Maze (The Ballerina Series #2) (3 page)

She
smiled. “I’d like that. I’ll come with you. By the way, do you have a plastic
bag around here I can wrap my foot in?”

I
looked down at her cast and frowned, understanding the problem. She couldn’t
get it wet. “Hang on a sec.” I left the bathroom and headed for the kitchen.

I
returned with a bag and wrapped her foot. “Need anything else?”

She
shook her head. “Thanks. I’m good.”

I
kissed her quickly and left the bathroom to give her some privacy. I put on the
jeans I’d worn to the fight last night, thinking I needed to stop by the
brownstone to get a change of clothes, too. I grabbed Ivy’s clothes from the
floor, and then opened the bathroom door.

“Babe,
I’m just putting your clothes on the counter for you and grabbing my shirt.”

“Thanks,”
she said from the shower.

“I’ll
run and get us breakfast, then I’ll be right back.” I shut the door behind me
and headed for the living room.

I
found the keys Uncle Tsang had left on the table the night before then I opened
the front door. As soon as I set foot in the hallway, I registered the person
in a chair at the end of the hall near the elevator. There were eight units on
each floor. The condo was on one side of the building and the elevator at the
opposite end of the hallway.

I
walked right up to the man who sat on the chair. I recognized his mixed East
Asian features. He was one of Tsang’s bodyguards, Terry. Even sitting he looked
huge; his head came to my chest. He’d been with us last night at the fight. I
understood what his presence meant. I was not going to be allowed to just walk
away. At least not yet. I’d won a fight I was supposed to lose. Someone was out
for blood. I was pissed I needed a shadow. He spoke before I could.

“What
do you need, Maze?” He already had his phone out to make the call.

“I
just wanted to get a couple of bagels from the corner. Then Ivy and I are
heading over to her place. After that the hospital.”

He
stood. “I’ll walk down to the corner with you, and when you’re ready to leave,
you know the number to call. We’ll bring a car around for you.”

“Fuck!”
I took a deep breath. No use yelling at him. “Do I need a bodyguard?”

He looked at me
and tilted his head. “You’ll have to ask your uncle. But I’m yours for now.”

I
knew it was pointless to argue with him. I was his job and he wasn’t leaving my
side unless I kicked his ass or Uncle Tsang told him to back off. Since I
already knew, for now, neither was going to happen, I shrugged. “Shit, fine.”

I
turned around to stare back down the hall. I couldn’t see the door from this
angle, but I knew my heart resided in that room. “Is it safe to leave Ivy?”

“The
building is secure. No one comes up here who’s not supposed to be here.”

I
nodded. Figures. It’s why Tsang insisted we come back here after the fight. I
knew that. Tempers were still running high. Always a dangerous time. “Okay.
Let’s go.”

I
felt really stupid walking down the street with Terry carrying a damn umbrella
over my head. Dude watched everyone on the street. But then again so did I. It
was pouring so not a whole lot of people were out and about.

We
got to the bagel place and I placed the order. Getting an extra one for Terry.
The man didn’t even crack a smile when I gave it to him. Just took the bag and
said thanks. From the time I left until the time I got back to the condo all of
about twenty minutes had gone by. When I pushed the door open the first thing I
saw was Ivy standing near the window watching the rain. My heart slammed
against my chest. I didn’t give a shit what the Triad did or didn’t want.
Whatever they tried to throw at me. I was not giving her up.

She
turned when I walked in and smiled.

“Food,”
I said coming toward her. “And I grabbed a couple of plain white teas, too.”

She
met me part of the way and took the bags out of my hands then moved to the
small kitchen area. There was no room for a table there, only a breakfast bar
with four stools. She placed the bags on the counter and we sat down while I
pulled out what I’d gotten. Two bacon, egg, and cheese bagels for me, one for
her, and two cups of tea.

“Sorry,
it’s a little wet. But it’s pouring out there,” I said.

