32, please? :) <3
miki!! prompt 32 coming right up ;D
32. “Keep your eyes on me.”
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this,” Chloe grumbles.
Lucifer scoffs as he starts the music. “I did nothing of the sort. Your undercover operation involves knowing how to tango. You can either have the department shell out cash to give you some classes or you can let me do it.”
He walks back over to her, slides his hand along her waist. It’s a little unexpected, although it probably shouldn’t be, as he rests his palm, warm and large, against her back just below her shoulder blades. She glares. His touch drops away and he takes a step back.
“Look, if you don’t want to do this I can just as easily dance with Daniel.” He makes a face. “Even if it pains me.”
He’s right, she’s being silly about this. She sighs. “No, it’s fine. I’ll deal.”
He looks a bit offended at that, but places his hand back where it was and moves in closer. “Give me your right hand, yes, excellent,” he says. “Now, your other goes under my arm to my back, all right?” he directs.
She does so, carefully placing her hand on his mid back, below his scars. “That’s it,” he praises and she can feel the way his lungs expand as he speaks. “Now, you’ve got excellent posture for a civil servant, but you’ll want to keep your head up, spine straight.” He demonstrates, muscles moving under her hand. She copies, it’s not hard to do after keeping her head up after Palmetto. It brings their chests nearer to each other, almost brushing.
“All right, let’s start off with the basics. I step forwards, you step backwards. Slow, slow, quick, quick, slow. All right? Just keep your eyes on me.” He begins, methodically going through the steps with exaggerated slowness until she understands the pattern and then speeding them up to match the tempo of the music.
“There you go, love,” he says, the endearment slipping out with ease. “Now we do that in a circle.” He gently directs her counter-clockwise. She’s focused on what she’s doing, but she can’t help but be aware of him, his fluidity, all predatory grace and dark eyes. Her hands feels sweaty, but Lucifer either doesn’t notice or doesn’t care.
They go through a few songs, just getting that down.
“Very good, let’s try a rock, instead of quick quick, it’s a step forward and then you rock your weight backwards, got it?” he asks.
She’s not quite sure what he means and steps on his toes the first time. Lucifer laughs lightheartedly and her embarrassment fades. She is able to follow it after a time or two. She’s attuned to how his weight shifts, where he’s moving. It’s a little dizzying, but she finds she likes it.
“Excellent, now if you want to get a little…saucy,” he begins and slows them down. “You can add a swivel or a turn.” He moves them into position. “So here, on the second slow step -” he drops his hands to her hips and her breathing goes shallow. “Turn to the left.” His hands change the angle so she’s no longer facing him. Instead, he’s a wall of heat behind her and that’s not much better. His grip brings her back around and she catches herself against his chest.
“All right?” he asks.
“Yeah, yep,” she replies, trying not to sound as breathless as she thinks she does.
Lucifer demonstrates a turn from the leader’s position and she watches his feet, quick and sure, with fascination. Do his eyes seem darker or is that a trick of the lighting? The song changes to a bright, up beat melody and Lucifer brings them back to the basic step, something Chloe feels confident with and they make a wide circle across the floor of Lux.
They flow along the floor, lost in the dance, in each other. It’s second nature to let Lucifer lower her back in a dip near the end of the song, never once fearing that he might drop her. He brings her back up and he is close, so close, mouth tantalizingly near. They’re both breathing hard and sweat dampens the curls along his hairline. She’s caught up in it, leaning close, hovering.
He clears his throat and steps back. Chloe feels like she’s been dunked in ice water.
“Apologies, Detective,” he says, voice hoarse. “Got a bit swept away.”
“Right, yeah. Sorry, too,” she replies quickly. “I shouldn’t have -” she cuts off because she’s not entirely sure what she’d been doing.
He smiles, a bit weakly. “Right, well. I’m sure Detective Douche can fill in if you’re uncomfortable.”
“I’m not.” She objects, too strongly, too quickly. Her cheeks burn in mortification.
Lucifer looks hopeful, though. “Perhaps a second lesson then? A single night does not an expert make.”
“Of course, right.” she says. “Because of the case.”
“And maybe…dinner afterwards?” he suggests.
“Yeah,” she says, smiling hard enough to make her face hurt a little. “I’d like that.”
