Master's Flame Read Online Free Page A

down the hall.”
    Director and artist scowled at one another as Priya gave her a final pat down. “Go, you,” she said, helping Valentina up. “Do good for Mr. Lemaitre. You very loose and open now.”
    Valentina glared at Jason, daring him to make another comment, but he stayed silent as he led her out of the physical therapy office and down the corridor toward the practice facility. The relaxation of the massage ebbed away, replaced by the usual tension she felt at Jason Beck’s side.
    He looked over at her. “Nervous?”
    “No. Yes.” She frowned. “Priya doesn’t like me. I’ve put in several requests for a male masseuse. They have stronger fingers.”
    He looked away to greet a passing coach, then back at her. “Males are called
masseurs
, and we don’t have any who are appropriate for you.”
    “What does that mean?”
    “We don’t have any that wouldn’t cave to your inevitable seduction.”
    Valentina set her teeth. “You know, I am tired of being made fun of. I am a single, healthy woman who enjoys physical pleasure and connection. I’m safe with sex.”
    “That’s good to know.”
    “It’s not hurting anyone.”
    “Isn’t it? Adei just stopped moping over you last week, you almost ended Peter and Silas’s twelve-year gay relationship, and now you’ve got the Russian juggling troupe at each other’s throats.”
    “I didn’t realize they were all brothers. I didn’t know!” She thought a moment. “They are all very good in bed.”
    “Valentina,” he said in a tone of warning. He pulled her into the smaller practice studio and shook a finger under her nose. “I appreciate that you’re comfortable in your sexuality, but you’re here to work, not seduce the entire company. If you keep causing havoc Lemaitre will step in and you won’t like it when he does.”
    She jerked away and sprawled on the closest blue mat to stretch and warm up. Other performers did the same in various corners with other, nicer coaches. Because she was one of the production’s stars, she had to work with stern, exacting Jason, who scolded her all the time. Her sex life was none of his business, and as for her various partners’ interpersonal nonsense, that was no fault of hers.
    Jason watched her, stepping closer from time to time to offer support or resistance as she worked her flexible limbs. She braced a leg on his shoulder and did a back bend, stretching and lengthening her spine. As much as he annoyed her, he was good at his job. And handsome. She liked the deep blue of Jason’s eyes and the nature-tones in his hair. Gold, auburn, mahogany, dark-bark brown. She collected leaves the color of his hair from the autumn streets, which was weird, but she was always weird. That’s probably why he was so snappy with her. When she righted herself and stretched her arms over her head, he narrowed his eyes.
    “What?” she said in exasperation.
    “Instead of taking the world tour of Cirque cocks, you should be in the gym lifting weights. You haven’t gained any muscle mass. You need to be strong to do eight shows a week. Everyone’s expected to be fit.”
    She did a couple back flips and faced him when she regained her feet. “I am not a strength performer. I’m an agility performer. If I develop big muscles I’ll be too heavy to lift.”
    “Give Adei some credit. He can lift twice your weight without breaking a sweat. If you don’t bulk up, Lemaitre—”
    “Lemaitre, Lemaitre. Blah blah blah Lemaitre. I’ll do my act, I’ll do it beautifully, and he’ll have nothing bad to say. He hired me as I am.” She gave Jason an arch look. “He understands me better than you do.”
    Jason chuckled as she stretched her hamstrings and did another series of flips to warm up her back.
    “What’s so funny?” she asked when she finished.
    “Your bravado,” he said. “But whatever. This will be fun. Come on, you and Adei should run through it a couple times before he arrives.”
    *** *** ***
     
    Michel