John had been glaring at Zoe in defiance but at the mention of Joss's name, he snapped his head toward her and stood, hurriedly. "Joss", he said, grabbing her hand and kissing the back of it valiantly. "It's so good to see you." A look of pleasant surprise graced his handsome face.
Joss didn't answer either of them but offered a weak smile. She allowed Sebastian to seat her, rewarding him with a warm smile. Sebastian kissed her cheek and she patted his jaw, apologizing to him for her lateness. Joss's outward appearance hid the turmoil that bubbled up at the sight of John and Zoe, of all people. The bastard still looked good and she hated the affect he still on her.
"So you three know each other", Sebastian said.
"Yes", answered Zoe. "We work together on occasion. How have been, Joss?"
"Very well, thanks", Joss answered, with an adoring glance at Sebastian. Turning to him, she described her day. "I caught two cases early then another just before I left. Had to stick around and wait for someone to cover for me. Then I rushed home to shower and change and I came straight here after. Thank you for sending your car."
"Don't mention it. Have you eaten?"
Joss shook her head no.
"I will get you something from the kitchen."
"No need. I'm fine."
"I insist. I will be right back." Sebastian kissed her cheek again, whispered something in her ear and took off. Once Sebastian departed, Zoe asked John to get her a drink from the bar. "Scotch rocks please?" John glowered at her, not wanting to leave Joss for a second. He offered to get a drink for Joss and she declined, so he stood and stalked toward the bar, garnering his own share of appreciative glances.
"Well, Joss, you made quite the catch. I'm jealous", Zoe said.
"I don't see why you would be", Joss said. "You have who you wanted."
"I do, don't I? And I must say these past 6 months have been heaven. We were in the Bahamas, Paradise Island, over the holidays, and let me tell you, there is nothing like John, fireworks, and the beach on New Year's Eve. I am still finding sand. And Valentine's Day? OMG, as long as it has been for us, he still finds ways to rock my world. We were fucking each other so hard before this event, I didn't think we'd be able to make it. In fact, have a listen. I accidentally left my phone on. Imagine my surprise…Too bad there's no video, though." Zoe winked in triumph.
Joss furrowed her brows as Zoe picked up her cell, punched a few numbers and passed it to Joss conspiratorially. Joss reluctantly took the phone and placed it to her ear. What she clearly heard was people banging the hell out of each other. A woman moaning, a man groaning, he exclaiming "Oh God" quietly forceful, she quietly demanding "Fuck me" in a harsh whisper. Then she heard Zoe's voice, louder, as clear as day, growling "Let me suck your cock", then sheets rustling, followed by flesh slapping, deep aggressive sucking sounds, then again, a man moaning deeply. After a brief moment or two of this, she heard a wet slurp, then Zoe again, "You know how I love to suck your cock, John". Then the sucking sounds started up again followed by more grunting and groaning.
Joss was…she didn't know what the hell she was, but she kept her game face, knowing that Zoe was trying to get a rise out of her. She wouldn't give the bitch the satisfaction, taking the high road instead.
Mercifully, John arrived with Zoe's drink. Joss then handed the phone back to Zoe and said, "I am glad for the two of you." John looked at Zoe questioningly and she murmured, "Girl stuff." John wasn't at all convinced, but just then Sebastian arrived with a small plate of food.
Joss was quite hungry, and polished off the meal in no time. By this time, the music was still going full blast and the dance floor was crowded. The live band playing right now was Alex Wilson. Moving his head in time to the music, Sebastian spoke. "Tell me detective, do you salsa?"
Grinning, Joss answered, "I believe the question is do YOU salsa?"
"What's this? A challenge? I never back down from a challenge." Sebastian stood, took Joss's hand and off they went.
John wanted to question Zoe about what transpired while he was getting Zoe a drink, but she went on the offensive. "I thought you were anxious to leave", she said, not so much a question as an accusation.
