9. Trevor

9

TREVOR

I’m too tired to be nervous about performing on the first episode of the shifter edition of Celebrity Dance Dare tonight. We had a two-game road trip to the Midwest where we beat Cincinnati but lost in Milwaukee. Out of the three games at home, we only won the second one. I hate losing.

I won’t lose tonight.

I’ve got too many losses to make up for—on the ice and in the bedroom. Wasn’t I supposed to be having a fling? Yes. But the universe seems to be against me. Cockblocked by my teammate, then cockblocked by Sophie’s and my schedules. If one more thing cockblocks me, I might just throw Sophie over my shoulder and lock her in my bedroom until…well, I don’t know how long, but I want the time and space to savor Sophie’s delectable body. I mean, we could have had quickies but that’s not what I want for our first time together.

“You okay?” Sophie asks. She’s next to me in her gold sequin-covered costume. I can’t call it a dress. It’s straps, mesh fabric that covers her but gives the illusion of nudity, and fringe. She’s covered, but it’s very sexy and flirty. I’m fully dressed in a black button-down with rolled-up sleeves to show off cream-colored cuffs that match the black pants with wide cream stripes down the outside seam of each leg.

“Yeah. Excited.” The announcer is about to start the show. We rehearsed the introductions during the dress rehearsal we had earlier this afternoon. Big smiles, some shimmying, not passing out from nerves. First, Sophie joins in the group dance with the other pros, then joins me for our introduction.

Ian stands next to the judges’ table, looking elegant in a gray suit with a red tie. “First up tonight is the Atlantic City Devil Birds’ center, Trevor Carter, and his partner, Sophie Mackenzie, dancing the cha-cha.”

We take our opening positions. I’m at the bottom of the steps on the stage and Sophie is posed in front of the judges’ table. Ian gives his sister a wink, and it makes me smile. We didn’t talk much today, but I can see how supportive and proud he is of his twin.

The music starts, and my heart pounds in time to the beat. Sophie struts across the floor and I watch her like she’s prey enticing the predator in me. Her swinging hips make the fringe pretending to be a skirt swish back and forth. I follow her because my instinct says I must. Thankfully, the choreography agrees. The dance is a blur of steps and turns. Sophie is saying the counts as we go, and I hope I’m on beat and doing the correct moves. Her long blond hair is in a high ponytail, and it whips around as she spins. She grins, and it’s not fake. It’s her happy-Sophie smile, and it jolts something in me. I’m not in front of a crowd anymore. I’m alone in a studio. Just my princess and me, and we’re dancing in a way that suggests it’s foreplay. My limbs move easier than before, and I smile, too. For her. For us having fun. I relish every touch and anticipate with sweet desire every move that brings her hot body up against my own. I inhale against her neck and call her back with my eyes when she moves too far away from me. I’m seducing her with winks and grins and touches, and she’s seducing me right back. And when the music takes its final leap into the air and she crouches in front of me provocatively, her head turned to look over her shoulder so she can wink at the camera behind her, I want to go full caveman and throw her over my shoulder, find the nearest private room and continue this fling we never quite started. But the audience is on their feet, yelling and clapping, and damn it, we’re not alone. So I smile, and Sophie leaps into my arms.

And I try to tame the hard-on fighting against my dance cup. Thank goodness she didn’t stay down there. That wink started blood flowing to places that I’m not sure the dance belt I’m wearing is prepared to contain. I return her hug and kiss her cheek. She’s beautiful, with her blue eyes shining brightly, not just from the studio lights, but from happiness too. Her smile is radiant. Sophie’s dream is coming true, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it. I wish I could be part of more, but I know I can’t be.

We walk to where Ian is standing by the judges’ table. Sophie is so excited, she’s almost skipping. I follow close behind her. I want to rest my hand on the small of her back, but all that bare skin is a temptation I know I should resist.

Slipping his arm around Sophie’s shoulders to give her a quick squeeze, Ian says, “What a way to open the show! How does it feel to make your debut as a pro partner, Sophie?”

“Incredible,” she enthuses. “This is something I’ve dreamed of for so long. And I couldn’t imagine doing it with anyone other than Trevor.” She slides out from under Ian’s arm and wraps her arms around my waist to hug me. Grinning, I return her hug as we give our attention to the judges and prepare to hear their opinions on our performance.

“Let’s start with our head judge, Glen Woodman,” Ian says. “Glen, what did you think?”

