see the look on both their faces when the strippers hop out of their respective cakes in different rooms. All in good fun.

I know Ivy was fine with the plans as long as no one got seriously wasted. She would have a fit if I got Maze drunk the night before his wedding. At least the wedding was scheduled for three, tomorrow afternoon. Everyone could sleep in. The wedding would be on the beach on Biscayne Bay, kind of small, maybe about hundred people. Just like the couple wanted it.

I went into the bathroom and hit the shower. Afterward, I changed into faded black jeans, a gray t-shirt, and black loafers. I had my suit for the ceremony and all the other stuff already packed up. I would meet Vin at the airport, and we’d fly together to Miami later this morning and then grab a cab to the resort. Maze and Ivy should have left earlier on a chartered plane; I wondered if they’d called me from the plane.

My driver dropped me off at the airport. Maybe in a few days after I got back, I might take a mini vacation. Perhaps to Virginia. Fly into Dulles, rent a car, and head to the Blue Ridge Mountains for a nice little weekend hike. Nothing like getting back to nature to clear these damn nightmares from my head. I conquered them before, and I’ll do it again.

I pulled out my phone to make sure I had my boarding pass on there and the hotel info. Most of the wedding party would stay in Biscayne Bay or Miami for a few days, but the couple wasn’t staying in the hotel with everyone else. After the reception, the new Mr. and Mrs. Chang would head to a private home on the beach for the next two weeks. I was sure no one would see them the entire time. I still felt a little twinge over Ivy, but I also know she was never for me.

Hey, man.

I turned at the sound of the booming voice to see Vin, Maze’s best friend, hurrying toward me. I grinned, and we fist bumped. Hey, I thought you were going to miss the flight.

He chuckled. Nah. I had to wait on my friend and date for the wedding. Vin moved aside, and he raised his hand to gesture to someone behind him.

Then I saw her. Holy fuck!

My jaw went slack as my eyes did a slow glide down her body then back up again. She wore meshed white sneakers and black yoga pants with a white t-shirt that had the name of some popular group I’d heard of on tour splashed across it. The wide straps of her bag hid part of the words, but did great things to push her breasts forward. I had to close my mouth to stop from drooling at the thought of touching that mouthful.

My gaze moved on back to her face. She had a natural tan, the color of maple syrup. Damn, did she taste like maple too? Her oval face with a button nose and a pouty mouth I wanted all over me captured my interest. Long wavy hair streaked with gold, red, and bronze framed her face, but it was those whiskey orbs that snagged my gaze and had me fucking drowning.

Huh? I knew someone said something, but fuck if I knew what it was, until Vin touched my shoulder and repeated it.

I said, this is Kali. Kali Devereux. And this tool is Dante Hammond.

I blinked. Hello. Interesting name.

My parents liked it, and I decided to keep it. Same could be said of yours. It’s nice meeting you.

At the sound of her sultry voice with a hint of an island accent—what little blood I had left—shot straight to my dick. I blinked again. She still stood there, and I remained caught in a frigging daze.

The girl had a sharp wit, but her smile began to turn into a frown.

Shit, what, what? Oh, yeah. I’m supposed to respond. The pleasure is all mine. And I meant every word. I slanted my eyes briefly at Vin.

He frowned as he watched me. Then he smirked and glanced down at my jeans, which were stifling me. Let’s go, shall we? Vin turned around and began walking in the direction of the gate.

Kali glanced at me briefly and followed him.

It still took me a few seconds to go after them, and my gaze zeroed in on her fine ass, and the way her pants outlined it perfectly. I’d follow said ass anywhere, but something obstructed my view suddenly. A case of some sort rested strapped across her back. A guitar. She played guitar. Fuck, if the fact she was musically inclined didn’t turn me on even more. I hoped Vin wasn’t in love with her, because I didn’t want to have to hurt a friend. I planned on doing everything in my power to get her into my bed as soon as possible.

She turned around and stared at me, a slight smile playing around her lips, as if she just read my thoughts.

This time, I returned her grin. When we got to the gate, we still had a few minutes before we’d be allowed to board. I know Vin and I had first class seats, but wasn’t sure about Kali. Damned if I wasn’t prepared to get her a seat next to me when I realized, Vin had that seat.