He ignored her, preferring to look more closely at Joss's dress. He got a good look at part of it when she first sat at the table. It was a silver sequined bodysuit with a low sweetheart neckline, spaghetti straps, and a sheer chiffon lavender one shoulder drape. The top of the drape dipped low, completely exposing the top of the bodysuit and fell in soft gathers. John could now see that the gathers fell just at her hips. In the back, the drape was split all the way up past Joss's bottom. The back of the bodysuit dipped low also and there was a glittering crystal rosette keeping the pieces of the drape in place, but as she walked, the split bared the back of her gorgeous legs. He wondered if Sebastian bought the dress for her and fumed at the thought. Though the gown was bold, it certainly was not out of bounds for the occasion. Joss looked absolutely amazing, from her chin length hair, falling loose in deep waves, to her 3 inch strappy heels. John couldn't look away.
Four magnificently danced salsas later, Sebastian and Joss started back for the table. Joss was laughing and Sebastian was beaming with pride at her skill. That last Salsa was Cubana and Joss was surprised by Sebastian's moves on the dance floor. "Now something for our younger Brazilian compatriots", the DJ announced and a club mix of Adele with a funky Brazilian rhythm started. The pair looked at each other, scoffed at a group of young people standing nearby, and danced themselves back on to the dance floor.
John was watching all this with great interest. Joss was a beautiful dancer. At one point she grabbed the skirt of her gown and swirled it high, baring her legs to the top of her thighs. John was entranced by her every move. And the way her gown glittered and flowed on the dance floor!
Zoe on the other hand was watching John with great interest. "Clearly not so anxious to leave now are you?", she started again. John curled his lip in a warning snarl.
Joss and Sebastian started to cha cha. About halfway through the number John asked, "Isn't that what you were supposed to be dancing with Sebastian a while ago?", feigning ignorance at the insult to Zoe's dancing ability.
"Well at least I CAN dan…", but before she could complete the sentence, Joss and Sebastian arrived back at the table. Joss was breathlessly fanning herself. "I better up my cardio if I am going to keep up with you", she said.
Sebastian looked at her warmly. "You don't have to up anything…"
The pair sat and Sebastian poured water for them, offering some to John and Zoe who declined, then signaling for another pitcher. "So, Joss", Sebastian said. "Is salsa your favorite dance?"
"Actually no. You'll never guess what is", she responded.
Sebastian looked at Joss expecting an answer to the question.
"Three guesses, she said. "Then I'll tell you."
"Salsa."
"No, silly."
"Cha Cha."
"No."
"Waltz."
Joss laughed. "I do like the Viennese Waltz, but no."
"Tell", he demanded.
"Ballet."
John huffed, thinking I knew that. Furthermore, he did not like the ease of the exchange between Almeida and Joss one bit.
"Really?"
"Yes, I took lessons from age 3 up to about 15."
"Why did you stop?", Sebastian asked, greatly curious.
"I quit so that my mama wouldn't go to jail", Joss said matter of factly.
"What? I don't understand", Sebastian said.
Joss sipped more water. "Ballet is very competitive. By the teens, if you are serious, and I was, it is time to begin auditioning and looking for a company. So I began auditioning. It's tough enough just being a teen, but layer the rejection on top of the teenage angst. I can handle rejection, she said, shooting a sly look at John and Zoe. But worse was that the rejection was for things over which I had no control – too short, not who they had in mind, didn't fit the line…yada yada yada. At my last audition, the director said that my technique was brilliant, my lines were amazing, and if I would consider plastic surgery, he would love to have me."
Plastic surgery? John couldn't believe his ears.
Sebastian asked the same question – he apparently couldn't believe his ears either.
"Yes", Joss said. "Lip, breast, and butt reduction, and skin lightening. My Mom went off in there. The director actually thought he was being constructive. But I love the dance, I love to dance, so I began training in other genres, Latin, African, Middle Eastern, club, ballroom…"
"Your mom is a woman after my own heart. My mom knows about that type of treatment, too", Sebastian said earnestly. "All the years she and my dad competed on the international stage they never got their due." At the question in Joss's eyes, he added, "Christina Mendez and Armando Almeida."
