Page 33 of What Doesn't Kill You…

"We don't," Robert said pointedly, looking directly at Violet, "use those extended hands to shove people out of our way or smack other dancers."

Yeah, the first hour of their two-hour lesson had been a group event. Four dancing couples were supposed to gently waltz around the room as Robert corrected their form. Ten seconds into their first dance it had become clear that not only would Violet not be led, but she thought the event was a race. She picked up the pace with every step they took until they'd begun lapping the other dancers in their mad dash around the room. And if some poor couple didn't get out of their way fast enough, she used their extended arms like a battering ram. Essentially, she turned the waltz into a blood sport. The other couples had left before the hour ended. Max had wanted to go with them.

"Now remember," Robert said with an air of superiority, "each step is an even beat. We don't hurry. No step goes faster than the one before it. That's why the waltz is a good place to start for a dancer, we're using even pacing here." He straightened his back and came to stand beside Violet, making sure not to touch her. "I'll mirror the steps a follower would do. Those are your steps, Violet. Max will do the opposite movements. You just have to listen to me and look to me if you get confused. Now, if you're ready, we'll start."

"We're ready," Max said for both of them.

"I liked it better when we were group dancing," Violet said. "The steps don't really matter so much when you're going fast."

"Neither did the beat," Robert said with heavy sarcasm. "But the steps are what the dance is about. And if you learn them properly, it will mean the urge to race around the dance floor is curbed. Remember, dancing is about expression and rhythm, not about galloping like a horse to the finish line."

Violet made a little strangled noise. It was the sound of a woman being tortured. A woman on the edge. It made Max break out into a cold sweat as he wondered how much damage she could cause if she lost the grip on her stretched-thin patience.

While Robert went over the steps—again—Violet followed, concentrating hard. On everything except what her partner was doing. Because instead of going back when Max went forward, she went forward too. Her toe hit his bruised shin right before her knee rammed into his balls.

Blinding white light flashed in front of his eyes as he made a small, high-pitched squeak.

"Crap," Violet said as she hurriedly stepped back.

Max desperately wanted to cradle his junk, as though that would make it better, but they were in public. "I'm okay," he said tightly as his brain froze with pain.

"Oh dear," Robert said.

"I'm okay," Max said again as he fought not to bend double and cry like a baby.

Vaguely, he heard Violet say, "You're a guy, what do we do in this situation? Do we call room service and ask for a bag of frozen peas?"

Max didn't hear the reply, the ringing in his ears was too loud for that. Instead, he focused on getting himself into one of the seats positioned beside the piano.

"I'm okay," he said to anyone who'd listen.

"It was an accident," Violet said as they slowly, very slowly, walked back to their bungalow.

Max moved gingerly, wincing every now and then. "Really? Because I'm beginning to feel targeted. Last night, you drugged me and cuffed me to the bed. Today, you knee me in the balls. What's tomorrow? Gonna try to drown me? Or can I look forward to being shot, now that Rodrigo's armed the team?"

Man, he was touchy when he was in pain. Violet had been hurt plenty of times and had no problem shrugging it off. Really, this was pathetic.

"We discussed the drugging and came to an agreement, which means you let it go. Or do you plan on bringing it up every time we argue? Because that's very mature."

He gave her an incredulous look. "Can you even hear yourself?"

"I think you're making a big deal out of this," she said. "It was an accident. I said I was sorry."

"Actually, you didn't. You asked me if I needed frozen peas."

She rolled her eyes. What a freaking drama queen. She took a deep breath. "Fine, I'm sorry I accidentally kneed you. Are you happy now?"

"Ecstatic," he said tersely. "This is my happy face."

"Bloody hell," she snapped. "I've said I'm sorry. What do you want me to do? Kiss it better?"

There was a thud. Then a groan. And Violet looked around in time to see Max apologize to a palm tree. He rubbed his nose.

"I swear, if you don't kill me, your sense of humor might take me out anyway."

"Stop being a baby," she said as she gently guided him back onto the path, and far away from other palms. Obviously short cuts were out until he could concentrate on where he was going. "This can't be the first time you've been kneed," she said.

"No, but it’s the hardest I’ve been kneed. You got the perfect angle. I may never have children. In fact, I think there might be exploratory surgery in my future, to find a missing testicle."