“I’m
sorry you had to go out in this mess. But thank you for doing it. Did you have
to go far?’

“Nope,
just down to the end of the block.”

“You’re
not very wet.” She frowned. “Did you have an umbrella?”

Trust her to notice.
“Ah, no, but I ran into a friend in the
hallway who did. He let me borrow his umbrella. I returned it when I got back.”

“Oh,
good.” She took a sip of the tea. “This is good. Just the way I like it. O’
natural.” She smiled then glanced over at the windows again where we could see
the deluge of water falling from the sky. “Do you think we’ll be able to get a
cab in this?”

“No
worries. Uncle Tsang left one of his cars and a driver for us to use.”

No
way did I want Ivy to see the bodyguards hovering around me for the next few
days. It was one of the things I told Terry on our walk. I also told him when I
was ready I’d call him for the car, and he was not to be in that hallway when
we left. I remained optimistic Uncle Tsang would be able to take care of all of
this mess in a few days, and Ivy and I could get on with being a normal couple.
Ones who didn’t need bodyguards and Ivy didn’t have a boyfriend who got into
fights while they were out on a date. Besides, if her mom and Shel’s mom were
coming to town tomorrow, I was the last thing Ivy needed to worry about.

Chapter Three

Ivy

We’d
spent most of the day yesterday with Joe and after a quick trip back to the
brownstone in Brooklyn. Maze needed a change of clothes, and then we came back
to my place. Before we left Maze said, even as corny as it sounded, “Your place
or mine?” It made my heart flutter. But just looking at him could do that, too.

My
God what did I ever do to deserve him? He was mine. All mine. I did a mental
happy dance every time I glanced at him. Six feet two inches of masculine
perfection. Gray eyes the color of storm clouds stared at me and all I wanted
to do was bathe in them, each and every time he looked my way. And the love
shining from those orbs warmed all of me.

We
decided my place was closer to the hospital. Joe would be there for some time
so it would be easier to get there from my condo. However, Maze having a car at
his disposal proved to be a real bonus in regards to a quick means of
transportation. I still didn’t quite get why his uncle left us his car and
driver. Maze told me Mr. Tsang wouldn’t need it for the rest of the week and
said we could use it. Which was great and thoughtful of him. I didn’t have to
hobble around on the sidewalk trying to flag down a cab.

I
smiled. Between hanging out with Dante, and now Maze, I might never have to
worry about catching a cab in New York during rush hour again. But then
depression crept into my thoughts as to why I didn’t have to worry about my
schedule and traffic. Dante had already left for the day for another meeting
with the dance company. It would be weeks before my cast was off and months
before I could even try to dance again. If ever.

“Don’t.”

I
blinked at the sound of Maze’s voice and glanced over at him. I stretched my
arms out on the sofa and placed my legs on the coffee table. My cast rested on
top of a pillow to make my lounge more comfortable. The television was on. Maze
and I were just killing time before we met my mom and Shel’s mom later this
evening for dinner.

“Thank
you for coming with me tonight, baby. I…I don’t want to face this alone.”

He
brushed his finger along my cheekbone. “I’m always here for you. Do you know
how the appointment went?”

I
sighed. “They confirmed the diagnosis, but the doctors think they caught it in
time and everyone’s agreed on the surgery.”

“That’s
good then?” Maze asked.

“Yeah,
it is.”

“We
have awhile before we have to leave, do you want something to drink?”

“Thanks.
I think there are some snacks too in that first cabinet next to the sink if
you’re hungry.”

Maze
stood and went into the kitchen. I watched him walk there and back. He had on
black dress slacks and a shiny, cotton long-sleeved dark gray shirt. A black
belt with a silver buckle graced his slim hips. He still wore his hair on the
short side, but it had that ‘I just rolled out of bed’ look and all I wanted to
do was roll back into bed with him. Damn he was gorgeous. He’d turned me into a
nymphomaniac. I couldn’t get enough of him. Then again he acted worse than I
did.

