Page 17 of The Love We Make

He smirked a little and adjusted himself on the stool, “Bathroom.”

I looked around and realized the direction he was heading in was toward the bathroom.

“I can hold your stool if you still need to go,” I flushed, embarrassed to be talking about this guy’s bathroom needs.

“I wasn’t in a hurry to go, just needed a minute away from the guys. How about we have a dance first?”

I didn’t know him well enough to ask why again. But I understood his need to get away for a minute, making me feel like we may have had something in common. Making me comfortable and giddy.

“That sounds like a great plan,” I nodded.

He took my hand in his and helped me off the stool. We weaved in and out of the crowd until we got to the dance floor. This bar, 678, was an eclectic mix of all kinds of music styles and tastes. There was no one genre and speed that played more than the other. So when we got close to the dance floor, I wasn’t sure what would come on next that we would be dancing to.

To my surprise and sheer delight,Strip That Downstarted playing right as our feet hit the floor. This was my favorite song to dance to—not too fast, not too slow. Just right. And I took it as a good sign that dancing with Ty was right where I was supposed to be.

For such a large man, Ty had rhythm. His hands moved from my hips to my hands, never too touchy, never too far. He was sexy and chivalrous. Enticing and honorable.

And I wanted more.

He let me determine the distance, so I got closer and closer to him. I grabbed onto his biceps and danced against his leg. I was riding a fine line between sweet and slutty. I was always sweet Madison, but Ty made me want to be a bit slutty.

And I wasn’t mad about it.

I welcomed it. I savored it. I let myself have that moment with the gorgeous stranger and didn’t feel anything but freedom and passion.

As the song came to an end, he turned me around by my waist and put his chest to my back, his mouth close to my ear. “Don't move Madison.”

I froze at the sound of his deep voice, so dark and bold. He was giving me a command and I was like a statue waiting for him to give me more.

A small laugh escaped, his breath on my ear, and he continued, “And by don’t move I mean to stay here, dance, I will be right back to continue this after I hit the head.”

I nodded and started moving my hips again, slowly. Side to side. His hands were still on my hips and the motion enticed him to stay just a minute longer. Then with a growl, he backed away and I watched the back of his head as he made his way to the restroom.

I grabbed my phone from the small purse I had around my wrist and shot a text to my friends that I was dancing with a guy and to not worry about me. I didn’t wait for a reply, just tucked my phone back in and started dancing again.

Instinctually, I kept an eye on the direction of the bathrooms, hoping Ty would hurry up and come back. I was anxious and excited to get to know him more.

After a minute, I saw him head toward me, and a girly giggle ran through me. I was so thankful for the loud music and tried to get myself together before he got back. I turned away, trying not to look too obvious, like I wasn’t watching for his return. I hoped he would slide up behind me and start dancing again.

But he didn’t come. Half a song had gone by and he wasn’t more than 20 steps away, he would have been here by now. I chanced a peek back up in his direction and froze.

Only this time, instead of freezing from excitement, I was freezing from rage.

Complete and utter rage.

Ty had been stopped by and was currently talking to none other than Chase-freaking-Turner. I hadn’t seen Chase at all this whole night and for a minute, I forgot he was supposed to be stalking me. I forgot that I was a virgin and he was my babysitter. My unwanted babysitter.

My interim cockblocker.

And that was exactly what he was doing, he was blocking Ty and talking to him about God knows what. Ty’s face was a mask of concern and he was nodding slightly at whatever Chase was saying. I could already tell that Ty knew who he was talking to and despite how manly and effortless Ty was, no one was immune to the magnitude of clout that Chase held in this city.

Whatever Chase was saying to him was working, because Ty’s face kept getting darker and darker. His head tilted down in defeat.

Ty was no longer the sexy and dark stranger that made me feel wanton. He was now the punk-ass twerp that was succumbing to Chase’s reality check.

I started to march forward and lose it on Chase. I started to give him a piece of my mind and tell Ty to come on and dance, to ignore Chase. But the truth was, it didn’t matter anymore. Ty was now tainted. I didn’t want any part of any of this anymore.

I wanted to go home.

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