Rush by C.E. Vescio (@CaraVescio)
BLURB
As the prima ballerina for a prominent San Francisco ballet company, Scarlet Rush is used to being on her toes- but after a failed kidnapping attempt, even her nimble feet aren’t enough to keep her out of reach of her rivals. Begrudgingly, she’s forced into the protective services of Alex Strong, a former private military contractor turned bodyguard. Scarlet isn’t thrilled to have Alex follow her every move, but as hidden dangers rise, she has no choice but to trust him.
Soon, Scarlet and Alex find themselves passionate partners in a dance all their own. Alex is captivated by Scarlet and knows he must protect her at all costs despite the pain of past demons still haunting him.
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*****
RUSH EXCERPT
Alex kept his gaze intently locked on her, watching the fluid movement of her silent twirls. He heard the soft thumps of her shoes and the sharp intake of her breathing as she glided over the dance floor. When she danced into the light, her expression held a soft sadness, and he could tell she was immersed in a secret world where no one could touch her.
From the point of her toes to the tips of her fingers, her grace held him captive, and he had to remind himself to blink. He understood now why Edward had chosen her. She commanded eyes to watch her with just her presence.
Scarlet danced around, holding her hands out to nothing, as if pleading to an invisible partner. Her leg rose in a controlled lift, and she extended her reach out. When her leg descended, she executed a turn, overstepped, and stumbled.
“Shit,” she muttered. She stopped and bent down to grab a towel on her bag. She wiped her forehead, then let her head lean back to stretch her neck.
Alex took another few steps into the room. “Is your back feeling better?”
Scarlet jumped, her hand flying to her mouth. She squinted at Alex, and recognition registered on her face. Scarlet smiled, putting the towel down to grab a water bottle.
“Yeah,” she said, taking a quick drink. “This is just a duo dance and it’s a little difficult when I don’t have my partner around, but he has a social life.”
Alex nodded. “So, even if you weren’t under curfew, you’d be here?”
“I like it here,” Scarlet said. “My grandmother always said dancing is the closest thing to magic.” She looked around and shrugged. “Guess I just get lost in my world. You don’t mind, do you? I won’t be much longer.”
“It’s fine,” Alex said. “I like watching you dance. It’s calming, even without music.”
Scarlet kept her eyes on him for a moment before she tilted her head in question. “Hey, do you want to do me a favor?”
Alex blinked. “Uh, depends.”
She chuckled, throwing the water bottle down. “I just need you to stand here as a base. I need to nail this sequence and the fouetté. Grab under my leg when I raise it to you. Then lift me from a floor position to mid, which is where your chin is, and right back down. I’ll guide you.”
Alex had no idea what she said, but he doubted it would be that complicated. He shrugged. “Okay.”
“Thanks.” She pointed at the floor. “Just stand here.”
Alex unbuttoned his blazer, removing it and his gun. He placed them on a chair against the wall and moved to the middle of the floor as directed.
Scarlet took a deep breath and her face relaxed. She fell into the same zone Alex had observed earlier, where it seemed nothing existed to her but dance. She stepped up to him, brushing her hand from his shoulder down to his palm. She grabbed hold and leaned in, kicking up behind her. He closed his eyes briefly as her movement made his pulse quicken.
Scarlet moved around him like an ethereal creature, her agile and controlled movements softly brushing against him. She ran her hands over his shoulders and his chest. He could hear her short breaths as her arms and legs executed their perfect action. He tensed up, attempting to push out the not-so professional thoughts that were slowly invading his mind.
Breathe, he commanded himself.
She stretched her body away from him, balancing perfectly on the tip of one foot, then turned back into him. Her back pressed into his chest and she brought her hands up toward his head, not quite brushing his face. He looked to the mirror across the room, studying the lines of her body.
He held his breath in again, as if it would help him feel less.
Scarlet spun around him one more time, ending in a series of turns before dropping down to his leg, and pushing away from him as if frightened.
He looked down at her in worry, but without missing a beat, she stretched away from him, arching her back.
Scarlet reached up a graceful hand to him. “Now pull me up to you.”
He took her hand, and pulled too hard. His strength lifted her easily off the floor and into his arms, which automatically closed around her as she collided with his chest.
She stopped and looked up at him in surprise. Both of their breathing elevated, despite Alex not having moved a muscle. He swallowed again and parted his lips, wanting to say something, but not knowing what.
Scarlet lifted her chin a little. Alex stared at her lips. The seemed to inch closer, full and waiting. He wanted to let the heated captivation of her dance push him over that edge, and the heavy tension of their embrace dared him to make that move. The sudden rush of desire surprised him.
*****
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
C. E. Vescio is a jack of all trades- and mastered at least one. Her first novel, Elegantly Wasted, touched on the demented and humorous side of a delightfully dysfunctional family. She’s a fan of writing and reading science fiction, urban fantasy, romantic suspense and contemporary fiction.
C. E. is a Navy vet, professional photographer, web designer, gamer, cosplayer, and a sporadic burlesque performer. She’s from Phoenix, but lives in Las Vegas with her husband, John and three mutts. They’re expecting their first child in January of 2018.
She’s passionate about typography, Shakespeare, theology, the music of Paul Simon, and Loki as portrayed by Tom Hiddleston.
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