“You
sure you okay, babe?”

I
shook my head to stop ogling him. It didn’t escape my notice his shirt covered
up any exposed tats. He never covered them all up like that. I could only
assume he did it for me. For today, when meeting my family.

He
held a serving tray in his hands when he returned to the sofa. After lowering
the tray to rest on the coffee table, he grabbed one of the open beers, handing
it to me before grabbing the other one and sitting down. He sat next to me, and
I leaned my head against his shoulder.

I
sighed, he’d momentarily distracted me, but I realized I hadn’t responded to
his comment. “I’ll be fine.”

“Yes.
You will be. But what were you thinking about?”

I
shrugged. “Just everything. My injury. Being able to dance again. Shel. Her
mom. You. Me. Us.”

“Whoa!
You really
were
thinking about
everything. Then you should know you have nothing to worry about. At least not
about yourself, me, or us. I will do whatever it takes to help you dance again
if that’s what you want to do. And if you decide you want to do something else,
I’m down with that too. There is an
us
.
There always has been and always will be. And you and your family will be there
for Shel’s mom.” He kissed my forehead. “And I’ll be there for you. So stop
worrying.”

I
smiled, shifting to place my head on his shoulder. “That’s definitely an easy
thing to say, but I will try.”

He
threaded his fingers through my hair, and I took comfort in his presence.
“Thank you for covering up, but really, you didn’t have to do that. I want them
to accept you as you are. I love your ink.” I rested my hand on his chest.
“Especially the heart wrapped in ivy.”

This
time, he pressed his lips to mine. “I know. But I don’t want them forming any
preconceived notions the first, well, second time we meet.”

“You
know they’ve already seen some of your tats years ago, right?”

“Yeah,
well, hopefully they’ll remember my charming personality more.”

I
grinned but still couldn’t quite relax. As good as everything was between us, I
couldn’t shake the feeling that something seemed a little off. Though, I
couldn’t exactly put my finger on it. Silly, I know. A lot had happened to me
in the last few days and a lot was still going on. The circumstances would
drive anyone batty.

I
leaned forward to put the beer down and then sat back against Maze. I caressed
his chest again; he was hard all over. His heart muscle pushed against his rib
cage, the vibration echoing up through his skin to my palm. Yeah, it matched
the racing of my heart.

I
raised my eyes to see him staring at me, a sexy grin on his face and heat in
his gaze. He leaned forward to place his beer next to mine on the coffee table.
After he sat back against the couch he shifted us both. He moved one of his
legs and had me lean forward so he could place it behind me on the couch. He
left his other foot on the floor and positioned me so I could lie between his
thighs with my back against his chest.
  

“Move
your left leg and put it up next to mine,” he whispered against my ear. “Leave
your other on the coffee table.”

I
did as he asked. Since we were going out soon to dinner I wore a dress, it
wasn’t exactly short, but it rose up, which left me wide open to him.

Both
of his arms snaked around my waist. He drew me farther up until my ass rested
against the hardness throbbing and poking at my tailbone. One of his hands pulled
my dress up even more, while the other grabbed and squeezed my thigh. When he’d
exposed much of my silky black underwear he whispered, his voice low and husky,
“I think black’s my favorite color.”

He
moved his hand off my dress and pulled aside my underwear, my wet underwear, so
his thumb could brush against my clit.

“You
are so wet. I’m going to have to do something about that.”

I
was already raising my hips to his touch and widening my legs but still I had
to at least try to dissuade him. “We don’t have much time before we have to
leave.” Not like I tried very hard given my reaction.

“We’ve
got enough. Besides, we don’t have to worry about waiting around for a cab at
this hour. Terry will bring the car around as soon as I text.”

