Page 30 of A Bond with the Dark

“To this?” I say, inclining my head toward the band; the music is upbeat and funky. “I can’t dance like this unless I’m drunk. I probably suck at it then too, but at least when I was drunk, I didn’t care how bad I looked.” I give him a cheeky smile.

Suddenly, as if on cue, the music changes to something slower.

“How about now?” he asks, his eyes returning to mine, a devious smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

He stands and offers me his hand. Taking it, I feel a slight buzz. He doesn’t seem to notice, but I do.

The girls wink at me and say something I can’t quite hear as I follow him to the dance floor before the stage.

Holding me in the classic dance stance, he places my hand on his shoulder and holds my other one. We sway to the music, the lights dim, and for a moment, it seems as though we’re the only ones in the room. It’s easy to get lost for a fragment of time with this sexy man holding me.

As the song continues, he inches closer to me, the sweet smell of earth magick and spiced fire stirred into his fragrance. I breathe it in, letting him sway me to the beat of a soft rock song with a violin. Violin music has always spoken directly to my soul.

While we dance, I feel comforted, almost drunk-like. It’s been so long since I’ve felt the soft bubble of drunkenness, and I almost panic that my virgin daiquiri had booze in it. But I know I’m not drunk; it must be just the atmosphere. Or the man.

Suddenly, he dips me, and I’m not ready for it. I scream as I fall, the ground rising fast to get me. But he’s here, holding me, his perfect face above me. I laugh as he grins, pulling me back up.

“I’m awkward,” I say apologetically.

“Not at all,” he purrs, pulling me in closer. “Just relax. Let me move you.”

And I let him move me. He moves me in more ways than he knows.

When the song ends, he holds me still, his lips inches from mine.My breathing ceases, and suddenly, I’m nervous again.

“I like you,” he says, whiskey lingering on his breath.

“I like you too,” I return, unblinking.

“I’m taking you to dinner tomorrow night.”

“Okay,” I answer quickly, with little thought, and how easily I agree surprises me. Something fascinating about Dominic draws me in, and I want to get to know him more when we aren’t screaming words at each other.

“Let’s go back to the table and exchange numbers.”

Nodding, I let him lead me. As he pulls me by the hand, I realize how badly I had wanted him to kiss me on the dance floor now that the nerves have slipped away.

When we return to the table, the girls are all tipsy smiles.

“Have a nice dance?” Claire says, tipping her beer to her lips.

I can tell from the glitter in her eyes that she’s feeling mighty fine at the moment.

Knowing that my blushing is giving me away, I nod. “It was fantastic.”

“Okay, what’s your number?” Dominic asks, taking out his phone.

I take it, putting in my information, even spelling my name in case he forgot.When I return the phone to him, he types something, and I feel mine vibrating in my back pocket.

“Just making sure you gave me the right number,” he says, smiling, stowing his phone away again.

“Of course I did,” I say, saving his number under Dominic.

“Good,” he adds, taking another sip of his bourbon. “Well, I will let you spend time with your girls. I’ll text you tomorrow for the details of our date, okay?”

I nod with disappointment, brought up short that our little reverie is over.

He stands and pulls me to him, sliding his arms around my waist and wrapping me in a hug. I take a deep breath, inhaling his glorious scents as they unspool into the air around us. I close my eyes and allow his smell to soothe me; I feel at peace.

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