"I know them – they're your Mom and Dad?! Oh my God!", Joss exclaimed. "I modeled much of my styling after your mom's movements. Her classic sensuality was fire on the dance floor. That explains your dancing, certainly. But you didn't follow in their footsteps?"
"No, that was not the creative medium I selected. But I still had to learn – we all did, but they let us make our own choices at the end. My parents still run a dance academy and occasionally perform ay showcase events in Europe, Asia and the Americas. But at the time, being one of the few Latin competitors and my mom built the way she was…you know the rest."
Joss nodded. "I adore them."
'You could tell them that yourself if you'd come home with me over Christmas as I asked. The whole family returns for two weeks every year. My grandparents even fly in from Spain."
"Maxim, we have discussed this before. As much as I would love to, I can't. I have my Mom and Taylor."
"Bring them. There's plenty of room at the villa. And we will discuss this until you say yes", Sebastian said, gently touching Joss's nose with his forefinger to make his point. "I'll bring in the big guns and put you on the phone with Madre. Once she hears you are a dancer and love her work, she'll come and get you herself. I have told her how special you are to me and besides, I have never taken anyone home before. She and Padre are most anxious to meet you."
By this time, both Zoe and John were bristling out of sheer jealousy, although John's was tinged with outrage that Sebastian was stealing (had stolen) what was his.
Not able to contain herself, Zoe interjected as if Joss had been speaking to her in the first place, "But ballet Joss? Even you have to admit that you don't see any ballerinas who look like you." Zoe had apparently missed the core, direction, and point of the discussion in her anger.
Joss fixed Zoe with a look that could melt diamonds. "And just what the hell is that supposed to m…" but before she could finish her sentence, John loudly slammed his palms onto the table, jumped up, and asked Sebastian's permission to dance with Joss. Sebastian had barely assented before John was tearing around the table, pulling Joss out of her chair and rushing with her to the dance floor, leaving a confused Sebastian and pissed off Zoe behind.
The music had switched to tango and Solo Tango was providing the music. Joss, still totally annoyed at Zoe for the last insult and at Zoe and John for being Zoe and John, snapped at him. "What do you think you are doing?" John didn't answer but put his hands at her waist and pulled her flush against him in one swift strong motion, his mouth dangerously close to hers. She glared at him, hard.
"No talking during tango", he finally snapped back. Clearly about to lead a sensual tango, John pressed her down and away from him, and Joss obediently and slowly extended one leg gracefully behind her, foot angled, her arms bent in a graceful arc but not touching John, who slowly pulled her up and against him in preparation for the tango embrace, his movement matching the rhythm of Pugliese's Zum.
Then with his right hand still rested at her waist, he lifted his left. John, brooding, looked at his elegantly raised hand, then at Joss, as if commanding her to take it and at the same time daring her not to. She finally put her hand in his, he lowered his face to hers and the dancing began.
John danced with Joss through several songs, mostly old tango standards such as La Bordona, Chique, Pobre Flor, La Peregrinacion, Sacale Punta, Gallo Ciego. He was a wonderful lead, incorporating advanced tasteful lifts, embellishments, leg wraps, drama and pauses into his excellently executed technical movements. Their dancing was magical and neither of them heard the spontaneous applause of appreciation from the audience sprinkled throughout the John and Joss tango show. They also did not notice fewer and fewer couples on the dance floor.
After a sexy narcotango danced to a recorded piece, Joss made to leave the dance floor with most of the other dancers, then the plaintive strains of a bandoneon could be heard. John quickly grabbed Joss's hand. "Just one more", he begged. "Please Joss." He gave her a half smile. "It's Oblivion."
Joss signed heavily and made ready for the tango embrace. John slowly put his arms around her. He held her close, while leading her again through advanced but understated movements this time, dancing face to face, front to back, and promenade. He caressed her intimately at her belly, along her leg, her back, her neck, and at one time, trailing his hand over her shoulder and resting it in between her breasts when they were dancing front to back, not caring about Almeida, Zoe, or anyone – noone except the warm fragrant softness of Joss.
