Page 18 of Michael

She knew he was very interested in her. He kept complimenting her whenever he could, and she had to admit that she looked damn good.

Ambra’s dark skin had gotten even darker while in Barbados, and it had a healthy glow to it. She found she only needed minimal makeup and no foundation. The heaviest makeup on her was her clear lip gloss.

She was wearing a white two-piece jumpsuit. The top was cropped, displaying her abs, while the pants were narrow and tapered at the ankles. She wore gold sandals and bracelets and earrings to complement the look. She had washed her hair before coming out and had left it naturally curly instead of straightening it with a hot iron. The haircut she had gotten for the auction was starting to grow out, but it suited her tight curls that she was now sporting.

The audience erupted as the last beat finished on the Soca song, and the music then switched to a slow tune.

Ambra saw some couples move to the dance floor as the singer’s sultry voice started singing a slow love song.

“Would you like to dance?” Kyle asked, and she turned to see him wearing a pleading look on his face. She laughed and nodded, standing up, and he put his arm around her waist to escort her to the dance floor.

The music was beautiful; the night cool and not too hot. Ambra was having a good time and moved into Kyle arms, but she kept a bit of distance between them as they moved and swayed to the music. Gradually she felt herself being pulled closer to him until she was resting against his firm chest. She lowered her chin onto his shoulder and swayed her hips in time with his. She closed her eyes, trying to lose herself in the sensation of being pressed up against another male, but images of Michael began to dance in her head.

The way he held her in his arms at night when they were spooning, his touch, the sound of his voice, the kisses he liked to trail down the side of her face... The memories suddenly had her shivering. Kyle began to press her closer, his hands sliding from the middle of her waist towards her ass. She decided it was time to end the night with Kyle because no matter how hard she tried to forget him, Michael was in her head tonight. Her eyes opened, and she was about to speak when she spotted a very angry-looking Michael, dressed all in black, from his jeans to his shirt that was unbuttoned at the top, showing the bare expanse of his chest. His short dark hair complemented his skin, and his eyes looked dark and stormy as he strode towards them through the crowd of dancers.

Her heart sped up with excitement and then dread when she saw the cold expression of fury on his face.

“Shit.” She pulled back, but Kyle tugged her back into his embrace.

“Stop playing, Ambra. Can’t you feel how much I want you? Just let yourself relax into me.” He pressed a kiss to her neck, and her throat suddenly felt constricted when Michael paused for a split second, telling her all she needed to know.

“Let go of me Kyle. Or—” She trailed off when a woman from the crowd of people standing around watching the dancers cut in front of Michael and stopped him in place with a tanned hand on his chest. A feeling of jealously swept through her as Michael looked down at the petite woman, his gaze sweeping over her, taking her in. He then bent down to listen to what she had to say before he gave her his signature smile and stepped around her, his gaze refocusing on Ambra with a look that said, You haven’t moved away from him yet. Okay, watch what is about to happen when I get ahold of you.

He halted again when the woman grabbed his arm, but this time, he just pulled free, and Ambra saw the woman’s mouth fall open, surprised written all over her face that she had been denied.

She struggled again to free herself from Kyle’s embrace, and he finally let her go. She took a deep breath.

“What is going on with you? What’s wrong?”

Ambra let out her breath. Michael was finally in front of her, looking good enough to eat, even though she could see that he was pissed off. She raised her chin.

“What—”

She shifted her glance to Kyle to see him turn around and almost bump into Michael, who was now standing behind him. The two of them measured each other up, and then Kyle bowed and stepped to the side.

Ambra’s jaw dropped in shock. What the hell was this?

“Just like that?”

He turned his head to her. “Yes. I know a man coming to claim his woman when I see one, and even though you told me you were single, I could see you were mostly preoccupied and figured it had to be someone else. But I had to try. Good luck and good night.”

He leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “If it doesn’t work out—”

Michael’s hand clamped down on her arm, pulling her away from Kyle and into his arms. As they moved in time with the music, Kyle was forgotten just like that.

He stared down at her solemnly, not saying a word. She opened her mouth, but he raised his finger to her lips, tracing them softly before giving her a gentle kiss and then pulling her closer. She rested her head on his shoulder and blinked away the tears. She had been so hurt and missed him so much. She was going to take this moment and cherish it because she knew that after this, nothing was going to be the same. They had a lot to hash out.

They danced like that until the lights came on and people started to disperse to head home.

Michael slowly let his arms drop from around her ass, where they had been grinding against each other to the slow music.

“Let’s go. We have a lot of catching up to do.”

“Michael.”

“Don’t fight me because I am holding on by a thread not to take you right here and now,” he threatened.

She scowled, knowing that he would do just that, and turned to walk away with long, angry strides, Michael keeping step right behind her.