Read First Position for Free Online Page A

right, they are involved, enough for her to
send me that ‘in your dreams’ look, anyway.
    “Forgive my sister,” Luca tells me. “She missed out
on common courtesy.”
    Raphael laughs. “You can talk.”
    Luca gasps. “What are you talking about? I’m a true
gentleman. Which is why I’m leaving you two alone.” He
winks, grabs another hunk of cheese, and backs out of the room with a
formal little bow.
    I can’t help laugh, even as my mind races to figure out the
relationships here. If Raphael and the girl were together, then Luca
wouldn’t be encouraging him to spend time with me, would he?
    “Don’t pay him any attention,” Raphael smiles at
me. “Luca is... how do you put it? A trickster.”
    “A joker,” I nod. “He seems fun. Have you been
friends long?”
    “Ever since I moved here, about five years ago.” Raphael
nods towards the door, so I follow his direction. We stroll slowly
back out into the courtyard, around the edge of the party. The music
has switched to a wild, pop beat, and the dance floor is packed with
moving bodies now, a writhing mass of energy and life.
    Raphael finds us a spot in the shadow of a bougainvillea bush and
pulls up two chairs. He settles in one, opening a bottle of beer. He
lifts it to his lips, and I have to hold in a sigh: he even drinks
with grace, the taut muscles of his arm pressing against his shirt,
every movement languid and flowing.
    “You aren’t from Rome?” I ask curiously, perching
in the chair beside him.
    Raphael shakes his head. “No, I grew up in Milano, a city in
the north of the country. Luca was one of the first people I met
here. His family took me in, and together we built the troupe. He’s
like a brother to me.”
    “And the girl...?” I ask, trying my best to sound casual.
    “Francesca?” An unreadable expression flits across
Raphael’s face. “We’ve been dancing together for
years.”
    “She’s very talented,” I say, remembering her
performance.
    “Yes,” Raphael looks amused. He glances out into the
crowd, where Francesca is dancing, head throw back in abandon, her
hips circling with a sexy rhythm that sends a stab of envy right
through me. I can turn a dozen perfect fouette spins, but I
could never grind like that, with such sensual promise.
    “She’s very good at getting the audience’s
attention,” Raphael adds, watching her. “She loves to
perform. It’s a wonder anyone looks twice at me,” he adds
with a wry laugh.
    “Oh no!” I exclaim, before I can stop myself. “That’s
not true. I couldn’t keep my eyes off you.” I stop,
blushing. “I mean, I thought you were great too. Your lines,
and the musicality.”
    Raphael quirks an eyebrow at me. “What do you know about
musicality?”
    I pause. “I ... I’m a dancer too,” I admit. “That’s
why I’m here. I’m with the American Ballet Company. We’re
performing on tour.”
    Raphael’s face changes. A look of recognition slips across his
face, bright and intense. “I knew it,” he says softly. “I
could tell, just from looking at you. The way you carry yourself...”
    I feel my cheeks burn. “No, it’s nothing. I mean, it’s
just ballet. Nothing like what you do.”
    “Don’t say that, don’t put yourself down.”
Raphael looks at me. “Your beauty, your grace, it’s all
from your dance. I can tell, it’s part of who you are.”
    I blink. Is he serious? It takes me a moment to realize that
he is. Then my stomach flips over, a delicious, slow waltz. I look
down, blushing, not sure what to say.
    Raphael laughs. “You’re not used to compliments? Surely
you get them all the time.”
    I shrug, awkward. “I don’t know. About my dance, maybe.
Not me.”
    “That’s a true shame.” Raphael reaches towards me,
and touches my chin with the side of his index finger. The lightest
touch, sparking shivers everywhere. “You’re beautiful.
You should know it.”
    From any other guy it would sound like a cheesy line, but Raphael has
such sincerity