By this time, there were only 8-10 couples remaining on the huge dance floor. Some couples danced as lovers, some danced as star crossed lovers, some danced as two people who were trying their way back to each other, yet others danced with longing and regret. But each couple danced with emotion that spilled out across the ballroom.
Back at the table, Zoe was about to explode. Why is he touching her like that? Why does she have one leg hooked at his hip? Why has he nuzzled his face at her neck? Why are their eyes closed? Is he copping a feel in front of these people? Zoe glanced around the ballroom and saw several of the couples she had spoken with earlier looking at her and grinning.
Halfway through Oblivion, Sebastian leaned across their table to Zoe and said, "Didn't you tell me that John couldn't dance?"
Zoe pretended she didn't hear the question and continued to breathe fire.
For John, the song ended too quickly, for Joss, not quickly enough. The last note had barely sounded when she pulled out of John's arms, got her bearings and headed back to the table, but not before saying to him, "I hate you – stay away from me." And in those moments, she did hate him – hated that he looked so good, smelled so good, felt so good. Hated that he was with Zoe. John remained on the floor for a few moments, calling after her quietly, then he too, headed quickly back. It's almost like the airport all over again, he thought to himself, only this time he was the one asking to be wanted.
At the table, Sebastian stood when Joss arrived, but instead of taking her seat, Joss put her hands on his shoulders, pushed at him to sit, then plopped down into his lap. He dutifully placed one hand around her waist and rested the other in her lap. John sat dejectedly, wondering how to get just a few moments to talk with Joss alone.
"Maxim, I was thinking. If I can arrange it, how about we leave for San Francisco Wednesday night instead of Thursday night? That'll give us an extra day and you won't be tired for all your business meetings on Friday."
Wait…What?!San Francisco, John thought. No!
Sebastian nodded his head, considering her offer.
Joss stroked his cheek. "We can spend Thursday however you'd like, doing anything you want."
No, No, NOOO!, John thought.
Sebastian smiled wickedly. "Anything? How about…", and he whispered in Joss's ear.
"Oooh, yes", she responded.
NOOOO! John's thoughts were so loud, he was convinced Joss could hear him.
"And…", Sebastian whispered again.
"Behave…", Joss warned playfully.
"Seriously, I'll make the arrangements and let you know what time", Sebastian said. He and Joss kissed and she leaned back resting her head on his shoulder.
John didn't think so before, but now he knew without a doubt. They were sleeping together and he hated it! Joss was sleeping with Almeida! Panic overtook him, along with anger, regret, and fear. But John didn't get a chance to figure out what to do next because Almeida, wearing a half smile, addressed him – in Spanish.
["John. Tu Tango es muy experto. Vi por lo menos 4 estilos diferentes y tu milonga fue una que se baila en una zona remota de Argentina. ¿Has estado en el campo?"]
Your Tango is very expert. I saw at least 4 different styles and your milonga was one that is danced in a remote area of Argentina. Have you been to the country?
John gave a half smile of his own, remembering that mission well. He was to gather intel on a corrupt high level Argentinian official, and the gentleman's wife, a talented and avid tango dancer, was his way in. She preferred fantasia tango style, with lots of drama and lifts, but enjoyed milongas as well as newer tango forms. It was a bear learning the intricacies, but he came to love and appreciate the dance that so represented the Argentinian culture. And his time with the Senora wasn't bad either.
[Lecciones privadas de una vieja novia hace años.]
I took private lessons to impress a lady years ago.
"I hope you paid your teacher well. You capture the spirit of the dance as well as the technique beautifully."
"Having Joss as a partner helped. She makes anyone look good."
Anxious to steer the conversation into another direction, Joss invited Sebastian to dance. "Want to try a classic ballroom rumba?", hoping he would say yes.
"Lead the way", he said, "but I'm a little rusty." The band was playing "Tres Palabras" and the husky contralto of the lead singer set a sensual stage.
