On Sundays, Fiona's mom dragged her to church. The service started at 9.15, which meant she couldn't make it to the studio until 10.30, at least. As much as she liked church, time was just too sparse for her these days. The second the sermon was done, Fiona had said goodbye to her mom and gotten on the first bus to the DanceDec.

Arriving late and still in her church dress and shoes, Fiona walked in and looked around, hoping to find Adam and apologize for being late. It was that morning that she had realized that she didn't have any way of contacting him – didn't even know his last name to look him up in the phone book. She had been so focused on dancing and keeping to herself, she hadn't even bothered to ask.

Then again, neither had he.

Hearing Latin music suddenly playing from upstairs, Fiona looked up and curiously followed it. She noticed a few other people had gathered around the studio's door and were peaking inside. She quickly ran upstairs and joined them, shuffling closer to get a peak at what was happening.

The second she glanced inside, Fiona lost her breath and dropped her jaw. Adam and Kalo were there, Kalo in a red dress and Adam not in his usual gray sweats and black shirt, but a pair of black dress trousers and a white top. They were standing intimately, Kalo pressed up against Adam's chest and Adam looking down over her shoulder. The music played and they both moved.

Fiona watched. Kalo looked drop dead gorgeous, her body plump with curves accentuated by the tightly fitted dress with a loose skirt. She wore heels and had her hair pinned to one side. She danced like she had never done anything else in her life and moved perfectly in beat with Adam who now twirled her around.

They met, face to face, and Fiona watched as Adam lowered her body, bending her backwards with the help of his hand. Kalo tilted her head back, and as she did, Adam lowered his own towards her chest, his other hand running up her stomach to her cleavage slowly, then down again, sensually.

Fiona held her breath and felt something inside her stir from watching the two of them dance. She couldn't rip her eyes off of them; There was something different that happened today as Adam danced. Usually when he danced, he was happy and goofy, but this piece was... intense. And Adam played the part perfectly.

His face was set in stone, his brows furrowed in a way that made Fiona feel his passion and anger as he harshly twirled Kalo away, barely catching her on her wrist as she whipped away. He pulled her tightly towards him again and cupped her face, before jerking it to the side and leaning in. Kalo seemed distraught, yet emotionless. She kept her cool as Adam released her and let her take a stride across the floor, circling back to him in a taunt.

His hand shot out, but she turned away from it. In synchronized movements, his hand then dropped and hers lifted instead, pressing her palm to his chest as he advanced and she backed away. Finally, he grabbed her arm and pulled her to his body again, twirling her around. They then ventured into a dueling tango that left Fiona speechless, had she wanted to talk. But she didn't.

Those steps said it all.

Fiona couldn't help but feel her stomach tighten slightly in anxiousness at Adam's serious face. His skin shone with sweat, but he dominated the dance, tossing Kalo around and lowering her like she was a doll, but then softening at the slightest movement from her side. He portrayed the battle of lust and love and it sent shivers through Fiona's body.

He really danced a little of everything. More than a little, she would say.

The dance finally came to a spiraling end as the music dropped and Kalo ended against his chest, caught in his arms, but her face turned away with a statuesque pose. Adam's was harsh and angry, and not a soul spoke as the music ended. Everyone was too stunned to speak, including Fiona.

Then, Adam cracked a slow smile.

The whole room broke into cheers and applauded them as he lifted Kalo up, who like him grinned and gave him a tight hug. He hugged her back and panted slightly, but then raised a questioning brow. "Like that?"

"Yes! We nailed it!" Kalo whopped and ran a hand over her hair. "Finally!"

"Guess Dimitri needs to up his game and practice those spins some more. You were perfect, Kalo, grade fucking A."

Kalo grinned back. "Thanks. Thank you for rehearsing it with me."

"Anytime, gumdrop."

It was then Adam turned with a smile and finally noticed Fiona. His smile broadened, and after quickly picking up his bag from the floor, he walked towards her. "There you are! Ready to get started?"

Fiona struggled to kickstart her body as he slung an arm around her shoulder and pulled her along. She awkwardly followed.

From what she had just witnessed, Adam could've fooled anyone into thinking he was a spurned lover of a woman who couldn't be tied down. His body had told a story through that dance, and it made Fiona think...

Had it all just been steps, or had he actually felt something in there?

"Why were you just dancing with her, just now?" Fiona asked, hoping she didn't sound jealous or anything like a bitch. In truth she wasn't, but the look on his face as he had danced had gotten her curious as to if... if there was something more between them. He did hang out with her after hours...

"Kalo needed my opinion on a piece she's choreographing. She's auditioning it Tuesday for a guy who's got her hooked up for a commercial gig," Adam replied. "Could be huge for her."

Fiona nodded. That wasn't the answer she was looking for, though...

They came to the studio, and Adam walked in, throwing down his bag and crouching down next to it. He searched through it, before finding his water bottle and taking a good gulp. Fiona herself laid her own bag down and realized then she was still in her church clothes. She hadn't had time to go home and change, but figured she could do it here. Except... her level of comfort with stripping down in public places was... very low.