Before I could inquire about the seating assignments, Kali stopped in front of a row of empty seats at our boarding gate and took her guitar case off, then placed it on one of the seats. She still held one of those oversized bags. I’ll be right back, she said. Watch my case. Without waiting for a reply, she took off.

I sat down and stared until she walked into the bathroom door down the corridor, then I turned to Vin, who was already gazing at me. I didn’t waste any time. Who is she to you?

Vin grinned. What if I told you she’s my girlfriend?

Now, I know this to be bullshit. I’ve partied with Vin, whereas I had pretended with Ivy to be a switch hitter, so she would live with me, Vin really was a switch hitter and the one thing he did not have was a ‘girl’ or ‘boy’ friend. He was not exclusive. In that respect, we were the same. Bull shit!

Vin outright laughed. She’s just a good friend. One of her dads is my lawyer, that’s how we met and we hang out from time to time, whenever she’s in town.

One of her dads? Her parents divorced? I felt curious about her and wanted to know as much as I could pump from Vin. Knowledge was power and I would use it all to get to her.

He shook his head. Nah, she’s got two dads, as in a dad and a dad.

Oh. Interesting, but irrelevant to me. You sleeping with her?

Vin shook his head. Not yet.

I shook mine slowly from side to side, maintaining eye contact with him. Fair game, then man.

Vin tilted his head to the side. You’re shitting me.

I shook my head again. No. Truth. Tell me you really care for her and I’ll back the fuck off.

All trace of mirth was wiped from Vin’s face. I do care for her and that’s what this trip is about, to see if we could take our friendship to the next level.

Does she know that?

No. She’s always put me in the friend category. I wanted to use this time to get outta there. So no, dude. Not backing off. She is something special. Do you know she plays for some of the best rock bands in the industry right now? She’s one of the few top lead female guitarists in the world. Much in demand.

No shit! You sharing the same hotel room?

We have connecting rooms. I only plan on us using one of them though.

I don’t know why the thought of them taking their relationship out of the friend category irritated the hell out of me, or why I’d been pushing Vin on this so much. But it’d been a long time since I’d been this attracted to a woman. Not even Ivy drew me like this woman did. I want her, man.

She’s not something to be loaned out or bought and sold, dude, Vin all but ground out through clenched teeth.

Didn’t say she was. She’s unique, like her name, something to be cherished and treasured, and I would. Goddamn, would I ever, if I could make her mine. For a time that is. Yeah. A good long one.

Vin grinned. Maybe we can share. She might be interested in a three-way?

I shook my head. Not on your frigging life.

Then let’s let the lady decide.

I thought about that for a nano-second. Done!

Chapter Two

Kali

Damn! I took as much time in the bathroom as I could, trying to get my shit back together. I shook my head. Gut clenching, heart racing, egotistical men were a dime a dozen in my world. Half of them tried to get into my pants and the other half, each other’s. But this was the first time in a long time, I thought about getting in anyone’s pants. Dante was freaking gorgeous.

Normally, I didn’t go for tall, built, long-haired blonds, but I would not belong to the female variety if I didn’t appreciate his exceptional beautiful looks. Nor would I kick him out of my bed if he chose to sneak into it. Something I had to do on more than one occasion. Some rock stars thought anything with a vagina was theirs for the taking. There are now a couple of them out there who have learned the error of that kind of thinking, the hard way.

My dads had taught me how to defend myself at an early age, even if they never could understand me. One of my dads gave me a purple kid’s guitar at the age of five, because I loved the color purple. I loved that thing on sight, and I began to play it. Really play the thing after a week. A musician friend of theirs was visiting one day while I’d been strumming away, and he talked them into having me go see another friend of his. I was immediately proclaimed a child prodigy and the rest, as they say, was history. But my dads, even knowing all this, were still dismayed when I decided not to go to college, but instead go on tour with a rising all-male rock band.

It’d been five years since then and I never looked back. Although, from time to time, they still made noises about college and settling down. One is a partner in a law firm, the other an accountant. Given that I’d been raised mostly on Mozart and Chopin, Italian opera, and the ballet, neither of them could figure out how I ended up being this wild and rebellious rock and roll diva. They must have forgotten that I was actually born in Trinidad. Then I spent all those summers