Page 42 of Sway

We step into the red room and wait for our scores.

“And now the scores,” Deborah says. “Benjamin Brooks?”

“Ten!” my husband says.

“Karen Lopez?”

“Ten!” Karen says.

“Steve Samson?”

“Ten!” Steve says.

“Thirty! A perfect score. Tony, how do you feel?” Deborah asks.

“Deborah, it’s so killer. Thank you, guys. I totally love you.” Tony clutches me to his chest.

I groan inside. More L-word. Clearly, I don’t know my own power.

* * *

AFTER THE SHOW, Benny parades me around the media backstage. I can hear the obnoxious humming of the sound microphones in my ear. Jenny is giving an interview to E! News.

“Viktoria, what do you say to the rumors that you’re having an affair with Tony Zave?” the reporter from the Insider asks.

Good God, right in front of my husband? Have they no class?

I move closer to Benny and give him a big kiss. “Ridiculous. Every season, they say same thing about me with my partner. It’s just dancing. What you see out there is acting. Benny and I have very strong relationship. I’m in love together with him and nothing could come between us.” I stare into Benny’s icy blue eyes. Total love and devotion.

“See the problem, luv,” Benny says to the reporter, “is that my Sheila, here, is such a great dancer and always wins these things, that all these stickybeaks want to cause problems.”

Benny is whipped. After a few more kisses and denials the reporters finally have had their fill and leave me alone.

“Great job, tonight Lassie,” Benny pats me on the ass. “I’ll see you at home after your party with the girls.” We kiss and he leaves to catch his limo.

I head back to my trailer. The door is unlocked.

Please, don’t tell me—

Yep. Tony’s waiting inside for me—along with hundreds of black and red roses. His bow tie is hanging from the side of his tuxedo shirt, which is unbuttoned.

I quickly step all the way into the trailer and pull the door shut. “Shit, Antoshka, are you serious? I’m not in mood for this now. I thought I made myself clear to you earlier.”

“Baby, just hear me out. I totally understand what you’re going through. You’re just scared.” He puts a rose behind his ear and smiles playfully. “Don’t be scared. You don’t need him anymore. I can take care of you. Give me a chance.”

I pluck the rose from behind his ear.

“Ouch! Babe, that has thorns.”

“And so do I.” I toss the rose onto my makeup table. It knocks over a bottle of perfume. “You don’t understand. I don’t need you to take care of me. Benny already gives me everything I need. He gives me beautiful house, takes care of my baba, nice car, and I am dance champion.” I step to the table and check the perfume bottle for cracks. Joy is a hundred dollars an ounce. “What can you possibly give me?”

Tony howls in disbelief. “Give me a break, Vika. You can’t tell me that wrinkly balls over there can satisfy you? When’s the last time you had a real man?”

Men are so pathetic. They think one good fuck and we’re ready to throw our lives away. “For your information, Benny is great lover.” I say straight-faced. My baba always says “all cats are grey at night.”

Tony sits down on my bed—and on about a dozen roses. But apparently that batch doesn’t have thorns. He stares at me for a minute, all pouty. Lovely.

I turn and start tugging at my zipper. Twisting and turning, I struggle to get the right angle. Stupid pink fruffy dress . . .

Two hands stop my tugging fingers. Tony has walked over to me. I stop struggling and let him help me out of my dress. He slowly nuzzles my neck and massages my shoulders. My gown falls to the floor and he turns me around.

“Antoshka, I—”

“Shhhh . . .” He puts his finger on my lips. Why does this man have to smell so good? His large hands make their way down my curves. I fondle his nipple ring. He’s completely covered in tattoos. It would take me a lifetime to memorize his body.

“Babe,” he whispers warmly into my ears, making me moist, “I don’t want you for one night. I’ve had sex with thousands of girls. I want more. You’re my perfect match. You’re wild and lonely. Just like me.” He takes a rose out of the vase and brushes it over my body. I nearly stop breathing. “Like this rose, tragically beautiful.” He pricks his finger and draws a heart out of his blood on my breast. “We’re meant to be together. Even my kids love you. My parents have been married forty years. I want that.” He bites my neck. Oh, God . . . “My ex-wives couldn’t keep up with me, Vika. But you can. And I can take care of you. Better than Benny can.” He licks my neck then steps away. “I’ll wait for you,” he says. He turns and leaves the trailer, the door slamming behind him.

It takes me a few moments to start breathing again. I told myself when I married Benny that security is more important than passion. Benny will never betray me. What kind of guarantee can I get with a rock star? Dropping to the bed, I take up one of the roses. I was right, no thorns on this batch. I’ll wait for you . . . I crush the petals in my palm. I’m sitting here all by myself, naked but for a thong, surrounded by useless flowers. They’ll all die in a week anyway. At least he could have bought me diamonds.

I page Marina. “Get all these damn roses out of my trailer. NOW.”

Bolero

He gently caressed her arm. Shyly, she took his hand. Their feet traced the floor, as if they were ice-skating. Their bodies rose together. Unable to resist any longer, they climaxed. For a fleeting moment, they experienced pure bliss. Then their bodies collapsed, with only the memory of their perfect moment remaining