“Down girl,” Demi teases, “It looks like you’re about to pounce on that man and have your wicked way with him right here!”
I meet her probing gaze and grin. She has no idea how right she is.
“He’s driving me crazy.”
She laughs. “I suppose you’re feeling better then.”
I fidget uncomfortably in my chair. “Much better. But I haven’t said anything to Gray.” My eyes plead with her not to mention anything about the pregnancy test, at least not until I decide I want Grayson to know.”
Demi lifts her hands as if in surrender. “I won’t say a word, but I do think you owe it to him to tell him.”
“Even if it was negative?”
“Yes. Trust me when I say that he’s the kind of guy who would want to know if something like that happens.”
Grayson and Brody arrive back the table with our drinks, effectively ending my conversation with Demi. Grayson places my soda on the table in front of us and takes a long swig from his beer. He rests his hand on my naked thigh my and I squirm in my seat, the combination of his cold hand on my hot skin sends a current that pools between my legs. My body is hyper aware of him, and highly responsive to every touch. He can be lucky we’re in public, otherwise I’d jump him until he breaks.
“Let’s go dance,” Demi chimes. She jumps up and holds her hand out to me. I’m grateful for the distraction. The sexual energy humming between me and Grayson was starting to crush me in the most delicious way and the physical distance will give me some time to cool off. I grab Demi’s hand and follow her out to the dance floor.
We find a spot in the middle of the crowded space and start moving to the beat of the music. I’m surprised that they’re playing mainstream music, as opposed to their usual country music. I throw my hands in the air and lose myself, falling into the rhythm and wild pulse of the music and the crowd.
After two songs, I’m a little sweaty but I love the feeling of being free. And that’s how I feel. Free. For the first time in what feels like forever, I’ve let my guard down. All my worries and all the shadows hanging over my head dissipate.
Two strong arms wrap around my waist, crushing me into a hard chest. If I didn’t recognize the smell of mint and apple pie and his body wash, I would’ve panicked. But I know the hands spread out on my belly, the arm wrapped protectively around my middle and the chest pressed against my back. My head rolls back, resting on Grayson’s shoulder. He takes advantage of my exposed neck and rubs his lips over the damp skin, swiping it with his hot tongue until he reaches my ear. He pulls my ear lobe into his mouth and a moan slips from between my lips. His touch, his smell and even his presence sets of every nerve ending in my body, making me feel like a live wire waiting to fire off a spark.
A slower song starts and we start moving together, the rhythm commandeering our joint bodies. Grayson takes control and I willingly surrender everything to him. My heart, my body and my soul.
I grind my hips and push back. “Keep doing that and I’ll have no choice but to take you on the dance floor.” His warning is full of promise and I can’t escape the excitement it sets off inside my body. I spin around and meet his heated gaze. “Then take me home,” I breathe against his lips. He smiles wickedly and my insides tighten. He leans in close, and my breathe catches in my throat. I hope he can’t hear my heart racing because I can feel it jumping around widely, bouncing off my rib cage like a ping pong ball. We’re surrounded by a sea of people but I don’t see them.
A loud crash echoes through the bar and mixes with the music, bursting our little bubble of euphoria. Graysons’ head whips up and I follow his gaze. Brody is standing toe-to-toe with someone, but his features are partially hidden by the dim lighting in the bar. Grayson wraps his hand around mine and he starts pushing through the throng of people to get to Brody. When we finally make it through, the person in front of Brody comes into view.
Tommy.
I let go of Grayson’s hand and scurry to where Demi is standing.
“You ok?” I whisper close to her ear. She looks at me and I see her eyes glistening with tears threatening to spill at any moment. She simply shakes her head ‘no’, so I wrap my arm around her shoulders and hug her tight. I turn my attention back to what’s going on in front of us but I don’t loosen my grip on Demi.
“You have a lot of nerve showing up here,” Brody says in Tommy’s face. He shoves Tommy’s shoulder and that’s when Grayson steps in between the two.
“This is not the place boys,” Grayson warns, his voice calm but stern.