Sebastian and Joss danced beautifully through a few songs. Then, a recorded piece, Estabas Ahí, started to play. The pair stood close. Sebastian held Joss with one hand at the back of her head, his other at his side. Their hips swayed in perfect time to the music. Near the song's end, Joss stepped out of Sebastian's arms and circled him. Facing him once again, Joss put her arms around his neck, reached up to his hair and pulled off the band that held his man-bun. His hair fell in thick heavy waves just past his shoulders, its sun-kissed highlights visible even in the mood lighting of the ballroom. She then trailed her hands from his neck, dipping to trail them down the front of his legs. Sebastian watched her with great intensity, his nostrils flaring slightly. He finally grabbed Joss's arms and pulled her up. He took her face in his hands and smiled at her in anticipation of things to come. The couple continued in this intimate embrace until the fact that the next song was playing finally registered.
Back at the table, John was immersed in a hell of his own making. All he could think about was that he was sitting there watching Joss fall in love with another man. The realization that Joss and Sebastian were sleeping together was bad enough, but this, THIS…How did things get so bad? Did he think that Joss would wait around for him forever? How could she love another man? Joss was his – no one could change that – he wouldn't allow it!
Sebastian attempted to lead Joss off the dance floor but she pulled him back. He leaned down to hear her better. "May we leave now? I am suddenly quite tired", she said.
"Of course", Sebastian responded. "We'll get your purse."
"Will you do it? And say my goodbyes?", Joss asked. "I will meet you at the coat check."
"But let's first pay our respects at the dais, then I'll get your things", responded Sebastian.
The couple walked slowly over to the dais and said their goodbyes. The dignitaries were quite taken with Joss and the Argentinian Consulate General insisted upon a tango before they left, which Joss graciously axxepted. When they arrived at the dance floor, other dancers took note and cleared the floor for them as the Consulate General was well known for his dancing ability. He adjusted his cufflinks, took Joss's hand and spun her away from him, walking toward her to collect her for the dance. He led her flawlessly through a spirited Para Una Harmonica, to the delight of the crowd which clearly enjoyed their performance.
While Joss was dancing her final dance of the evening, Sebastian walked over to their table to retrieve Joss's purse. "Jocelyn has asked me to convey her goodnight to you both. We will be taking our leave", he offered.
John stood and shook Sebastian's hand, saying his goodnight as well, while stealing glimpses of Joss on the dance floor. Zoe offered Sebastian her hand and pressed into it her business card. "Never know when you might need to use it."
"I doubt I ever will but thank you." With that, Sebastian returned the card to Zoe. John's smirk was on full blast at the exchange. He has more sense than I had, thought John.
Sebastian left the table, called for his car and waited for Joss near where she was finishing her dance. He then after a few brief words with the Consulate General (who turned out to be Sebastian's uncle by the way), took Joss's hand in his. They retrieved Joss's wrap from the coat check, then they began walking toward the door.
John rose from his seat, drained the last of his drink and said goodnight to Zoe.
"You're just going to leave me here?", Zoe asked in disbelief.
"You said you wanted to stay." John was clearly annoyed and was also in a hurry to leave.
"Yeah, well, not anymore", she said, looking around again at the guests, some of whom were looking back at her. She was certain it was because she had been telling everyone that John couldn't dance, and she accepted dance offers from and made dance offers to quite a few of the men there – some single, some boyfriends, some husbands, some lovers.
John took Zoe's hand, and they walked to the coat check to get Zoe's coat. The couple reached outdoors just in time to see Joss and Sebastian enter the backseat of his car, and once the driver was back behind the wheel, pull off.
John called for the limo, put Zoe inside and closed the door, not bothering to offer any instruction to the driver. Instead he walked to the corner, hailed an Uber which arrived in 1 minute, and that had been directed to drop its occupant at a certain brownstone in Brooklyn.
A/N: Is John getting what he deserves? I do feel just a teensy weensy bit sorry for him! Things will heat up considerably in the next chapter so stay tuned. Oh by the way, I used the translate feature on my software program. Can someone let me know if the Spanish translation part is accurate? Thank you in advance! And no, this isn't a sneaky way to get reviews, but please do (review, that is).
By the by, if you want to see a sensual tango, google sensual tango caiazza youtube. Hugs and kisses!
