Dancing Queen

Chapter 16

Frida laughed when Benny made her twirl for the umpteenth time just for the sake of hearing her laugh and then bring her closer to him again and steal a kiss here and there.

Now he could do it. She was the one who started it and that for him meant absolute green light to be able to do it whenever he wanted. In public. 'YES!'. But there was still so much to say about that night and the days before, there was the clarification that she was off-limits, that he didn't want any other man as her dance partner but him... And then there was the 'I love you' thing that she didn't respond to, but that would come later.

"Benny, they're all watching us. That's not how you waltz!" she scolded him softly, giggling.

"What are you saying? It is! That's how I was taught" Benny replied, smiling and sliding his hand down her lower back again, enjoying the warmth of her skin beneath the fabric.

"I need to have a chat with Karen if that's what she taught you" she narrowed her eyes playfully.

Benny chuckled and shook his head "See what happens if you leave me alone and have other dance teachers give me lessons?" he told her with a defiant grin.

She looked at him shocked "I sent you to take lessons from other dance teachers!?".

Benny chuckled amused and then looked at her half serious "Ready?".

Frida didn't have time to reply that he got into position and started fluidly with a Backward Lock, Back Whisk, Fast Chasse, Natural Spin Turn, Double Reverse Spin and finally a Drag Hesitation.

They remained on the spot to catch their breath, at least for him, and Frida looked at him shocked.

"I'm good, right?" Benny said amused, stealing a kiss from her.

Frida let out a small laugh "I'm... amazed".

Benny gave a slight bow "I'm flattered, miss" and stole another kiss.

Frida laughed against his lips "Benny, what about all these kisses?".

"Now I can" he replied, looking at her almost in awe.

"Oh, can you?" she challenged him.

"I cannot?" he answered her with puppy dog eyes.

Frida laughed and slipped a hand through his hair, smoothing a strand that had almost fallen before his eyes. Oh, how much more they had to talk about. But how she felt light at that moment. Hearing him laugh in that enthralling, warm way, feeling his hands on her, having him close again after days in which they had created an icy wall between them...

Their little soap bubble burst as they felt a throat clear nearby.

"Excuse me, may I cut in?".

Frida's lips parted in surprise and Benny, after an initial moment in which his gaze hardened, gave Bertil a charming but menacing smile, especially when he saw his eyes sweep over her with something he didn't like at all.

"Actually you couldn't, we're competing, see?" Benny answered him, showing him the numbers on their arms defiantly.

Bertil's eyes finally drifted to him, an intimidating gleam in his gaze "I'm sorry to remind you that Frida came here with me. She's my partner. This is our dance. I'm sorry if you haven't been able to find yourself a partner, but I'd like to have mine back" he said almost like you do with a child .

Frida arched her eyebrows, feeling almost like an object.

Benny snorted "Well, if she's here with me and she's competing with me it means she's changed her mind, don't you think?" he quipped.