Circus Excite Read Online Free Page B

impassively, his arms crossed. Julia jumped higher, shimmied harder. No reaction, other than a faint smile. She was worked up now, flushed and letting out grunts of effort as she leapt and curled across the room, pounding her feet against the floor and slapping her ass to keep time, gathering dust on the palms of her hands and the soles of her feet. She moved closer to him, determined to elicit a response. When she was standing close enough to reach out and touch him, she turned her back, and reached up to undo her bra. As it fell to the floor, she felt a pulse of excitement flow through her body, flooding her with warmth. She knew she was sexy, and knew how to turn a man on. Robert couldn’t fail to be aroused.
    Holding her breasts cupped in her hands Julia turned to face him, shaking slightly with exertion and arousal. Her chest rose and fell as her breath came in ragged bursts. She looked up, her hair in front of her face. Robert was watching her, his chin in his hand. Whatwas he thinking? Was she having any effect on him at all?
    She let her hands fall to her sides as she stood in front of him, breathing shakily through an open mouth. She watched as his eyes dropped to her breasts and studied them. It was as though he was caressing her. Julia had to stop herself from walking the short distance between them. She wanted his hands on her, his mouth on her breasts. She imagined the feel of his stubble brushing over her skin, and his long fingers holding onto her hips. Most of all she wanted to see him shaken by desire, to see his calm amused expression shattered and see him lick his lips, blush, clear his throat – Jesus, anything!
    Robert nodded. He looked at Julia as though she had just finished a standard ballet routine. She swallowed.
    â€˜Very good.’ His voice was neutral.
    Very good! Julia was stunned. She’d practically offered herself to him on a plate, stood near-naked in front of him while his eyes roved over her body, as though consuming her. Damned with faint praise, indeed. She stood there, still shaking from exertion and anticipation. As Robert turned his attention to his fingernails, she realised this would be all the reaction he would give her. Coldly, she turned on her heel and went to pick up her clothes. She dressed in stony silence, thrusting her arms into her T-shirt with furious movements. She felt humiliated and rejected. She’d been prepared for failing the audition, of course, that was par for the course in the competitive sphere of theatre. But to be teased like that, and then be turned down flat – it was not something she was used to.
    â€˜We start rehearsals in Brighton on Tuesday. Be here at 6 a.m. If you’re up to it, that is. And you’ll need to bring some more sensible clothing.’ Robert spoke matter-of-factly, as though they had signed and sealeda contract. Julia turned to look at him, incensed. He was as laid-back as when she had first seen him.
    â€˜What, you’re hiring me?’
    Robert shrugged.
    â€˜It’s not exactly what we’re looking for, but I think your style has potential for development.’
    â€˜Development? That was . . .’
my best effort
. Julia finished the sentence in her head. Robert smiled at her, his face softening.
    â€˜We need a dancer, and I think you’ll find the experience enlightening. The pay’s not terrific, but the circus is . . . unique. We’ll be touring all summer, so you’d have regular work.’
    Regular work. The magic phrase. This reminder of just how precarious her existence was sobered Julia. Finding work as a dancer, of any kind, was no mean feat.
    â€˜I’ll think about it.’ She tried to imbue her voice with as much icy professionalism as she could muster. The last thing she wanted was to seem desperate.
    â€˜Good. You do that. And by the way, our dancers usually rouge their nipples before they go bare-breasted. It looks a little more dramatic.’
    With