Alex might have been blushing. It was hard to tell in the low light. “Not always, but when a Latin song comes on at a gay bar… It doesn’t take long for things to heat up.”
“Does everyone know how to salsa in Miami then?”
“No, but I’m a good teacher.” Alex met her eyes. “There’s a patio out back that’s closed to the public, but it’s right behind the stage, so the music is still loud enough to dance. I can show you a few moves?”
Emily was definitely the one blushing now. She knew Alex was trying to put on the charm, probably thinking that she might get Emily to come back to her place later, but she still wasn’t sure she was that kind of woman. As alluring as Alex was.
“Okay,” Emily said, and Alex reached for her hand, guiding them through the crowd towards the restrooms, but she kept going past the signs and took a left at the end of the hall.
They passed a few more doors until Alex pushed open what looked like an exit door, and for a second, Emily thought an alarm might go off, but it didn’t.
The muggy night air was still a few degrees cooler than inside the club, and the gentle breeze felt nice as Emily took in the walled off patio. Climbing plants covered most of the walls, and the stone beneath their feet was surprisingly smooth. Potted shrubs and flowers along with white lights strung around the walls made for a cozy atmosphere.The music, although slightly muffled, was still loud enough to dance to.
Emily imagined she wasn’t the first woman Alex had brought out here, to her own private dance floor, surrounded by the fresh scent of flowers in contrast to the sweaty, stickiness of the packed dance floor inside.
Emily took a sip of her drink before leaving it on the ground against the wall, her eyes catching Alex’s, a hint of a smile on her lips.
“Now I get it,” Emily said, stepping towards her. “This isn’t a bad place to pick up women.”
Alex held out her hands, and Emily slid hers over them as they started moving to the beat, just their arms at first. Alex silently getting Emily to relax and feel the music. “Is that what you think I’m doing?”
Emily was nowhere near proficient enough to dance and talk at the same time. “Isn’t it?” she managed to get out while staying in time with the music, both of them starting to move their feet a little now.
“I’ll ask you again after this dance,” Alex said with a smirk on her lips, her eyes glinting as she turned Emily, a warm hand on her hip as she guided her into another turn, and by the end of the song, Emily wasn’t thinking about her feet or trying to count along to the music.
Emily was just following Alex’s body, the subtle ways her hands let Emily know that she was going to turn her again, their bodies moving together, like they’d been doing this for years.
And just as the music stopped, Alex had spun Emily back into arms, both of them breathing heavily, and as Emily tried to gracefully step away, she found herself walking on wobbly legs, a surge of adrenaline running through her.
That was by far the most fun she’d ever had dancing. And she had a feeling that this was what it was supposed to be like.
“You’re very good,” Emily said, tucking her hair behind her ear, still catching her breath. “I mean, I knew that. I could see it from across the room, but what I mean is, you’re good at leading, at helping someone. I’ve never felt so… Loose. So… I don’t know. Like I was with the music. Not fighting it or trying to catch up to it. That probably doesn’t make sense.”
Alex nodded, a smile on her lips, but it wasn’t smug. Far from it. It was like she was genuinely happy that Emily had experienced such a breakthrough. “I get it. It takes a while for most people to get to that point. Most quit before they do.”
“Thank you. I think I was months away from that kind of feeling. But you got me there with ease.” Emily only heard the innuendo after the words had left her mouth, and judging by the look on Alex’s face, she hadn’t missed it either.
The music had started back up again, and Emily bent down to get her drink, taking a gulp of it, knowing she was well on her way to being buzzed if she kept drinking her gin and tonic like it was water.
“Is it okay if I show you a new move?” Alex asked, running a hand through her blond hair.
“Sure.” Emily swallowed as she let Alex take her hands, moving them to the music for a few seconds before she told her what she was going to do, how she was going to spin her this time.
“And as I’m coming back,” Alex said, “You can step behind me, leaving your hand on my stomach as you’re coming around.”
Emily missed her queue as she tried to visualize what Alex was saying, but she tried it again in a few seconds, feeling more like the lead, and then Alex’s arm was around her waist, smoothly sliding up to take Emily’s hand up by her shoulder, and effortlessly moving into another spin.
Alex was never more than a step away, her hand or arm leaving her for a second as she danced on the spot and Emily returned from a turn, but it all flowed so well, and for the second time tonight Emily felt like she was one with the music, like she could really do this whole salsa thing.
The song was over before she knew it, and once again, Alex timed the ending perfectly, spinning Emily twice right into her arms as the trumpets and percussion came to an electrifying finish.
Emily felt like a professional holding a pose while the audience applauded, but there was no audience, and no one was applauding. Emily just couldn’t get herself to step out of Alex’s arms, their eyes locked in an intense stare, the lips inches apart.
Emily’s heart hammered in her chest, her skin prickling with excitement and accomplishment, but also with a desire, and for a moment she was sure that Alex was going to kiss her.
But Alex was the one to break the spell, both of them breathing heavily, but for Emily anyway, it had more to do with what nearly happened than exerting herself from dancing.
There was no reason why she couldn’t kiss Alex. Except for the fact that she was clearly at least ten years younger than her. Probably more. The way she’d spoken about turning twenty-one, Emily just got the feeling that maybe that was only a few years ago.
