Key Strokes
"Face it Ryan, I'm just not meant to do this." The grumble escaped my lips just after I slammed all ten of my fingers down on the keys out of frustration. An ugly sound pulled down the air, along with the sides of my mouth. Taking a deep breath, I leaned back and crossed my arms under my chest. I was hunching in front of the grand piano that sat in the corner of his dorm house's dance studio. Only one of the four sets of lights had been switched on, creating a dim glow that reflected softly against the waxed, hardwood floor.
"You can do this Kate." All that met his faith was a scoff rising from the back of my doubtful throat. "Just close your eyes and let me guide you. Stop thinking about it and just let yourself go."
Knowing he wasn't going to let me quit, I forced my back to straighten upright once more as I waited for his signal. His hands were warm as they covered mine, his stomach flush up against my back as he leaned over my shoulder.
"One more time, from the top." He murmured beside my ear. Nodding, I poised my fingers and tried to concentrate on the music. Tried to block out the scent of him as it filled my lungs and made me dizzy. Tried to focus all my energy on the ivory keys beneath my fingertips. Tried to undo the sensual images clouding the back of my eyelids as I held them closed, just like he had asked me to.
None of that was working, but it didn't matter. After counting off, his hands moved mine along with near perfection. The music flowed between us, caressing my ears with gentle light notes that were tempered down by more complex chords on the deeper end of the ivory pool. The notes were slow and sounded almost random. In fact, I would have suspected them of being so had we not been practicing this same pattern for the past twenty minutes. It was an original composure, not by Ryan but one of his friends from school. Some girl…Kayla? Kylie? Eh, it didn't matter. Though I'd have to thank her if I ever got the chance.
Although I never would have put down stumbling my way through piano keys as an ideal date, it was easily one of the best I'd ever been on. It was fun learning to make music with just my hands. It was kind of exciting, making sense out of the mystical phenomenon of classical music I'd only ever admired from afar, convinced it was a secret only meant for people who had been magnetically attracted to that kind of thing since age four. And though I didn't want to admit it…it was also really sexy, having Ryan teach me something this beautiful, something this intimate. Never had I imagined the idea of making love on a dance studio floor would appeal to me, but suddenly I was scaring myself with how badly the desire was coursing through my veins.
I could already picture it in my head. His body over mine, pale skin gently glowing under the dim lights. My lips parted between his, molding gently as our tongues danced together slowly. My hands would splay through his hair and his fingertips would run along the side of my torso, teasing me the way he always did. Those blue eyes would be all I could see as our clothing fell off around us. His brow would bead with sweat as I bit into my lip, my body trying to fit around him.
A shudder raced down my spine and Ryan's fingers tripped over mine out of surprise. My eyelids flew open and I searched the keys, surprised at how deeply a mere fantasy had shaken me.
"I'm sorry." I mumbled slowly, turning around at even more pathetic a pace.
"Don't apologize." A crooked smile lit up his face as he ran a hand back through his hair.
"I…" My eyes snagged on the bit of floor my mind had picked out for us before I gathered myself and turned my gaze back to him. "I should be going."
"It's only half past nine." He reminded me, the faint remnants of his smile showing amiable confusion.
"Yah, I just have a test tomorrow and I'm kind of tired." My head bobbed in a slight nod as I gathered my jacket from beside me on the bench.
"Five more minutes." He told me, not even leaving room for question as his eyes pinned me in place. How was I supposed to say no to him when I didn't even want to?
I smiled softly and closed the space between us with a few steps forward. Sliding a hand up to fit the curve of his neck, I craned my neck up the extra inch my lips needed to meet his. Our mouths separated and came back together again a few times, testing the waters before his hands slid around my waist and pulled me against his chest. Smiling into our kiss, I tilted my head to the side and allowed his tongue to slide with gentle passion against mine. Maybe I'd stay just a little bit longer.