The look on her face told Tate he had surprised her by his skills. He’d grown up being Matilda’s dummy when she needed a dance partner. Matilda had danced since she was three and was amazing. She had won a lot of titles back home, even some in Norway and Finland. Helping her train gave Tate the knowledge and confidence he needed to impress Audrey. He wasn’t a pro, but he knew his way around the dance floor and could tell she liked it.
Taking her hand, he spun her around, before dipping her and bringing her body in close to his. Stopping to glance into each other’s eyes, her hands slid down his sweating back. When her hand stopped right above his ass, he gave her a wide grin before spinning her quickly out then back in. The music was hard hitting, and everyone was dancing quickly around them, but Tate kept up. When Audrey turned in his arm, grinding her gorgeous ass up into his groin, it took everything for him to keep his hands at her waist. Weaving her fingers with his, she moved his arms around her, having him hug her tightly from behind.
Tate loved being this close to her, and he also knew that she could feel every inch of him. He was harder than the two goal posts he stood between during a game, and he was itching to be inside her. He moved in closer, running his nose up her neck. When her hands tightened in his, he smiled against her neck before spinning her out and then back in, moving his body against her just as the song ended. Glancing up at him, Audrey took a few steps away, shaking her head.
“I’m pretty sure friends don’t dance like that.”
“Oh, my bad, must have slipped my mind,” he answered, giving her a playful wink.
“You aren’t making this easy,” she muttered.
“I am done making this easy. It hasn’t been easy for me at all.”
Audrey rolled her eyes before moving away. But she didn’t get far before he took her hand in his while making their way back to the table. Tate heard Erik and Phillip laughing before he even reached them. Erik held up his phone, and a still of Tate spinning Audrey was on the screen. Tate glared.
“Dude, I already uploaded it and tagged you on Facebook. Now the world will know that not only can you turn into ninja goalie, but if your hockey career ends, you could so be on Dancing with the Stars.”
Phillip laughed. “Oh my God, that was awesome, play it again, Erik.”
“You are such an ass, Anderson,” Tate spat as he shook his head.
Audrey squeezed his hand, and he looked at her. “Ignore them, and do shots with me, then we’ll go dance some more,” she said. “Also, you owe me a backstory on those mad dance moves.”
She looked so happy, so carefree. Smiling, he said, “Sounds like a great plan, and I’ll tell you later, but I’m curious where your moves are.”
Audrey laughed before smacking his arm. “Oh, the night is young, dear sir!”
Another one bottle and a half later …
“We only have three minutes to get upstairs,” Erik said drunkenly as he leaned against Tate’s arm.
“Shit, let’s go,” Tate said, looking at Audrey, who was basically asleep on the table.
They were all drunk. Very, very drunk.
Tate reached for Audrey’s hand to lead her out of the club. How he did it, he had no clue. All he knew was that he was following behind Phillip and hoping for the best. Before they could reach the elevator, Audrey tripped, falling to the ground, laughing her ass off.
“Audrey, shit, baby, get up,” Tate said, looking down at her flushed face and bright grin.
“No! Go on without me! I’m done! I’ll sleep it off here.” She laughed, curling back onto the carpet.
Erik and Phillip were by Tate’s side in a flash, all three men looking down at her. Erik pointed to Audrey and said, “No man left behind! Pick her up, Goldie! Vamonos!”
Tate nodded as if what Erik had said made sense. Picking Audrey up, he threw her over his shoulder. She let out a loud shriek before she dissolved in a fit of giggles. Tate shook his head, holding her by her thighs, waiting for someone to do something.