Pointe of Breaking by Amy Daws, Sarah J. Pepper

you for a day, but I’ve seen things in you that I’m totally fucking intrigued by. Watching you with Sasha and her sister just now, it’s obvious that you don’t bow down to anyone. But you don’t scream at the top of your lungs. And that is hot as hell to me. You seem to be playing by everyone’s rules, but you are in no way a follower. And I think you might be a pleaser almost to a fault and on some level, I respect that. But what I am into even more…what I love so much I can’t even fucking think straight, is the fact that you have this quiet presence about you. I’m totally fucking turned on by it. Not to mention, you’re talented as hell. And as if all of the other shit wasn’t enough…you look the way you do.”
    I watched her carefully as her chin dropped, and she stared at some inanimate object on the floor. My breath came heavily after my rant that even surprised me. She blinked her eyes in rapid succession like she couldn’t believe what the hell just tumbled out of my mouth.
    “And you’re a lightweight, even if you won’t admi—” Her body crashed into mine as her lips seized my own in an aggressive, overwhelming kiss.
    After the initial shock wore off, my hands groped firmly down her smooth back and cupped her ass, lifting her up onto my hips. Her legs wrapped around me like it was a reflex, not a thought. I stumbled briefly over a duffle bag with tutus flowing out of it and landed her on the edge of her tiny kitchen island counter. Her kisses were desperate as she nipped, licked, and sucked every damn bit of my mouth.
    Needing to know if this was real or not, I brought my hands up to cup her face and pulled her away to look deeply into her eyes. Her brow crinkled with worry as whatever came over her lifted away. There was a new expression to her face now though. A tenderness that tugged deeply at some strange place in my heart. She breathed heavily, her chest rising and falling as she stared at my chest.
    “I told you I was a mess, Leo. I meant it. I meant every bit of it.” Her voice was shaky, but her reserve toward me was faltering. I could see it all over her face. This was my chance.
    “I like messy.” My voice was low and thick with arousal. I glanced at her lips. “Fuck, I think I might even like ballet now.”
    Her eyes drifted from my chest to my mouth and then to my eyes. The tiniest of a smirk played at her lips.
    That was my cue.

CHAPTER 13 ~ Adeline
    I think I might even like ballet now.
    Oh, I was certain Leo would be an avid fan of the art when I was finished with him.
    My lips collided with his. I showed him just how passionate I was about my medium of choice—on and off stage. My fervor for dance didn’t stop when I stepped out of my pointe shoes. It accelerated whenever I was inspired. And Leonardo Richards was a fucking inspiration. Artistically grinding against him—just like I would if I was interpreting a sensual dance—I moved in sync with the pressure of my lips. I wanted, needed, him to know that when I kissed, I did it with my entire body; that I didn’t do anything half-ass. That when I was passionate about something, or someone, it moved me.
    And I moved right back. I rocked my hips against him, rubbing up and down the length of him and enjoyed the sweet bliss of his moan. I tore from his mouth when I slid my fingers through his hair and yanked back. I swallowed his moans, refusing to break this kiss that breathed zeal into my body.
    I pressed my heels against his back. He didn’t fight it, fight me, or fight this obvious chemistry exploding between us. I ached for his touch using my entire body. He pushed up my legs and cupped my ass with his hands. His thumbs slipped underneath the thin lace that composed my undergarments. It sent a wave of exhilaration through me. Even so, the sensation was nothing compared to the fucking bliss that followed when he thrust his hips against mine. The pressure—oh, sweet hell! The pressure of his hard body pressed up