"So, are you ready for more today?" Adam asked as he stood up. His body still shone with a light sheen of sweat, which didn't help how nice he looked, somewhat put together in real pants and a tight fitted top. His lean body peaked out with almost blatant transparency.

Fiona quickly averted her eyes. "Yeah. What are we doing today?"

"I was thinking we could do some contemporary and throw in some freestyle with what you've learned so far. Sort of like a little mash-up to see how much you remember."

Fiona bit her lip, hesitantly. Normally she didn't object to his lessons or his plans for their classes, but after today, the dancer in her had peaked with a strange and unusual curiosity.

Adam noticed her hesitance and rose a slow brow. "What? What's on your mind?"

Fiona hesitated a moment, feeling the slight prickle of nervousness tickle in her stomach. Should she ask? It was so outside her comfort zone, but she couldn't help but feel... drawn to it. "Could... could you teach me... what you did in there with Kalo?"

Adam lifted his brows in surprise. Then, with a broad smile, he crossed his arms and grinned. "Liked what you saw, huh?"

Fiona immediately regretted asking. She knew she should've just stuck to his regular teaching. "Forget it. Let's just get on with the program."

"It's not that I don't want to teach you, I don't mind at all," Adam voiced, walking closer to her as Fiona averted her eyes and pretended to busy herself with taking off her shoes. "I just don't think you're ready for that kind of dancing."

Fiona paused up. With slight confusion, she turned and gave him a little stare. "What do you mean?" Those steps hadn't looked too hard. They were certainly within her flexible limits, it was just the attitude that would take some practice getting down. But that was what Adam was there for.

"I mean," Adam came closer and suddenly Fiona felt his hands on her hips. "The tango is all about sexual confidence and tease. Passion," He whispered in her ear. Fiona felt the hairs on her neck rise and her cheeks burst into flames. "The bachata would be an alternative, but it all still comes from the hips. And you'd be dancing close to me. Very close."

Fiona held her breath. "H-how close?"

She felt as he grabbed her hips and tucked her backwards with a simple pull until her ass connected with his crotch with a small thud. "That close."

Fiona immediately jumped away. When she turned around, Adam was grinning smugly. She angrily pressed her lips together and folded her hands over her chest. "That's not dancing. That's something else."

"Not with Latin dancing it's not," Adam said and walked up to the stereo. He plugged in his phone and then muttered under his breath, "and if you think that was bad, I probably shouldn't even mention the reggaeton."

Fiona frowned, but wisely didn't comment when she noticed Adam's naughty grin. She reminded herself to google just what the hell that was later.

For now, Fiona took a deep breath and realized what she had to do. She could learn as many steps as she wanted, but they would be nothing until she could dance them like Kalo and Adam did. She needed to learn what they did, had to learn how to... dance close.

"Teach me," She determinedly said. She leveled her voice and hoped it sounded confident, because her chest was caving in and her stomach was in knots from merely speaking the words. Breathe. "Teach me to dance like that."

Adam stopped in his process of plugging his phone into the stereo and finding a song. With a slow raise of his head, he turned it and stared at her. "You want me to teach you that? Those steps?"

Fiona pressed her lips together. Inhale. Exhale. "Yes. Or whatever it is I have to do to dance like that." She wanted her own steps to look that good when she was dancing her ballet. More than just steps.

Adam kept staring at her, but then put his phone down. Without a word, he then walked up to her, keeping his eyes on her as he walked all the way right up to her and stopped in front of her. Then, he lifted a brow. "Who are you and what have you done to Fiona?"

When his lips split in a smirk Fiona rolled her eyes and turned away from him. If he wasn't going to take it seriously... "Forget it if you're going to be a dick about it. I was just trying to—"

"You have to feel every step," His hands were suddenly on her hips again, holding firmly onto them and pulling her close to his body. Fiona gasped. "Shit, you have to feel them to your bones, Fee. You gotta feel them, feel the beat, feel your partner, feel yourself. That's what this dancing is all about."

Fiona sucked in a breath when she felt how his hands smoothed up her hips to her sides. They paused there, sending a scorching heat through her already burning hot body. She had to feel.

"Give me you hands."

Fiona felt a zap of anxiety flee through her as Adam tapped her hip, wanting her to give him her hands. Her palms felt sweaty and her bones trembled, but she fought the sensation and shakily brought her hands to his.

Without wasting a moment, Adam grabbed her hands and plastered them to her own body. Fiona gasped again and looked down, seeing him place them over her hips. "Feel, Fiona. Feel the power inside your own body and channel it to your mind. Fucking feel this," He whispered and squeezed her hands tightly against her own hips. Fiona sucked a breath in. "This is your body, Fee. Identify with it. Own it."

Slowly, very slowly, Adam slid her hands up, keeping his own on top of them. Fiona could hardly breathe, felt his breath on her shoulder and right near her ear, felt his body heat behind her and the strength and callouses of his hands gripping hers. Slowly, he guided her hands up her own body, exploring.

"Feel that?" He murmured. Fiona closed her eyes and swallowed silently as he paused her hands on her stomach. He then slowly slid them up her sternum, up, up, up...

