Page 12 of Fighting Fate

I lean in closer, my breath brushing her ear, watching a ripple of goosebumps dance across her skin. Has she always reacted this way to me?

"Looks like it, Mills. You good with this switch?" I murmur, feeling confident about her response, given the way her body's reacting.

Without a word, she grabs my hand, leading me deeper into the dance floor, away from Luke's line of sight. Not that he'd mind us dancing. It's not like he has ever told me to stay away from Milli; we're friends and all. But if he knew what I am thinking right now, he'd lose it. No doubt about it.

The DJ's seamless blend into "Earned It" by The Weeknd feels like it's echoing inside me, a cue I didn't know I was waiting for until it happens. As the song's smooth rhythm fills the space between us, I find myself drawn closer to Milli, almost instinctively. There's a brief shadow of hesitation in her gaze, a fleeting uncertainty that dances away as quickly as it came—probably chased off by the cocktails she's been sipping. That liquid bravery, it seems, has smoothed the edges of her usual caution. Without it, she might have hesitated, especially considering Luke could be watching, lurking somewhere in the shadows of this crowded place.

In a sudden move, I spin her around, her back pressing against my chest. My arms encircle her, feeling the warmth of her body against mine. My mind races with possibilities for how we can savor this closeness. She leans back into me, her cheek resting against my neck as the bass of the new song adds a more sensual rhythm to our movements.

The air between us vibrates with energy, a live wire sparking through my veins. Milli fits against me just right. She feels incredible. Almost too incredible. My chest is all lit up with this blend of wanting, excitement, and a rush of adrenaline.

"Miles," she breathes out, her voice barely above a whisper. Our eyes lock, a fleeting connection before she lets her eyelids flutter shut.

One hand stays anchored on her waist, while the other ventures up, my fingers tracing the delicate skin of her neck. She shivers under my touch, her breathing growing heavy. The dance floor lights flicker and dance, creating a dreamlike world around us.

In this moment, it's just me and Milli, lost together, utterly absorbed in the dance.

As the music slows, I turn her to face me. Our movements are perfectly in sync as we draw closer, our lips mere inches apart. That spark's there, no mistaking it—the kind of pull between us that feels like some unseen force is drawing us together.

I'm not entirely sure what this "it" is, this force that's pulling us closer, but I'm powerless to resist. Gently cradling her jaw, I lean in, our lips meeting in a tentative, teasing brush. For a second, I question if this is right, but then her hands weave into my hair, pulling me closer, and her tongue finds mine.

In this kiss, there's a question and an answer, a dance of desire and uncertainty, but all of that fades into the background, leaving just the two of us, here and now, lost in each other.

I growl softly as our kiss deepens, feeling the heat between us intensify. My yearning for her overshadows everything else—it's like a heady, overwhelming rush. My hands find their way to her legs. I lift one around my hip, and the other naturally wraps around me. There's no mistaking the way she reacts to the pressure of my arousal against her; she lets out a soft whimper as our bodies press closer together.

A husky groan escapes me, drowned out by the thumping bass of the club's music.

She looks down at me; her legs intertwined with mine, her arms wrapped around my neck. Bathed in the club's lights, she looks ethereal, almost angelic.

My angel, I think fleetingly, despite knowing it's a stretch.

Dream on, Miles.

She seems to catch my thought and lets out that adorable giggle of hers. She tilts her head back, exposing her slender neck, and I can't resist the temptation. I trail kisses down her throat, gently nipping at her skin.

"Miles," she breathes out gently, her voice stroking the air like a feather, and fuck, the sound of my name on her lips sets off a tidal wave of anticipation inside me. Every inch of me feels hot, every fiber tense and ready, every muscle wound tight, ready to burst any second now.

I continue my exploration, my lips moving along her collarbone, tracing the scar from our childhood backyard football games. Her soft whimpers fill my ears as I kiss up to her jaw, finding her ear and playfully biting it. Our kiss resumes, filled with her sweet murmurs.

I've always wanted her like this, but it's only now, in this charged atmosphere, that it feels like the universe is giving its approval. If there's even the slightest chance she wants this too, I'm not holding back. This moment, right here with her, feels too right to ignore.

"Miles," she moans into our kiss, and as I pull back to look at her, I'm completely lost in the moment.

Abruptly, I'm jerked back, Milli torn from my grasp as a fist lands solidly on my face. The force feels like being hit by a train, knocking me off my feet. My sight goes fuzzy, and as I crash to the ground, I look up to see Luke looming over me with a glare.

"Fuckkkk..." I mumble, the room spinning, with echoes of Milli's moans still playing in my head.

Luke's eyes are filled with a fury I've only seen on the football field. "What the fuck is going on?" he snarls.

I open my mouth to respond, but words fail me. Then Milli steps in, tugging at Luke's hair to get his attention. "Luke, seriously, it was just dancing."

Payson, ever the protective friend, jumps in. "She's just having fun, Luke."

"I wasn't talking to you, Pennington." Luke dismisses her with a wave, his irritation clear.

The tension builds as Payson huffs in frustration. I let out a sigh, berating myself internally. You knew better, Chasen.

Milli, ignoring her brother, turns to me, concern in her eyes. "Miles, you okay?" she asks, biting her lip.

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