“Well, Ian, some couples are going to have blue skies. Others are going to experience lots of turbulence. Trevor and Sophie, get ready to soar in the friendly skies!” Glen smiles broadly, and the audience applauds loudly. I can see some of my teammates in the crowd. “But you need to dance tall, Trevor. I know there’s a height difference, but don’t dance down to her level. She’s the pro, she will dance up to yours. Trust your partner.”

Carlo stands, as he always does when giving feedback, and leans with both hands on the table. His black mesh shirt is see-through, and his leather pants are tight. Maybe he needs the mesh to balance the heat trapped by wearing leather under the studio lights.

“Trevor and Sophie,” he says in his suave Spanish accent. “One of the secrets of the cha-cha is to come out and have fun. You looked like you were having fun! That was sizzling hot. Muy caliente. You’re a very attractive couple.” Carlo flutters his eyelashes coquettishly. “Trevor, you’re a flirty one, aren’t you?”

I give what I’m told is my boyish grin and shrug. “I may have been told that a time or two. I think I’m just being friendly, though.” I punctuate that with a wink.

Carlo chuckles and wiggles his eyebrows suggestively. “I bet you have lots of friends. No doubt after tonight’s performance, you will have many more people wanting to be your friend.”

“Down, Carlo,” Mary Ann scolds. She motions with a scarlet-tipped finger toward Carlo. “Can we get someone to wipe up the drool from the table?” The audience laughs, and when it dies down, she gives her critique. “Trevor, I think you have a lot of potential. You’re not only a star on the ice, but I can see you being a star in the ballroom. The two of you have crazy chemistry. I can’t wait to see what you bring to the dance floor. So nimble, the timing was excellent. You have natural performance power. But like Glen said, you’re leaning forward. I know she’s gorgeous, but you need to dance with her. Don’t just grab her.”

The audience boos.

“Stop,” she chides. “We’re here to help them get better. If they don’t hear what the problems are, they won’t be able to fix them and improve. This isn’t criticism, it’s critique. There’s a difference.”

Sophie and I nod. She’s told me about using my full height, but with the size difference, I feel disconnected from her. I didn’t realize it was noticeable, but Mary Ann is some sort of eagle shifter, so she’s not going to miss a thing.

It’s time for the judges to announce their scores. Mary Ann gives us a seven. Glen shocks everyone by scoring us an eight. Carlo waves his paddle bearing a seven. That adds up to a total of twenty-two points out of thirty. From watching past seasons of the show, I know that’s a strong week one score. Especially for the first pair dancing for the night. That should have us toward the top of the scoreboard. Hopefully, the audience at home votes for us too. We thank the judges and head to the interview area where DeeDee waits for us.

“Way to open the show and the season! Great job! And that sizzling chemistry.” She whips out a folding fan and waves it in front of her. “Is it hot in here, or is it you two? What do you think was your secret for working so well together this week?”

Sophie and I look at each other, and I motion for her to answer.

“Lots and lots of practice,” she says. “Trevor’s in the middle of his hockey season, so I’m traveling with the team to their away games. We’re practicing in the hallway outside of locker rooms, in airports waiting to get on the plane, in hotel rooms. We’re grabbing every moment we can to practice, and I’m shocked Trevor hasn’t dropped yet. He’s giving it his all with the dancing, plus playing multiple games of hockey each week, which is very physically demanding.” She looks up at me and gives a quick smile. “Hockey is a contact sport. He’s getting hit and knocked down. Fighting for the puck. Contending with bumps, bruises, and strains, and still practicing dance with me and giving his all just like he does on the ice. I don’t know how he’s doing it, but I couldn’t ask for a better partner.”

They both look at me, and I shrug. We need to add answering interview questions to things we practice. We didn’t, so I’m going to have to wing this and hope I don’t say something asinine.

“If I’m doing something, I’m going to give it my all,” I say. “Whether it’s hockey or dancing or law school, whatever it is, I’m all in and wanna be the best.”

DeeDee gasps. “You’re a lawyer too?”

I nod. I know this info was part of the media package the show provided and not a secret, but I play along.

“How are you still single?” She nudges Sophie with her elbow and winks. “Unless he’s not?”

I ignore the innuendo. “Playing professional hockey was a dream of mine that I didn’t think I’d ever get a chance to realize. I know this is Sophie’s dream, and I want her to have what she’s always wanted. A couple months of hard work is worth it to make her dreams come true too.”

Truth is, I’m exhausted, and my body is taking a beating. But the brilliant smile and quick hug she gives me makes it worth it.