Fiona's eyes flew open when he brought her hands right on top of her chest. Anxiety pushed through when she felt how his hands practically rested on top of them – on top of her breasts. She was just about to jerk away and tell him she couldn't when Adam suddenly gripped her chin and turned her head sideways.

"Don't run," He told her. It was almost a whisper, but a prayer nonetheless. "Trust me, Fee. Please?"

Fiona's breath was hammering in and out of her lungs and her body felt on fire. Adam's voice pierced her ears and somehow made everything ten times hotter. She couldn't focus. "A-Adam..."

Suddenly, she was spun around and she stood face to face with Adam who held her face with a cupped hand on her cheek. They were inches apart, his breath striking her lips. Fiona froze up completely.

Then, she felt as Adam's other hand suddenly took hers. Lifting it and pressing it to his right pec, he copied the motion with his other hand and brought her other hand to his left pec. He kept his own hands on top of hers, letting her feel his calm heartbeat. They stood like that for what felt like centuries.

"Do you feel that?" Adam then said. Fiona who hadn't been able to tear her eyes away from his suddenly looked down when he did. They looked at their joined hands. "Physical contact is not something to fear, it's something to learn how to tackle. Everyone has a limit and that's okay. When dancing, you can't be afraid to touch your partner, Fiona."

Fiona released a shaky breath. Despite her angst in the situation, he was right. She knew it, he knew it, and it was something she had to admit. She was scared of contact, because the last man who held her closely... the last man who hugged her and loved her...

"We'll take it slowly, I promise you," Adam said. After another moment, he then released her hands, but didn't step back as she nervously drew them around herself. "You'll tell me when we meet your boundaries and I'll try and find ways for us to work through them. Then, once we get that down, that's when I'll teach you to dance like Kalo and I did. Deal?"

With a trembling breath, Fiona nodded. She felt her nerves slowly simmering down, settling as Adam finally stepped away and walked back to the stereo. She blew out a breath and closed her eyes for a moment. How the hell did he do it?

"I've had lots of practice, to be fair," Adam voiced, which made Fiona realize she had whispered her last thought out loud. "You kind of have to when you're a teenage boy and you have to dance with girls. Nothing is more awkward than a third leg amidst an emotional duet."

And just like that, the tension was broken as Fiona looked up flippantly and saw Adam grin to himself as he continued to scroll through his music. Did he just imply...?

"Relax," He said, after a moment, and looked up to see her uneasy grimace. "That won't happen with me. I'm a choir boy, baby. Jesus keeps me in line."

Him and Adam Jr, she hoped. If she thought physical intimacy was hard without a boner brushing against her leg...

"Oh, man, you really do look cute in red," Adam suddenly laughed and made Fiona jerk her head up to realize she was blushing profusely. What the hell! "Shit, your ears look like Christmas lights. Does it start around your neck? I think it does."

"Shut up," Fiona snapped. She embarrassedly tried to shake it off. "Just start the damn music, you dud."

"Dud? Man, I love it when you talk dirty to me," Adam suddenly tossed his head back with a grin and dramatically moaned. "More, baby! More!"

Fiona rolled her eyes and seriously contemplated walking out of there. He couldn't take anything seriously for more than a moment at a time before he reverted back to his immature self. She wouldn't get any work done like this. Maybe she should just dance alone today in an empty studio. "You know what, forget it. I'm out."

She grabbed her bag again and decided to go change and then go downstairs to see if there were any free studios left to dance in. She was just about to walk out when she halted in her steps.

"Fiona!"

Oh, hell.

The music blasted from the speakers, and for the first time she recognized the beat. Halting in the door, she clenched her teeth and then slowly turned around.

Adam was at the stereo, his hips already moving to the iconic number. He was smirking at her, then wagged his finger slowly as Fiona hesitated in the door. "Nobody walks out on the king, baby. Get yourself over here."

Fiona stayed put. She could leave now and have no regrets. She would disappoint Adam and he would most certainly make a dramatic scene about it, but she could leave and that would be that.

But, as Adam's smirk broadened and The Way You Make Me Feel by Michael Jackson played, Fiona turned her eyes to the sky and groaned. Oh, hell. She had lost her mind.

Dumping her bag down again, she closed the door and walked into the center of the dance floor as Adam whopped and then laughed, scraping the tips of his shoes over the floor as he danced towards her, going in a circle around her. "Fuck, yeah! That's what I'm talking about! Let's have some fucking fun, princess; Start walking."

With a small purse of her lips, Fiona couldn't help but feel her mouth turn upwards in a reluctant little smile. Shit, he was starting to rub off on her now, too. Maybe it was like a disease... if exposed to the bacteria for too long...

"Move, Fee."

With a deep breath, Fiona turned on her heel and shook her head as she started walking around the room – Adam following closely behind her, grooving along to the music.

• • •

Nobody messes with the King.

– I imagined the dance between Adam and Kalo to be somewhat like the video posted below, by the way. Only with a different ending and some more intimate slow-dancing moments in between. Use your imagination.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

– And no. I'm still not back.