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The last time he'd really danced had been at Autumnal, almost a year ago. The fire was his
partner. The heat centered him against the black and orange void he faded into. Trey worked
his body slowly into the main arc he wanted to follow, rolling left and right, letting his
limbs learn the boundaries of sand and sky. The crowd quieted, and the drums wound tighter.
Trey felt the moment when Niko slid into place behind Isabo. He could picture them in his
mind. Niko, tall and broad, golden in the firelight, his features blending with the shadows.
Isabo, her hair and eyes flowing into the night with him, her skin a lighter gold, her
curves...
Oh, her curves...
Trey's hips and shoulders caught the counter beat, while his arms and legs took the main
rhythm. Sweat gathered on his face and arms. Spinning, he tore his vest off and flung it
from the fire. Whistles and applause made him smile, but he was already lost in the drums
again.
The top of her head would come to just below Niko's shoulder. He'd lean his head down, those
sculpted, full lips so close to her tiny ear. Niko's breath was warm, and smelled of wine.
Her human nose wouldn't scent Trey’s flavor on his breath, but she might catch the scent of
sweat around her. Good sweat, from family and Clan, not sour sweat of sorrow and nightmares.
Trey heard the hiss of sand hitting the fire from his stamping feet, let it drive him into a
spinning leap. The crowd murmured and clapped, and the other dancers melted away around him.
Silence lowered. She'd be watching him now. Trey lunged and kicked, one motion, his arms
flowing behind, and knew that his leather pants and strong movements would hide his erection
from most.
Niko's hand would hover over her shoulder, his heat both greater and softer than the flames
that scorched Trey now. His body swam through the drums, and Trey roared his triumph,
kick-spinning over the bonfire. Rolling into an arcing spin, Trey flung himself around and
around and around, circling the fire, winding his forbidden lust for the quiet woman with the
soul of iron into a tiny secret ball.
The people roared for him as he came back around the water for a second time. The drums
popped, accenting the end of the sequence, and Trey dove, rolling in the sand, thrusting into
the air again as if he were a hawk. Niko would bend to her other ear, subtly drawing her
into the shadows.
Trey landed, swaying and thrusting, weaving his body now like rain. Has anyone thought to
hold you lately, lovely Lady? It was as if Niko whispered in Trey's own ears, the words
came to him so clearly.
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