Wings of the Walker - CoraLee June Page 0,54

down the road, chasing each other with sticks and bugs. It was a pleasant atmosphere, and I enjoyed the waves of happy energy that rolled off everyone.

I eventually made it to the General Store where I checked on the cake to make sure it was ready to be enjoyed later. After spending more time than necessary touching up the icing here and there, I walked back outside where I bumped into a man that was walking backward while joking with his friends. He turned around and immediately started apologizing.

“Ah, lass, I’m sorry I hit ya,” he exclaimed. “But, I can’t say I’m sad to have the opportunity to introduce myself. I’m Kindle.” He bowed respectfully, and I stretched out my hand in a polite greeting. He grasped it with sweaty palms and kissed it lightly, causing me to blush.

“It is no problem at all, sir,” I coughed out.

A loud cough from behind me made Kindle's eyes widen, and he dropped my hand immediately while stepping backward away from me. I turned around to see what had him worried and was surprised to see Huxley towering over me and leering angrily at Kindle.

“We’ve been looking all over for you,” he said to me.

“Sorry, I wanted to check on the cake” I replied, but he gave me a look that said he knew that I was stalling from being at the festivities.

“Come on; we’re all by the bonfire.” Huxley then turned around without waiting for me, and I followed him sheepishly. He pushed his way through the crowd while I apologized to those that stumbled in his wake. He was once again angry, and it was because of something I did.

“Did I do something to anger you again?” I yelled over the loud, folk music. A small band was playing outside, close to the bonfire, which made it hard to have a conversation. Huxley didn’t answer and continued walking. A man that was dancing pushed into me, causing me to fall. A light scream escaped my lips, and Huxley whirled around to see what the cause of my distress was. The gentleman that created my fall immediately held his hand out to help me up and was profusely apologizing when Huxley slammed a flat palm into the center of his chest, pushing him backward and down on the sandy road.

“Watch the fuck where you’re going,” he growled. I stared openly at Huxley while he bent over and picked me up, in the process he pushed himself closer to me, causing my heart to race.

“He didn’t mean to,” I squeaked. I felt Huxley tremble against me, and I tried to move away, but his arms locked around my middle, forcing me to stay put.

“Just . . .,” he sighed while leaning in closer to my ear. “Just dance with me,” he demanded.

He began moving against me, not giving me the chance to say no or escape. It wasn’t like the formal dance I shared with Kemper or even the heart-thudding sensual one I had with Cyler. This dance was a hard struggle between two bodies fighting their attraction to one another. It was both a tense dance between strangers and a passionate collision between lovers. It was intense. It was terrifying. I rested my head against his chest while our hips moved together against the beat. Couples around us were also pushing against one another sensually in a way that made the entire dance downright exotic. A light tap on the shoulder immediately made me go rigid and distance myself from Huxley. Our eyes connected before I turned to see who was trying to get my attention, and he peered at me with heated eyes.

I turned to see Patrick smiling at both of us with a mischievous grin. “I think it’s my turn, brother,” he said. Huxley then dropped his hands from my waist like I was made of fire and immediately put distance between us. I was the plague, and he was a victim of all my destruction. Shame filled me, but before I could allow it to consume my thoughts, Patrick pulled me into a tight hug. “You look delicious, Ash” he murmured. Like Jacob, Patrick was playfully flirtatious, but tonight it took on a more intentional tone.

We danced to a few upbeat songs, and he showed me a few steps that the other members of the province knew. As the night continued, many other villagers got increasingly drunk, which meant that the dancing got more suggestive and sloppy.

Soon, I followed