DISCLAIMER: THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF THE HOLLOWS AND ALL CHARACTERS THEREIN ARE OWNED BY THE LOVELY KIM HARRISON.

~ The Dressing Room ~

CHAPTER 6

I was trembling inside. Nervousness clawed at the surface of my skin making me tingle as if I'd been pixed by a thousand pixies. I'd say I'm an 'okay' dancer - not the greatest dancer on a good day, but after everything that had already happened today I was really feeling off my game. I thought about Kisten for a brief moment and was grateful he had taught me a few basic dances. Since Al and I were connected at the ears he couldn't really spin me so I should be able to keep up with him, more or less. Hopefully.

Thankfully, I did remember the box step and Al (surprise, surprise - being the domineering demon that he is) was very good at leading.

"Relax," Al intoned, in a hopeless attempt to quell my nerves. "Listen to the music and let your body take over. I'll move you where you need to be."

Slow… quick, quick, slow…. quick, quick, slow… Just breathe. I got this. Why the hell am I so nervous in his arms?

I looked down at my feet, afraid I was going to step on his or stumble into something.

"Look at me, Rachel," Al instructed. "Don't look down," he admonished, shaking his head like I was a bad puppy that had peed on the floor.

I looked into his eyes and focused on the feel of his body next to mine, his strong arms and hands pushing me and pulling me to the beat of the music. When I closed my eyes and focused on the music I felt my entire body relax into his. I became completely pliant in Al's strong, capable hands. Still holding a solid dance frame, my hips fell into the natural rhythm of the Latin dance, moving suggestively from side to side with each step.

"Mmmm… better," Al remarked. "But you're still shaking like a leaf, Rachel. Do you not trust me?" he asked, a tinge of disappointment in his voice.

"I trust you. It's just that dancing is so…" my voice trailed off, searching for the right word to complete my thought.

"Intimate?" he suggested.

"Intimate," I nodded in agreement. I felt my pulse quicken at the thought of our bodies so close together, moving rhythmically as one.

"Mmm.. that it is," he said. "I've never had the pleasure of dancing with such a tall woman before. This is most enjoyable," he remarked, pushing me away for a few steps before pulling me back towards him and propelling me into a cross-body lead, a move I not only recognized but was quite competent in executing. And I earned a surprised smile from Al. Go me.

Al continued, "Ceri was a wonderful dancer, but she was quite petite. Not at all a problem when we were horizontal, mind you, but it would have been nice if she were a bit taller for dancing."

"Wow.. thanks for that," I said, trying to shake away the image of Ceri and Al doing the nasty.

"Just making conversation, dove," he smiled, feigning innocence. He was clearly enjoying his success at having made me even more uncomfortable.

"Well if we're making conversation, what are you going to do about Newt?" I asked, steering the conversation away from the creepy and back towards the normal. Or, more normal, at least. I mean, now 'normal' is it having to worry about a psychotic, bald, female demon curse you into sleeping with your demon mentor?

"Nothing," he answered with a shrug.

"Nothing?" I asked, baffled at how he could just let it go without at least confronting her.

As if reading my thoughts he said, "Confronting her isn't going to help me and it certainly isn't going to help you. She'll blame me and try to take you, just like she tried to do before."

"Yeah, alright," I admitted. The thought of being in Newt's custody made me shudder. "So what should we do?"

Al frowned and replied, "We need to be much more vigilant than we have been. We'll work on putting a few more wards on the house. Spell detection wards and whatnot. You can help me. It'll be a good learning experience."

The music stopped and Al reached into the pocket of his coat to pull out Ivy's music player. I reached up to take the earbud out of my ear and Al grabbed my hand. He placed his finger on mine and gently pressed the tiny earphone back into place.

"Let's have one more, mmm?" he said, rather than asked.

He must have seen the next song the first time he scrolled through Ivy's playlist because it took him less than five seconds to find the selection he was looking for. His hands hovered over the button as he slowly lifted his gaze to meet mine. He wore an unreadable expression and I would have given quite a lot to know what his little demon mind was thinking. Without looking down, he hit the 'play' button and my pulse ratcheted up a few notches as I recognized the piece from the opening bars of music.

"Besame mucho," I whispered, my heart practically leaping out of my chest.

Al gave me a sassy grin as he took me into his arms. I fell into step alongside him and closed my eyes as Diana Krall's smoky, sensual voice started its sweet seduction of my senses.

I was breathing the music this time, every inhalation mixing the vibration of the song with the energy of my aura. I tilted my head to the side and felt Ms. Krall's sumptuous voice caressing its way down my body. Goosebumps rose to the surface of my skin. When I opened my eyes a few measures later, I looked up to see Al staring at me in wonder. He watched me for a few steps before he closed his eyes. He seemed to be transported elsewhere as he moved us to the beat of the music.

Al wasn't one for small talk and we never really had heart-to-heart discussions about anything, but there were those few rare occasions in our time together when I was able to catch a glimpse of his softer side. He kept it hidden so well, but it was definitely there. And music was one of the tools that brought that kinder, gentler demon to the surface. Music seemed to touch a part of Al that he'd kept hidden for so long beneath a cold, hard, overbearing façade.

Al opened his eyes again, perhaps feeling the weight of my stare. "You know, this isn't the first time we've danced, you and I."

"No, it isn't, is it?" I agreed, thinking back to the time we danced at the rehearsal dinner for Trent's would-be wedding. Though Al was not really Al at the time…

"So no need to be nervous," he said, as he collapsed his frame and pulled me into him, his arm now curved possessively around my waist and my body completely pressed against his. My left arm arched around his broad shoulders and my hand reached up to touch the back of his neck. Al held my other hand to his chest. I could feel the steady beat of his heart through the fabric of his shirt.

My mind was flying in a thousand different directions as logic fought against emotion. My hand stroked the base of Al's neck and he let out a groan of satisfaction as my fingers gently entwined themselves in his soft hair. Too afraid to look up at him, I kept my eyes focused on Al's chest. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply as I leaned into him, bringing my head to rest on his shoulder. The only thing I could smell now was Al. The only thing I could hear was the beating of his heart in my left ear and the hypnotic thrum of jazz in my right. And the only thing I could feel was everything.

I chuckled when something soft and velvety fanned my ear. "Stop," I laughed. "That tickles."

After realizing that both of Al's hands were otherwise occupied, I turned my head to try to get a glimpse of what was playing with my ear. On my shoulder sat a magnificent butterfly with striking, iridescent blue wings that shimmered in the soft glow of light produced by the orbs overhead.

I lifted my head from Al's chest and looked up to see half a dozen of the beautiful creatures encircling us as we stood in the center of the kitchen.

"Rachel," Al said, bringing a hand up to brush the hair away from my face. "You've stopped moving."

I looked at him and smiled. "I don't remember the steps," I replied, as a tear slipped past my hardened defenses to trace a delicate path of wetness down my cheek.

He threaded his fingers through my hair and cupped the back of my head. His other arm remained firm around my waist, keeping my body pressed against his.

"Then I'll show you," he replied.

He bent down and brushed his soft lips against mine, teasing me just a little before pressing them into an impassioned kiss. I could have easily resisted my impatient, overbearing, cantankerous demon. But I had no defenses for the Al whose kiss was as gentle as a butterfly and as intoxicating as the finest Chablis.

We stood there in the wide expanse of his kitchen, the soft light dappled blue as the candlelight caught the occasional reflection off butterfly wings - the delicate creatures continuing the dance we had abandoned.

We drank of each other as if we had all the time in the ever-after. And you know what? Maybe we did.

~~~Finire~~~