“Mmm…”
I heard what he said but it wasn’t really registering because he’d inserted one
finger into my sex and I tightened my muscles to hold him in there. I raised my
arms over my head to circle them around his neck, while sinking against him.
His length flexed against the top of my butt, his strong thigh muscles
contracted around my hips, and he shifted. He pressed his sex even more against
the top of my ass and I felt how much he wanted me. And I wanted everything he
had to give to me.

His
lips brushed against my inner arm, then his tongue licked my skin at the same
time he stuck two fingers inside me, and between one breath and the next, I
shattered.

“You
are so fucking responsive,” he murmured.

He
turned my head and covered my mouth with his, all the while continuously
working my sex. His fingers moved in and out, and I moaned into his mouth.

Suddenly
he stiffened and withdrew his hand out from between my legs. Without warning,
he pulled my dress down to cover me, and I heard the key turn in the lock.

I
popped my eyes open.
Dante. Crap!

Quickly
I lowered my arm and placed my leg on the floor but continued to rest against
Maze. He wrapped his arms around my waist resting his head on my shoulder.

“We’ll
finish this later,” he whispered just as Dante pushed open the door.

“Hey,
wassup?” he said when he saw us. Then he turned and shut and locked the door.

I
twisted so I could see him better, but he walked around the couch and took a
seat on the chair at the other end of us. He shifted the dance bag he wore
across his shoulder and placed it on the floor beside him. He wore dark blue
and black dance sweats. We had a matching set.

A
wave of sadness hit me to see him in his when I knew it would be a long time
before I’d wear mine again.

“Hey,
man,” Maze said.

Dante
looked at us then frowned. I thought perhaps he picked up on my bleak mood but
I shrugged off the feeling. I needed to know how the directors had planned out
the rest of the year. This was the first chance I had to ask Dante about what
was going on with the company. I needed a head’s up. Yeah, I could have called
Davis, the production director, but frankly he hated talking on the phone. He
preferred you set up an appointment with his secretary so he would be prepared
to talk. I already scheduled a time to come and talk to him tomorrow through
his secretary.

“So
how’d the meeting go?” I asked. There’d been a meeting today to discuss the
rest of the summer, and the season in greater detail.

He
sighed. “I turned in the paperwork you left for me and they took it. So you’re
officially on the injured list. I know you’re talking to them tomorrow but I
can tell you right now what they’ve already told me. They’ll hold your spot
until August, but then you’ll have to show them you’re still able to perform to
maintain it. I’m sure Davis will also tell you he would like us to put together
some chorography for Christy and me but that won’t be for awhile. Christy will
take the duets, and your solo rolls they’re going to spread out between
Christy, Lisa, and Stephanie, so that’s good.”

“That
is good news. I’d love to do some chorography. I’m not so excited about working
with Christy but I’ll do it. So why are you still frowning?” I asked. Something
in his expression suggested more was going on.

“They’re
thinking about holding auditions to fill a couple of openings.”

“Yes,
we knew they were going to do that,” I said, but a sinking feeling crept up on
me.

“Yeah,
but now I think they’ll also look to bring on someone that can handle your
roles. Someone who can step right in or they can begin to train.” Dante placed
his hands on his thighs and leaned forward. “And even if you did come back
strong they’d still want another ballerina of your caliber they can cultivate
in the company. ‘Cause let’s face it, Christy is no prima ballerina.”

“Shit.”
I was being replaced. Maybe not right away if I overcame my injury, but
eventually. It happens to us all. Sooner or later, someone younger, stronger,
and better came along. I too had replaced someone else when I was hired. Tessa
was no longer with the company. I had taken her place. Just as Dante became the
principal male dancer when he nudged Jeffery out of his spot. Although he was
still around. We were all replaced sooner or later. Understanding that didn’t
make it easier, though. A dancer is what I was in my soul. My mood took a
nosedive.

“What
does this mean?” Maze asked.

I
twisted to look at him, doing my best to look content when I was anything but.
“I’m being replaced.”

“Now,
that’s not quite true, Ivy,” Dante spoke up.