Warming to the topic, his eyes sparkle. “You didn’t even mention the Eiffel tower or Opera House.”
I laugh. “Or the Louvre!” Talking about Paris and the time I spent there is usually enough to bring a little pit of sadness to my gut. Oddly enough, it doesn’t happen this time.
He grins. “How about the catacombs?”
Quickly I shake my head before giving a little shudder. “I was roped into a tour of the catacombs when I first arrived in Paris. That’s pretty much when I realized I’m a bit claustrophobic.”
“But it’s certainly interesting.”
“And spooky,” I can’t help but add. Long dark tunnels under ground with tons of old bones stacked in them does not equate to a good time in my book. Call me crazy…
Linc takes this opportunity to steer the conversation in a different direction. “So will you be graduating this year, Ivy?”
My eyes hold his inquisitive brown ones. “No, I’m a junior. I have at least another year and a half after this semester and I’ll probably need to take a few summer courses because I’m working towards a double major.”
He nods and I can tell he’s digesting everything I’ve just said. “So what are your plans as far as dance is concerned?”
“Well,” I blow out a small breath, “I’m actually hoping to audition for a few ballet companies this spring. If I can get in somewhere, then obviously I would leave school, otherwise I’ll keep working towards my degree. One of my professors has a few contacts in Chicago and Cincinnati, so he’s been keeping an ear open for me.”
From the corner of my eye, I notice both of Roan’s dark brows shoot up. My plans, as far as dance is concerned, isn’t something we’ve really discussed before. I think he just assumed I would finish out my degree here at Barnett first. And more than likely, that’s exactly what will happen.
“I didn’t know you were planning on auditioning before you graduated.”
I shrug. “Well, there isn’t anything definitive set up, so there didn’t seem much point in mentioning it.”
Looking thoughtful, he nods but doesn’t say anything further about it.
I’m suddenly wondering if I should have told Roan about the possibility that I could leave Barnett before graduating. But honestly, it doesn’t even sound like Roan will be around after this year. He could be anywhere in the United States. He has absolutely no idea where he’ll end up if he gets drafted.
And it’s not like we’re going out. We’ve been spending time together and I’m hoping we’ll continue doing that but still… this is all so new. It’s not like we’ve sat down and exchanged life histories or talked extensively about our plans for the next year or so.
The rest of the evening turns out to be a lot mellower than the first half. There’s no more talk about Roan turning pro or questions for me regarding what my plans for the future look like. It’s well after nine o’clock when we finally decide to head home. I have to admit that the evening turned out to be more enjoyable than I thought it would.
When we’re outside my apartment door, Roan finally says, “So how come you never talked about auditioning this spring?”
I shrug. “Because everything is just so tentative right now. And nothing may come out of it. There just didn’t seem to be a point in bringing it up.”
“But if an audition comes along and you get a part, you would definitely take it?”
It’s not even a question I have to think about. “Of course, I would. That’s what I’ve been working towards all these years. It would be a dream come true to be part of a company.” Ever since I was eight years old, that’s all I’ve ever wanted.
Both Roan and I have dreams that we’re pursuing and neither one of us are going to change the course of them because of a budding relationship. He could be drafted anywhere in the United States. And my future is equally uncertain at this point. I could spend the next year and a half finishing up my degree and then move to a bigger city where the possibilities for professional careers in dance are more plentiful.
Instead of asking more questions, he leans in slowly before covering my lips. Oh so softly his mouth strokes over mine. Rather gently he sucks my lower lip into his mouth. A spark of heat ignites in the pit of my belly. It’s always like that when he touches me. Instantaneous. No one else has ever made me feel like that before. It’s completely addictive.
I can’t help but groan, wanting to taste more of him. I’ve never met anyone who could take me from zero to sixty the way he does. Almost leisurely his lips slide their way across mine. It’s as if he knows exactly how much I want to feel him and he’s toying with me. When his tongue finally slips in between my lips, I open fully to him.