the way I had years ago at school dances but instead watched as everyone coupled up. Without someone to slow dance with there was no point staying out there. Luckily, I felt someone’s hands snag my waist from behind. When I turned to face the man, I could tell he was asking me to dance. My smile accepted his proposal but it seemed we moved together for all of 20 seconds before a new set of hands held my shoulders.
Immediately, I knew it was Corey by the heated reaction zipping through my body and the intoxicating scent of his cologne. All I could do was watch as he stepped forward, pulling me from my dance partner’s grasp. “Move along, bud, she’s mine.”
The guy looked from me to Corey and something he saw in Corey’s face made him decide this was not a battle he wanted to embark on. With a shrug of his shoulders my partner left and I stood stunned. Before I could protest or ask what that was all about, Corey’s arms wrapped around my waist and slowly began moving us to the beat. I shoved against his hard chest to create space and let him see this dance wasn’t about to continue.
“What the hell was that, Corey! We were dancing and I am not yours!” The thought scared me more than anything. The possessive word seemed harmless enough but I couldn’t keep the thoughts away that if I was his did that make him mine? No—he wasn’t mine and I didn’t want him to be. If that was what our friendship was becoming, I needed to end this sooner than expected.
Corey didn’t seem the least bit affected by my words as he pulled me in again. “Dance with me, Danielle—please?”
When I said nothing he leaned down with a smile, moving his lips next to my ear. “If you dance with me I promise to take another shot of tequila with you.”
My face remained stern for only a few more seconds before a grin broke free. He leaned down, dipping me back a little as he pressed a heated kiss to my lips. My body softened at his touch and my anger melted; forgetting all hesitations that were built up just moments before. He pulled us upright and the dancing continued. My arms wrapped around his neck while I let the strong arms that circled around my waist, envelope me with a feeling of safety. A feeling I hadn’t experienced in far too long.
The neon lights flickered around the room, every now and then flashing a glow on the lines of Corey’s face. Those luscious lips, that strong jaw and the best eyes I’d ever seen were lit up in a way that had me absolutely under his spell. Those same eyes focused on me as we moved about, as if saying that I wasn’t the only one under a spell tonight. The longer I stared into those blue pools of desire, the more I knew I couldn’t walk away. All the worries that had plagued me those past few days vanished.
I saw him but even more… he saw me.
Standing on my tippy toes I pressed my lips to his again. Pulling away I said, “Thank you for bringing me out tonight.”
Corey smiled and placed a kiss on the tip of my nose. “Thank you for letting me take you out tonight.”
“All my other boys were busy,” I joked, expecting him to crack a smile or let out a laugh. Instead, a frown settled into the corner of his lips making my heart sink.
“Seriously?” The immediate feeling of despair took over his attitude. There was no question that I hit a nerve and I wished I could take it back. My fluctuating emotions were raging a constant battle deep inside of me. One minute ago, I’d just about died of fear when I was claimed as ‘his’ but the next I was filled with remorse at the melancholy expression I put on his face.
We goofed around a lot but I knew when I went too far. My fingers formed around the curve in his face as I spoke. “No Corey, you’re the only one I called. You’re the only one I wanted to be with,” I answered with a smile. The passionate look in his eyes told me something was coming my way that was bound to terrify my wounded heart. However, the moment he opened his mouth to respond the music changed to a thunderous upbeat tune